North State Journal Vol. 8, Issue 43

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 43

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

the

BRIEF this week

Pope approves ‘blessings’ for same-sex couples Rome Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday.

The statement is a radical shift in policy and expands on a document from the Vatican’s doctrine office Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if the blessings weren’t confused with the ritual of marriage.

The new document stresses that blessings in question must not be tied to any specific Catholic celebration or religious service and should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union ceremony.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nickel, not seeking reelection, alludes to 2026 Senate bid Raleigh Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel said last week he won’t seek reelection to Congress next year, the result of congressional redistricting by Republican state legislators this fall. Nickel said he is interested in a U.S. Senate bid in an election that is almost three years away.

Nickel said he would work next year to help get Democrats elected up and down the ballot and talk about what he considers illegal gerrymandering.

“Then for me, in January 2025, I’m going to look to flip our U.S. Senate seat blue,” Nickel said to cheers from supporters, adding that legislative Republicans “can’t gerrymander a statewide election.”

Two-term GOP Sen. Thom Tillis currently holds the seat.

Lighting up the Christmas season

The Oaks at Planter’s Walk neighborhood in Knightdale hosts an annual “Christmas trail” with homes decorating for the holiday season. The organizers encourage those visiting to donate to the Food Bank for Central and Eastern North Carolina.

2024 candidate filing concludes Who’s retiring?

Who’s running for Council of State?

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pentagon has ordered a US aircraft carrier to remain in the Mediterranean near Israel Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks to maintain a twocarrier presence near Israel, U.S. officials said.

The Pentagon ramped up its military presence in the region after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict. In the months since, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have seized on the war to conduct regular attacks with rockets, drones and missiles on U.S. military installations.

There are 19 U.S. warships currently in the region, including seven in the eastern Mediterranean and 12 more stretched down the Red Sea, across the Arabian Sea and up into the Persian Gulf.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MATT MERCER | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North State Journal turned away from Greensboro facility contracted to house unaccompanied minors According to a Dec. 8 memo, the campus is empty

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

North State Journal approached the AHA campus on Thursday, Dec. 14 and encountered guards wearing a combination of military fatigues and safety vests.

After identifying as members of the media and asked to gain entry or speak to someone in charge, North State Journal’s reporting team was told by two separate guards that they would give us no information and one saying, “We don’t allow media on site or for you to talk to anyone.”

Adding to questions about why AHA is turning away media access to the site is the fact that the campus is empty, ac-

RALEIGH — North State Journal was denied access to a facility that, per a five-year contract, is supposed to be housing unaccompanied minor children.

The facility is the sprawling former campus of the American Hebrew Academy (AHA) located in Greensboro. The campus is situated next to a residential neighborhood on one side and bordered by a pond and commercial area on the other side.

See CAMPUS, page A8

Lee Roberts named interim UNC Chapel Hill chancellor North State Journal CHAPEL HILL — UNC System President Peter Hans named Lee H. Roberts to be interim chancellor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a press statement on Friday, Dec. 15.

He will assume the role following the departure of current Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, who is stepping down after five years to depart

for Michigan State University.

Roberts will assume the role beginning on Jan. 12, 2024.

“Lee Roberts is a patient leader, a generous listener, and someone raised with the values of public service,” Hans said in the announcement.

“He knows how to find common ground on challenging issues, and he brings out the See UNC, page A2

his sixth term and is the second-longest serving agriculture commissioner in state history. He is also the only Republican to hold the post.

Causey will have a primaBy A.P. Dillon ry opponent in former legisNorth State Journal lator Robert Brawley while RALEIGH — Candidate fil- on the Democratic side of the ing for the 2024 election cy- aisle, state Sen. Natasha Marcle closed at noon on Friday, cus jumped into the race after Dec. 15 with a number of can- complaining about new maps didates choosing not to seek for legislative house and senreelection, retire, or opting to ate districts. Democrat Darun for a different elected po- vid Wheeler had filed ahead sition. of Marcus but has commentFive members of North Car- ed he may consider “stepping olina’s Congressional delega- aside.” tion are not seeking reelection.

Other Council of State poRepublican U.S. Rep. Dan sition changes include DemoBishop (NC-08) will crat Treasurer Beth be running for N.C. Wood and Republiattorney general can Labor Commisand Patrick McHensioner Josh Dobson, ry (NC-10) will be Five members who will not seek reretiring. McHenry of North election, while State had served briefly as Treasurer Dale FolSpeaker of the House Carolina’s well is running for after the ouster of Congressional governor.

California RepubliWood’s departure can Kevin McCarthy. delegation are follows an indictment “I will be retiring not seeking in her December from Congress at the 2022 hit and run case reelection. end of my current using a state vehicle. term,” said McHenGov. Roy Cooper apry in a statement. pointed former Wake “This is not a decision I come County Commissioner Jessica to lightly, but I believe there is Holmes to fill the vacancy and a season for everything and— will seek a full term next year. for me—this season has come Folwell will join Republican to an end.”

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic U.S. Reps. trial attorney Bill Graham in Kathy Manning (NC-06) and the primary. Former RepubliWiley Nickel (NC-13) will not can state Sen. Andy Wells had seek reelection and both is- announced his intent to run, sued statements blaming new however, he did not file candicongressional maps. The new- dacy paperwork. ly drawn maps are facing a leN.C. Attorney General Josh gal challenge as being “racially Stein who is also running for gerrymandered.” governor will face three othU.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson has er Democrats in the primary; also filed to run for N.C. attor- former N.C. Supreme Court ney general. Bishop is running Associate Justice Mike Morunopposed whereas Jackson gan, Lumberton attorney Marwill have to overcome two oth- cus Williams, Tryon Mayor Pro er Democrats in the primary; Tem Chrelle Booker, and Gary Tim Dunn, a lawyer from Fay- Foxx of Rocky Mount. etteville, and Durham District While 11 candidates in toAttorney Satana Deberry. tal filed to run for governor, 15 Both Jackson and Nickel candidates have filed for the are leaving after just one term. lieutenant governor’s race: On the North Carolina Council of State, only four of Deanna Ballard (R) – the eight seats, excluding the Former state Sen. from positions of governor and lieu- Watauga County tenant governor, have incumbents seeking reelection; Agriculture Commissioner Steve See FILINGS, page A2 Troxler, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Superintendent Catherine Truitt. Marshall is the only Democrat and the only incumbent who did not pick up a primary challenger.

Troxler will be seeking $2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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12.20.23 #415

“One of One” Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Griffin Daughtry Business/Features Editor Jordan Golson Locals Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday

by North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

THE WORD: HARK! As the Advent season reaches its culmination in this fourth and final week, the final candle represents a theme of Love, heralding the imminent joy of Christmas. This season of anticipation and reflection is marked by more than the lighting of candles, but also through the resonant melodies of hymns that have echoed through centuries. These hymns are more than mere songs; they are the carriers of theology, history, and spiritual reflection.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” stands out as the culmination of Advent’s message. The hymn has a rich melody and is steeped in theological tradition. Charles Wesley, a leader in the Methodist movement and a prolific hymn writer with over 6,000 hymns to his credit, penned the original words in 1739. Wesley’s goal was to impart sound doctrine through his hymns, particularly to those less educated.

His brother, John Wesley, recognized the hymnal as a pivotal theological work, and Methodism was significantly shaped by song.

In his seminal work “Anglican Hymnology” published in 1885, Reverend James King undertook an extensive survey of hymnals used in 52 churches belonging to the global Anglican Communion. His research revealed a remarkable consistency: 51 of these hymnals shared four hymns, signifying their widespread acceptance and enduring popularity.

These hymns, now known as the “Great Four Anglican Hymns,” were cherished not only in Anglican circles but also broadly in Protestant churches during the 19th century. The quartet includes the serene “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night” by Thomas Ken, the advent anthem “Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending” by Charles Wesley, the soulstirring “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” by Augustus Montague Toplady, and the jubilant “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” also by Charles Wesley.

These hymns have transcended their original contexts to become mainstays in Christian worship across denominations and centuries.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was originally titled “Hymn for Christmas-Day” and was inspired by the ringing of church bells and Wesley’s newfound faith. It debuted in 1739 with the opening line “Hark, how the welkin rings,” a phrase later transformed by George Whitefield, Wesley’s colleague, into the familiar “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” This alteration made the hymn more accessible, replacing the obscure term “welkin” with a clear reference to the angelic proclamation in the Gospel of Luke.

Whitefield’s adaptation was not the only change this hymn underwent.

In 1840, a century after Wesley’s version, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata for the Gutenberg printing press anniversary. The music from this cantata was later adapted by William H. Cummings in 1855 to fit Wesley’s lyrics, creating the version we know and cherish today.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a Gospel-saturated anthem, guiding listeners to the heart of the Christmas message. Its verses convey the miraculous birth of the Savior, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the profound implications of Christ’s coming. It beckons everyone to recognize and celebrate the arrival of the newborn King.

The hymn’s opening lines, “glory to the newborn King; peace on earth,

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Gerard van Honthorst Adoration of the Shepherds (1622). and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled,” paraphrase Luke 2:1314, which describes the appearance of the heavenly host praising God following the birth of Jesus: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity,” references John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

England banned the singing of Christmas carols along with other Christmas celebrations during the Puritan Parliament and the rule of Oliver Cromwell around 1647. Christmas hymns and carols were scarce during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was one of the few written during that period that has endured in popularity.

In modern times, this hymn is featured in classic films like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” becoming familiar to Christians and non-Christians alike. Its theological accuracy, combined with the joyful melody of Mendelssohn’s composition, makes it a quintessential Advent hymn, inviting all to join the cosmic chorus in heralding the birth of Jesus.

