Significant tensions exist between the city of Raleigh and downtown bar and nightlife venue owners, according to a new report presented to the city council Tuesday.

Why it matters: Raleigh — one of the nation's fastest-growing cities — is exploding. It's been named one of the best places to live on the East Coast, driven in part by the region's affordability, booming tech industry and proximity to top-tier universities.

• All that growth has forced the city's leaders to reckon with inevitable growing pains, and they're seeking ways to revive downtown's Fayetteville Street, improve the Glenwood South district's accessibility and keep both areas safe.

Driving the news: There's a deep level of "mistrust" between venues and the city, according to a report from the Responsible Hospitality Institute.

• Business owners don't feel heard, the report said, and the city's enforcement of COVID restrictions "set the tone for that mistrust," Whitney Schoenfeld, of the city's office of events, said Tuesday.
• Among the biggest points of contention at the moment: the city's noise ordinance, which was repeatedly mentioned in the 48-page report and during the organization's presentation Tuesday.

How it works: The city commissioned the Responsible Hospitality Institute report, using $100,000 of American Rescue Act funding, according to Indy Week.

Zoom in: Between January and September last year, the city saw 158 noise complaints, 12 civil violations and 18 criminal citations, per the News & Observer.

• Despite the city's recent revision of its noise ordinance after a two-year community engagement process, "its effectiveness is now in question," the report said, as the penalties "are insufficient to deter repeat offenses.

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Lutra Cafe & Bakery will open a permanent location in downtown Durham's American Tobacco Campus later this year after a successful run as a pop-up.

Why it matters: Lutra, known for its sweet-and-savory morning buns, is now the second venture after Isaac's Bagels to graduate from the pop-up window at Queeny's, a bar and restaurant in downtown Durham, into their own space.

• Lutra's baked goods can also be found at several farmers markets and coffee shops throughout the Triangle.

Zoom in: Lutra was created by Chris McLaurin, the former chef de cuisine at Poole'side Pies.

• The original focus of Lutra has been a rotating mixture of sweet-and-savory buns, inspired by memories of his mother making orange buns during his childhood.
• The morning buns have proven popular with flavors like orange and brown butter rosemary, and seasonal offerings like king cake for Mardi Gras.

What to expect: The new space will give Lutra the capacity to expand its menu to even more pastries, like soft pretzels, and a sourdough bread program.

Location: Lutra will be located at 312 Blackwell St., suite 102 in the ATC's Noell Building.

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🏙️ Check out what's happening around the city.

Memorial Day Sale: Lux Outdoor Furniture at VIRIDIEN Patio + Fireplace now through May 26: Save up to 30% Off, plus get an additional $100 Off every $1000 you spend. Limited stock of 2025 collections still tariff-free plus sizzling Memorial Day savings. Visit the Raleigh showroom today.

Interested in featuring an event? Email [email protected].

☕️ Lucky Tree Cafe will open its second location in Raleigh's Moore Square Saturday. (Instagram)

🔍 The facts surrounding an incident at an Asheville event Saturday night involving Republican N.C. Congressman Chuck Edwards are in dispute, with Edwards saying he was a victim and an attendee saying Edwards was the aggressor who struck a man with a clipboard. (News & Observer 🔒)

• Neither party will be charged in the incident, Asheville police said.

North Carolina state Rep. Dean Arp rescued a 77-year-old Richmond County woman from her home when it was on fire in February, bringing "her to safety just moments before the fire engulfed the home." (WBT)

🏒 The Rialto is summoning all Caniacs to watch tonight's game. Doors open at 6:30pm. (Instagram)

Just Her Rideshare is a Charlotte-based rideshare company created for women by women, with more than 2,000 drivers across six other cities, including Raleigh and Durham.

Why it matters: "We're here to offer peace of mind," founder Kimberly Evans tells Axios, adding that their top priority is creating a safe environment for drivers and passengers across the Carolinas.

Context: For Evans, the cause is personal. In 1987, a friend of hers was abducted while waiting for a ride. As rideshare companies emerged, and similar tragic stories made headlines, including the murder of a University of South Carolina student, Evans avoided using rideshare apps for years.

• In 2020, she launched Just Her Rideshare, making safety a core value of her company.
• "Uber and Lyft had become so big that I knew they had lost touch with what it looks like to create a safe ride for women," Evans added.

How it works: Just Her Rideshare is just like Uber and Lyft, except all the drivers are women.

• Drivers must pass a background and driving record check. They must be 21 years or older, have access to a four-door vehicle with five seat belts, and their car must be less than 15 years old, according to the application.
• Like Uber and Lyft, you can schedule rides in advance and modify your experience. Whether you want a silent ride, a certain temperature in the car, or a specific genre of music, just let your driver know in the app's "notes" section.
• The drivers have the option to choose whether they want to transport passengers who do not identify as female.

Zoom out: In addition to Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham, Just Her Rideshare has drivers in Greensboro, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina.

• Evans plans to expand by launching Just Her in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas in the coming months.

The big picture: Both Lyft and Uber have long been criticized by victims for not doing enough to protect passengers and drivers, Axios' Kia Kokalitcheva writes.

• Lyft's most recent safety report found that there were fewer serious sexual assaults from 2020 to 2022 compared to the previous report in 2017–2019, but an increase in fatal physical assaults.

Go deeper: Uber's second safety report, published in 2022

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