Home Care In Durham, NC

Durham tenants’ success in lobbying the city council to prohibit landlords from collecting rent if housing is dangerous or unhealthy has sparked interest from tenants in other cities who want to add teeth to their housing codes.

Tenants’ groups in Asheville, Carrboro and Wilmington are among those now considering asking their local elected officials to make changes to minimum housing codes similar to the ones adopted in Durham.

Under the Durham ordinance, which is modeled after one in Charlotte, landlords can be charged with a misdemeanor if they collect rent on housing that has immediately dangerous conditions such as rotted or damaged structural supports, unsafe wiring, unsafe roofs, no potable water supply or no operational heating equipment in cold months, among other violations.

Durham’s success “brought a lot of good energy,” CR Clark with the Triangle Tenant Union told NC Newsline. “I think other folks around the state with local chapters of the N.C. Tenants Union are excited and want to do the same thing in their city to increase protections and increase the minimum housing code.”

When asked about the Durham ordinance’s impact, Clark said it has been used as a “pressure mechanism” and reminder to landlords that many common concerns are now covered by the ordinance.

“For the residents, it’s been a tool for them to get the landlord to take notice on some of the most critical issues,” Clark said. “We have seen some moves to do more repairs, do more cleaning, in some of our properties.”

The Town of Pittsboro also has a similar ordinance in place.

The change to the Durham ordinance doesn’t mean tenants can legally withhold rent. Under state law, tenants must continue to make rent payments even if a landlord doesn’t make repairs.

“If you do withhold your rent, your landlord is allowed to file an eviction against you, and then you’re at the mercy of the court,” said Shray Shetty, an attorney at the N.C. Justice Center.

However, the ordinance does give tenants leverage if they find themselves in eviction court or if they sue a landlord who doesn’t make required repairs, Clark stressed. If a tenant wins a case against a landlord who does not make repairs, the tenant can be eligible for damages of up to three times the rent, he said.

The ordinance can also work in favor of a tenant facing eviction, Clark said. If, for example, a tenant spent money for medical care for an illness caused by one of the conditions in the ordinance, the tenant can make that case in court, he said.

“The tenant would be able to point to the health violation as her defense,” Clark said.

In North Carolina, landlords are generally required to make pairs to keep rental units safe and habitable. The Durham ordinance adds additional tenant protections by making it illegal for landlords to collect rents if they are not following the law.

“What the ordinance does is sort of restrict what the landlord who has been found in violation of the code can do, which is collect rent,” said Peter Gilbert, director of litigation at the N.C. Justice Center.

The N.C. Tenants Union hosted a meeting last week to discuss Durham’s ordinance and strategies to help tenant organizations craft and present similar proposals.

In an interview with NC Newsline, Jen Hampton, an organizer for the Asheville Area Tenants Union, said what happened in Durham was inspiring. Her group is working on amendments to potentially present to the Asheville City Council.

Hampton said her group would consider adding mold to its proposal because it became a big concern for tenants after Hurricane Helene. The housing code in Asheville doesn’t regulate mold.

Hampton noted major concerns at Evergreen Ridge Apartments in East Asheville, which has received lots of media attention for its mold problems.

“I had so many residents invite me into their apartments to show me all the mold in the ceilings and in closets and just on the walls and the baseboards and the doors,” Hampton said. “Several people have documentation from their doctors that they’re having serious health issues due to the mold.”

Evergreen Ridge Apartments did not respond to NC Newsline’s requests for comment.

At the meeting, Rachel Wyse, an Evergreen Ridge tenant, said the mold is a safety hazard, “and the fact that it’s not listed as a safety hazard in our minimum housing ordinance is either an enormous oversight or a giant gift to landlords in Asheville.”

Evergreen Ridge’s owners and managers shouldn’t be let off the hook because the apartment is for low-income residents, Wyse said.

“Just because we’re poor doesn’t mean that we deserve less dignity or less safe housing,” she said. “We deserve the same level of safety that anybody else has in our housing, and allowing landlords to get away with not dealing with the mold issues that are literally negatively impacting our health is unacceptable.”

Deputies said a person been arrested after a chase in a vehicle and on foot in Durham.

