Daily editionSaturday, September 5th, 2026
Good morning, Durham.
The 5AM Durham Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 5th of September.
Community
Hope Animal Rescue, an all-volunteer group (founded in 2013 by Cathy and Ashley Threadingham), was named the September Triangle NC Cares Award winner by Ricci Law Firm Injury Lawyers for its work rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned dogs.
ABC11Read more
Business
Durham has relaunched Bounce Back to give small businesses along Fayetteville Street grants up to $10K, technical assistance and workshops to preserve a historic part of the city's Black business community.
Local owners say more funding is needed to upgrade aging properties.
ABC11Read more
Education
Durham Public Schools reported that more than half of its students scored at proficiency levels—the highest rate since 2013-2014—while graduation rates fell to 80.3%, a 10-year low for the 2025-2026 school year.
Hispanic and foster care students experienced notably lower rates.
Indy WeekRead more
UNC faculty and students pressed leadership after a man was taken into custody for hurling racial slurs during a watch party at Greenlaw Hall (with about 80 to 100 attendees) earlier this week; officials said system approval delays slowed the campus alert.
WRALRead more