As the final Advent candle is lit and preparations yield to Christmas celebrations, this carol, with its historic journey and theological depth, exhibits the spirit of love represented by the Fourth Sunday of Advent and the joyful arrival of Christ.

UNC from page A1 best in everyone around him.

He’s deeply committed to the university, and I’m excited to work alongside him in supporting the great work happening at Carolina.”

A longtime executive with a record of public service in North Carolina, Roberts has worked for former Gov. Pat McCrory as state budget director from 2014-2016 and is the co-founder and managing partner of SharpVue Capital, a North Carolina-based investment firm.

“Public higher education is one of North Carolina’s greatest strengths, and I’m honored to play a role in serving the nation’s first and finest public university,” Roberts said in a statement. “Chancellor Guskiewicz and his team have done extraordinary work, and I’m excited to continue supporting the dedicated scholars, staff, and students at Carolina.”

Roberts has served on the UNC Board of Governors since 2021 and also has served previously on the State Board of Community Colleges, the State Banking Commission, the Board of Visitors at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and the Golden LEAF Foundation Board.

Roberts said later in an introductory interview with university media his motivation to accept the position comes from

FILINGS from page A1

Peter Boykin (R) – Founder of Gays for Trump Ross Douthit (R) – Citizen from Mooresville Jeffrey Elmore (R) – State Rep. From Wilkes County Allen Mashburn (R) – Minister from Seagrove Marlenis Hernandez Novoa (R) – Wake county paramedic and firefighter Jim O’Neill (R) – Forsyth County district attorney Sam Page (R) – Rockingham County Sheriff Hal Weatherman (R) – Chief of staff and campaign manager to former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest Seth Woodall (R) – Attorney from Eden

“We don’t have a more important institution in the state.”

Incoming interim UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts

JOHN HANSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Incoming interim UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts. a “family tradition of public service” and a deep commitment to a state became home at the age of 17.

“If you care about higher education, if you care about the future of the state, and if you care

about public service, you have to care about what happens at Carolina. We don’t have a more important institution in the state,” said Roberts.

He is son of the late Cokie Roberts, a longtime political

reporter and analyst for NPR, PBS and ABC News. His father, Steven Roberts, worked several national media outlets including The New York Times.

“I know that Lee is committed to the state of North Caro-

lina and the important role of public higher education,” Chancellor Guskiewicz said of the announcement. “I look forward to working with him during our transition. He will build on the incredible work underway by our world-class faculty, dedicated staff, curious students and passionate alumni.”

The UNC System said a full, nationwide search with active participation from faculty, staff, alumni, students and the broader community for the permanent chancellor’s role will be launched in the coming months.

“I’m looking forward to that process and to hearing from so many people committed to Carolina’s future,” Hans said. “It’s an extraordinary institution, and its best days are ahead.”

Roberts and his wife, Liza, live in Raleigh and they have three children. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Duke University and his law degree from Georgetown University.

Ernest Reeves (R) – Military veteran from Greenville

A banner from the N.C. State Board of Elections is shown at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh.

Ben Clark (D) – Former state Sen. from Cumberland County Rachel Hunt (D) – State Sen. From Mecklenburg County and daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt Mark Harrison Robinson (D) – Sampson County area investor Dorothy (Dee) Watson (L) – Statistician from Caswell Beach Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill’s candidacy was a surprise. O’Neill had challenged Stein in 2020 for the attorney general’s spot and filed on the last day of the two-week window.

Next week: a dive into the General Assembly and statewide judicial races.

NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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$7.9M federal award will enhance math in rural NC schools

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has secured a $7.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance math education in rural schools through the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant program.

NCDPI’s initiative, known as Patterns for Reaching and Impacting Students in Math (PRISM), will involve 300 upper elementary educators in a five-year professional learning program.

The goal is to improve math scores, particularly among his-

torically marginalized groups, STEM students, those in the lowest achievement quartile, and those from low-income backgrounds.

“North Carolina teachers in rural areas often do not have access to a robust network of peers in their grade level and subject area,” state Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a statement. “Instead of attending one workshop and being left to implement what they learn on their own, educators who participate in PRISM will work with coaches and other teachers, both in person and virtually, over the course of two academic years.”

“This will allow them to im-

plement targeted interventions and instructional strategies in their classrooms, assess their efficacy and revise them to better meet students’ needs – resulting in a demonstrable impact on student learning,” said Truitt.

The program, developed by Carnegie Learning, provides individualized instructional support to teachers in rural areas, addressing the lack of peer networks. The initiative, administered with the help of WestEd, aims to impact student learning by implementing targeted interventions and instructional strategies.

PRISM is part of the broader $277 million EIR grant pro-

gram, which seeks to address pandemic-related learning loss.

Similar to the rest of the nation, North Carolina has seen a decline in math scores postCOVID, especially among minority students. The project emphasizes the importance of early math education, aiming to reduce disparities and prepare students for success in both school and future careers.

In a September 2023 interview with North State Journal, Truitt expressed concern about student achievement in math for North Carolina students and that issues with math predated the pandemic.

Truitt said to address math achievement issues, “we have

to shed some legacy thinking around the importance of math.”

“We are living in a society where we have normalized deficits in basic math skills,” Truitt said. “And we’re living in a society where jobs by 2030 are going to require a significant amount of computer science, A.I. — all kinds of skills that involve being proficient in math.”

Truitt said there needs to be a comprehensive goal of algebra I readiness since it is a “gateway course” to higher math classes and that North Carolina needs to mandate an early screener for elementary math similar to programs that are in use for reading.

Local Government Commission approves $1.1M to complete Wake County outer loop

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) approved $1.1 million in financing for the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to complete Phase 2 of the I-504 outer loop in Wake County.

The funding for the project will come from revenue bonds and a Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan through U.S. Department of Transportation.

The approval of I-540 coincided with Fitch Ratings upgrading the NCTA’s outstanding senior lien turnpike revenue bonds, senior lien turnpike revenue bond anticipation notes, and subordinated Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from BBB to BBB+.

Fitch also granted BBB+ ratings to the authority’s $372 million of turnpike revenue bonds and $424 million of subordinated Series 2024 TIFIA loan.

These improved ratings result in lower financing costs for the loans and serve as an indicator of the state’s credit quality. Fitch’s outlook for both the bonds and TIFIA loans is stable.

The I-540 project will connect the towns of Apex, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, and Holly Springs through a 10-mile stretch of I-40 running up to U.S. 64 in Knightdale.

Construction for Phase 2 of the I-540 project is slated to begin in Spring 2024 with traffic expected to be able to use the extension projected in 2028. A portion of the I-540 extension running through parts of Holly Springs and Cary has already seen considerable progress with work on that segment being conducted over the past year.

Other projects approved at the Dec. 5 LGC meeting include: Durham Utility System $181,000,000 Beech Mountain Sewer Main Improvements Project $1,175,526

Chowan County High School Replacement Project $34,998,500 Raleigh Housing Authority Birch and Branch - $30,000,000 Raleigh Housing Authority The Preserve At Gresham Lake $26,000,000 Wake Forest IP Street Paving Project - $5,500,000 Fayetteville Public Works Commission PO Hoffer WTP / Glenville Lake WTP Reliability Improvements - $5,000,000 Sawmills IP Park and Parking Lot Lighting - $1,345,500 An item receiving unanimous approval was the memorandum of understanding for the transfer of administrative, financial, and operational ownership of the wastewater system in the town of Eureka to the town of Fremont, both of which are located in Wayne County.

With a population of 183, Eureka has 108 sanitary sewer connections. To address the chal-

A.P. DILLON | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

I-540 Construction in Holly Springs lenges within its system, Eureka has been granted a $20 million state appropriation specifically for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Eureka has been under the financial management of the LGC since July 2019.

Fremont, with a population of 1,463, possesses 735 sanitary sewer connections. While Fremont has been accepting and treating wastewater from Eureka, both towns are designated as distressed utilities, per the LGC.

Google to pay $700M to US states, consumers in settlement The Associated Press GOOGLE has agreed to pay $700 million and make several other concessions to settle allegations that it had been stifling competition against its Android app store — the same issue that went to trial in another case that could result in even bigger changes.

Although Google struck the deal with state attorneys general in September, the settlement’s terms weren’t revealed until late Monday in documents filed in San Francisco federal court. The disclosure came a week after a federal court jury rebuked Google for deploying anticompetitive tactics in its Play Store for Android apps.

The settlement with the states includes $630 million to compensate U.S. consumers funneled into a payment processing system that state attorneys general alleged drove up the prices for digital transactions within apps downloaded from the Play Store. That store caters to the Android software that powers most of the world’s smartphones.

Like Apple does in its iPhone app store, Google collects commissions ranging from 15% to 30% on in-app purchases — fees that state attorneys general contended drove prices higher than they would have been had there been an open market for payment processing. Those commissions generated billions of dollars in profit annually for Google, according to evidence presented in the recent trial focused on its Play Store.

Eligible consumers will receive at least $2, according to the settlement, and may get additional payments based on their spending on the Play store between Aug. 16, 2016 and Sept.

30, 2023. Consumers are supposed to be automatically notified about various options for how they can receive their cut of

AP PHOTO

The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company’s new building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. the money.

Another $70 million of the pre-trial settlement will cover the penalties and other costs that Google is being forced to pay to the states.

Google also agreed to make other changes designed to make it even easier for consumers to download and install Android apps from other outlets besides its Play Store for the next five years. It will refrain from issuing as many security warnings, or “scare screens,” when alternative choices are being used.

The makers of Android apps will also gain more flexibility to offer alternative payment choices to consumers instead of having transactions automatically processed through the Play Store and its commission system. Apps

will also be able to promote lower prices available to consumers who choose an alternate to the Play Store’s payment processing.

