NC Humanities Council Awards Grants to Fund Music Research

North Carolina Humanities Council has awarded grants to fund research into Durham's soul music traditions and the African-American music traditions of eastern North Carolina. The Durham Library Foundation will receive $9,916 to fund "Bull City Soul Revival," a month long presentation of the history of soul music in Durham to debut March, 27, 2012. The Durham-based North Carolina Folklife Institute will receive $9,400 to document regional music traditions for "Blazing the African American Music Trail," a state heritage tourism initiative.

Durham Ranked No. 2 Among "US Cities With the Most Leftover to Spend"

The Atlantic ranked Durham, NC No. 2 on its list of most economically advantaged metros as one of the "US Cities with the Most Leftover to Spend After Paying for Housing." Average remaining wages and salaries for Durham residents after paying for housing were $3,513 monthly, or approximately $46,312 per year.

Durham Artist Wins Bravo's "Work of Art" Reality Competition

Durham artist Kymia Nawabi won Bravo's reality arts competition show, "Work of Art". As a finalist, Nawabi prepared a full solo exhibition and presented the collection to a panel of judges at the Brooklyn Museum who selected her as the "Next Great Artist." The first generation Iranian-American grew up in the Woodcroft area of Durham and attended Jordan High School then later graduated from East Carlina University.

Durham Tech Wins Competitive Grant to Help Support Hispanic Families

Durham Technical Community College's Parent Academy, based in the college's Center for the Global Learner, has just received a $25,000 grant from the National Center for Family Literacy to encourage Hispanic and other families earn college degrees through “En Camino: Herramientas educativas para familias/On Our Way: Educational Toolkit for Families. According to the National Center for Family Literacy, the Durham Tech program was one of only 10 programs in the country to receive the competitive funding.

Durham Researcher Named Scientist of the Year

Lutz Birnbaumer of Durham has been named Scientist of the Year by the National Institute of Health Sciences. Birnbaumer conducts biochemistry research at the NIEHS Laboratory of Neurobiology and has lived in Durham since 2001.

Fuqua Ranks 10th on Composite Rankings of Elite Business Schools

Duke University's Fuqua School of Business ranked tenth on Poets & Quants' composite rankings of elite business schools. The composite rankings are based on rankings published by Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Forbes and U.S. News & World report.

Duke University is the Second Most Selective College in the South

According to analysis by American City Business Journals, Duke University is the most selective college in North Carolina and the second most selective college in the South.

Durham Rescue Mission Reaches $4.5 Million Fundraising Goal

The Durham Rescue Mission has reached its $4.5 million goal to expand the Christians homeless shelter. Groundbreaking will begin after the start of the year on the 34,000 shelter addition to include 88 additional beds and expansions to the kitchen and dining room.

Durham Food Truck Welcomes Guest Employee, Former *NSYNC Member

Durham food truck Chirba Chirba Dumpling will appear on the new reality series "My Family Recipe Rocks" hosted by former *NSYNC star Joey Fatone. The shoot included one day of dumpling prep at Durham food business incubator, The Cookery, and one with Fatone working the truck. "My Family Recipe Rocks" premieres on Jan. 14 on the Live Well network, part of the ABC Family and Disney.

NCCU Law Named as a Best School for Public Service

North Carolina Central University School of Law was named one of the best law schools for public service by The National Jurist. NCCU Law was recognized in both the prosecutor/public defender and public interest categories.

Duke Receives Largest Donation to Support Financial Aid in University History

Duke University trustee Bruce Karsh and his wife Martha donated $50 million to support need-based financial aid for undergraduate students, including international students. The gift is the largest donation made by individuals to support financial aid in the university's history.

Coach K Named Sports Illustrated's 2011 "Sportsman of the Year"

Sports Illustrated has named Duke's Coach Mike Krzyzewski its Sportsman of the Year for 2011. The honor comes less than a month after Coach K picked up his 903rd career victory to become the winningest coach in Division I men's basketball history.

Obama to Appoint Durham Architect to Commission of Fine Arts

President Obama has appointed Durham architect Phillip G. Freelon to a four-year term on the Commission of Fine Arts. Freelon is the founder and President of The Freelon Group and Professor of Practice at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning.

Durham Record Labels Garner Grammy Nominations

Durham-based record labels Marsalis Music and Merge Records have been nominated for Grammy Awards. Saxophonist Miquel Zenón has been nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble album for “Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook” which was released by Branford Marsalis' record label. The Arcade Fire's Merge Records release "The Suburbs - Deluxe Edition (Scenes from the Suburbs)" was nominated for Best Recording Package.

Durham GE Aviation Plant Featured in New Advertising Campaign

GE Aviation's plant in Durham is featured in the advertising campaign GE Stories: Aviation. Part of the GEnx engine which powers Boeing's passenger aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner, is assembled at the Durham GE Aviation plant among other higher-volume engine lines. The plant turns out about five engines per week.

DPAC Execting 1 Millionth Patron Over Thanksgiving Weekend

Durham Performing Arts Center expects its 1 millionth patron on Nov. 26 for the 2pm matinee performance of "Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes," the venue's biggest event of the year.

City Council Approves Public Art Program for Durham

The Durham City Council passed a resolution to devote up to one percent of funds from the proposed General Capital Improvement Project annual budget to the installation of public art around the city and downtown. The percent-for-public art program was a high priority section of Durham's Cultural Master Plan.

Pauli Murray Honored with State Historical Marker Sunday

Durham has honored the work and life of civil rights pioneer Pauli Murray (1910-1985) with a state historical marker at the corner of Carroll and West Chapel Hill streets just blocks from where Murray grew up.

Durham Ranked 27th Smartest City in the U.S.

Durham is the 27th smartest city in the country, according to a new ranking from American City Business Journals

Durham, Scratch Bakery to Appear on Cooking Channel's "For the Love of Pie"

Phoebe Lawless of Scratch Bakery will appear on the Cooking Channel's "For The Love of Pie." The program airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 16th and features scenes shot in Durham in July and includes moments at the Durham Farmer's Market.

Coach K Becomes Winningest Coach in Division I Basketball History

Duke Blue Devils Coach Krzyzewski became the winningest coach in Division I basketball history with 903 career wins when Duke beat Michigan State. The win broke the previous record for career wins held by "Coach K's" college coach and mentor Bob Knight.

Nneena Freelon, Duke Professor Perform at Request of President Obama

Durham Grammy-winner Nnenna Freelon was joined by Duke Music Professor and bassist John Brown in a special performance at the request of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for a dinner and luau hosted by the Obamas for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii. The concert included jazz, soul and pop standards.

Papa Mojo's Wins Wisconsin Cheeseburger Contest with Cheeseburger Po Boy

Papa Mojo's was one of 12 restaurants from across the country to win Wisconsin Cheeseburger Contest with their recipe for the "Cheeseburger Po Boy." The contest was sponsored by US Foods and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Winners. Winners were selected based on creativity, originality, innovative cooking techniques, use of current industry trends and the inclusion of Wisconsin cheese.

