Here's a look at today's local headlines:

POLICE OFFICER SHOT: Still no word on the condition of the Durham police officer who was shot in the line of duty yesterday. His name was not released, but he was alert when taken to the hospital. This stiory broke too late for today's DN, but appears online and in the N&O. (Link here)

SOUTHERN DURHAM END RUN: Rebuffed by the City Council, the developers of 751 South are now talking to Chatham County about providing water to their proposed 1,300 home project near Jordan Lake. The irony? The water from Chatham would originate in Durham. Read correspondent Matt Goad's story. (Link here)

ART FOR DIABETES: If you've never done a Third Friday ArtWalk, now's the time. Correspondent Debbie Meyer reports how an exhibit opening Friday at Susan Frosch's Basement gallery on Chapel Hill Street was inspired by a friend's son living with the disease. (Link here.)

Do you drive into Chapel Hill each day? If you take NC 54 you've probably seen the giant window posters of Dean Smith and Michael Jordan. They're raising a ruckus in Chapel Hill (well, mostly a ruckus  of strong support). If you'd like to add your two cents, join the conversation on my Facebook page (link here) and you could see your comments in a future edition of the newspaper.

Today's Durham News also features a special 20 Questions contest. Test your knowledge of the current events of 2012 and you could win $25 worth of free tickets. Two winners will be chosen for most correct answers and one will be selected by random drawing just for entering. You have until Friday. Good luck!

And thanks for reading,

Mark

Omar Beasley failed to win a county commissioner's seat in last week's election, but if he decides to try another run for office he's got some money to get going.

Beasley's third-quarter finance report listed a cash balance of $3,715.86 as of Oct. 29 and, on election day, the Committee to Elect Omar Beasley got a $1,050 donation from developer Neal Hunter.

Hunter is a financial backer of the controversial 751 South development. Beasley took no position on the project during the campaign for county commissioner.

The City Council unanimously rejected the 751 South developers' request for a water-sewer extension earlier this year. Three council seats and the mayor's chair are up for election in 2013, and the project could become an issue in next year's city campaign.
 

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

FOOD TRUCKS RULE: Oh, wait a minute, that was supposed to be "Food Truck Rules." But Durham does love its meals on wheels. Read Jim Wise's preview of tomorrow night's public information meeting about the city's proposed new regs.

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE: The American Dance Festival opened its new $1.5 million studios on Broad Street this week. Katelyn Ferral reports the opening number was like a party in the streets.

NEW DSS DIRECTOR: The county has named a new director of the Department of Social Services. Michael Becketts of Baltimore replaces Geri Robinson (Gail Perry served in the interim), who is suing the county over her firing of a year ago.

CITY PLANS STRATEGY: Jim also reports today on how the City Council is not waiting for Southern Durham Development's, and its friends in the legislature's next move. The council closed the doors at a special meeting last week but hopes to have something drafted by September.

We've got more pics from Watts-Hillandale (still enjoying that neighborhood awesome-ness), Bob Wilson's take on the 751 South, er, water and sewer extension bill, and your letters. Tell us in 300 words or less what you think about food trucks, or anything else, at editor@newsobserver.com.

Stay cool, and thanks for reading,

Mark

Here is an early look at this Sunday's commentary in The Durham News by Bob Wilson. Tell us what you think below (add your name if you want your comments published) or in a letter to editor@newsobserver.com.

By Bob Wilson

As legislative duplicities go, last week’s attempt by Southern Durham Development Corp., those wonderful folks who want to bring you 751 South, to make an end run around the Durham City Council was every bit as slick as the notorious state lottery vote in 2005.

The attempt finally fizzled Tuesday in the Senate, but not before going through enough incarnations there and in the House to make the Dalai Lama blush.

The City Council rightly opposes 751 South, a 167-acre, 1,300-dwelling subdivision hard by the Chatham County line. Perhaps the council was embarrassed by its decision last year to extend the city’s designated urban growth area, though wisely not the city limits, all the way down N.C. 751 to the county line.

Southern Durham Development desperately needs city water and sewer; the 751 project won’t perk without those services. When nothing worked to change the City Council’s stand on the issue, Southern Durham sought help from willing hands in the General Assembly.

State Senate Bill 382, forcing Durham to let Southern Durham Development hook its 751 South subdivision onto the city water system, died in the legislature early Tuesday morning.

The Senate voted the bill down 15-25, then agreed to reconsider and voted it down again 18-19.