Wilson White, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy, framed the deal as a positive for the company, despite the money and concessions it entails. The settlement “builds on Android’s choice and flexibility, maintains strong security protections, and retains Google’s ability to compete with other (software) makers, and invest in the Android ecosystem for users and developers,” White wrote in a blog post.

Although the state attorneys general hailed the settlement as a huge win for consumers, it didn’t go far enough for Epic Games, which spearheaded

the attack on Google’s app store practices with an antitrust lawsuit filed in August 2020.

Epic, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, rebuffed the settlement in September and instead chose to take its case to trial, even though it had already lost on most of its key claims in a similar trial targeting Apple and its iPhone app store in 2021.

The Apple trial, though, was decided by a federal judge instead of the jury that vindicated Epic with a unanimous verdict that Google had built anticompetitive barriers around the Play Store. Google has vowed to appeal the verdict.

But the trial’s outcome nevertheless raises the specter of Google potentially being ordered to pay even more money as pun-

ishment for its past practices and making even more dramatic changes to its lucrative Android app ecosystem.

Those changes will be determined next year by U.S. District Judge James Donato, who presided over the Epic Games trial.

Donato also still must approve Google’s Play Store settlement with the states.

Google faces an even bigger legal threat in another antitrust case targeting its dominant search engine that serves as the centerpiece of a digital ad empire that generates more than $200 billion in sales annually.

Closing arguments in a trial pitting Google against the Justice Department are scheduled for early May before a federal judge in Washington D.C.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Tax universities and colleges

The underlying tenet of all non-profit law is that operations will be conducted in a nonpartisan, purely altruistic manner without any deference to political philosophy or advocacy.

REMEMBER THE DAYS when college presidents were paid a pittance since universities sponsored by religious organizations and state governments couldn’t pay them a lot in salary? Or when coaches had to tend bar during the off-season to make ends meet?

Yeah, me neither.

Higher education institutions, public and private, were granted nonprofit, tax-exempt status a long time ago to help them compete with the private sector to attract the best and the brightest faculty, administrators and coaches to teach the next generation of citizens. Everything about granting them non-profit status had to do with “enhancing the educational experience” of every student on campus, not just the jocks or administrators.

Most major universities today are multibillion-dollar enterprises which should be run by professional CEOs and CFOs, not pure academic-types.

They should be treated as the businesses they are and not protected in any way by non-profit status or any tax exemption solely because they call themselves “educational” entities.

College athletics, particularly at the college football Division I level, has been heading towards big-time business status ever since UNC System President Bill Friday presented the seminal Knight Commission report in 1991. College programs routinely pay their coaches multi-million dollar contracts with tons of attendant bonuses and benefits dependent solely upon winning, not on how many student-athletes make the honor roll, go to graduate school or even graduate.

How is that “enhancing” the educational experience in the classroom?

Paying athletes NIL money sounds like a fair and equitable thing to do from the student-athlete standpoint. However, once athletes take NIL money, they should be considered “independent contractors” or employees of the university. Everything should change from a tax perspective relative to them and the universities they represent. All NIL money received by an individual athlete should be taxed, just as it is in the private sector. It should be subject to the dreaded self-employment tax which will take 15.3% of every NIL contract off the top to support Social Security and Medicare.

Once student-athletes are deemed “paid participants,” the value of their scholarship tuition, room and board should also be taxable since the athlete is performing entertainment for the university and its fans on a contractual basis. College teams with paid athletes would be no different than minor league baseball teams such as the Durham Bulls.

None of the money generated by athletic programs makes its way into the

general scholarship fund for non-athletes or into the research budgets for the science centers on campus. It all stays in the athletic director’s budget.

In the broader sense, universities and colleges should be taxed as businesses simply because they have out-grown the need for tax subsidies to exist. I represented a nonprofit mutual insurance company which asked the Joint Tax Committee in Congress to eliminate their tax-exempt status because they no longer need it ― they needed it when they started in 1945 with a $10,000 community chest grant but did not need it as a $10B concern in 1995.

The director of Joint Tax almost fell out of his chair. But it was the right thing to do.

However, the primary reason colleges and universities deserve to lose taxexempt status is because they have violated the non-partisan nature of nonprofit statutes.

The underlying tenet of all non-profit law is that operations will be conducted in a non-partisan, purely altruistic manner without any deference to political philosophy or advocacy. University presidents and faculty jumped that shark a long time ago. When presidents of Harvard, MIT and Penn testified before Congress that hate speech on campus towards Jews “depends on the context” taken by supporters of Hamas and Palestinians, they exposed once and for all their overt political advocacy instead of teaching and leading by example with open civil discourse and fair, balanced dialogue.

Harvard has a $51B endowment which throws off $4B in income and dividends each year on a non-taxable basis. They should be taxed ― by eliminating the deductibility on individual donors’ tax returns as they come in and out of the endowments as dividends and interest income flow out.

Private universities such as Harvard can teach, do and say whatever they want — as long as they don’t have tax-exempt status or receive taxpayer funds in any capacity.

Colleges and universities don’t even pay property taxes to local communities which would perhaps double municipal budgets to provide better public schools and a better equipped police force. They sometimes pay the ridiculously named “PILOT” (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) which proves they recognize they should pay for local schools, public safety and clean water systems but it far less than what should be paid.

The economics and political manipulation of higher education has reached a point where they have no business operating under tax-exempt, nonprofit status. The time to rescind it at the state and federal level is now.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

‘Inclusive’ Boston mayor not so inclusive after all

If a group of men or black people or transgender people want to get together, there’s nothing wrong with that.

ONE OF THE alleged qualities Democrats love to brag about is their supposed commitment to “inclusion” and “diversity,” which one would think would mean not excluding certain types of people from official government functions based on physical characteristics.

Except that’s exactly what happened at a recent holiday party put on by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in which only certain members of the city council and their spouses were invited.

Wu was elected in 2021 in a blaze of glory, with the mainstream media and Democrats salivating over the fact that Wu was the first woman and first person of color elected to lead Beantown.

A focal point of Wu’s two terms in office has been “inclusion, diversity, and equity,” but one is hard-pressed to understand how holding government-funded segregated holiday parties fits into the “inclusion” part of that equation.

The segregated part came courtesy of an email invite sent out by Wu staffer Denise DosSantos, who cheerfully announced the “Electeds of Color” holiday party would be held later in the week.

Except the invite didn’t go out to just the persons of color on the city council. It went out to all members, which includes seven white people and six people of color.

An apology email followed, but not for the party that excluded city council members based solely on their race. The apology was for the “confusion” and “offense” it might have caused.

AP PHOTO

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks during a campaign rally on Nov. 2, 2022, in Boston.

“I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding a Holiday Party for tomorrow,” DosSantos wrote, according to a report from the Boston Herald.

“I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused,” DosSantos went on to say.

The members of the city council who were supposed to get the “Electeds of Color” party invited also defended the party, with one strangely claiming that such an exclusive event actually went a long way towards “breaking

barriers.”

When Wu was confronted over the issue in an interview, even she was unapologetic, pretending to be a model of inclusiveness while defending the practice of providing “spaces” that excluded white people.

“I’ve been a part of a group that gathers, representing elected officials of color across all different levels of government in Massachusetts,” she told Boston news outlet WCVB. “A group that has been in place for more than a decade, and the opportunity to create a space for people to celebrate and rotate who hosts.”

Wu admitting that the “Electeds of Color” holiday party had been a thing in Boston for over ten years certainly had to be news to residents.

Let’s state for the record that we have a right to freedom of association in this country and if a group of men or black people or transgender people want to get together, there’s nothing wrong with that.

But we’re talking about an official government function here held by an administration that has been heralded by The Usual Suspects over the years for her “big tent” approach to including and listening to all voices.

This party most definitely would not have flown had it been organized for white members of the city council only, and the one organized solely for the council members of color should not have flown, either, regardless of how long it has allegedly been going on.

But leftist double standards being what they are, electeds of color-only parties are okay, I guess, as long as they are cloaked in wokeness.

North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

COLUMN

The intellectual elite’s institutional rot INSTITUTIONAL ROT. That’s the verdict recorded in recent days on the performance of leading institutions by observers not known for pessimistic temperaments or alarmist analysis.

One occasion for such judgments was the testimony of three presidents of eminent universities — Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania — before a House committee on Dec. 6. In response to questions from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a Harvard graduate, all three said calls for genocide of Jews might violate university rules, depending on “context.”

That might sound like a principled defense of free speech, however repugnant. But coming from the chief executives of schools that punish teachers and students for being “fat-phobic,” using unwanted pronouns or asserting there are two sexes, it was a double standard at best and at worst an example of how people who are deemed members of oppressor groups are now treated as if they lack the rights and privileges of those deemed members of groups considered oppressed.

“A dark day for American higher education,” ordinarily equanimous economist Tyler Cowen proclaimed in his blog, Marginal Revolution. “They have ended up disgracing their universities, in front of massive audiences (the largest they ever will have?), simply” for maintaining “maximum defensibility for their positions within their universities.”

The hearing prompted the Wall Street Journal’s Walter Russell Mead to post that “the Ivies” — leading universities, though MIT is not in the Ivy League — “reel from the inept performance of their deeply mediocre leaders.” That’s a scalding comment for a writer whose histories are imbued with optimism about the United States.

Meanwhile, historian Niall Ferguson, formerly at Harvard, decries “the willingness of trustees, donors, and alumni to tolerate the politicization of American universities by an illiberal coalition of ‘woke’ progressives, adherents of ‘critical race theory,’ and apologists for Islamist extremism.”

The conduct of leaders of other supposedly intellectually distinguished institutions has also come in for scathing criticism from unlikely quarters.

