Home Care In Durham, NC

The city of Durham, North Carolina, which barred a church advertisement from appearing on city buses, withdrew its ban after the church sent a demand letter claiming First Amendment violations.

New Life Christian Center had been advertising its ministry on Durham’s city buses since 2007 and had been using an annual advertisement deal since 2021 to do so.

However, in August the church was informed through a phone call that the content of their advertisement violated Durham’s advertising policy due its religious nature. The ad had the church’s name, website address and phone number inscribed on it, as well as an image of its two pastors.

Durham’s advertising policy states that GoDurham, the city’s public transit system, will not accept advertising that is “religious in nature, including promoting or opposing religious organizations, beliefs or practices.”

In October, the law firm First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter to the city on the church’s behalf, arguing that the rule violates the Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment and the ban constitutes viewpoint discrimination.

“The City’s Transit Advertising Policy expressly permits non-profit organizations to advertise on City buses on a wide variety of subjects,” the letter states, “including health and safety, ‘personal well-being,’ education and training, children’s and family services, and charitable contribution campaigns but prohibits any religious viewpoint on these same issues … The Advertising Policy thus effectuates blatant viewpoint discrimination against our client’s religious viewpoint.”

The church ministers to Durham through its Sunday services, child development center, classes and fellowship groups, such as marriage classes, a teen ministry, men’s ministry and a singles’ ministry. The church also offers elementary education at Southpoint Academy.

The letter also claims that the policy is so vague as to be unreasonable, as the city never enforced the law during the 18 years the church had promoted its ministries. The letter refers to a 2024 ruling in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit sided with an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Tampa, Florida. The group was barred from advertising a celebration within a bus route due to its religious nature. The court ruled that the ban violated the First Amendment because it was arbitrary and unreasonable.

“Like the religious advertising ban found unconstitutional in Young Israel,” the letter states, “the City’s policy here ‘fails to define key terms, lacks any official guidance, and vests too much discretion in those charged with its application.’”

On Dec. 11, First Liberty Institute announced in a press release that the city had relented by withdrawing its rejection and allowing the church to continue using the buses to advertise their church services.

“The First Amendment grants all Americans the right to express their point of view, religious or secular,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Ryan Gardner. “Rejecting a faith-based advertising banner yet accepting other secular ads is clearly hypocritical, discriminatory, and illegal. We are thankful the City reversed course and will allow New Life Christian Center to run its advertisement.”

DURHAM, N.C. -- There's a youth movement at USA Basketball camp this weekend with young WNBA players Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese making their debuts with the national team.

They've been competing against each other in college and the WNBA over the past few years and Bueckers was happy to have them as teammates again. Many of the young players had competed together for the U.S. on American youth teams. They'll get their first taste of the senior national team in a camp at Duke this weekend.

"It's great competing with them for a change instead of against them and I think we really bring out the best of each other," Bueckers said. "I think that's what USA Basketball does. Just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal. I think that's always brought out the best of each other. It's really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change."

Bueckers gave the group the nickname "Young and Turnt" - a phrase used by youth players in the past to describe their high energy and excitement playing with USA Basketball.

The trio, along with other senior national newcomers Cameron Brink, Aliyah Boston and JuJu Watkins, are the future of USA Basketball with veterans Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird retired and other longtime fixtures in the lineup nearing the end of their careers. The U.S. has won eight straight Olympic gold medals and four consecutive world championships. Olympic veterans Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum will also be at the three-day camp.

"Obviously there's some vets and there's the older class who have already came in and won gold medals, and they have that experience," Bueckers said. "So as a younger group, you want to ask them questions, soak it up, be a sponge. Like, get their experience and then grow in our experience as well."

The average age of the 17 players at the camp is just over 25. Bueckers said having so many young players who have been together brings a comfort level.

"There's a familiarity of competing with and against each other," she said. "We kind of know each other and it's more comfortable that way, too. We're all coming in and we're having the same expectations of just wanting to go in there and compete and have fun and bring our vibes in and just be us."

Bird, who is now the managing director for USA Basketball, said this camp will hopefully give the new players a look at international basketball at its highest level.

"Really have it be a tone setter," said Bird, who helped the U.S. win five Olympic gold medals as a player. "What is it to wear USA on your chest? What is it to be on this team? Whether it's a World Cup qualifier we'll get to in March or hopefully the gold-medal game of a big competition, you have to set the tone on Day 1."

Though many invites went out for the camp, Bird said past Olympians such as A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Napheesa Collier had other commitments.

"There's a lot of moving parts, that's always how it is for USA Basketball," Bird said. "For the young players, it's a great opportunity to get their first feel and first taste."

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through Noon today, mainly due to the potential for black ice.

Beware of Black Ice

Evening temps fell hard which allowed wet roads and lingering moisture to quickly freeze, resulting in potentially slippery conditions and black ice for the Tuesday morning commute.

