Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a mountain sheriff’s reindeer brightened kids’ Christmas in Durham

And check out The Devine Feminine Comedy Showcase on the Durham Patch calendar

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Sunday December 28th Patch AM
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Cheers Durham! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a mountain sheriff’s reindeer brightened kids’ Christmas in Durham
  • Flying soon from RDU? Here’s what travelers are seeing right now
  • How Duke’s $364 million cuts are reshaping campus and Durham ties

Also on today's calendar: "A Christmas Carol" Concert with Brendan White and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Durhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I’m trying to think of a new cloud joke. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Durhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Cooler with low clouds, with a high of 54 and low of 50 degrees.
  • Monday: A couple of showers, temps: high: 64, low: 26.
  • Tuesday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 43 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• WNC sheriff helps make child's Christmas wish come true (wistv.com) — A Graham County sheriff brought his live reindeer to Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham, fulfilling a 10-year-old patient’s Christmas wish and delighting other kids and staff. The visit, arranged through the hospital’s Child Life team, turned a routine December day in Durham into a rare holiday spectacle of smiles, photos, and up-close reindeer time.
   

• RDU stays busy during holiday rush; some long lines, travelers say, but not ‘outragous' (cbs17.com) — If you’re flying out of RDU, expect steady crowds and some long TSA and check-in lines, though travelers say it’s not overwhelming. Passenger volumes are up slightly from last year, and airport traffic is expected to stay busy through New Year’s, affecting many Durham-area travelers returning from holiday trips.
   

• Duke set out to cut $364 million. Here's where it stands at the end of 2025. (dukechronicle.com) — Duke’s sweeping 2025 cost-cutting drive has eliminated hundreds of staff positions, reshaped student advising, and even drawn public comment from Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, who urged the university to hold firm to its values. Facing federal funding threats under the Trump administration, Duke has already booked $229 million in savings and is now shifting from layoffs toward longer-term “strategic realignment” of its priorities and resources.
   

📸 Around Durham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Durham

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📣 Durham Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Firefighters battled a blaze at a vacant home on Alston Avenue in Durham, with reports of issues with several fire hydrants.
    4:20AM on Dec 26: Firefighters are battling a house fire on Alston Avenue in Durham. (Nextdoor )
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Mini Mouse, a dog who went missing in Durham, NC, has been safely reunited with their family after 3 days, 2 hours. Message from Owner: "She is very… (Nextdoor Colonial Village)
  • The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Freight/Receiving in Durham. Apply here.
  • Health Fitness Corporation posted a job opening for Fitness Floor Attendant (On Call) in Durham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Durham here.

🗞 Nearby News

Chapel Hill

  • Foodie news: NYC bagel institution coming to Chapel Hill + double your food bank donation (wral.com)
  • Top Stories of 2025: A Year of Change for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (chapelboro.com)
  • Sally Smith: A Life of Care, Curiosity, and Community (thelocalreporter.press)

Carrboro

Ok Durham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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