Statistics expert and self-described liberal Nate Silver called a March 2020 paper — written at the behest of then-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci and National Institutes of Health head Francis Collins to discredit the theory that COVID was spread by a leak from the Wuhan, China, laboratory — “a PR exercise rather than an effort to seek the truth.” Amid evidence that Fauci and Collins used their control of federal research funding to downplay Fauci’s culpability for approval of dangerous research in Wuhan, Silver writes the paper “did enormous

harm to science and it should be retracted.”

Just as devastating is the description by liberal writers Joseph Nocera and Bethany McLean in City Journal and their book “The Big Fail” as the “unprecedented disaster” of the COVID lockdowns urged, against previous expert consensus, by Fauci and others in government and out.

America’s historic achievements in higher education and public health are worthy of admiration. They were the result of government initiatives and imaginative philanthropy, of the enterprise of gifted people, and the steady work of those operating within functional institutional cultures.

But it is one of mankind’s weaknesses that even in the most functional societies, success breeds failure.

Bureaucratic defensiveness tends to overcome founding idealism, and covering one’s anatomy can outweigh intellectual integrity.

As one whose recent book “Mental Maps of the Founders” has just been published, I am struck by the contrast in quality between the leaders of the early republic of 3 million people and the two candidates leading the polls in a mature nation of 333 million.

But the contrast is not limited to candidates. The independent economist Arnold Kling seconds the diagnosis of institutional rot and supplies details.

“The Left is not doing a very good job of maintaining those institutions. Public school enrollment has stagnated, while private school enrollment has increased rapidly (from a much smaller base). Major newspapers have folded. The NYT and WaPo got rich off of Trumphatred for a while, but more recently their finances have deteriorated. ... Higher education as a whole has lost prestige in recent years, and enrollment figures reflect this.”

What we are seeing now is, in Mead’s words, “less the Rise of Trump than the moral and intellectual collapse of the American establishment. Sad. Tragic, really. Scary.

But real.”

The response of the liberal institutional leaders is to stand firm in their diatribes against the populist masses. They have taken to arguing that a second Trump administration, unlike the first one, will be an authoritarian dictatorship. They complain, justifiably, about Trump’s attempts to delegitimize the 2020 election result without admitting responsibility and apologizing for their attempts to delegitimize the 2016 election result with the now completely discredited Russia collusion hoax.

They feel morally entitled to run the larger society. But first, they need to clean up their own institutional rot.

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Elise Stefanik, Virginia Foxx, and Michelle Steele take on woke universities THREE HOUSE REPUBLICAN women are showing the country exactly how to deal with elitist university leaders who think they are above the law.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik recently gave a master class on how to question a hostile witness. When, as a Harvard graduate, Stefanik repeatedly asked Harvard President Claudine Gay whether she could condemn advocating genocide of Jews at a hearing on antisemitism on college campuses, the moment was electrifying.

Gay and two other university presidents from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania spent the hearing dodging simple, direct questions about dealing with open antisemitism on their campuses. It was pathetic and hypocritical. The three leaders personified the insanity of wokeness which has taken over our elite universities.

Stefanik was so effective that the video of her interrogation is now one of the most viewed hearings in congressional history. There have been more than a billion views, and the number keeps growing.

As a result of Stefanik’s questioning, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill left her post.

As Heather Mac Donald summarized for City Journal: “Liz Magill was forced to resign Saturday as president of the University of Pennsylvania — by all indications because, at a congressional hearing, she could not bring herself to declare that calls for the genocide of Jews are punishable speech. She would more justly have lost her job for being a bald-faced hypocrite when it comes to campus free expression. The future of higher education depends on which of these motives governs such decisions in the future.”

By contrast, Harvard’s governing body supported President Gay. However, it has now come to light that she plagiarized parts her dissertation and several other academic papers. Harvard’s policy about plagiarism is clear: “Falsification of research results includes misrepresentations, distortions, or serious omissions in data or reports on research and is considered a serious violation of academic honesty. Plagiarism or falsification of research results will ordinarily result in

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the requirement to withdraw from Harvard.”

In fact, 27 undergraduates were forced to leave Harvard in the 2020-2021 school year.

Yet, it appears Harvard is now performing rhetorical gymnastics to defend its already humiliated president.

The insider club appears to be rallying around her. But the hypocrisy and dishonesty are beginning to affect Harvard’s reputation.

While Stefanik was busy creating a public record about elite university cowardice, two other House GOP women were busy passing substantive legislation that will hold universities much more accountable.

Congresswoman Michelle Steele introduced a bill to force colleges and universities to report all foreign gifts. While it is already a legal requirement to report any foreign donation of $250,000 or more, the elite universities simply refused to comply. Despite serious efforts by the Trump administration’s Department of Education, these elite universities decline to report many millions of dollars of overseas gifts.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was a cosponsor of the bill and worked to make it a bipartisan project. According to the committee’s statement: “The House passed H.R. 5933, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, bipartisan legislation that brings much-needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities across the nation. As the Committee said ‘The is the first in a series of bills to reform the Higher Education Act.’” On the floor, the bill passed decisively with 31 Democrats joining 215 Republicans in bipartisan support of more transparency from universities and colleges.

These two steps, one investigatory, and one legislative, are signs of real progress. They would not have happened without Republican control of the House of Representatives — or the leadership of these remarkable Republican women.

BEN SHAPIRO

Why Trump is winning SO, ACCORDING TO the legacy media, disaster is about to befall America.

Former President Donald Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination: The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News poll shows Trump at 51% in Iowa, up 8% since October, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a distant second at 19% and Nikki Haley at 16%. According to analyst Steve Kornacki, there is an enthusiasm gap in favor of Trump: 70% of Trump supporters say their minds are made up. He is currently at 72% favorability with Iowa caucus-goers.

In the general, Trump is also up. And he’s not up by a small margin. He is up significantly.

Donald Trump, if the election were held today, would become president of the United States. According to a Wall Street Journal poll over the weekend, Trump leads President Joe Biden 47% to 43% in the national polls; if thirdparty and independent candidates enter the mix, that lead jumps to six points, 37% to 31%.

What’s more, according to the latest CNN poll, Trump leads Biden by 10 points in Michigan; he leads by five in Georgia.

There are two reasons for this.

First, Joe Biden is terribly, terribly unpopular.

That same Wall Street Journal poll shows that just 23% of voters say Biden’s policies have helped them personally, compared to 53% who say his policies have hurt them. Meanwhile, half of voters say that Trump’s policies helped them versus 37% who say they hurt. Biden’s job performance is at 37% approval and 61% disapproval; just 30% of voters like Bidenomics.

That condition is unlikely to alleviate for Biden before the election. It is, according to The Wall Street Journal, “less affordable than any time in recent history to buy a home, and the math isn’t changing any time soon.” Average new home payments currently stand at $3,322, up from $1,746 at the end of 2020.

What’s more, Biden’s supposed soft landing doesn’t look particularly likely to happen, despite the happy talk from the media.

November job growth was weak — which is what the Fed was looking for when they raised interest rates in order to tamp down inflation.

But that job growth was only even in “weak” territory because of health care, government employment and leisure and hospitality. In fact, those three sectors plus private education employment are responsible for 81% of all jobs created in 2023. Business starts are weak. Gross output — a measure of the entire economy, not merely the spending side that we see in gross domestic product — has flatlined. In the first two quarters of the year, business spending dropped 9%.

Biden’s team keeps trying to whistle their way past the graveyard on his candidacy. The literal graveyard. According to Semafor’s Ben Smith, at the White House holiday party, Biden “strayed into a couple of hazy monologues, which ended only when his wife interrupted him to remind him it was a party. His speech wasn’t terrible, or even noteworthy. But everyone in the room realized Biden had a simple rhetorical job and hadn’t quite pulled it off.”

That’s right: Joe Biden literally couldn’t get through a holiday speech at the White House.

This brings us to the second reason Trump is leading Biden in the polls right now: he’s not in the news. That’s also the reason he’s up in Iowa head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates. Because he’s not in the news, he’s beating Biden — that takes the electability argument away from DeSantis and Haley. And because he’s not in the news, everyone has been able to look away from Trump’s crazy, which has always been his Achilles heel. Ironically, one of the best things ever to happen to Trump politically was his social media ban: it has made him nearly invisible.

So, here’s the question: Will things stay this way?

Biden’s approval ratings are unlikely to recover from where they are now. The economy is in tender shape. The Ukraine war is going badly. Israel is going to have to continue its war not only against Hamas but against Hezbollah and possibly the Yemeni Houthis.

Which means Biden’s only hope is putting Trump front and center. That could happen via Trump’s criminal trials — but that may be largely baked into the Trump cake at this point.

Would even a conviction radically shift people’s opinions on Trump?

Today’s Trump advantage is no mere chimera. It may just be the 2024 reality. Which is why the media and Democrats are panicking, and they should be.

Ben Shapiro, 39, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

BE IN TOUCH Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Murphy to Manteo

Remembering a ‘white Christmas’ for NC’s coast

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This weekend marks the anniversary of one of North Carolina’s biggest (and only) Christmas snowstorms in a generation, blanketing port cities and inland counties with up to a foot of snow and affording many the gift of experiencing a true White Christmas. On Dec. 22, 1989, snow began falling across the southern coast, continuing for almost 36 hours in Wilmington, Jacksonville, and Cherry Point. Several hours even saw heavy snow falling with blowing snow reported, reducing visibilities to less than a quarter mile and resulting in snow drifts four to eight feet high. Unlike many of our wintry events, the precipitation started falling as snow rather than rain or sleet, increasing the final totals of unpacked snow. The extent of the cold air across the country and its depth in the atmosphere were so impressive that even parts of central Florida received snow during the event.