Deputies found a reported stolen vehicle around 1:40 p.m. and attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Louis Stephens Drive and Morrisville Parkway.

Other WRAL Top Stories

Deputies said the driver did not stop, leading to a pursuit along I-40, I-885, NC-147 and the surface streets in Durham.

Sky 5 flew overhead Wednesday afternoon as law enforcement chased a black SUV and two people through Durham.

Before 2 p.m., Sky 5 video showed law enforcement vehicles chasing the SUV in north Durham. At least one man was seen running through a parking lot and into the woods in the area of Sudbury Road, off Danube Lane.

At 2:10 p.m., the video showed law enforcement taking two men into custody in a neighborhood on Sudbury Road. They have since been released and have not been charged.

The driver was found and arrested near Ben Franklin Boulevard. Deputies said charges are pending. Their name has not been released.

Deputies said a juvenile passenger also ran a short distance before stopping. They were found by deputies.

Police cleared the scene before 4 p.m.

Before the scene cleared, dozens of law enforcement vehicles were on the scene. Officers were clustered in a front yard and in the street in front of multiple homes, and it appeared they were searching a backyard shed. Other officers had guns drawn as they were canvassing the neighborhood.

Troopers on scene said they were looking for someone but could not provide the suspect's name. WRAL News is working to learn what caused the chase.

WRAL News reported two other chases Wednesday morning. In Knightdale, Sky 5 flew near Spectrum Drive and spotted a man being apprehended around 12:35 p.m. A man in handcuffs was seen receiving medical attention.

Earlier on Wednesday, Wake County deputies tried to pull over a vehicle on I-540 East near Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh. The vehicle did not have a license plate displayed, according to authorities. When the driver did not stop, authorities chased the vehicle to U.S. 70.

DURHAM, N.C. – Following the inaugural 2025 season, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) announced Durham as the home of the Carolina Blaze, one of six city-based professional women's softball teams. The Blaze will host 10 games at Smith Family Stadium, formerly Duke Softball Stadium, beginning in June.

The announcement follows a historic season fueled by sellout crowds, record viewership and social engagement, a strategic investment by Major League Baseball, expansion to six teams and a multi-year media rights renewal with ESPN.

Former Duke standouts Ana Gold and Jala Wright are set to take the field with the Blaze this summer. Gold was selected by the Blaze as the ninth overall pick in the 2025 AUSL Draft, earning Rookie of the Year and All-Defensive Team honors. Wright was taken in the Expansion Draft in December as the 17th overall pick.

"As a newer program, it is truly an honor for Duke softball to serve as a host site and home for the Carolina Blaze," head coach Marissa Young said. "Bringing professional softball to Durham reflects our shared commitment to growing the game and inspiring the next generation. The opportunity to see Ana Gold and Jala Wright back on the field together here in Durham is incredibly special – for our program, our community and the sport as a whole."

The Blaze will play a 25-game regular season, consisting of two or three game series, spanning from June 9-July 20. The playoff format has been expanded to include a play-in game between the league's second- and third-ranked teams, with the No. 1 seed earning a bye into the best-of-three AUSL Championship. Each of those playoff games will be played at a neutral site to be announced at a later date.

"We're beyond excited to bring the AUSL to Durham and launch the Carolina Blaze, a name that represents both the fiery energy of our fans and the trailblazing spirit that defines this community and the Carolinas," said Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning. "This marks another opportunity to inspire young athletes, elevate the game, and strengthen community pride. We sincerely thank Duke University for partnering with us and providing access to their world-class softball facilities in a true reflection of our 'One Team, One Durham' approach."

The AUSL will be hosting a Carolina Blaze launch event Wednesday, January 21 at 10 a.m., at PNC Triangle Club at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Local media will be given the opportunity to speak with AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng, Athletes Unlimited Co-Founder and CEO Jon Patricof, Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning, Blaze General Manager Dana Sorensen, Blaze Head Coach Kara Dill, former Duke star and Blaze infielder Ana Gold and Blaze pitcher Aleshia Ocasio.

Fans can become Founding Season Ticket Members for the Carolina Blaze here. Group tickets for all games are also available.

Single game tickets will be available at a later date.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"

#GoDuke

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."