Fareed Zakaria to Speak at 2012 Duke Commencement

Duke University officials have announced that journalist Fareed Zakaria will speak at the Class of 2012's commencement ceremony. Zakaria is editor-at-large at Time magazine and the host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria's GPS." He is also a frequent commentator on issues regarding national relations and a former columnist for Newsweek.

Coach K Ties NCAA Division I Record for Career Wins

The Duke Blue Devils 96-55 win over Presbyterian at Cameron Indoor Stadium made for Coach Krzyzewski’s 902nd career head coaching victory. The win tied Krzyzewski for the all-time NCAA Division I men’s basketball lead with Bob Knight, Coach K's mentor and former coach at Army. Krzyzewski's will have his first chance at a record-breaking 903rd Tuesday when the Blue Devils play Michigan State at Madison Square Garden.

Durham Skydiver Wins Gold at National Championships

Devon Shows of Durham, NC won a gold medal in four-way formation skydiving at the 2011 U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships in Eloy, AZ. Four-way formation skydiving requires the team to create geometirc formations in freefall before deploying their parachutes. Shows has made 3,350 career skydives.

Durham County Register of Deeds Receives National Honor

Durham County Register of Deeds Willie L. Covington has received the Archives Award from the Federation of Genealogical Societies. The Archives Award is presented to an organization or an individual in recognition of exceptional contributions in the area of archival access, preservation, or services. Covington was recognized for his efforts in preserving Durham County vital records that were in a rapid state of deterioration to ensure the original historical documents will be accessible for future generations.

Blue Devils Open Season With Longest Home-Court Winning Streak in NCAA

The Duke Blue Devils open the 2011-12 basketball season with a 36 consecutive game winning streak at Cameron. The streak dates back to the 2008-09 season and is the longest active home-court winning streak in NCAA men’s basketball.

PGA.com Ranks Duke University Golf Club No. 7 Among NC Courses

Based on a survey of Facebook fans, PGA.com has ranked Duke University Golf Club No. 7 on its list "A Quick Nine: Best Courses in North Carolina."

Durham Winners of Triangle Business Journal's Healthiest Employers Award Announced

Durham County Government, BioMerieux, Inc, Cato Research, Ltd. and Willams Mullen have won Triangle Business Journal's inaugural 'Healthiest Employers of the Triangle' awards. The awards recognize companies and nonprofit entities that commit to making wellness a priority while proactively shaping the health of their employees.

HadenStanziale Named 2011 Firm of the Year

Durham-based HadenStanziale, has been named Firm of the Year in North Carolina by the NC Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The award recognizes excellence in design over an extended period of time. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Southpoint Mall and Erwin Square are among HadenStanziale's local projects.

Durham's "First Lady of Gospel" Receives BET Living Legend Award

Durham's eleven-time Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Shirley Caesar was honored with BET's Living Legend Award at the 2011 Black Girls Rock ceremony. Caesar has released over 30 gospel albums since embarking on a solo career in 1966 and is considered the "First Lady of Gospel."

Durham Ranks No. 5 in NC for Most Small Businesses

According to a study by American Business Journals, Durham ranks No. 5 in the state for most small businesses with 11,281.

Durham Designated a "Citizen-Engaged Community"

The City of Durham has been designated one of 10 “Citizen-Engaged Communities” from across the U.S. by the The Public Technology Institute  for 2011-2013 for its use of technology to connect with residents. PTI’s Citizen-Engaged Communities Designation program recognizes excellence in multi-channel contact centers and best practices for the use of Citizen Relationship/Records Management (CRM) systems, 311 systems, web portal technology, telephony systems, and mobile communications infrastructure.

Duke Boasts 97 Percent Graduation Success Rate Among Student-Athletes

Statistics for the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) released by the NCAA indicate that ninety-seven percent of freshmen student-athletes graduated from Duke within six years. The GSR includes student-athletes receiving scholarship aid or recruited individuals participating in programs that do not offer athletic aid.

Duke Ranked 7th Best Value in Private Universities

Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine ranked Duke University #7 on its 2011-2012 list of the "10 Best Values in Private Universities."

'Voice of Blue Devils' Broadcasts 400th Consecutive Game

Duke's October 15th game versus Florida State marked the 400th consecutive Blue Devil football game called by Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Harris. Harris has been the voice of the Blue Devils for over three decades; his broadcasting streak began on September 11, 2976 with Duke's victory over Tennessee.

Duke Ranked #19 on U.S. News & World Report's List of World's Best Universities

U.S. News & World Report named Duke University the 19th best university in the world.

'The Dr. Oz Show' to Feature Durham Weight Loss Center

Structure House, a Durham-based residential weight loss center, will be featured on “The Dr. Oz Show” on Thursday, October 20th. The show will include interviews with Durham psychologist, Katie Rickel, and a woman who has lost a substantial amount of weight on the program which embraces a behavioral approach to weight loss

"Duke '91 & '92" Championship Teams the Subject of Turner Sports Documentary

Duke's 1991 and 1992 championship basketball teams are the subject of a new documentary being developed by Turner Sports for broadcast before the 2012 NCAA championship game. Former Duke All-Americans Grant Hill and Christian Laettner are among those involved in the development of the film, "Duke '91 & '92."

Durham Songwriter Inducted Into NC Hall of Fame

Durham songwriter John D. Loudermilk will be inducted into the N.C. Music Hall of Fame. The Durham native has written around 1,000 songs, 350 of which have been recorded by some 1,100 artists, including “Tobacco Road,” "Cherokee Nation," “Abilene” and “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.”

Durham a Three-Time Winner of 100 Best Communities for Young People Honor

Durham has been named one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance and ING for a third time. The competition recognizes communities across the country that focus on reducing high school dropout rates and providing service and support to their youth.

Duke to Debut New Football Anthem Produced by Sugarhill Gang Member

Duke grad and bassist for Sugarhill Gang’s iconic hit “Rapper’s Delight,” Chip Shearin, has partnered with the Duke football program to produce the official anthem for the Blue Devils, "We Are Duke!" The anthem will debut Saturday, Oct. 15, when Duke hosts Florida State at 3 p.m.

Duke Ranked Top NC College For Salary Potential

Duke University was ranked #1 in Triangle Business Journal's list of the top NC colleges by salary potential.

N.C. Central Approved to Introduce First Ph.D. Program in 50 Years

North Carolina Central University received final approval from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to introduce a doctor of philosophy program in integrated biosciences. Students will be recruited to enter the program in fall 2012. N.C. Central would award the first Ph.Ds four years later, the university's first in more than 50 years.

Fuqua School of Business Expands Global Presence to Kazakhstan

As part of their global commitment and intent to become the world’s first legitimately global business school, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business will assist Nazarbayev University (NU) in Kazakhstan in creating a business school from the ground up in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana.The target date for the launch of an MBA program at Nazarbayev University is September 2012. Fuqua currently has a presence in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; London, England; New Delhi, India; Shanghai/Kunshan, China; and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Duke Reaffirms Commitment to Needs-Blind Admissions

Duke has reaffirmed its commitment to needs-blind admissions. The policy, a bedrock of the university according to Duke officials, states that an applicant’s ability to pay tuition will not be a factor in the admission decision. The renewed commitment comes at a time when many institutions of higher education have begun to focus more attention on recruiting students who can pay full tuition.