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House committee undecided on auto insurance regulation changes following hearing

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PIEDMONT Pilot and passenger survive crash on I-26

Cleveland County Brandon Powell and Leslie Powell have been charged after a 20-year-old was killed in an underage drinking crash earlier this year after leaving their home.

Brandon Powell was charged with three counts of aid and abet a person less than 21 years old in possessing alcoholic beverages, and Leslie Powell has been charged with six counts of the same charge, as well as two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. A third person, Staci Nicole Crosby, was also charged in the case, according to local reports. The victim had been attending a homecoming party at the couple’s home and subsequently was involved in a fatal single-car crash, where beverage containers were found.

Brunswick County The pilot and passenger of a plane that crashed on Interstate 26 last week escaped the wreckage before the plane was fully engulfed in flames. The pilot, 25-year-old Parker Klehr, told local news outlets Friday that he was recovering, and the father of the only passenger onboard, 23-year-old Eduardo Vargas said his son was going into surgery late Friday afternoon. The plane crash happened just after 8 p.m. Thursday.

When firefighters got to the scene, they saw bright orange flames covering the roadway.

The pilot and passenger suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, authorities said Thursday night. The plane clipped power lines on its way down, taking out electricity in some nearby areas. The debris field was contained mostly to one side of the interstate.

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Speedway Children’s Charities announces record donation to NC non-profits

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Former teacher held on bond for alleged relationship with student

Holiday decorations stolen by thief

Mecklenburg County Officials from the Cornelius Police Department say that a former teacher at Southlake Christian Academy is under investigation for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student. Cornelius Police stated that on Aug. 2, 2023, they began investigating the alleged inappropriate relationship between a student and teacher at Southlake Christian Academy. Warrants were subsequently obtained on Tyler Melton, 26, for felony sex acts with a student and indecent liberties with a student. Melton turned himself into the Mecklenburg County Jail and is being held on a $10K unsecured bond. “We train our teachers on appropriate boundaries with students and expect them to uphold those standards on and off campus. We will continue to operate with the highest standards of integrity as a school,” said Southlake Christian Academy’s Head of School, Dr. Matthew Kerlin, in a press statement.

Rowan County Residents in the Rowan County community of Enochville believe someone has been driving around and stealing Christmas displays from people’s yards.

“There’s been some people out here in our community that have been coming in people’s yards at night and I guess stealing their Christmas decorations and stuff out of their yards,” Jon Wilson told local reporters. According to seasonal reports, Americans spend an average of $384 a year on outdoor decorations. “I think it’s just really sad that people are coming to the point of stealing Christmas decorations. I’ve got things in my yard that are hand-me-downs that are from people in my family that have passed away that you can’t get back. That’s what’s really sad about it,” Wilson said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.

Fire at fabric plant forces evacuation

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Speedway Children’s Charities hosted area nonprofits and their supporters at Speedway Christmas last week, announcing a record year with more than $2 million given to North Carolina nonprofits this holiday season. Volunteers and staff welcomed more than 450 children and charity representatives for an evening of cookies and hot chocolate and a tour through the nearly 5 million Christmas lights that illuminate Speedway Christmas, the country’s largest drive-thru holiday light show, according to the organization’s website.

SCC raises money throughout the year through a variety of fundraising events, ranging from its annual gala to raffles, to charity hot laps and more. Since its inception in 1982, SCC has awarded over $69 million to nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Rutherford County Emergency crews evacuated a fabrics plant and surrounding areas following an explosion and subsequent fire in Rutherfordton on Friday afternoon, according to a local press release.

Rutherford County Emergency Management says the county’s 911 center received a call just after 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 regarding a fire and explosion at Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics located at 715 Railroad Avenue. Crews with Rutherfordton Fire & Rescue arrived at the scene just minutes later, observing heavy fire coming from the plant. “Fire command quickly identified the chemicals involved as Methyl Ethyl Ketone and a Toluene Solution,” Friday’s release said. Emergency personnel initiated a half mile evacuation zone around the plant. David Keating, the HR director for Trelleborg, said no injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

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Neighbor hailed as Good Samaritan during house fire rescue Davidson County A good Samaritan used a ladder to aid in the rescue of two people in a house fire on Sunday morning, according to the Thomasville Fire Department Overnight Sunday, firefighters responded to a fire on the 500 block of White Street, where Thomasville firefighters and police officers discovered a two-story single-fire home with an active fire. As crews arrived, they noticed that a neighbor grabbed a ladder from the front yard of the home and helped two people down from the roof. The pair were climbing down the ladder as crews arrived. Both of the people who escaped the home were taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and have since been released.

WGHP

Woman jumps in creek near mall after stealing sunglasses Wake County According to Raleigh police, a woman shoplifted sunglasses from Sunglass Hut at Crabtree Valley Mall and jumped into a creek near the area to evade police last week. A water rescue near the mall on Thursday ended with a woman arrested for stealing Gucci sunglasses, according to press reports and arrest warrants.

Police said the suspect, Tanya Montana Hathcock, 33, remained in the water and refused to leave. With assistance from a local fire department, she was taken out of the creek. Arrest warrants state Hathcock stole Gucci sunglasses worth $595 from Sunglass Hut at Crabtree Valley Mall. The warrant also stated that the offense was committed after Hathcock was convicted of at least four previous misdemeanor larcenies between 2013 and 2022.

After devastating fire, historic buildings to be torn down Iredell County Work crews are now demolishing three of the buildings after the city council approved a demolition plan nearly eight months since a devastating fire destroyed several buildings in historic downtown Statesville. On April 25 when beloved GG’s Gift Shop on the corner of South Center and West Broad streets was destroyed by fire, owner Gloria Hager was comforted by friends and strangers on the sidewalk, but now she’s in a new location just down the street, and business is good, Hager told local news outlets. The Statesville City Council voted three weeks ago to begin tearing down the damaged buildings.

According to reports, city leaders expect the demolition of the three buildings, located at 101 and 104 South Center St. and 109 West Broad St., will take about two months.

Celebrity challenge at Fort Liberty promotes Special Forces Cumberland County A two-day event featuring 14 celebrities and influencers including Ozzy Ozbourne’s son and media personality Jack Osbourne, former Army officer and politician Tulsi Gabbard, and reality star Laura Zerra, took place at Fort Liberty last week. The 2023 Special Forces Celebrity Tactical Challenge at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School saw each celebrity teamed up with a Special Forces instructor to go through a series of four-stage shooting competitions at the shooting range. This is the fourth year of this challenge, and was conceived by Fort Liberty as a U.S. Army recruiting tool while promoting the Special Forces.

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WBTV

Durham School of the Arts to leave downtown Durham County The building in downtown Durham that has housed the Durham School of the Arts for nearly a century is closing its doors, according to a press release.

The new DSA building, which is also set to teach grades six through twelve, will be located out of the city on Duke Homestead Road and is budgeted at $240 million, and expected to be finished in the fall of 2026. The press statement notes that a goal of the move is to allow at least 200 more magnet students to enter the school who might not have been able to get in before. The new facility will include a music building with an 800seat concert hall and a theater building with a 500-seat theater.

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Santa breakfast at Emerald Isle restaurant pays students’ school lunch debts Carteret County Santa and Mrs. Claus went to Emerald Isle for breakfast to celebrate a good cause this weekend. Local restaurant Gaffers hosted their third annual breakfast with Santa, but this is the first year that all of the proceeds will be donated to pay off school lunch debts for all students in Carteret County.

Restaurant owners Jason and Ashley Harrel told local news outlets that they believe that no child should go unfed, and that students “should not have a burden of having a lunch debt when they go to school, they should get the same lunch as everybody else and not have to worry about you know owing money or having to pay for it.”

WCTI

RALEIGH — At a hearing held on Monday, Dec. 11, state lawmakers on the House Oversight and Reform Committee heard the pros and cons regarding changes to state auto insurance regulations that could potentially lower premiums for drivers.

The hearing centered on North Carolina’s auto insurance system’s “Reinsurance Facility,” or NCRF, which is designed to cover individuals who have poor driving records and are designated as “highrisk” drivers. The North Carolina Reinsurance Facility has the highest percentage in the nation of high-risk drivers, which has arguably contributed to elevated costs for consumers.

Committee members heard from various experts, including Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and former professor Jonathan Murphy.

The hearing featured a report by Murphy that was referred to in prehearing communications and during the hearing as the “Murphy Report.” A key finding highlighted during the hearing was that around 25% of insurance policies end up in the Reinsurance Facility, a much higher percentage than in other states.

The Murphy Report contains suggested reforms to the system based on South Carolina’s 1997-2003 model and emphasizes potential measures to reduce reliance on the Reinsurance Facility, slow premium growth, and lower costs for drivers. The proposed reforms involve removing rate increase limits, regulating policy transfers to the facility, and promoting market competition.

The report admits that reducing the size of the residual market “may come at the expense of jobs in the NCRF,” and that, depending on what action the legislature takes, some drivers may see their premiums rise, “specifically” those who are high-risk but not currently in the NCRF. A criticism raised was the lack of restrictions on how many drivers an insurance company can place in the program as an indicator of a failed market.

Causey defended the stability of North Carolina’s auto insurance market, citing low rates and a low percentage of uninsured drivers.

The hearing follows a settlement

negotiated in August of this year by Causey involving a requested 28.4% rate hike by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.

The settlement produced an average statewide auto rate increase of 9%; a 4.5% in 2023 and 4.5% in 2024. Per the agreement, motorcycle liability will increase by 4.6% over the same time frame.

Despite the recent increase in auto insurance rates, Causey contended that North Carolina’s rates remain among the lowest in the nation. He attributed rising rates to factors like distracted driving and rising repair costs as a result of continued inflation.

