The North Carolina Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to ban anyone from wearing masks in public for health reasons, following an emotional debate about the wisdom of the proposal.


NC Senate votes to ban people from wearing masks in public for health reasons

Protestors gather in Graham 

North Carolina is a hotbed for hurricanes. Here are the best tips and facts for hurricane season in NC.

Hurricane season begins June 1. Here's what every North Carolina resident needs to know

Hurricane Season in NC

All assets associated with the tag: Leonardo Williams

Leonardo Williams Coverage

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said one way to achieve affordable living is to make the best decisions with city-owned land, one site being the former Durham police station.

Durham mayor offers 'affordable living' vision for former police headquarters

Former Durham police station

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams talks about the former Durham police station on Chapel Hill Street and the options available for the site.

COMMENTS WAS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO INCLUDE THE PAY RAISE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET >> IN HIS FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, DURHAM MAYOR LEONARDO WILLIAMS DESCRIBED THE BULL CITY IS BEING STRONGER THAN EVER DESPITE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES. WRAL'S KNOW KLEIN IS HERE AND KNOW THE MAYOR TOUCHED ON SOME SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT BRINGING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THAT AREA. >> JEFF, YOU DID MAYOR WILLIAMSON ONE WAY TO MAKE AN ACHIEVEMENT FOR DOUBLE LIVING AS A WHOLE RIGHT IS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS WITH THAT CITY OWNED LAND. HE'S TALKING SPECIFICALLY HERE ABOUT THE OLD SITE OF THE DURHAM POLICE STATION, A PRIME PEAK PRE PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE BULL CITY 505 WEST CHAPEL HILL STREET IS SURROUNDED BY THAT CHAIN LINK FENCE, OVERGROWN GRASS AND RUSTED OUT STAIRS DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. HE OFFERED HIS VISION TO TRANSFORM THAT 4 ACRE PROPERTY. >> THIS CITY ON LAND, WE YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE HOUSING OPTIONS AT EVERY LEVEL AND WE CAN PROVIDE BEAUTIFUL OPEN SPACE AND RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL. WE HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS. I WANT YOU TO TRUST US. AND ALLOW US TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS IS ASKING FOR GRACE. WELL, CITY LEADERS WORK THROUGH FIGURING WHAT TO DO WITH THAT SONG AFTER LAND. BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE REPORTED 6 DEVELOPERS ARE HOPING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE PROPERTY >> YOU CAN'T PLAY THOUGH ITS

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams talks future for old Durham police station site

A poet began with a reading, and the North Carolina Central University marching band played as the mayor described the city as "stronger than ever" despite recent challenges. One such challenge is the need for more affordable housing in the city.

'I want you to trust us': Durham mayor remains upbeat, focuses on affordable housing during first State of the City address

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams delivers State of the City Address

The Durham City Council voted to approve a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution made Durham one of just 70 cities across the country, including Carrboro, to adopt a ceasefire resolution.

'Our shared humanity:' Durham City Council passes Gaza ceasefire resolution

Pro-Palestinian supporters outside Durham City Council

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told WRAL News he is frustrated with Duke Energy's response to the outage while expressing concern for the residents in the city's east side.

Duke Energy response to Durham power outage frustrates new mayor 

Durham substation

Durham Mayor Leonard Williams tells WRAL News he is frustrated with Duke Energy's response to the outage while expressing concern for the residents in the city's eastside.