McKinney's 'SPENT' Reaches 1.179 Million Plays

The online game “Spent,” created by the Durham-based advertising agency McKinney to benefit the Urban Ministries of Durham, educates its users about poverty and homeless. Prior to last week, the game had seen 1.179 million plays -- a surge in traffic over the past week has resulted in an additional 380,094 plays and $14,000 in new donations as of Thursday. In total, Urban Ministries has received $34,280 from 1,637 separate donations directly resulting from the game.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens Awarded Preservation NC's Top Honor

Duke University will receive Preservation North Carolina's highest honor for the restoration of the historic Roney Fountain that now sits near the entrance to Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The Minnette C. Duffy Landscape Preservation Award recognizes preservation, restoration or maintenance of landscapes, gardens, streetscapes or grounds related to historic structures.

Durham Grammy-Winner Marsalis to Receive State's Highest Civilian Honor

World-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis will receive the state's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. The state Department of Cultural Resources selected the Durham-based Grammy winner for his many musical contributions to the community and for his volunteer work, including with the N.C. Symphony.

Durham Ranked Businessweek's 37th Best American City

Durham was ranked #37 among Businessweek's America's 50 Best Cities list for its "great parks, many restaurants, and good air quality." The article goes on to note that Durham "has done well in this economic environment, with a below-average unemployment rate and one of the lowest rates of foreclosures among cities on our list."

Duke Honored With Higher Education Civic Engagement Award

Duke University has been recognized for its commitment to global service and community involvement with the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Duke is one of just six institutions nationwide chosen for the award which will be presented Oct. 3 during The Washington Center’s annual awards luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Quintiles Ranked Fourth Among Technology Innovators

Durham-based pharmaceutical services company Quintiles ranked fourth in Information Week's annual rankings of the 500 top technology innovators.

NCCU School of Law Ranked Fourth for Clinical Opportunities

preLaw magazine has ranked the N.C. Central University School of Law fourth in the nation in clinical opportunities for students. The only law schools ranked higher than NCCU were those at Yale University, the University of Georgia and the University of the District of Columbia.

Duke Ranked Nation's 10th Best University by U.S. News & World Report

Duke is the nation's 10th best university according to U.S. News & World Report's 2011 national university rankings. Duke has ranked among the nation's top 10 universities since 1988 with the exception of 1989 when Duke placed 12th.

Composer Robert Ward Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by National Endowment for the Arts

Robert Ward, Durham's 94-year-old Pulitzer Prize winning composer, has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honors in Washington, D.C. Ward's resume includes seven symphonies, eight operas and numerous shorter works. Ward taught at Duke University for over a decade and served as chancellor of the NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

NC Central University Officially Joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

N.C. Central University is now an official member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. As a member program, NCCU is now eligible to participate in conference championships. NCCU began operating as a provisional MEAC member in 2009.

Durham Named a “Playful City USA”

For the third year in a row, Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been recognized by KaBOOM! as a Playful City USA for its efforts to increase play opportunities for children. The City of Durham was selected because of its outstanding dedication to play and its joint-use agreement with Durham Public Schools to enable public access to additional play spaces.

Durham Farmers' Market Voted One of America's Favorite Farmers' Markets

Durham Farmers' Market placed 11th in the American Farmland Trust "America's Favorite Farmers' Market" contest in the large market category. Fans of the market cast their votes throughout the summer making Durham Farmers' Market a standout among the country's over 7000 farmers' markets.

Eight Durham Companies Named to Best Places to Work List

Triangle Business Journal named eight Durham-based companies to their annual list of 'Best Places to Work in the Triangle':  NetApp, EMC Corporation, Bronto Software, Clarkson Consulting, Alston & Bird, BioAgilytix Labs, Evoapp Inc., and Relevance Inc.

Washington Duke Inn Awarded "Best of the South" Recognition

The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club has been recognized as a "2011 Best of the South" property by the readers of Meetings Focus South on the basis of quality of meeting space, guest rooms, staff, service, food, beverage, amenities, activities and value.

Neal Middle School Band Receives VH1, Dale Jr. Foundation Support

The Dale Jr. Foundation and theVH1 Save the Music Foundation donated $30,000 worth of instruments to Neal Middle School. The Dale Jr. Foundation is a philanthropic organization presided over by race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. The VH1 Save the Music Foundation has provided more than $47 million worth of instruments to public schools since the its establishment in 1997.

Durham Bulls to Host 2011 Triple-A National Championship

Durham and the Durham Bulls will host the 2012 Triple-A National Championship Game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Thursday, September 20th, 2012.

Duke Among First Institutions to Expand E-Books

Duke University is among the nation's first academic institutions to offer free online access to books that are still protected by copyright but not in the public domain. Duke will provide online access to obscure titles and scholarly works in its library system - titles for which it already holds the rights to electronically disseminate. The database will be available to students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars as well as the public.

Maya Angelou Delivers Annual Welcome Address to Incoming Duke Students

Maya Angelou honored a promise to Duke to deliver her annual welcome address to the incoming class of 2015 in spite of conflicting timing with the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial dedication in Washington, DC.  The award-winning poet and civil rights figurehead's speech centered on emphasizing the importance of continuing in higher education and developing a lifelong relationship with poetry.

Duke Grad Replaces Jobs as CEO of Apple

Duke University Fuqua School of Business graduate, Tim Cook '88, has replaced Steve Jobs as chief executive officer of Apple.

Six Durham Restaurants Receive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Six Durham restaurants received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence including: Chamas Churrascaria, Fairview Dining Room, Piazza Italia, Revolution, Six Plates Wine Bar and Vin Rouge.

Durham Ranked Among Mid-Sized Cities with Most Same-Sex Couples

According to a Williams Institute study based on 2010 Census data, Durham ranks 13th among mid-sized U.S. cities with the most same-sex couples.

Duke University and Health System Named a Top Family-Friendly Workplace

Carolina Parent magazine named Duke University and Health System one of the top family-friendly workplaces in North Carolina. The magazine's13th annual family-friendly list of the top 50 employers that promote work-life balance through benefits and policies will appear in its September issue.

Bronto Software Named to Inc. 5000 List

Inc. magazine ranked Durham-based Bronto Software no. 1377 on its fifth annual Inc. 500|5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

SciMetrika Makes Inc. 500 List of Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Companies

Durham public health consulting business, SciMetrika ranked no. 371 on Inc. Magazine's latest list of the nation's 500 fastest-growing privately owned companies. SciMetrika's reported revenue for 2010 indicates a 921 percent increase in just three years.

Durham Named #1 on Newsoxy's Best Places to Retire List

Newsoxy has named Durham the #1 Best Place in the U.S. to Retire. The article describes Durham as "one of the great places to relax. Residents enjoy four seasons — but without them being too extreme. Homes are affordable, the area is dotted with golf courses and parkland, and the region is home to a renowned university medical center."

