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Friday, November 6, 2026

Durham shelter answers photo claims, and NC schools report $18B in needs

Plus, Durham has an estimated 81 days of water left, and Duke won 113-52.

The 5AM Durham team2 stories16 sources6 min read

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Durham CountyTop story

Durham's animal shelter says photos a former employee posted are old and don't show it today

The post spread fast, and the 2025 inspection flagged problems

More than 100
Facebook shares of the post since Wednesday afternoon
9
areas needing improvement in the September 2025 inspection
3
areas not in compliance in that inspection

Sources: CBS 17, WRAL

If you've seen the Facebook post about the Durham County animal shelter, here's the response. A former employee shared photos of unsanitary conditions, moldy pet food and dead dogs piled into an incinerator, and the post has been shared more than 100 times since Wednesday afternoon. The says the photos are old and the person hasn't worked there in more than four months.

“These pictures don't represent what APS and the Durham shelter is today.”

Stacy Bluth, APS of Durham interim executive director, to CBS 17

WRAL News searched the public state inspection reports and found every result from 2018 to January 2025 marked "approved." The September 2025 inspection was "contingently/conditionally approved due to the inadequacies." The July 2026 report says "Staff has corrected issues noted in previous inspections but there are still some that need repair." WRAL's video Thursday showed clean kennels.

  • Tours: APS is hosting community tours in the coming weeks
  • Fundraiser: Home for the Holidays, Washington Duke Inn, Saturday
  • Inspections: public on the state agriculture department's website

The shelter's inspections and leadership have changed since 2025

  1. Jan. 2025Every public state inspection from 2018 to January 2025 was marked approved.
  2. Sept. 2025Inspection is marked contingently approved, citing nine areas to improve and three out of compliance.
  3. March 2026APS board puts interim leadership in place.
  4. July 2026Inspection says staff corrected earlier issues, but some still need repair.
  5. Nov. 7The shelter's Home for the Holidays fundraiser is scheduled at the Washington Duke Inn.

Sources: CBS 17, WRAL

Asked

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Asked

Will you tour the Durham County animal shelter?

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State Schools

NC school districts report $18 billion in construction needs over the next five years

North Carolina school districts say they need about $18 billion for construction over the next five years, up from $13.1 billion in 2021, according to a survey presented to the State Board of Education on Nov. 4. Guilford County ($2.2 billion), Wake County ($2 billion) and Winston-Salem/Forsyth ($1.5 billion) listed the most.

$18 billionin school construction needs over the next five years

That's up from $13.1 billion in the 2021 survey, a nearly $5 billion increase.

Sources: Durham Herald Sun, Carolina Journal

  • Renovations: $9.8 billion at 1,416 schools; new schools $6.2 billion
  • Old buildings: 40% are more than 50 years old
  • State lottery money: $2.8 billion for construction over five years
  • DPI could ask lawmakers for $142 million more a year

Higher construction costs, not more projects, drive most of the increase, Carolina Journal reports: the survey's baseline rose from $250 to $350 per square foot. Counties passed about $5 billion in school bonds over the same period, in only eight of 100 counties. "So there's a real issue in terms of where the money is going to come from," state board Vice Chairman Alan Duncan said. He added that help may be needed now that voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to limit local property tax increases.

Guilford, Wake and Winston-Salem/Forsyth listed the most school construction needs

Source: Durham Herald Sun

View as table
Value
Guilford$2.2 billion
Wake$2 billion
Winston-Salem/Forsyth$1.5 billion

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News Notes

Water supply

Durham has an estimated 81 days of accessible water remaining, with its two main reservoirs at 31% of combined storage capacity. The city could soon implement Stage 3 water restrictions. WRAL

Data centers

The Durham Planning Department has proposed rules for data centers once the city and county moratoriums end, including neighborhood meetings, public hearings and reports on water, wastewater and power use. Data centers would be limited to industrial, light industrial, university and campus, and science and research park districts. The INDY

Duke hoops

No. 2 Duke beat Coastal Carolina 113-52 Thursday night, scoring the game's first 16 points and leading by 36 at halftime. Patrick Ngongba II had a career-high 28 points, and the Blue Devils are 2-0. The Duke Chronicle says it's the highest victory margin under coach Jon Scheyer. CBS 17The Duke Chronicle

Duke beat Coastal Carolina by 61 points

  • Coastal Carolina52
    Duke113
    FinalPatrick Ngongba II scored a career-high 28 points

Sources: CBS 17, The Duke Chronicle

Computing school

Administrators got more pushback Thursday at the Arts & Sciences Council meeting on a proposed Duke School of Computing, a $300 million initiative. It would have no primary faculty but would allow secondary and joint appointments. The Duke Chronicle

Duke Forest

Duke Forest has a new Motus receiving station on a research tower in its Blackwood division that will detect and record the movements of birds, bats and insects. It's a project of the MaRRS lab at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. Qué Pasa

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Around North Carolina

Wake Tech bond

Wake County voters approved a $149.1 million bond that will expand workforce training programs and fund upgrades across Wake Tech campuses. ABC11 News

Tonya's pop-up

Tonya's Cafe and Bakeshop will open a temporary pop-up at University Place in Chapel Hill in mid-November, the restaurant announced Wednesday. Chapelboro says the shop will be in the 900 Willow building. Fans can order meals and pies in time for Thanksgiving. A Sept. 19 fire closed the cafe on South Elliott Road, and no reopening date has been announced. Durham Herald SunChapelboro

UNC hoops

UNC plays Wofford tonight, Fri., Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. on ACC Network. The Tar Heels were outrebounded 41-32 by Western Carolina in their 80-72 opener. The News & Observer

UNC won its opener but lost the boards to Western Carolina

80Points72
32Rebounds41

Source: The News & Observer

Asked

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Asked

How are you spending your Saturday?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Writers live twice.

