The shape of the Durham City Council could change as incumbents decline to fight for their seats and newcomers kick off fresh challenges in November's elections.

Driving the news: Friday was the filing deadline for candidates.

• With Mayor Elaine O'Neal and influential council member Jillian Johnson both opting against runs for re-election, interest in the race for mayor and council has increased.

Why it matters: The Durham City Council has been divided — especially on the issue of approving rezonings for new subdivisions in the city — over the past two years.

• And an investigation into City Council member Monique Holsey-Hyman over an alleged extortion attempt of a local developer revealed serious tensions between council members.

State of play: A primary election will be held Oct. 10.

• The two mayoral candidates with the most primary votes will face off on Election Day November 7.
• Three City Council seats are up for grabs. The top six finishers in the primary move on to the November election.

Here's who is running for mayor:

• Former City Council member and current Democratic State Sen. Mike Woodard.
• Current City Council member Leonardo (Leo) Williams, who operates the popular Southern African restaurants Zweli's and Ekhaya.
• Current City Council member DeDreana Freeman, who was elected to the council in 2017.
• Charlitta Burruss, a local community leader who previously ran for mayor in 2021 and City Council in 2019.
• Sylvester Williams, a local pastor who has run numerous times for local office in the past.
• Nick Pettiford
• Jontae Dunston
• Marshall Williams Jr.

Keep reading for a list of who's running for council

North Carolina's embattled House Speaker Tim Moore, the longest-serving speaker in state history, has made it clear that this term will be his last as head of the Republican-led chamber.

• Moore's exit from the position has long been anticipated by political observers, igniting a race to replace him that has been playing out behind the scenes for months.

Why it matters: North Carolina's House speaker, though not elected by the general public, is one of the most powerful politicians in the state.

• The speaker has the authority to determine what bills ultimately become laws, what state agencies and programs are funded — and given the ability to carry out their mission — and who is granted power over the influential state boards and commissions, like the UNC System Board of Governors and the state's utilities commission.

Details: On the shortlist to replace Moore are two of the most powerful people in the chamber:

• House Majority Leader John Bell, who has served in the legislature for six terms and is the longest-serving House majority leader in state history.
• House Rules Committee Chair Destin Hall, a 30-something who quickly ascended to become a Republican leader and Moore's right-hand man when he was appointed to the position nearly three years ago.

Though Bell has already made clear his plans to run for speaker, Hall confirmed for the first time to Axios Friday that he also plans to campaign for the position.

Between the lines: Both Hall and Bell have considerable sway among fellow House Republicans.

• Bell, who has more experience in the legislature, is tasked with helping to advance his party's agenda and keeping a pulse on the House Republican caucus in assessing how members feel about legislation and hearing their concerns.
• Hall, though newer to the legislature, wields the ability to determine which bills live and die in the House chamber. In order for a bill to make it to a full vote on the House floor, legislation must first be heard in and pass Hall's Rules Committee.
• The longer he's served in that position, the more momentum — and relevance — Hall has gained in his run for speaker.

The bottom line: The N.C. House speaker's election is still a long way off, and as we often like to remind our readers, anything could happen between now and then.

Full story

🏥 Tornado damage to a Pfizer plant in Nash County could affect supply chains for North Carolina hospitals. (News & Observer 🔒)

🏠 About 15% of homeowners in Wake County are cost-burdened, while for renters, the figure is approaching 40%. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

🚗 Lawmakers are considering changes to the state's temporary tags for vehicles, as license plate readers and law enforcement struggle to determine if they are real or not. (WRAL)

🚒 The beloved Chapel Hill restaurant Mediterranean Deli suffered extensive fire damage over the weekend. (WCHL)

🚨 The Rofhiwa Book Cafe in Durham was damaged by a vehicle crashing into its Angier Avenue store front. (Twitter)

At the recommendation of one of our Twitter followers (who we hope also subscribes to this newsletter), we tried Berkeley Cafe for the first time last week.

Driving the news: A delicious lunch for the two of us cost a cool $26, so it's safe to say we'll be eating there as much as possible for the foreseeable future.

The bad news: We're not sure how long we'll have to enjoy BLTs and tots at Berkeley, as a New York developer plans to replace its building with a high-rise at some point, the Triangle Business Journal reported in April.

Yes, but: No need to panic. The co-owner of the cafe told TBJ in April that they were actively looking for a new location.

🍔 Lucille's order: Veggie burger, with avocado, cheddar and all the fixins, plus tater tots and a side of ranch.

🥪 Zach's order: BLT, with chips and a side of ranch to dip 'em in. Plus a Diet Coke.