"It's kind of dead for today," said Durham state Sen. Floyd McKissick, but the bill or something similar could be introduced in a future General Assembly session, he said.

"The political landscape can always change."

The state Senate and House have appointed conferees to work on an agreeable version of SB 382, the bill that would compel Durham to let 751 South hook onto the city water-sewer system.

Last week, the Senate voted not to concur in a House-approved version of the bill.

State Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, is chairman of a seven-member House contingent. Moore wrote the provision that would bar cities from denying water and sewer extensions to property outside their city limits but within a designated "urban growth area."

Along with Moore are Paul Stam, R-Wake; John Blust, R-Guilford; William Brisson, D-Bladen; Rodney Moore, D-Mecklenburg; Bryan Holloway, R-Rockingham; and Stephen LaRoque, R-Lenoir.

From the Senate are Tom Apodaca, R-Buncombe, who sponsored SB 382 in its original form pertaining to withholding taxes; Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph; and Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus.

The committee has not scheduled a meeting.

The state Senate this evening voted against concurring in a House bill that would force the city of Durham to allow Southern Durham Development to connect its 751 South project to the municipal water-sewer system.

The bill, SB 382, could be sent to a conference committee for House and Senate representatives to work out a compromise version of the bill. S 382 passed the House Wednesday by a 66-50 vote.

Originally pertaining to withholding taxes, SB 382 had remained in House committees since its Senate approval in May 2011. State Reps. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland and Paul Stam, R-Wake replaced the original language with new provisions: one requiring cities to allow utility connections to property owners outside their city limits but within their "urban growth areas," such as Southern Durham Development; the other to delay implementation of a water-quality regulation for Jordan Lake.

Because the bill originated in the Senate, its new language must be approved there before becoming law.

The state House gave final approval this afternoon to a bill that would require the city of Durham to let Southern Durham Development link its 751 South subdivision onto the city water system.

In February, the City Council voted unanimously to deny the developer's application for a utility connection.

SB 382 won approval 66-50 on its third reading and now goes to the state Senate for its concurrence. Because it is is a rewritten version of a bill the Senate had approved in 2011, it can be confirmed there with a single vote.

Anticipating a quick Senate approval, City Manager Tom Bonfield said the City Council will hold a special meeting on the bill July 5.

Bonfield has declined discussing any action the city might take in response.

House members debated the bill for more than an hour Tuesday before approving its second reading. Today, state Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, used a legislative procedure to prevent further debate.

Durham Rep. Paul Luebke, who tried unsuccessfully to remove the bill's section affecting Durham during Tuesday's debate, called Moore's move "completely inappropriate" and "reprehensible."

Luebke had said Wednesday morning that he planned to reiterate his argument that "this is a bill on behalf of private interest, this is a private interest that didn't agree with the city council decision."

Blocking debate before the final vote, he said, "is very, very wrong and, members (of the House), I hope it never happens again."

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

751 SOUTH END RUN?: Southern Durham Development has some friends in the legislature. Read Jim Wise's report (reported as it happened yesterday on the Bull's Eye blog) to see how some lawmakers are seeking to extend city water and sewer to the controversial, 1,300-home project near Jordan Lake.

COUSIN REJOINS BOARD: Veteran local pol Phil Cousin will finish out the unexpired term of Joe Bowser. Virginia Bridges says the commissioners wanted someone who could hit the ground running. That's not what Fred Foster says.

And in today's Durham News:

SECOND CHANCE DANCE: (Which leads to this morning's musical aside, which is how one of the first 8 tracks I ever bought was a 1970s Bette Midler album with her fantastic "Do You Wanna Dance?" And yes I'm that old.). Lewis Kendall reports how Durham's Naomi Smith (that's her, left) is giving people with disabilities a gala night to remember this Friday.

ROBBERIES TAKE A DIVE: Finally some good news on the crime front. Armed robberies through the first six months of the year arr down 15 percent. The thing is, no one know why. Read Jim Wise's story on today's fron page.  

We have a special two-part Carl Kenney column coming this weekend. Keep an eye out and stay cool. It's going to be a scorcher.

Thanks for reaidng,

Mark 

The state House voted approval 70-47 this afternoon on the second reading of a bill (link below) requiring cities to provide water and sewer service to any area within their urban growth boundaries.

Durham’s urban growth boundary includes the 751 South site. A third reading of the bill, SB 382, a substitute version of a state Senate act originally pertaining to withholding taxes, could come Wednesday.

If SB 382 passes its third reading, it goes to the state Senate for approval in its new form.

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