Duke Alum Donates $13.6 Million for University Libraries Renovation

Philanthropic donor David M. Rubenstein has committed $13.6 million to a decade-long renovation of Duke University Libraries set to begin in 2012. With the money, Duke hopes to transform the 1928 West Campus library building and its 1948 addition into a state-of-the-art research facility. Duke plans to rename the renovated special library after Rubenstein who worked for Duke University Libraries when he was a student at the school.

Duke Business Professor Ranked Fourth Most Popular on Businessweek List

Shane Dikolli, associate professor of accounting at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, ranked fourth on Businessweek's list of the 'Most Popular Profs at Top Business Schools."

Yao Ming, Grant Hill and Doc Rivers to Attend Duke's "Friendship Games" in China

NBA All-Star Yao Ming, Duke Legend Grant Hill and Boston Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers will be in China to attend "The Friendship Games," the Duke Blue Devils' four-game exhibition series beginning in Kunshan, China on August 17 and ending in Dubai on August 25.

Dolly Parton's Sell-Out Show in Durham Boosts 'Better Day World Tour' Success

Dolly Parton's August 2nd show at Durham Performing Arts Center was the first sell-out on the artist's Better Day World Tour to be reported to the Billboard Boxscore chart - an industry-wide measure of commercial box office success.

Durham's Electric Violin Shop Boasts Largest Selection of Electric String Instruments in the World

The Electric Violin Shop, on N.C. 55 in Durham, boasts the largest selection of electric violins, violas, basses, cellos and string amplification equipment in the world.

NCAA Officially Designates NCCU a Division I Athletic Program

The NCAA has officially reclassified North Carolina Central University from a Division II to a Division I athletic program. In order to become eligible for Division I status, NCCU upgraded its athletic facilities and increased the minimum amount of scholarships offered for each sport. NCCU anticipates the increased exposure inherent in Division I athletics will aid in recruitment and academic enrollment.

Durham Ranks #8 on Men's Health List of iPad Friendly Cities

Durham made Men's Health's nation-wide list of "iPad Hot Spots." The tablet use ranking was based on ad impressions and supplemented with criteria such as the number of Apple and Best Buys stores per capita along with percentage of households that own tablets, notebooks or laptops. Durham ranked #8 on the list of most tech friendly cities.

Durham Named to Forbes' List of America's Geekiest Cities

Forbes named Durham to its list of America's Top 20 Geekiest Cities. Based on the U.S. National Science Foundation's taxonomy for its annual “Science and Engineering Indicators” report, "geeks" are defined as "as any worker with a bachelor’s level of knowledge and education in science or engineering-related fields or workers in occupations that require some degree of technical knowledge or training." With 15.5% of its workforce employed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Durham claimed the #5 spot on Forbes' list.

Durham Bulls Hit 6,000 Wins

On a road game pummeling of Charlotte, the world famous Durham Bulls turned over the odometer on 6,000 wins in the franchise's history!  Let's. Go. Bulls!

Durham Prepares for the Electric Car

Private and public groups are preparing for electric cars by installing battery charging stations around the city and county. There are charging stations in place at Durham's Michael Jordan Nissan dealership, and there are plans for stations at libraries and other city and county government facilities, at American Tobacco downtown, and at private companies.

Duke Hosts Russian Official for Briefing on Business in Russia

In a meeting arranged by the US Russia Business Council, Senator Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation met with representatives of the Fuqua School of Business and the Office of Global Strategy and Programs to discuss the changing landscape of business in Russia and the country's search for partners to further economic development. The meeting was attended by a representative from Senator Richard Burr's office and Jean Davis, director of International Trade for the North Carolina Department of Commerce. 

Duke Ranks Among Best Workplaces in Higher Education

For the fourth year running, Duke has been named as one of the best colleges in the country to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The breadth of professional development program offerings including the Professional Development Institute and Leadership Academy contributed strongly to Duke's recognition as a great college to work for.

Durham Vegan Food Entrepreneur Featured on MSNBC's "Your Business"

Maggie Radzwiller, a veteran of the Durham food scene, is launching Conscious Cuisine, a line of gluten-free, oil-free and sodium-free vegan meals in a jar. Radzwiller and Conscious Cuisine will be featured on today's "Your Business" show on MSNBC, in the "Elevator Pitch" segment.

Durham Bull Desmond Jennings is Going to "The Show"

The Tampa Bay Rays announced that one of their top prospects, the Durham Bulls' Desmond Jennings, has been recalled to Tampa Bay. Jennings has spent parts of the past three seasons as a Bull. This season he has been batting .275 with a team-leading 68 runs scored, 17 stolen bases and three triples.

American Heart Association Honors Durham Regional Hospital

The American Heart Association has recognized Durham Regional Hospital's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients with the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Quality Achievement Award.

Top Performing Specialties Earn Honor Roll Designation for Duke Medical Center

Duke University Medical Center was designated an elite Honor Roll hospital by U.S. News & World Report thanks to top performing medical specialties: Geriatrics ranked No. 5 in the country, pulmonology No. 5, cardiology and heart surgery No. 7, neurology and neurosurgery No. 8, urology No. 8, gynecology No. 9, kidney disorders No. 9, cancer No. 11, rheumatology No. 12, gastroenterology No. 13, psychiatry No. 16, diabetes and endocrinology No. 26, ear, nose and throat, No. 27.

Durham's Spoonflower a Finalist in Facebook-Sponsored Contest for Small Businesses

Durham-based custom fabric business Spoonflower is one of 10 finalists in the "Facebook Big Break for Small Business" contest run by American Express OPEN and Facebook. The winning business will win $20,000 towards developing a social media strategy; as a finalist, Spoonflower has already been awarded a $2,500 Facebook advertising credit.

Duke Medical Center Ranked Ninth Overall by U.S. News & World Report

Duke University Medical Center is the ninth best hospital in the country, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

Grammy Winning Durhamite Has World's Largest Collection of Legendary Banjos

Grammy winner Jim Mills' holds the world’s largest privately owned collection of Gibson flathead five-string Mastertone banjos made between 1930 and 1942 in a walnut-paneled, 1,000-square-foot Banjo Room located in his Durham home.

Burt's Bees Puts Durham on the ABC News "Made in the USA" Map

ABC's "World News with Diane Sawyer" has compiled an interactive map of products fabricated in all 50 states for their "Made in the USA" series. North Carolina has the fourth highest number of companies making products with Burt's Bees representing Durham.

Duke Finishes Fifth In Directors' Cup Standings

Duke finished in fifth place in the final Division I Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Standings, released on Friday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. The Directors’ Cup rankings measure an athletic program’s comprehensive sports success by totaling points based on a team’s finish in national competition.

Durham Wins US Mayors Award for Holton Center Renovation

The City of Durham has received an honorable mention from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for the innovative development and launch of the Holton Career and Resource Center, a state-of-the-art vocational school, recreation center, and community clinic that improves the lives of thousands of students and community members who use the services provided there every day. The Honorable Mention City Livability Award, one of the most competitive programs sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, recognizes Durham’s effort to breathe new life into Northeast Central Durham.

Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival Brings National Recognition to Durham

Durham Parks and Recreation has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2011 Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities Award for the success of the Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival, a community-wide celebration of African and African American culture, history and traditions. Awarded by the National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA), the Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities program honors the most innovative and effective arts and humanities programs across the nation. The Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival has been a signature event in Durham since 1969.

