Durham · Chapel Hill · Raleigh · September 28, 2026

Durham's $750,000 Small-Business Bet

⚡ Quick Hits

🎶 Raleigh Wide Open brings more than 40 free acts to Fayetteville Street on Friday and Saturday.
🎸 Grammy winner Madison Cunningham plays a free show at American Tobacco Campus on Wednesday.
📚 Chapel Hill will charge nonresidents $65 for a library card.

First Up

Two years ago, Durham County commissioners put $750,000 in federal COVID relief money into Durham Rising, a small-business program run by the nonprofit Knox St. Studios. Knox St. reports more than 200 businesses served and over $302,000 handed out in direct funding and support. One $5,000 grant went to Jessica Couch's startup, Looks AI, and she called it a huge deal.

📰 Around the Triangle

Durham wants to help owners sell their businesses to their employees: the city's new Keep It Durham-Owned program offers free succession advising, and 34% of the county's roughly 6,500 businesses have owners 55 or older. (INDY Week)
Jury selection starts Monday in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial: Miguel Salguero-Olivares is charged in the 2012 killing of the UNC student. (WRAL)
Kids in Durham's youth detention center say they now get six hours of class a day: but Disability Rights NC found they still spend most weekends alone in their cells, with half the recreation time state policy requires. (NC Newsline)
Chapel Hill will charge nonresidents $65 for a library card: the Town Council voted for the fee unanimously. (Chapelboro)
Raleigh is adding 1,310 hotel rooms: Hotel Indigo is open, the Oberlin is due in October, and an Omni and a Westin are planned. (Raleigh Magazine)
Zebulon's finances are now under state watch: after the state flagged weak financial controls, big contracts and vehicle purchases need its sign-off. (INDY Week)

📅 Plan Your Week

🎨 Monday, September 28 (Today)

"Whirling & Flickering": Michelle Inez Hinojosa and Barbara Pearsall: Allcott Gallery, Hanes Art Center, Chapel Hill, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two artists who met in grad school, showing together. Through Oct. 15. (Details)

🗳️ Tuesday, September 29

Disagree Better University Forum: Page Auditorium, Duke, 5:45 p.m. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, talk about arguing productively. (Details)
W. Jason Miller, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood": Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, 6:30 p.m. Poet laureate Jaki Shelton Green moderates the NC State professor's book launch. $34.81 includes the book and a reserved seat. (Details)

🎸 Wednesday, September 30

Madison Cunningham: American Tobacco Campus lawn, Durham, 6:30 p.m. The Grammy-winning guitarist plays the Tift Merritt-curated Duke Arts series. Free. 👨‍👩‍👧 (Details)
Mark Anthony Neal, "Save a Seat for Me": Durham County Main Library, 5:30 p.m. The Duke professor on his new book about American fatherhood. Free, register ahead. (Details)

📺 Thursday, October 1

Amazing Race watch party with Joanna Lohman: The Boot Room, Durham. The former U.S. Women's National Team player watches her season with the crowd: meet-and-greet at 8:30 p.m., the show at 9:30. RSVP, but it doesn't guarantee a spot, so come early. (Details)
Diaspora Festival of Black & Independent Film: "Moving Masculinity": Stone Center, Chapel Hill, 6:30 p.m. Esther Armah's film headlines the festival's night. Free, RSVP. (Details)
Raleigh Wide Open Kickoff: The Corner, NC State Centennial Campus, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Three bands under the string lights. Free. (Details)

🎺 Friday, October 2

PLAYlist: Natural Wonder: Durham Central Park, 6:30 to 10 p.m. A Stevie Wonder tribute band with a full horn section closes this year's free series. 👨‍👩‍👧 (Details)
Día de los Muertos Ofrenda opens: Duke Chapel, Durham. Bring a photo or memento for the altar, now in its fourth year. Through Nov. 5. (Details)
Raleigh Wide Open: Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, 3 to 11 p.m., and noon to 11 Saturday. Bluegrass, gospel, norteño, and square dancing on several stages. No tickets needed. 👨‍👩‍👧 (Details)
Triangle Oktoberfest: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, Friday and Saturday. Wiener dog races, stein hoisting, and a brass band. 👨‍👩‍👧 (Details)

We picked a dozen out of a few hundred. The rest, including plenty past Friday, is on the calendar.

💬 Heard Around Town

A r/chapelhill thread warns that November's property tax amendment, which would have legislators cap how much local governments can raise in property taxes, would cost residents local services. (Thread)
Wiley Nickel, running unopposed for Wake County DA, laid out on r/raleigh how he'll handle low-level marijuana cases once he takes office, citing an Elon poll showing most North Carolinians back legalization. (Thread)
A Durham newcomer posted favorite photos from a first year inside the city limits. (Thread)

🍴 Openings & Closings

Carrburritos opens at Carr Mill Mall on Tuesday: after 29 years on West Rosemary Street, it's moving into the old Elmo's Diner space with room for catering and a full bar. (Chapelboro)

🏡 Triangle Pulse

📊 Stat of the brief: RDU has hit 90° or hotter on 78 days this year — a normal year has 52 by this date. (NOAA climate records for Raleigh-Durham)

Before You Go

Kenan Stadium turns 100 this football season, and 97.9 The Hill is marking it with a twice-weekly series of players' and fans' favorite Kenan memories. One recent entry comes from District Attorney Jeff Nieman, whose spring commencement there "may or may not have led to rule changes for the ceremony moving forward."

🧠 Brain break: today's Daily Fury is live. Five questions, the same five for everyone. Defend the Triangle's honor.

Someone forward you this? Get plugged in at trianglebrief.com