During the hearing, Committee Co-Chair Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) suggested that the state might benefit from a different system, questioning the current approach’s fairness to good drivers.

Causey, in both his remarks and written testimony, argued against any immediate legislative changes so that recent regulatory adjustments have time to work and the impact of those adjustments can be gauged.

As the hearing wound down, lawmakers seemed unsatisfied with the answers provided, and a post-hearing press statement by the committee said, “The Department of Insurance struggled to answer clearly whether the benefits of the facility outweigh its costs.”

“Although insurers do not make a profit on their ceded policies, Causey and DOI staff admitted that insurers are able to charge an administrative fee and make profits on other coverage connected to the ceded policy,” reads the posthearing statement. “When Causey said some companies sell all of their policies through the Facility, Warren asked how they could stay in business if they do not earn a profit from these policies.”

The statement went on to note that “North Carolinians paid $360 million in the fiscal year that ended in June to subsidize insurance companies selling policies through the Facility,” and that “two surcharges for the current year are set at 13 percent of premiums, which is more than the combined nine percent premium increase over two years the Commissioner approved.”

“I think the discussion today has raised more questions than it answered,” said Warren in his final remarks, signaling another hearing may be necessary.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

NATION & WORLD

A gigantic new ICBM will take US nuclear missiles out of the Cold War-era but add 21st-century risks The Associated Press F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. — The control stations for America’s nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles have a sort of 1980s retro look, with computing panels in sea foam green, bad lighting and chunky control switches, including a critical one that says “launch.”

Those underground capsules are about to be demolished and the missile silos they control will be completely overhauled. A new nuclear missile is coming, a gigantic ICBM called the Sentinel.

It’s the largest cultural shift in the land leg of the Air Force’s nuclear missile mission in 60 years.

But there are questions as to whether some of the Cold Warera aspects of the Minuteman missiles that the Sentinel will replace should be changed.

Making the silo-launched missile more modern, with complex software and 21st-century connectivity across a vast network, may also mean it’s more vulnerable. The Sentinel will need to be well protected from cyberattacks, while its technology will have to cope with frigid winter temperatures in the Western states where the silos are located.

The $96 billion Sentinel overhaul involves 450 silos across five states, their control centers, three nuclear missile bases and several other testing facilities. The project is so ambitious it has raised questions as to whether the Air Force can get it all done at once.

An overhaul is needed.

The silos lose power. Their 60-year old massive mechanical parts break down often. Air Force crews guard them using helicopters that can be traced back to the Vietnam War. Commanders hope the moderniza-

tion of the Sentinel, and of the trucks, gear and living quarters, will help attract and retain young technology-minded service members who are now asked each day to find ways to keep a very old system running.

Nuclear modernization was delayed for years because the United States deferred spending on new missiles, bombers and submarines in order to support the post 9/11 wars overseas. Now everything is getting modernized at once. The Sentinel work is one leg of a larger, nuclear weapons enterprise-wide $750 billion overhaul that is replacing almost every component of U.S. nuclear defenses, including new stealth bombers, submarines and ICBMs in the country’s largest nuclear weapons program since the Manhattan Project.

For the Sentinel, silo work could be underway by lead contractor Northrop Grumman as soon as 2025. That is 80 years after the U.S. last used nuclear weapons in war, the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, which killed an estimated 100,000 in an instant and likely tens of thousands more over time.

For the Pentagon, there are expectations the modern Sentinel will meet threats from rapidly evolving Chinese and Russian missile systems. The Sentinel is expected to stay in service through 2075, so designers are taking an approach that will make it easier to upgrade with new technologies in the coming years. But that’s not without risk.

“Sentinel is a software-intensive program with a compressed schedule,” the Government Accountability Office reported this summer. “Software development

is a high risk due to its scale and complexity and unique requirements of the nuclear deterrence mission.”

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has acknowledged the challenges the program is facing.

“It’s been a long time since we did an ICBM,” Kendall said in November at a Center for New American Security event in Washington. It’s “the biggest thing, in some ways, that the Air Force has ever taken on.”

“Sentinel, I think honestly, is struggling a little bit,” he said.

The biggest cultural shift the Sentinel will bring is the connectivity for all those who secure, maintain, operate and support the system. The overhaul touches almost everything, even including new equipment for military chefs who cook for the missile teams. The changes could improve efficiency and quality of life on the bases but may also create vulnerabilities that the analog Minuteman missiles have never faced.

Since the first silo-based Minuteman went on alert at Montana’s Malmstrom Air Force Base on Oct. 27, 1962 — the day Cuba shot down a U-2 spy plane at the height of the Cuban missile crisis — the missile has “talked” to its operators through thousands of miles of hard-wiring in cables buried underground.

Minuteman is “a very cyber-resilient platform,” said Col. Charles Clegg, the Sentinel system program manager.

Clegg said cybersecurity for the software-driven Sentinel has been a top focus of the program, one that has all of their attention.

“Like Minuteman, Sentinel will still operate within a closed network. However, to provide defense in depth, we will have ad-

ditional security measures at the boundary and inside the network, enabling our weapon system to operate effectively in a cyber-contested environment,” Clegg said.

Those who maintain the Minuteman III have tried over the years to bring in new technology to make maintenance more efficient, but they have found that sometimes the old manual way of tracking things — sometimes literally with a binder and pen — is better, especially in frigid temperatures.

Nuclear missile fields are located in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming. Those missiles need maintenance even in the winter, and crews spend hours outside in sub-zero field conditions.

“An iPad won’t survive a Montana winter” at the launch sites, where maintenance crews have worked outdoors in temperatures of minus 20 degrees or even minus 40 degrees, said Chief Master Sgt. Virgil Castro, the 741st missile maintenance squadron’s senior enlisted leader.

What it means is that even though technology could automate the whole operations process, one critical aspect of missile launch will remain the same.

If the day comes that another nuclear weapon must be fired, it will still be teams of missileers validating the orders and activating a launch.

“It’s the human in the loop,” said Col. Johnny Galbert, commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren. “I think what it comes down to is we want to rely on our airmen, our young officers out there, to make that decision, to be able to interpret what higher headquarters is telling them or directing them to do.”

CAMPUS from page A1

cording to a Dec. 8 fact sheet issued by the Administration for Children and Families in the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

“HHS has secured a facility in Greensboro, North Carolina as the site of the future Greensboro ICF. When opened, the ICF will provide shelter for boys and girls, 13 to 17 years old, and has a capacity of up to 800 beds,” the fact sheet reads. “There are currently no children in care at the site, and no current activation date. Opening the facility will depend on a variety of factors including capacity requirements and UC referral rates, among other considerations.

Current facilities on campus will be utilized for education, housing, mental health, medical, and case management needs.”

There should be children on the campus by now, as the five-year contract totaling $49,758,414 has a start date of June 9, 2022, which is over a year and a half ago. The contract’s termination date is July 8, 2027, and the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the signing authority on the contract.

Some 800 workers were also supposed to be hired under the contract to lease the AHA campus and “program services” were to be provided that include education, mental health and medical services, food, recreation, and “unification services that facilitate safe and timely release to family members or other sponsors who can care for them.”

The Greensboro AHA site is one of some 300 facilities spanning 27 states that are housing illegal unaccompanied minor children while sponsors to host them are located.

The website for AHA also displays text stating the campus was “leased to the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Agency for Children (ACF) and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) effective June 2022,” and that the site is now called the “Greensboro Piedmont Academy.” The

SCOTT PELKEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

American Hebrew Academy campus in Greensboro, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

HHS email address for press inquiries on the website was found to be non-functioning after a North State Journal email to the address bounced as undeliverable.

The contract was the subject of a House Commerce hearing in May 2021, during which Secretary Xavier Becerra denied that the Biden administration was looking at leasing properties in the state to house illegal migrant children when asked about reports of such a plan by Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09).

Becerra told Hudson at the time “There is no plan that we have to shelter children in North Carolina.”

To back his question, Hudson had entered into the record a Washington Examiner article dated May 7, 2021, that reported the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was “eyeing the American Hebrew Academy” to house minors in the country illegally.

Greensboro officials later confirmed the lease of the Greensboro facility by HHS in a June 2022 press release. The press release also said Guilford County and city leaders were contacted by Becerra’s HHS in May 2021, throwing into question Becerra’s statement to Hudson that there were no

plans to house migrant children in North Carolina.

Following historic surges in illegal immigration under the Biden Administration, hearings about neglect and abuse related to illegal migrant children, and the recent fact sheet’s release, North Carolina’s congressional delegation has become more active in seeking answers. ` ` On the Senate side, Republican Sen. Ted Budd has been actively advocating for the passage of H.R. 2 in the Senate.

“This crisis must be dealt with, and dealt with now,” Budd said in a press release. “That’s why Senate Republicans have offered the Biden White House a deal: Include proven border policies in the House-passed H.R. 2 to the national security spending package, and you’ll have our support – A clear pathway. But so far, this White House is more interested in playing politics and continuing to ignore the border crisis altogether.”` ` Per H.R. 2’s summary, it will make various changes to immigration law, including protections for children, imposing limits on asylum eligibility and requiring employers to use an electronic system to verify the employment eligibility of new employees.

Co-chair of the House Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-08) has indicated his committee will be looking into the HHS contract for the Greensboro AHA facility.

Per the Nov. 3 fact sheet on “unaccompanied children” published by HHS, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has found “suitable sponsors” for “over 410,000 unaccompanied children.”

The program referrals have generally increased since 2016 and dropped substantially during the 2020 pandemic year, per HHS data. However, those levels have rebounded, skyrocketing into the hundreds of thousands during the FYs 2021 and 2022.