DPAC Boosts Attendance by 15%

In it's 2010-2011 season, the Durham Performing Arts Center hosted 179 performances and sold out 58. Attendance topped 350,000 guests which amounts to a 15 percent increase over the previous season.

Fullsteam to Represent North Carolina in Northwest Cherries' Tree to Table Challenge

Fullsteam Brewery will represent the state of North Carolina in Washington Fruit Commission's Northwest Cherries "Tree to Table" challenge. In honor of National Ranier Cherry Day on July 11, the cherry organization has selected an iconic restaurant or food producer in each state to incorporate the yellow red-blushed cherries into its menu this month.

Duke Students Unveil Smartphone App That Automatically Tags Photos

Students from Duke University unveiled TagSense, a new Smarthphone app that automatically tags photos, at the ninth Association for Computing Machinery's International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications and Services (MobiSys) in Washington, DC. The current application is a prototype; researchers estimate a commercial product could be available in a few years.

Coach K Honored With Naismith Good Sportsmanship Award

Duke University's Coach Mike Krzyzewski was awarded the Naismith Good Sportsmanship Award in a ceremony hosted by the Naismith International Basketball Foundation and the NC Sports Hall of Fame.

Durham Ranks Among Forbes' Best Places for Business and Careers

Durham, NC was ranked #31 on Forbes' list of The Best Places for Business and Careers.

Duke to Overhaul Humanities with Mellon Foundation Grant

Duke University plans a new initiative, the Humanities Writ Large, to overhaul the role of humanities in Undergraduate curriculum with funding from a five-year, $6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Durham Wins Bring Back the 4th

Durham has been selected as a large city/town category winner of Liberty Mututal's Bring Back the 4th - an online contest encouraging people across American to rally together to earn $10,000 grants to support their cities' official Fourth of July celebration.

G Data Software Ranked Third in Top 10 Paid Antivirus Programs

Durham-based G Data Software, one of the world’s first antivirus providers, rands number three in PC World’s popular Top 10 Paid Antivirus Programs for 2011.

Weekend Showing of Community Support Will Keep WNCU's Signal Alive

After a weekend of fund-raising, WNCU has raised the necessary funds to replace its 16-year-old transmitter. The station's Keeping the Signal Alive Campaign raised more that $20,000 which ensures that WNCU can continue to broadcast jazz, blues, reggae and modern African music without interruption. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has promised WNCU a $80,000 matching grant.

Computerworld Names Quintiles a Best Place to Work in IT

Durham, NC-based biopharmaceutical services firm Quintiles ranks 52nd on Computerworld's list of Best Places to Work in IT.

Duke Math Department Earns Top 10 World Ranking

Times Higher Education has ranked Duke's mathematics department amongst the top programs in the world, placing Duke above institutions such as Columbia University, Cornell University and MIT.

Seven Durham Schools Honored by Clinton's Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Seven Durham schools are being honored by The Alliance for a Healthier Generation -- funded by the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association -- for their efforts to curb childhood obesity. The schools being honored at various levels, from Bronze to Platinum, include: Morehead Montessori, Hope Valley and Mangum elementary schools; Neal and Brogden middle schools; and Riverside and Southern high schools.

Durham Makes Paste Magazine's List of Top 5 Most Influential Music Towns

Durham, together with Chapel Hill and Raleigh, made Paste's list of the top five most influential college towns in music. The magazine gave special shout outs to Durham music heavies Merge Records, Megafaun, Schooner, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and of course, Duke University.

Expedia Names Washington Duke Inn A Top-Ranked Hotel

Expedia has named the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham to this year's Expedia Insiders' SelecT list which formally recognizes recognizes individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.

Durham Designated First Gold Level SOAR Community in North Carolina

Durham has been designated by the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness as the first Gold Level Certified SOAR Community in North Carolina. SOAR, or SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery, is an approach that helps communities increase access to mainstream benefits for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

East Durham Children's Initiative Receives Largest Gift to Date from Swiss Philanthropic Organization

"The East Durham Children's Initiative, a program working to create a pipeline of services for children birth through early adulthood in a 120-block area east of downtown Durham, has received its largest gift to date from the Oak Foundation, a Swiss-based philanthropic organization. The amount awarded to EDCI for their "cradle to career" approach to changing East Durham for the better has not be released at the request of the Oak Foundation."

Urban Planet Mobile Recognized for Urban English Language Learning Program

Urban Planet Mobile, a Durham company that provides educational programs for mobile phones, has been named a 2011 Cool Vendor in Education for its Urban English Language Learning Program.

Hillside High and Y.E. Smith Elementary Awarded School Improvement Grants

Hillside High and Y.E. Smith Elementary have been awarded School Improvement Grants by the North Carolina State Board of Education. They were two of only 17 schools in the state to receive the three-year grants.

Appia Named an OnMobile 100 Top Private Company

AlwaysOn has named Durham-based Appia to the first annual OnMobile Top 100 Companies - the top emerging companies that are transforming big industry and creating viable business models for the mobile marketplace.

Urban Planet Mobile Named Finalist for Gates Foundation Grant

Urban Planet Mobile, the world’s leading mobile education provider, has been selected as a finalist for the Gates Foundation’s prestigious Next Generation Learning Challenge Education Grant.

Durham Schools Make Washington Post List of Top High Schools

Jordan, Durham School of the Arts, Riverside and Northern High Schools made The Washington Post's 2011 Challenge Index rankings of the nation's top high school.

Carolina Theatre to Undergo Renovation

The Carolina Theatre will undergo a $1.8 million renovation this summer that will include the most significant changes to the facility since it was restored in the early 1990s.


Read more: News & Observer - Carolina Theatre is being Renovated

DCVB Director of Sales Named Supplier of the Year

Corey Bizzell, Director of Group Sales and Service and the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau was honored with a “Supplier of the Year” award by his peers in the Meeting Professional International Carolinas Chapter. The highly competitive award is given to a member who showed outstanding commitment to MPI and the meetings industry.

Durham Metro Ranks Highest Nationally for Sexual Equality

The Durham MSA is the top metro in the U.S. for equality between the sexes in employment, earnings, industry and education level, according to a U.S. News & World Report study of Census data.


Read more: Report: Durham metro tops for sexual equality | Triangle Business Journal

Burt's Bees Donates a Day of Labor to NEEM Urban Farms

Burt's Bees is donating a day of service as part of the company's annual Culture Day. The fourth annual event ties into Burt's Bess' commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. This year, nearly 400 employees are scheduled to work at three urban farm sites controlled by local non-profit, NEEM. NEEM founder and director, Jeff Ensminger, called the donation of labor “one of the coolest things I’ve seen a company do.”

Read more: Bull City Rising - Burt's Bees Work Today to Further Bull City Urban Farms

GE Aviation Flips the Switch on Durham Solar Field

GE Aviation’s jet engine assembly plant in Durham will be flipping the switch on its new $3 million solar power field at a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 18. The 7-acre Durham solar array has more than 9,000 solar panels and will provide enough electricity to power about one-third of the jet engine plant’s electrical power needs during daylight hours.