<p>NOT WORKING AS FOUR-WAY STOPS &gt;&gt; WE FIND THINGS WILL BREAKING NEWS NOW. NEARLY 12,000 PEOPLE REMAIN WITHOUT POWER THIS MORNING IN DURHAM, NEARLY 19 HOURS AFTER AN EQUIPMENT ISSUE AT A SUBSTATION BY JUST MENTIONED THIS, TOO, AS WELL. NOW SCHOOLS HAVE CANCELED CLASSES, BUT SO WOULD BRING TO THE W AREA LIVE CENTER WITH THE LATEST IN THE PALM OF HIS NAME. &gt;&gt; KEN, THE NEW RESTORATION TIME FOR THIS DURHAM POWER OUTAGE. 06:00PM THAT JUST CHANGED FROM 10 MINUTES AGO. IT HAD BEEN 01:00PM NOON. THEY WERE HOPING TO GET A FIX BY 9 THIS MORNING. CLEARLY THAT TIME KEEPS GETTING PUSHED BACK. NEARLY 12,000 PEOPLE IN DURHAM STILL WITHOUT POWER. THAT NUMBER HAS NOT CHANGED WITHIN THE HOUR. THIS IS ALL DUE TO AN EQUIPMENT ISSUE AT A DURHAM SUBSTATION THAT HAPPENED DURING MAINTENANCE EARLIER ON THE MORNING NEWS, WE SPOKE WITH JEFF BROOKS WITH DUKE ENERGY. HE EXPLAINS THAT THE FIX FOR THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO UNDERGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT HAS TO BE MANUALLY REPAIRED AND IT'S TAKEN A LOT LONGER THAN THEY THOUGHT TO FIX IT. THEY'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND THROUGH THE MORNING. THE POWER OUTAGE STARTED AFTER ONE 30 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. LET'S RUN DOWN THE SCHOOLS IN DURHAM THAT ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THIS EXTENDED POWER OUTAGE. WHY EAST SMITH, MERRICK MOORE ARE IN HARRIS BURTON SEASON CC SPAULDING AND OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL NOT HOLD CLASSES TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S NO POWER IN THOSE BUILDINGS. AGAIN, NEW</p>

Durham's mayor frustrated with Duke Energy response to outage

Duke Energy crews work on outage at east Durham substation

Chelsea Cook will fill the Ward 3 vacancy on the Durham City Council, created when now-Mayor Leonardo Williams vacated that seat.

Chelsea Cook to be appointed as newest Durham City Council member

Chelsea Cook

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams shared his goals and vision for the city on Monday, months after being named mayor in November 2023.

Durham mayor outlines plan for fighting crime, providing economic opportunities at onset of term

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams

Durham's new mayor hosted his first press conference on Monday. Leonardo Williams was just elected to that seat, and he's been on City Council since 2021.

TREE. THE MAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS 35 YEAR-OLD LAZARO. >> DURHAM'S NEW MAYOR HOSTED HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY. LEONARDO WILLIAMS WAS JUST ELECTED TO THAT SEAT AND HE'S BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2021, THE PERILS, MONICA CASEY WAS IN THE ROOM. MONICA WATERS, TOP PRIORITIES. >> I'M JEFF MAYOR WILLIAMS FINISHED SPEAKING JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO TO A GROUP GATHERED HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT THIS PODIUM HERE BEHIND ME, HE WAS SURROUNDED BY HIS POLICY ADVISORS, MAYOR PRO TEM MARK-ANTHONY MIDDLETON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JAVIER AT CABALLERO. HE SAYS HIS TOP 3 PRIORITIES GOING INTO HIS NEW TERM AS MAYOR. OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WILLIAM SAYS HE WILL ESTABLISH THIS INDUSTRY SPECIFIC ADVISORY COUNCILS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, THE ENVIRONMENT AND INNOVATION IN THE COMING WEEKS. HE TOLD THE GROUP HERE HE BELIEVES DURHAM NEEDS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND THE ACCESS THAT RESIDENTS HELP TO THEM. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY AGGRESSIVE AND HOW WE ADDRESS THESE THINGS. WE KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE CITY AND WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO GET THERE. WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY WORKERS DESERVE ARE ARE IN LINE FOR HIGHER PAY. WE HAVE A PAY STUDY THAT IS COMING FORTH ON VERY SOON. >> I ALSO ASKED WILLIAMS ABOUT HIS PLAN FOR CRIME. HE SAYS HE'S FOCUSED ON ROOT CAUSES SUCH AS HOUSING SECURITY AND ACCESS TO JOBS. WILLIAMS SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE MANY MENTOR IN GROUPS HERE IN THE CITY OF DURHAM ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE ISSUE. HE SAYS HE IS ALSO FOCUSED ON MAKING DURHAM THE MOST PROGRESSIVE

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams presents priorities for the city

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams talks about his goals and vision for the city after being named mayor in November 2023.

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams outlines goals for his term

Out of 14 applicants for Durham's vacant Ward 3 council seat, Amanda Borer, Chelsea Cook, Shelia Huggins, and Shastan Swain advanced after garnering at least four votes in an anonymous preliminary vote by current council members.