In FY 2022, approximately 72% of all children referred were over 14 years of age, and 64% were boys. Approximates in FY 22 for the UC Program’s countries of origin are listed as: Guatemala (47%); Honduras (29%); El Salvador (13%); and other (11%).

Based on the daily HHS UC data posted as of Oct. 31, from Jan. 2 through Dec. 7 of this year, there were 1,929,082 migrant minors under HHS care with only 64,957 discharged from that care during the same period.

Pennsylvania House back to a 101-101 partisan divide with the resignation of Democratic lawmaker Harrisburg, Pa. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is back to a 101-101 partisan split with the resignation of a Democratic lawmaker, teeing up another special election to determine the chamber’s majority early next year.

The resignation of Rep. John Galloway, of Bucks County, had been expected for months after his election as a magisterial district judge in November.

A special election will be held Feb. 13. In the interim, Democrats who control chamber has scheduled no voting days for January and February while it is slated to be deadlocked.

If Republicans win the special election, it would grease the skids for GOP priorities to make it to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk, or go out to the voters through constitutional amendments.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Top strategist resigns from DeSantis-backing super PAC with less than a month before Iowa caucuses New York The top strategist for the embattled super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘ campaign for the White House resigned Saturday night in the latest sign of trouble for the GOP hopeful less than one month before voting begins with Iowa’s kickoff caucuses.

Jeff Roe, the top adviser to Never Back Down, is the latest senior staffer to exit Never Back Down, which has been the largest outside group supporting DeSantis’ candidacy.

He announced his departure on X hours after The Washington Post published a story focused on internal disputes and suspicions between Never Back Down, the campaign, and other DeSantis allies that included accusations of “mismanagement and conduct issues, including numerous unauthorized leaks containing false information.”

Numerous senior members of Never Back Down have been fired or resigned in recent weeks, including two chief executives, the group’s chairman and its communications director. At the same time, DeSantis’ Florida allies have created a new super PAC, Fight Right, which had earned the public blessing of the DeSantis campaign.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

El-Sissi wins Egypt’s presidential election with 89.6% of the vote and secures third term in office Cairo Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who has ruled for the past nine years, won reelection to a third, six-year term in office, election authorities announced Monday. He ran against three virtually unknown opponents.

El-Sissi recorded a landslide victory, securing 89.6% of the vote, the National Election Authority said. Turnout was 66.8% of more than 67 million registered voters.

The vote was overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Egypt’s eastern border, which has threatened to expand into wider regional turmoil.

The North African country is also in the midst of an economic crisis, with monthly inflation surging above 30%.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A7

normal

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-h hina lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority America WEEK, virus, according to members ied to tell the world there were only “THIS ISof around the globe and in the United will to pay forTHIS this covered up its spre areStates, havingChina to adjust what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, America rldwide panic, economic collapse and (Psalm catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related has Some of these orders extend at least through the endindeaths ofit”this mon ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus and the need the curve in the novel coronavirus outbrea being thrown out of work.

I know In order to put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero go into June. millions of Americans th ne orders ty of at Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask — after all, trends canhas easily ayer least $2.4 trillion in added working from worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, Unitedmuted States over costrever the Here in North Democratic Gov.The Roycrisis Cooper stated dur normal.” questions back tohistory. At least four in the 20th century alone have abided by recommendations and ord Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, and when things can start getting be glad” t our 231-year be that debt plus trillions more a recent coronavirus press can briefing “we just don’t know yet”asifin nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to stay at home; they’ve practiced social d he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve and dad, the directly traced to China: flu,” 1968 “Hong orders Kong flu,” markets state’s stay-at-home will 1977 extend into May. and financial ou Since when1957 did “Asian They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. fund any of these emergency have tonot beth th “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, would b Perhaps If he does decide to extend it, questions should bewe asked as to We need WALTER E. WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction in expected hosp Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures without immed justification for it.

And the answers should not be vague ones like “ COVID-19 t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washingto For me, m government There is 100% agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must do this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to askin those Metrics and Evaluation model most oftAs ci ant ways and decisions through and honesty originated Wuhan Province probably from the has to pay for th provide a China at all levels It will need tocompletely be explained in detail to the people ofmaking. this state w asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected need plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets.

Some believe it came out of a economic and financial m from our are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined message of become a gue likecentury “we health, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 1 orldones of 21st hygiene affliction, so biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the ci scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of c hope that we13,000 will and bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly the num unist regimes never take blame affliction, wi Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade. Totalitaria are reliable.

— we need to again enjoy sincere of this state who when will demand August byonce nearly 12,000. orse, because that is not whatthey can get back to providing for their families,their God.” That is what food safety and health protocols, American business has nowhat other or express To know date, what I’ve gone along with the state has asked andregret then they answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know sporting events, yndetermined take advantage of every weakness If you are choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governments questions abo housands of cases at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy tothar pushing until they win orLeaders the reflect on concerts, family for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. living in a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatal God’sback. examp don’t and when reliability adversaries gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get push asked, there AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were kedhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whether ent such as the Chernobyl this difficult The most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exog they to disaster corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat thos church some services questions about We should families, be open or closed,meltdown whether we oughtSome to we pu believe that event, not the Star Warsall continue confident supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a to do what we can to keep our U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least halfdata of their in 1986. what they questioning the and asking when we can start getting and many more that presumes Sponsored

by Union and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society wi Sponsored by should also o the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In this sam bit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what production back in the States.

There is though approximately programor of are Reagan, led d to do, lastUnited I to normal they are$120 conspiracy theorists people wh don’t.as afterdown our own asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock further. neighbors he mightisbe the root academic corruption, billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment inor1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves others sick. title of a recent study, ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen rates — Concor the num temporary In inexpiration China. Chinese billion by case fatality Perhaps COVID-19 C Since when did questioning government at all levels become aisba “Academic Grievance Studies and theAmericans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2 starttalking gettingabout back the possibility This is all new to the number of identified COVID-19 cases eady money to bu sacrifices are comparison.

Senators in Washingto thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were suppo Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was are people who shape, safe, at and in theChina denominator are likely wrong.

We debt we owe them as one wayor toform. get So while we should remain vigilant and stay health care An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment forgiving $1.2 trw over. of China toon do,half lastof I checked. done

by Areo, an opinion and analysis Capital Square sick. the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new people have actually died of coronavirus. y have caused the US. Don’t hold your today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated China to “pay”isfor dam digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short My first American concern asmanufacturing we go along in all this, of course, mythe famil ls become aAreopagitica, badbut normal.” number beenbreath overestimated, given th lee” to happen asktrophy your elected out fortops a speech delivered by investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury billion in has waiting Ifor a Chin them$18 catching the virus, and I’m worried will.

Afte ty were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patie ountable inmultifamily tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue hold C suffering fromin the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during the 2009topandem tower in Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. sources suggest the number is dramatical decimal dust compared to the $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan extra we areprecautions, now this disaster. been trying to take because all of this brings downtown Raleigh Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah e, to is my family.

Stacey Matthews manyas people are dying home. ed operate as I’m responsible citizens of undertaking to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies in the It is at about timenot they way too memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer to ar re something drastically wrong ied I will.

After has gone and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue ation. past. the world like any other But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hm inCapital academia, especially certain Square, one of within the 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scientist China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities. nation’s leading sponsors of They call l of this brings up of identified business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that theycases could be an order of ma these fields “grievance studies,” where tax-advantaged real estate Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavir senior refer notscholarship to repeat. number of people who have had is not so much based upon intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and investments and an active ost everyone hastruthand finding butmanager upon attending to replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. developer

business & economy Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

A6

Approved Logos

north STA

social grievances.

Grievance scholars of housing communities, bully students, administrators and other announced Monday the departments into adhering to their topping out of a 20-story Class worldview.

Thetower worldview Jason A multifamily at 320they W. promote is neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS South Street in the Warehouse studies consist of disciplines such as District of downtown Raleigh sociology, anthropology, gender studies, within a qualified opportunity COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race zone. “This 20-story, studies. trophy multifamily is Pluckrose, In 2017 and 2018,tower authors Capital Square’s crowning Lindsay and Boghossian started achievement in Raleigh,” said submitting bogus academic papers to Louis Rogers, founder and queer, academic journals in cultural, AP PHOTO co-chief executive race, gender, fat andofficer sexuality studies Former President Donald Trump speaks after exiting the courtroom for a break at New York Supreme Court, Thursday, Dec. Capital Square. toofdetermine if they“Capital would pass peer 7, 2023, in New York.

Square is pleased to be a part “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made seriousness of and the virus and the need review be accepted for publication.

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

I unders of people something bigger than Acceptance of dubious research in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how who simply ask that orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I editors found sympathetic to their ourselves – the transformation this challenging tim n thingsjournal can start getting back to are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”I know that during questions about the data, intersectional postmodern leftist vision of downtownor Raleigh.” working from home or losing a job, it may with contempt.

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in som ofLocated the world prove the problem of at would theaccept intersection be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. as Howev a societylow simply must without Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re treated thou academic standards. the Boylan Heights and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded ls us aboutofSeveral when it’s safe to begin the Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the govern of the Dorothea fake research neighborhood, Dix papers and of hopeful for, even alcy. were for publication. a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t knowhave yet”to if be thethankful process returning back Parkaccepted and downtown Raleigh, The Fat Lenten and pandemic. us, and we have the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government w 320 W. Street will be one Since when did that argued the term bodybuilding was me, my faith is an important part o home orders areainselect place allluxury over the Easter seasons If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the questions.

And the longer of only few questioning andcommunities should be replaced making.

