Daily editionThursday, September 3rd, 2026
Good morning, Durham.
The 5AM Durham Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 3rd of September.
Community
Apex resident Girish Amin has been searching for his sister Amita, who went missing in Nepal after severe floods as hundreds gathered at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Morrisville to support the local Nepali community.
He is working with the U.S. State Department and Nepal authorities to get updates.
ABC11Read more
Business
A family-owned pizza shop in Durham that served locals for nearly 20 years was destroyed on Wednesday, Sep. 2; the family reported the loss + further details have not been released.
WRALRead more
Education
Participants in Duke's Citizens Police Academy, beginning Oct. 7, will attend interactive classes on campus and learn police training through sessions including crime scene investigation plus emergency response.
Interested staff and faculty must apply by Sept. 11 and pass a background check to join (alumni classes begin Oct. 13).
Duke TodayRead more
Duke professor Dan Ariely faces renewed scrutiny after evidence from Monday suggests he altered data in a 2002 procrastination study.
Science experts noted anomalies — including unusually high effect sizes — while Duke closed his Center for Advanced Hindsight amid ongoing concerns.
Duke ChronicleRead more
New data from the NC Department of Public Instruction shows that school test scores improved last year, with third- through eighth-graders reaching 52.5% in reading and 56.7% in math.
Families can use the online tool (best viewed in a web browser) to check their school’s performance.
WRALRead more
Jordan High School was placed on secure status Wednesday afternoon after suspicious activity on campus prompted Durham Public Schools to take action, and several police vehicles were seen outside until the school day ended at 4:15 p.m. (Durham Public Schools is investigating the incident.)
WRALRead more
Government
Durham County Veteran Services will offer limited in-person assistance from Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25 as staff attend accreditation training.
Phone and email support remain available while appointments pause until full service resumes Monday, Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m.
Durham County GovernmentRead more
Health
Health experts urged older adults to stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and check on neighbors amid dangerous triple-digit temperatures gripping the Triangle this week as high heat challenges safe outdoor activities.
ABC11Read more