Read more: GE Aviation set to turn on Durham solar field | Triangle Business Journal

Washington Duke Inn Honored With Presitgious Pinnacle Award

Jim Bressler and the Washington Duke Inn have been awarded The Pinnacle Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the meetings field. As voted by the readers of Successful Meetings, this recognition represents an earned reputation as the most credible and prestigious symbol of  excellence among planners, and corporate and association executives.  
 

Durham Boasts Highest Salaries in the South

Wages are higher in Durham than anywhere else in the South. According to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and a study by The Business Journals, a division of Charlotte-based America City Business Journals, the typical worker in the Durham metropolitan area – Durham, Orange, Chatham and Person counties – earned $50,480 in 2009. These earnings make Durham the wage leader throughout the South.

Read more: Durham boasts highest wages in South | Triangle Business Journal

DPAC Ranked Second Most Attendend Theater Nationally

The Durham Performing Arts Center is the No. 2 theater in the country in attendance rankings for the first quarter of 2011, according to trade magazine Pollstar.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - DPAC ticket sales ranked second in U S

LaunchBox Digital Ranks Fourth Nationally Among Startup Accelerators

LaunchBox Digital was just ranked fourth among national startup accelerators by Tech Cocktail. LaunchBox Digital was the only accelerator in the southeastern United States outside Texas to be recognized. Founder John McKinley is a former chief technology officer and president of digital services at AOL .

Read more: Tech Cocktail - Top 15 U.S. Startup Accelerators and Incubators Ranked; TechStars and Y Combinator Top the Rankings

Secretary of Education Visits Durham's Innovative Performance Learning Center

The Performance Learning Center, a Durham public high school come laboratory for progressive teaching and learning methods, has drawn attention from national policymakers who came to see the innovation in action. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan at the school on Monday to talk about how to turn around low-performing schools. They toured a math class and talked to students.

The Performing Learning Center is a partnership between the Durham Public Schools and Communities in Schools, a nonprofit that has helped form schools around the state. The partnership aims to reduce dropout rates and has been supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.


Read more: News & Observer - Durham School Gets High-Profile Visitors

Golden Belt Neighborhood Hosts Home Tour, Celebrates Progress

On Sunday afternoon, the Golden Belt neighborhood hosted it's first "Before and After Home Tour." Golden Belt, like other long-distressed residential sections in central Durham, has benefited from a combination of official emphasis, private investment, and a changing trend in residential fashion. Fresh paint, tidy yards, blooming flowers, and a sense of pride and optimism are becoming characteristic of houses in the Golden Belt neighborhood, a National Register historic district near the former Golden Belt textile factory.

Read more: News & Observer - Neighborhood Comes Back to Life

Reality TV Comes to Durham

Cable TV networks HGTV and CMT have announced a pair of upcoming casting opportunities for Durham residents to appear in reality television programs. HGTV has selected Durham as the next location for "Property Virgins," a house-hunting reality television series now in its eighth season. CMT is flipping the switch on MTV's Emmy award-winning series "MADE," which offers its participants the opportunity to pursue personal goals, dreams and aspirations. 

Read more: The Herald-Sun - 2 TV reality shows to host Durham casting calls

The Blackstone Group Announces $3.6 Million Committment to Entrepreneur Network

At Monday's event in Durham's American Tobacco Campus, Stephen A. Schwarzman, CEO and co-founder of private equity firm the Blackstone Group, formally announced that his firm is committing $3.6 million to create an entrepreneur network in the Triangle.

Blackstone's network, a partnership between the company and the Triangle's four major universities, is designed to provide entrepreneurs with the support they need to turn their ideas into fast-growing companies. The foundation says its network has the potential to create more than 17,000 jobs and more than $4 billion in revenue over the next decade.

Read more: News & Observer - Equity Firm Creating Triangle Network for Entrepreneurs

Duke Women’s Golf Listed No. 5 in Latest Golf World Poll

The Duke women’s golf team was named fifth in the latest Golf World/NGCA Coaches’ Poll following a second place finish in the last weekend's ACC Championship.

The Bull City Goes Meatless Monday

 Meatless Mondays, a nationwide initiative launched in hopes of convincing Americans to eat more veggies, kicks off in the Triangle on April 22. Durham residents may already be familiar with the concept due to Eleni Vlachos' well-known efforts to spread vegan cheer throughout the Bull City. Vlachos is the mastermind behind The Pinhook's vegan Thanksgiving and other meals, and the Bull City Vegan Challenge. In support of Meatless Mondays, select local restaurants including Beyú Caffé and Dame's Chicken and Waffles will add vegetarian and vegan offerings to their regular menus.

 Read more: Independent Weekly - Triangle Meatless Mondays

Duke Hosts ACC Track Championship

Duke hosts the ACC Track & Field Championships this weekend. The meet officially kicks off in the morning on Thursday April 21^st and runs through Saturday April 23^rd.

Read more: Duke Set to Host ACC Championships

Durham Farmers' Market Starts Wednesday Hours

The Durham Farmers' market begins its Wednesday seasonal hours today. The market will be open from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. weekly through the end of September. The Wednesday market features the same products that are available of Saturdays -- fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, fresh cut flowers and more

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Durham Farmers Market starts Wednesday hours

Duke, Coulter Foundation Announce $20M Research Collaboration

Duke University and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation have created a $20 million endowment to foster research collaboration between bioengineers and clinicians, with the ultimate goal to develop new technologies to improve patient care.

The Duke Coulter Translational Partnership in biomedical engineering is being funded by $10 million from the Coulter Foundation, with additional investments from Duke and the Fitzpatrick Foundation that brings the endowment to $20 million for Duke's Pratt School of Engineering.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Duke announces 20M collaboration

Urban Ministries of Durham Wins with Spent

Since Urban Ministries of Durham partnered with McKinney to launch SPENT, an "immersive online experience," on Feb. 8 the nonprofit's website has attracted more than 610,000 visitors from 200-plus counties who have spent an average of more than 10 minutes on the site. The game is responsible for generating 625 donations totaling nearly $13,000.


Read more: Spent Puts Players to the Test 

Global Scholars Academy Becomes Durham's Eighth Charter School

Global Scholars Academy is gearing up for its reincarnation as Durham County’s eighth charter school in July after receiving unanimous final approval from the state Board of Education in late February to operate as a charter. Global Scholars opened in 2009 as Union Independent School, a private, tuition-free academy.


Read more: The Herald-Sun - Union Independent becomes a charter

'Unity' was the Theme of Sunday's Civil War Ceremony at Bennett Place

Unity was a central theme Sunday afternoon as speakers, including the News & Observer's Jim Wise, reflected on the Civil War at a ceremony at Bennett Place in Durham, site of the largest surrender of the war.


Read more: The Herald-Sun - Unity s theme of Bennett ceremony

Severe Weather Presents No Problems for Full Frame

Severe storm activity didn't much faze Durham's Full Frame Documentary Film Festival on Saturday, its third and busiest day. Even as loud thunderclaps rattled crowds in the Durham Convention Center, record-breaking crowds resulted in several sold-out screenings. Early estimates suggested the festival had already passed last year's revenue totals by Friday night.

