🌱 County Tax Increases Approved + 2 Arrested In Chase & Crash

Hello all. Amy Mayo here with your fresh copy of the Durham Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Plenty of sunshine. High: 86 Low: 61.
• Sunday: Warm with plenty of sunshine. High: 90 Low: 66.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the three top stories in Durham today:

1. Durham County's government has approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will include a four percent increase in the property tax rate. The increase, and other budgetary amendments headed into the next year, are part of changes to the county's finances that are meant to help the county hire and retain general staff and especially educators. Local government officials are confident that the public will weather the tax increases with good humor as residents were warned that bonds — overwhelmingly supported in last year's elections — would increase the tax rate. (News & Observer)
2. Two people have been taken into custody by Durham police after a chase that ended in a crash at the intersection of South Alston Avenue and Angier Avenue the morning of Thursday, Jun. 15. Per the Durham County Sheriff's Office, a patrol deputy witnessed a motorist driving recklessly and past the speed limit in a work zone and pursued the driver, Carolyn Marie Cooper-Askins, who has been charged with felony flee to elude, two counts of reckless driving, driving while license revoked, and driving without insurance. The passenger in the same vehicle, Roysey Lamont Ward, has been charged with two counts: felony probation violation and resist delay obstruct. (WRAL)
3. Police are currently seeking public assistance in identifying several men who are accused of the robbery of a North Roxboro St. BP gas station and convenience store. Photos of the five suspects who are currently wanted in the crime are available at the link. Authorities have yet to release more information on what was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer M. Bonfiglio at 919-560-4440 ext. 29124. (CBS 17)

Today and tomorrow in and around Durham:

Saturday, June 17

• Fitness Center At The Edison Johnson Recreation Center (9:00 AM)
• Nature Journaling In The Garden At The North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill (9:30 AM)
• Curtis Eller At The Pinhook (7:00 PM)

Sunday, June 18

• Al Strong Presents Jazz Brunch At Alley Twenty Six, Chapel Hill (10:30 AM)
• Father's Day: Bourbon Blending Class At Mystic Farm & Distillery (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Discover Durham is giving us the timeless advice to not be a drag, and instead just be a queen — and including a helpful list of venues offering drag shows in the coming days! (Discover Durham via Facebook)
• Chief Patrice Andrews and the Durham Police Department's Executive Command Staff cooked and served lunch to Durham PD employees recently to show their appreciation for the hard work of everyone in the Department! Photos of the cookout are at the link. (Durham Police Department via Facebook)
• Triangle-area minister Kevin Holland and The Matthews House wedding venue in Cary have partnered to offer free-of-charge elopement-style weddings and photography for anyone who is a part of the LGBTQ community on Jun. 25! (LGBTQ Center of Durham via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Amy Mayo

About me: Amy Mayo is a writer, visual artist, and political scientist, living in the NC Research Triangle. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has worked in a variety of fields outside of copywriting including policy advocacy, the healthcare industry and pharmaceuticals, and education. She hopes one day to live up to the stringent expectations of her cat, Morty.