Good morning, gang.

Our staff is taking a well-earned break from new newsletters over this holiday week. That gives us the chance to bring you a week-long look back at 2025 and the many great stories we told in Greensboro this year.

We’re starting with one of the city’s biggest stories of the year—a Greensboro City Council election that saw more than half the council turn over at once, significantly lowering the average age on council and giving this majority-minority city its first majority Black council.

We’re proud of our work throughout the election season, going beyond standard candidate questionnaires to do in-depth interviews with everyone we could in the very large field and put them on record on the issues that mattered most. We also covered major twists and controversies in the races, from a State Bureau of Investigation to sexual harassment allegations.

Today, we’re bringing you a look back at our conversations with all the winning candidates, plus our biggest council-related stories and analysis. Look out for more of the year’s best in each of our newsletters this week.

— Joe Killian

New Year, New City Council

Marikay Abuzuaiter Announces Run for Greensboro Mayor

After 14 years on council and plenty of speculation, the current mayor pro tem made it official on Wednesday.

‘I Know My District’

District 5 incumbent Tammi Thurm says she’s ready to serve a third term on the Greensboro City Council

Denise Roth Wants to Go From City Manager to City Council

The former city manager says her experience could be essential on a shifting council.

Cecile Crawford Aims to Go From Organizer to Council

Cecile Crawford is a seasoned organizer and activist. Now she wants a seat on council.

Crystal Black Says She’ll ‘Step Up and Do the Work’ in District 1

Crystal Black, a community advocate, faces a four-term incumbent in the general election.

April Parker Says District 3 Needs a New Voice 

The librarian and community organizer says she can represent the district and the city more holistically.

Irving Allen Wants Another Shot at City Council

There are a lot of contenders for the council’s at-large seats. But Irving Allen thinks he has a shot this time around.

Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

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Changing of the Guard

When Greensboro residents cast their votes for a new city council last week, it was more than another election: it was a true changing of the guard.

SBI Investigating Greensboro City Council Member

A Greensboro City Council member is the subject of a State Bureau of Investigation probe.

Former Employee Accused Greensboro Candidate April Parker of Sexual Harassment 

Parker did not deny the allegation that she had smacked and grabbed an employee’s buttocks in July 2021.

Joe Killian is The Assembly's Greensboro editor. He joined us from NC Newsline, where he was senior investigative reporter. He spent a decade at The News & Record covering cops and courts, higher education, and government.

Gale is a Report for America corps member and Greensboro-based reporter for The Assembly. She previously covered local government and community issues for Triad City Beat. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from N.C. State University.

Sayaka Matsuoka is a Greensboro-based reporter for The Assembly. She was formerly the managing editor for Triad City Beat, an alt-weekly based in Greensboro. She has reported for INDY Week, The Bitter Southerner, and Nerdist, and is the editorial/diversity chair for AAN Publishers.