Read more:  Full Frame film festival fears no weather

Durham artist Beverly McIver's Raising Renee screens at Full Frame

Raising Renee, a film about Beverly McIver's family, her painting and the lines of force that cross between them, screens at Full Fram Documentary Film Festival on Friday at 2 p.m. in Fletcher Hall.

McIver lives in Durham and teaches art at North Carolina Central University. She was born in Greensboro just after the lunch counter sit-ins, and the murder of five anti-KKK protesters happened in front of her house in the projects when she was 17. She's now a nationally known painter, having had solo shows throughout the country. The North Carolina Museum of Art will show a retrospective of McIver's work this December.

Read more: Durham artist Beverly McIver lifts curtain on her life in Raising Renee

Durham filmmakers Josh Gibson and Rodrigo Dorfman return to Full Frame

Two short films with strong ties to Duke have their world debut at Full Frame this year: Kudzu Vine, by Josh Gibson, and One Night in Kernersville, by Rodrigo Dorfman. Gibson, on the faculty in Duke's MFA Program in the Arts of the Moving Image, teams with Duke composer Anthony Kelley for a telescoping, nostalgic look into kudzu's past—and future. Dorfman (a Duke grad) submits in his film a strongly resonating musical portrait of John Brown, director of Duke's jazz program.

Both filmmakers are making return visits to the festival after screening features in the past: Dorfman's autobiographical film essay, Generation Exile, played last year's festival, while Gibson's Full Frame credits include Siamese Connection, a feature about Chang and Eng Bunker, the original Siamese twins, who lived in Mt. Airy, N.C.

Read more: Durham filmmakers Josh Gibson and Rodrigo Dorfman return to the festival

Full Frame 2011: The festival enters its second decade

It's hard to believe, but Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is well into its second decade. There's now a generation of people in the Triangle who plan their springs around the 100-plus documentaries that will screen over four intoxicating days beginning Thursday.

Read more: Full Frame 2011: The festival enters its second decade

NCCU Announces US Rep. John Lewis to Speak at Commencement

U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia will speak at N.C. Central University spring commencement for undergraduates. Lewis, a major figure in the civil rights movement, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address on May 14 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium and will receive an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree.


Read more: Civil rights hero to deliver NCCU commencement address 

King's Sandwich Shop Opens for Breakfast

King's Sandwich Shop at 701 Foster St., is expanding hours and menu to add breakfast. Starting April 12, King's will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The breakfast menu will include biscuits, country ham, sausage, bacon, grits and fatback.

 

King's owner T.J. McDermott has brought 81-year-old Hazel Ladd on board to offer her restaurant expertise as a former King's employee to launch the breakfast side of the operation. McDermott reopened King's Sandwich last year after the hot dog and hamburger joint, built in 1942, closed in 2007.


Read more: The Herald-Sun - Forget champions In Durham it s breakfast with King s

Full Frame Named one of 25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival was named one of "25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in the new issue of MovieMaker.

Durham Business Accelerator Program Breeds Success

LaunchBox Digital, the business accelerator program that provides resources to start-up technology companies in Durham to try to speed the process of launching those new ventures has seen three of its seven original participants get new funding support.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Business breeding ground primed for the ambitious

Another Four Diamond Property in Durham, NC

Durham's The King's Daughters Inn, awarded the Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise of the Year award in 2010, was just named a four diamond property by AAA. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

NCCU Jazz Ensemble Earns Six Wins

The NCCU Jazz Ensemble won six awards at the Villanova Jazz Festival Collegiate Competition; Best Saxophone Section, Best Rhythm Section, Best Trumpet Section, Best Soloist, First Place Combo and First Place Big Band.

Duke is the Favorite US Men's College Basketball Team

The Duke University Blue Devils are the favorite US men’s college basketball team for the second straight year, according to results of a new poll by Harris Interactive.  The Duke women’s basketball team ranked 6th most favorite in the same poll.

Duke University Medical Center Ranks at the Top

Duke University Medical Center was ranked first for best hospitals in metro area rankings according to the U.S. News and World Report’s best hospitals edition. Durham Regional Hospital was also ranked fourth.

Two Duke Athletes Win NCAA Titles

Duke sophomore Nick McCrory won his second straight national title in platform diving, setting a championship record with 548.90 points.

Blue Devils junior Becca Ward won her second national championship in fencing by claiming the women's saber crown.

Smith Named All-American

Duke's Nolan Smith was named to the Associated Press All-American Team. Smith is the fifth Devil to be named an All-American since 2000.

NCCU's Law School Most Popular

NCCU's law school ranks ninth on U.S. News & World Report's list of the 10 Most Popular Law Schools which evaluates schools on the percentage of students admitted who choose to enroll.

Nnenna Freelon Honored with Arts Award

Nnenna Freelon, Durham resident, singer, arranger, producer and six-time Grammy Award nominee, will be the recipient of the first Arts Day Artist Award presented by Secretary of Cultural Resources Linda A. Carlisle at the Arts Day Legislative Training.

Coach K Finalist for National Coach of the Year Award

Duke's Mike Krzyzewski was named one of 16 finalists for the 2011 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.

Smith a Finalist for Naismith Honor

Duke senior guard Nolan Smith was announced as one of four finalists for the 2011 Naismith Men's College Player of the Year.

Duke Women's Basketball a "Pack the House" Winner

Duke University has been named one of 33 winners in the NCAA Division I “Pack the House” Challenge. NCAA Division I women’s basketball marketing staffs selected a home game and designated that date as a “Pack the House” game with the goal of setting an attendance record.

Mike Krzyzewski Achieves 900th Career Win

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski achieved his 900th career win and the Devils will play in the Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament continues.

Serious Eats Picks Scratch's Pie on Pi Day

The Peanut Pie from Scratch Bakery was named the #7 best pie on Serious Eats' list of their Favorite Pies in America.

Durham, NC MSA Third Healthiest Housing Market

The Durham, NC MSA was named the number three healthiest housing market in the nation for 2011, according to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.

Duke University Ranks High with U.S. News & World Report

Duke University’s graduate and professional schools continue to rank among the top institutions in their disciplines, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report:

Duke’s medical school tied for fifth for research; the nursing school tied for seventh, its highest ranking ever; the law school remained 11th; and the Fuqua School of Business rose two places to 12th.

The Pratt School of Engineering tied for 31st.

Medical school deans and faculty selected the best medical specialty programs, and Duke was recognized in geriatrics (fourth), internal medicine (fourth), women’s health (fifth), AIDS (eighth) and family medicine (10th). It tied for 41st in primary care.

Duke’s physician assistant program was rated first. The School of Nursing’s pediatric nurse practitioner program was rated fifth, its adult nurse practitioner and gerontological nurse practitioner programs were each ranked 10th, and its nursing-anesthesia program was tied for 11th.

Within the business school ratings, Duke was ranked third in marketing, fourth for executive MBA program, fourth in international, ninth in management and 12th in finance.

Within engineering, Duke ranked fourth for biomedical and bioengineering, 21st for environment/environmental health, 24th for mechanical engineering, 28th for computer engineering and 31st for electrical/electronic communications.