— Natalie Goldberg

Things to Do

Things to Do

Durham, NC

Friday, Nov. 6

See every Durham eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Advertise it on our Jobs board.

The Buy

Around the Block

Around the Block

Powered by Nextdoor

Lost and found

This older gentleman seems very lost.

“He’s walking down our block to the dead end and saying he’s looking for a bus. My husband is trying to help him but the gentleman says he doesn’t have a phone or anyone to call. He also says he wants to get back to Philadelphia. He’s wearing a Philadelphia eagles hat and coat. Appears to be holding a rolled up chess…”

— A neighbor, Ashton Hall
Photo from the neighbor’s post

97 likes · 42 comments

View post

The Wrap

Sunday afternoon brings a talent show at the DPAC, and the cast is friends with and without disabilities. The Reality Ministries Talent Show mixes performances with original art, and it's free. It's set for Sunday, Nov. 8, with the show starting at 3 p.m. Break out the applause.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? M&F Bank shareholders approve $105 million sale to Optus

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Every source in this edition16 links · 12 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. CBS 17cbs17.com
  3. WRALwral.com
  4. Durham Herald Sunheraldsun.com
  5. Carolina Journalcarolinajournal.com
  6. WRALwral.com
  7. The INDYindyweek.com
  8. CBS 17cbs17.com
  9. The Duke Chronicledukechronicle.com
  10. The Duke Chronicledukechronicle.com
  11. Qué Pasaquepasamedia.com
  12. ABC11 Newsabc11.com
  13. Durham Herald Sunheraldsun.com
  14. Chapelborochapelboro.com
  15. The News & Observernewsobserver.com
  16. Durham events calendar5amdurhamnc.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Duke routs Coastal Carolina 113-52 behind Ngongba's career-high 28
  2. Thurs., Nov. 5M&F Bank shareholders approve $105 million sale to Optus
  3. Wed., Nov. 4Durham's reservoirs are 33% full as the drought deepens
  4. Tues., Nov. 3M&F Bank shareholders are set to vote Wednesday on Optus merger
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5AM Durhamto me · Fri., Nov. 66:00 a.m.

Durham shelter answers photo claims, and NC schools report $18B in needs

Plus, Durham has an estimated 81 days of water left, and Duke won 113-52.

The TLDR

  1. Durham's animal shelter says photos from a former employee are old
  2. NC districts report $18 billion in school construction needs
  3. Durham has an estimated 81 days of water left
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Durham’s other editions

All the news
Blue DevilsPatrick Ngongba II scores a career-high 28 as No. 2 Duke routs Coastal CarolinaPatrick Ngongba II set a career high with 28 points and nine rebounds Thursday night as No. 2 Duke beat Coastal Carolina 113-52 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils scored the game's first 16 points and led 54-18 at halftime. His old high was 17.Today’s editionRead Tar HeelsUNC beats Wofford 109-70 a week after nearly toppling No. 1 MiamiNorth Carolina beat Wofford 109-70 Friday night at the Smith Center, putting Michael Malone's Tar Heels at 2-0. UNC scored 100 points for the first time since the 2024-25 season. Malone said he kept telling players "we're building habits."Today’s editionRead BusinessM&F Bancorp shareholders approve the sale of Durham's M&F Bank to OptusIf you bank with M&F, the sale is one step from done. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved the merger into South Carolina-based Optus Financial Corp. Wednesday, and holders of fewer than 2% of shares voted against. The roughly $105 million deal still needs federal approval, and both banks expect it to close by the end of the year.Thursday’s editionRead

Around Durham

From ABC11 News, The Warren Record and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. ABC11 News1 hour ago

    1 dead, 7 seriously injured after vehicle hits group of bicyclists in Wake County

    One bicyclist was killed and seven others were seriously injured when a vehicle struck a group of bicyclists in Wake County on Saturday morning.

  2. The Warren Record3 hours ago

    Fork Chapel Missionary Baptist Church to celebrate pastoral anniversary

    Fork Chapel Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating the pastor’s 13th anniversary for the Rev. Emery E. Jones. The service will be Sunday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m..

  3. Chapelboro3 hours ago

    After Miami Loss, UNC Looks to Regain Footing vs. UConn — The Carolina Football Hour (Nov. 7, 2026)

    97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh preview UNC's non-conference matchup with UConn on Saturday, November 7.

  4. The INDY3 hours ago

    Durham School Board Reconsiders ‘Rightsizing and Consolidation’ Study

    The Durham Public Schools Board of Education is reconsidering hiring a contractor to study enrollment trends and boundary adjustments amid concerns about community engagement and the contracting firm. Enrollment at DPS is declining, in line with national trends as birth rates fall and students move to private and charter schools. Current projections show a continued […]

  5. The News & Observer4 hours ago

    Consumer complaint leads to paused sales at Triangle gas stations. How to report

    In recent weeks, state inspectors found issues at more than a dozen gas stations in the Triangle. If you see a problem at the pump, here’s how to report it.

  6. The News & Observer5 hours ago

    Waymo eyes Raleigh, Durham for self-driving taxis after Charlotte. What to know

    Waymo policy adviser says the company is in active talks with Triangle governments about bringing autonomous taxis to Raleigh and Durham after Charlotte launch.