Duke University says it will invest $203 million over the next three years to help make living in the Triangle more affordable.

Why it matters: The university has been under mounting pressure to contribute more to the community, especially in Durham, where its land holdings are largely tax-exempt.

What they're saying: "The Triangle is growing very fast, but our observation is that not everyone has shared in that growth," Ian Brown, who leads Duke Health's community and social impact initiatives, told reporters on Wednesday.

• "This isn't about Duke doing something for the community. It's Duke recognizing that we are part of the community, and we rise or fall together."

Driving the news: In an effort to address gentrification and improve economic mobility, Duke's HomeGrown initiative promises to hire more locals, buy more from Triangle-based businesses and spend more on affordable housing.

The big picture: Duke is one of the largest employers in the region, especially through its health system, but the Trump administration has cut grants and threatened higher ed institutions nationwide.

• Last year, Duke froze hiring, eliminated positions and offered buyouts to cope with the uncertainty.

What's next: The university will provide progress reports annually.

Dive into the details

The owners of Amedeo's Italian Restaurant have filed a rezoning request with the city of Raleigh to potentially make way for more height on its Western Boulevard property.

Why it matters: Amedeo's has been a fixture of the Raleigh dining scene, especially among the Wolfpack faithful, for six decades.

• But Western Boulevard is on the cusp of a major transformation as the city eventually hopes to extend its bus-rapid transit system down the road, and it could potentially mean the relocation of the historic restaurant.

Driving the news: Wolfgang Investment Properties, which is run by the owners of Amedeo's, filed a request with the city in February to allow up to seven stories to be built on the property at 3911 Western Blvd.

The big picture: Amedeo's is known for its classic Italian comfort food, especially its signature lasagna, but longtime customers also cherish the campus-adjacent restaurant because it's an N.C. State institution — founded by a former Wolfpack football player and brimming with red-and-white memorabilia and game-day tradition.

What they're saying: The ownership of the restaurant confirmed on Facebook that it has filed the request, after the Triangle Business Journal reported on the application.

• "If we ultimately move forward with redevelopment, we will begin exploring opportunities for a new location," the group said in the statement.

Zoom in: The Amedeo's ownership group said they're also exploring a potential sale of the property as part of the rezoning request.

• It noted this process should take several years — if it happens — and will not affect the restaurant's operations in the near term.

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🤑 Senate leader Phil Berger's primary campaign raised 34 times as much money as his challenger, Sam Page, whom he trails by 23 votes amid an ongoing recount. (WUNC)

🛒 The new Publix on Guess Road in north Durham is opening April 11, the grocer announced.

👃 Duke researchers are exploring whether a nasal swab can detect Alzheimer's, calling the nose a "window to the brain." (WRAL)

🩰 The Carolina Ballet will move to Cary's South Hills development in 2028. (INDY Week)

The future redevelopment of the now-closed Northgate Mall in Durham will be anchored by a Target, the retailer and its future landlord Regency Centers told Axios.

Why it matters: Redeveloping the property — located on Club Boulevard between Interstate 85 and downtown Durham — has been contentious in the city, with nearby neighborhoods objecting to previous plans that didn't include affordable housing.

• That's helped keep the mall, which had a major influence on the area for six decades, an empty eyesore since 2020.

Driving the news: Target will restore retail to its once-prominent role at the site, according to Regency Centers, whose portfolio includes open-air shopping centers such as Village District in Raleigh and Blakeney Town Center in Charlotte.

• It's buying one-third of the Northgate Mall property and renaming the site Ellerbe Square.

Zoom in: The plans call for demolishing most of the mall, the former movie theater and a parking deck along Gregson Street, and replacing it with new retail space, including 140,000 square feet for Target, and a parking lot.

Between the lines: It remains to be seen what happens with the rest of the mall property.

• Northwood Investors owns a significant portion of the mall, but has not yet revealed its latest plans, which may require a rezoning. Duke also owns a small section of the mall where the Macy's store used to be.
• Target doesn't need a rezoning, only routine planning department approvals, leaving residents and elected leaders with little say.

What's next: A timeline for the redevelopment has not yet been set.

• "We will share additional details at the appropriate time," a spokesperson for Target said in an email.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited in the country last year, attracting more visitors than Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon combined.

Why it matters: The park is a massive driver of tourism, though damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024 wreaked havoc on some mountain towns and took out sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

By the numbers: 11.5 million visitors passed through the park gates in 2025, though that's the lowest total reported since 2018, according to National Park Service tallies.

The big picture: The top 5 national parks in 2025 were:

1. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina (11.5 million visitors)
2. Zion, Utah (4.9 million)
3. Yellowstone, Wyoming (4.7 million)
4. Grand Canyon, Arizona (4.4 million)
5. Yosemite, California (4.2 million)

Check out the full list