In a new category, U.S. News asked the people who do the hiring at the nation’s top law firms to rate the academic quality of each law school, and Duke finished in a tie for eighth. Within the law school rankings, Duke was rated 11th for intellectual property law.

ACC Champions and #1 Seed

The Duke University Men's Basketball team defended their ACC Tournament Championship and secured a #1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Scratch Bakery Racks Up National Attention

Scratch Bakery was featured on the Cooking Channel for its delicious baked goods.

Appia Makes Wall Street Journal's Exclusive List

Appia, the Durham company that helps mobile-phone companies build online "apps stores" is the only local firm on the Wall Street Journal's 2011 list of the top 50 venture-funded companies.

Smith Named ACC Player of the Year

Duke University men's basketball player Nolan Smith was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year.

Two Outlets Name Nolan Smith National Player of the Year

FoxSports.com and Yahoo.com released their postseason honors with Duke senior guard Nolan Smith being named the National Player of the Year by both national media outlets.

Duke Seniors Selected for First-Team All-ACC

Duke senior Nolan Smith was the only unanimous pick for first-team All ACC and teammate Kyle Singler was also selected for the first team. It was the second straight year Singler made the first team, and he is just the fourth Blue Devil to be a four-time All-ACC pick as he was also on the second team (2009) and third team (2008).

Durham, NC MSA Third Healthiest Housing Market

The Durham, NC MSA ranked the third healthiest on Builder Magazine's list of the 100 largest U.S. housing markets.

Duke Women's Basketball Reigns

The Duke University Women's Basketball team successfully defended their ACC Regular Season and ACC Tournament Championships and will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

NCSSM Break World Record

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics have officially broken the world record for the amount of nonperishable food collected in one day at one location by collecting 540,508 pounds of food.

Hope Valley Country Club Chef Honored

Clyde "Jay" Christmas, executive chef of the Hope Valley Country Club, was one of three chefs awarded the American Culinary Federation, Inc. Cutting Edge Award at the 2011 ACF Southeast Regional Conference.

The Scrap Exchange Wins Green Award

The Scrap Exchange was honored with the Green Plus Sustainable Non-Profit of the Year award.

Houghton Named Influential CEO

American Underground's Aaron Houghton (co-founder, iContact; founder, Preation) named fourth "Most Influential CEO Under 30" by Reuters.

Purchasing Division Awarded Highest Honor

The City of Durham’s Purchasing Division has been awarded the Sustained Professional Purchasing Award (SPPA) for 2010; this is the highest award a purchasing department or division can obtain within the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing. 

The Herald-Sun Honored with Awards

The Herald-Sun received nine awards, including a third place in the General Excellence category for its circulation division, in the 2010 North Carolina Press Association News, Editorial and Photojournalism Awards.

Urban Planet Mobile Honored as Worldwide Leader

Durham-based Urban Planet Mobile, the world's leading mobile education provider, won the prestigious 2011 Global Mobile Award, recognizing the company as the worldwide leader in mobile education.

Durham Picks up Grammy Awards

The Durham-based Carolina Chocolate Drops won the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album with "Genuine Negro Jig" and "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire (on Durham's Merge Records) won the album of the year award.

Durham Not Angry According to Men's Health

Durham was named the #21 least angry city in the US according to Men's Health Magazine.

NCSSM Students Recognized

Jessie Duan and Bryce Taylor, seniors at Durham's North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, were named state winners of the 2010 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement which recognizes up to 100 of America's top achievers in Advanced Placement science and mathematics courses with a $2,000 college scholarship.

Durham Recognized for Immigrant Integration

The City of Durham was recognized by the National League of Cities "20 Cities, 20 Good Practices" Report as one of the top US cities whose practices should be emulated for promoting understanding of cultural differences between Latinos and other population groups.

Scratch Bakery Featured on Cooking Channel

Durham's Scratch Bakery was featured on the show "Unique Eats" on the Cooking Channel.

NCSSM Student Finalist in National Science Competition

Si Yi "Ryan" Lee, a senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, was named one of 40 finalist in the 2011 Intel Science Talent Search competition.

Durham a Best Community for Young People

Durham was selected as one of the America’s Promise Alliance 100 Best Communities for Young People.

Durham Woman Featured on Today Show, Wins Role at DPAC

Nicole Graziano, a Durham woman, has won a walk-on role for the Durham Performing Arts Center's production of "In The Heights" after sharing her story on the Today Show's "Everyone Has A Story" segment.

DPAC Ranks in Top 10 Among US Theaters

DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center was ranked ninth among US theaters according to Pollstar magazine's year-end rankings for 2010, based on reported attendance.

Duke University Ninth in Charitable Donations

Duke University received more than $345 million in charitable donations during the 2010 fiscal year, ninth best among all U.S. colleges and universities.

Urban Planet Mobile Competes for Prestigious Award

Urban Planet Mobile, the world’s leading mobile education provider and located in Durham, NC, has been selected as 1 of 5 finalists for the prestigious 2011 Global Mobile Awards for its Urban English Mobile Innovation and will compete for the “World’s Best Mobile Learning Innovation” award.

44% of Durham County Residents have Bachelor's Degree

According to new figures compiled from U.S. Census Bureau data, nearly 44 percent of Durham County residents have a bachelor's degree making Durham's rate the third-highest in the state -- after Orange and Wake counties -- and it's significantly higher than the state rate of 25.8 percent and the national percentage of 27.5.

Pete Crowley Wins Chess Championship

Durham Academy kindergartner Pete Crowley took first place in his age group at the 2010 Kindergarten Chess Championship sponsored by the U.S. Chess Federation; defeating the No. 1 seed kindergarten player in the nation for the title and a trophy.

Durham's Own is Cross Country Runner of the Year

Blake Williams, a senior at Northern High School, was chosen as the Gatorade North Carolina boys high school cross country runner of the year.

Counter Culture Coffee Wins Award

Counter Culture Coffee was one of ten national winners in the Good Food Awards coffee category.

NCCU Research Team Awarded Grant

A research team from N.C. Central University was awarded a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes.

ADF Director Honored for Years of Service and Contributions to Dance

Charles Reinhart, director of the American Dance Festival for 42 years and counting, will be celebrated in a special event in honor of his 80th birthday, which was Dec. 5, and for his contributions to the dance world. He was also honored with the Award of Merit by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

Durham Jazz Artist Honored with Highest Award

America's first family of jazz -- patriarch Ellis Marsalis Jr. and four of his sons (including Branford, who lives in Durham) -- were presented the NEA Jazz Masters Award at the 2011 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony.

Counter Culture Coffee Named Finalist

Counter Culture Coffee was one of 21 national coffee roasters to be named a finalist in the Good Food Awards coffee category.

Visit Durham in 2011 - NYT Says So!

Durham, NC was listed as one of New York Times' "41 Places to Go in 2011."

Peach Lemonade from Scratch a Top Sip of 2010

The peach lemonade from Scratch in Durham was #7 on Ed Levine's "Top 7 Sips of 2010 (for teetotalers)".