Morning temperatures are expected to be in the teens and low 20s. Temperatures will rise above freezing by lunch, but it will stay cold, with highs in the 40s.

As temperatures rise again and reach above freezing around midday, travel conditions will improve. Highs will be in the low 40s Tuesday, which will help with melting.

Another refreeze will be possible Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday afternoon, it will become quite breezy with gusts of 25-30 mph as a deep low pressure system passes by to the north. A spotty shower will be possible Thursday with the next front.

Another Arctic front will track through this weekend, ushering highs in the upper 30s to low 40s and lows in the 20s. Wind chills could be in the lower teens Sunday morning.

Who saw snow and who didn't

The rain on Monday transitioned to snow, especially for those closest to the Virginia border.

Along and north of Highway 64, rain transitioned to snow.

South of 64, precipitation fell mostly as rain, briefly mixing with or changing over to snow before ending. Little to no accumulation is expected there.

Wednesday will be nicer, with temperatures in the mid-50s.

This second round of winter weather comes just days after a wintry mix on Friday morning, particularly north of I-85. This also led to school closures just last week.

Click here to report a weather-related school closing or delay to ABC11

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect across central North Carolina counties because of early morning black ice and freezing temperatures through most of the day. Areas that got snow will see hazardous conditions as temperatures remain below freezing into Tuesday afternoon.

Some area school districts have made the call for Tuesday in the aftermath of Monday's wintry weather and threat from black ice early Tuesday.

Durham Public Schools will be closed for students and staff on Tuesday.

All Wake County Public School System schools will be closed for students on Tuesday due to the threat of black ice.

Check full list here and see updates.

Orange County Schools will be closed for students and staff on Tuesday/ All after-school activities are canceled.Johnston County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Tuesday.Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will be operating on a 2-hour delay on Tuesday.Franklin County Schools will be closed on Tuesday for students and staffGranville County Schools will be closed on Tuesday.Halifax County School will hold Remote Learning only classesHarnett County Schools opening on a 2-hour delayLee County Schools opening on a 2-hour delay.Northampton County Schools will be Remote Learning Only on Tuesday.Warren County Schools will be closed for students and staff on Tuesday. It will be a remote day for staffers.Wayne County will start on a 2-hour delay on Tuesday.Central Carolina Community College: 2-hour delay.Eastern Carolina Christian College will be closed on Tuesday

Check full list here and see updates. These updates and changes are entered into the system by the school district.

How to report school closures

Because of the threat of inclement weather, some schools and businesses may decide to close. You can check up-to-the-minute closings here.

If you are in charge of closings for a school or business, the only way to report your organization's closing or delay to ABC11 is by using our online system. The phone system that was used in the past is not operational. Your ID code from the phone system remains the same, and it also serves as your Pass Code into the online system.

If you would like to register your organization with ABC11, please email the following information to [email protected] (Please do not email closing information to this email address):

A snowstorm moving into North Carolina’s Piedmont region could create slippery, hazardous conditions for drivers.

Snow is expected across the Raleigh area on Monday, Dec. 8, prompting a winter weather advisory and the closure of all Triangle school systems, .

Forecasts call for up to an inch of snow in the Triangle, with higher totals north of the region and dangerous flash-freeze conditions Monday night as temperatures drop into the teens and low 20s. Most of the snow should fall in the afternoon after a brief rain-snow mix, with black ice likely through Tuesday morning.

Here’s how crews around the state are preparing for winter weather and how you can stay safe.

How is NC preparing roads for snow?

N.C. Department of Transportation crews started laying down brine on Thursday ahead of the storm, The N&O’s reporting partner .

Even a light dusting of snow can cling to untreated roads in Arctic cold, creating slick conditions, Doug McNeal, NCDOT’s division maintenance engineer, .

Brine, a salty water mix, lowers the freezing point and helps keep snow and ice from sticking to the pavement.

The practice didn’t become widespread in North Carolina until after 2005, McNeal said, and it’s most effective when applied to dry roads and when a storm is expected to bring snow rather than freezing rain, which can wash the treatment away.

Does NC still use rock salt on snowy roads?

Yes. For a light winter event, McNeal said brine alone can usually do the job.

But once snowfall amounts grow beyond a thin coating, crews have to add more material, sometimes more brine if the sun is helping melt icy patches, but typically rock salt for anything heavier.

Which roads have snow, ice?

The NC Department of Transportation manages DriveNC.gov, which has an interactive map that shows road closures for maintenance, vehicle crashes and even snow and ice. Toggle “on” the “Snow & Ice” map layer to see which roads and areas are impacted by winter weather in real time.

A snowflake icon means there is snow or ice impacting roads. (”For counties with a snowflake icon, click on the snowflake to see more info,” a winter weather advisory on DriveNC.gov says.)

A “C” icon means the area is confirmed clear.

How to stay safe while driving in snow

The recommends staying off the road during snowstorms, but if you have to drive, you can use these tips to stay safe:

The News & Observer’s Richard Stradling contributed to this report.

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