As I celebrated Easter with my f hem get exclusionary inrental states, such as Michigan, housing justification for it. And the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country, and the stricter provide with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our eeling isolated anxious about in theand/or downtown submarket. must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sittingLo a message of politicized performance.” One reviewer The project includes 297 affliction, so that we may becan able toback comfo ng for their families, will demand at all levels It will need to be explained in detailhope to the people of this state who when they get t said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this that we will apartment homes, consisting affliction, with the comfort which we our are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an important become a Florida, as well as enjoy golf coursthe lawsuit under a state law The Associated Press Trump took a significant once again of studios and one-, twoand God.” vels should be as forthcoming contribution to make to as thethey field and this amount of allow time for whya jury. models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders the local an es, hotels, a Wallevents, Street office legal that doesn’t hit even before theattrial, bad thing? three-bedroom units, sporting If you are celebrating the Easter season again, not vague answers, butalong answer journal.” are reliable. can be with those building and more.

State law“In a strange way, I’m gonna when Engoron ruled that he answer NEW YORK — After more with square “Our10,500+ Struggle Is Myfeet Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforted ents believability. concerts, family Tothis date, I’veEngoron gone along withyers whatcontend the state hasTrump asked and with details that give the that got then trial,” mused engaged in fraud.

The judge of ground-floor retail space Reply tothan 10 weeks, 40 witnesses miss Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional God’s example and comfort in n hat we can to keep as our interest rateshad andquestions other Wednesday ordered that aWe receiver take and bursts offree courtroom fire- aloud citizens mandated that webefore do, butthe alonglower the way I’ve also about shouldall allthose continue gatherings, and an adjacent, standalone Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was this difficult time.

Through faith and by h afe. But we should also still continue benefits because of his stated last hours of testimony, which works, testimony wrapped control of some of the ex-presthe data. State Republican leaders have, too. services ourselves, and our comm parking for structure with over church living inina former free accepted publication

by Affilia, a riches. were about accounting stanup last Wednesday ident’s properties, but an apconfident we will emerge out of this pand ecause while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types ofand questions get asked, there is to ask questions about th 400 spaces.

Onsite amenities feminist journal for social workers. The many more society werecivil dards. defendants deny any Inpeals President Donald Trump’s frozen that or- to be ins this court same has spirit, I continue y shouldpaper also have an expiration sometimes a disturbing tendencyThe among some people to treat those measures are understand will include a resort-style consisted in part of adate. rewritten wrongdoing, and Trump has James’ lawsuit accuses business fraud trial.

But a verder for now. after our own supposed neighbors helping neighbors. nd it is not normal.

Not inrooftop any way,Two other swimming pool, passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Amer made that clear on Trump, his company and key vehemently dict is at least a month away.

The trial concerns remaintemporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior name d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, papers were published, including lounge, coworking spaceat and to do, lastare I set executives to normal — as though they are conspiracy people who or form. the witnesstheorists stand, in or theare courtincluding sons Closing arguments ing claims of conspiracy, insur-So while “Rape and Queer Performativity state-of-the-art fitness center. money buy aand 3-D printer and plastic to mfortable withCulture this so-called “new sacrifices are otherwise don’t Jr. careand if they themselves orand others sick. thefalsifying same time we should hallway, on his Truth Trump Ericgethouse for Jan. 11, and Judge Arthur Donald ancetofraud busichecked. atCapital Urban Square Dog Parks.”

This paper’s subject has partnered health care workers out of his own home.

Social platform.

— of deceiving banks Engoron has said he hopes to Trump records. normal.”

James is seeking Since when did questioning government a bad over. at all levels becomeness was dog-on-dog rape. Butasthe dog rape with JDAVIS Architects “A total hit job,” he railed insurers by giving them fidecide the case by the end of and penalties of more $300bit. thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Notthan one little paper eventually forcedW. Boghossian, the building architect, M. Wednesday in an all-caps post. statements that padded that month. The case threatens nancial million and wants Trump to be to do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out Jordan Company as general to disrupt the 2024 Republican the ex-president’s wealth by bil- Both James and the judge are banned from doing business in under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also themselves.

Wall Street Journal writer contractorA and York Properties Democrats, and Trump casts New York. front-runner’s real estate em- lions of dollars. dState and Legal Insurrection. had whatagent they were worried about them I’m worried and is a regular as figured the retailout leasing of thedoing. pire and even stop him from thevirus, case asand a partisan attack.I will. After The suit claims thecatching docu- the The attorney general said in contribu Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu)not during the 2009 property.

Trump only testified butpandemic, overvalued such promidoing business in his native ments a statement that after the prein academic journals advocated training I’ve and beenpersonally trying to significant take extra precautions, because allseveral of this brings up voluntarily sat in on nent state. trial ruling found that Trump men like dogs and punishing white male other days of the trial, though as his memories Trump Tower The verdict is up to the judge holdings “engaged in years of significant way too many of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. college students for historical slavery by Wednesday.

James watched in New and hislosenot New York Attorney penthouse But what also York makes me sleep is how easily most everyone has asking them to sit in silence in Hughes Pittman & on the floorbecause General Letitia James brought Mar-a-Lago club and home in from the courtroom audience.

See TRUMP, page A11 chains during class and to be expected to Gupton combines learn from the discomfort. Other papers y celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life with EisenAmper choice and advocated treating privately conducted masturbation as a form of Last Thursday, global business sexual violence against women. Typically, advisory firm EisnerAmper s academic journal editors send submitted announced that the partners papers out to referees for review. In and colleagues of accounting, recommending acceptance for publication, tax and business consulting many reviewers gave these papers glowing firm Hughes Pittman & praise.

Gupton, LLP (“HPG”), would Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran be joining EisnerAmper in a certain grievance studies concepts through The Associated Press transaction expected to close the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often in the spring of 2024.

In a they appeared in our press over the years.

LONDON — The European separate transaction, HPG’s He found huge increases in the usages Union on Monday made Elon wealth management practice, of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” Musk’s online platform X the first HPG Wealthcare Advisors, will “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” tech company to face an investitransition Prosperity, All of this istobeing taughtan to college gation under Europe’s tough new EisnerAmper later students, manyCompany, of whom become primary regulations designed to clean up in 2024.

Founded in 1983 and and secondary school teachers who then social media and protect people based in Raleigh, HPG people. provides indoctrinate our young from toxic online content. aIhost of whether services,the including doubt coronavirus“Today we open formal infringecaused financial crunchaudit will give college advisory, outsourcing, ment proceedings against @X” and university administrators, a and accounting, tax, and risk who areunder the Digital Services Act, crossbreed between a parrot and governance.

They serveand jellyfish, European Commissioner Thierry the guts and backbone to across restore academic clients around the world Breton said in a post on the platrespectability.

Far too often, a broad range of industries, they get much form formerly known as Twitter. ofincluding their political support technology, lifefrom campus The 27-nation bloc is ratcheting grievance who are members of the sciences,people clean tech, health up the pressure on X after asking faculty and diversity and multicultural care, manufacturing and the company in October for inadministrative offices. distribution, real estate and formation on its handling of hate The best hope lies with boards of speech, misinformation and viprofessional service. “HPG trustees, though many serve as yes-men olent terrorist content related to has always been dedicated for the university president. I think that a the Israel-Hamas war. The case to meeting the current and good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s presents the first test for the Digfuture needs of both clients catalogs. Look at the course offerings at ital Services Act, part of a set of piand the talented professionals a time when college graduates knew how oneering regulations that the EU that make up our firm,” said to read, write and compute, and make has drawn up to rein in the power Heather Dean, Tax Partner them today’s curricula.

Another helpful of tech companies. andwould Executive tool be toCommittee give careful consideration The European Commission, Member at HPG. “In getting to to eliminating all classes/majors/minors the EU’s executive branch, “will know EisnerAmper, it becamesuch as containing the word “studies,” now investigate X’s systems and apparent that black our values alignstudies. women, Asian, or queer policies related to certain susandrestoring combining I’dperfectly, bet that by theour traditional pected infringements” of the DSA, academic mission to colleges, they would two cultures will provide terrific spokesman Johannes Bahrke told put a serious dent into COVID-19 new opportunities forthe both a press briefing in Brussels. “It budget shortfall. our team and the clients they does not prejudge the outcome of serve.” the investigation.”

AP PHOTO Walter E. Williams is a professor of The San Francisco-based soeconomics at George Mason University.

Computer monitors and a laptop display the X, formerly known as Twitter, sign-in page, July See X, page A10 24, 2023, in Belgrade, Serbia

VISUAL VOICES

It’s okay to ask questions about when The comfort and ho we begin to get back to normal

Testimony ends in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, but the verdict isn’t expected until next month

European Union investigating Musk’s X over possible breaches of social media law

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

A10 NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING DEC 19

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,093,851,891 Add Receipts

$78,451,080 Less Disbursements

$143,225,948 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$5,965,728,462 Loan Balance

$0 X from page A9

cial media platform says it is “committed to complying with the Digital Services Act, and is cooperating with the regulatory process. It is important that this process remains free of political influence and follows the law.”

“X is focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal,” the company said in a statement.

Musk has stated his aim is to turn the platform into a place for free speech to thrive, but recent changes such as cutting the number of content moderators and restoring the banned accounts of divisive public personalities — have not been well-received by some users and advertisers, who have fled over concerns about unregulated speech appearing alongside their ads.

The EU’s investigation will look into whether X failed to do enough to curb the spread of illegal content — such as hate speech or incitement of terrorism — to its 112 million users in Europe.

That includes the effectiveness of X’s tools for users to flag up illegal material in posts and ads so that it can be swiftly removed, as well as whether the company is following its own policies on restricting “sensitive content.”

The investigation also will examine whether X’s measures to combat “ information manipulation,” especially through its crowd-sourced Community Notes fact-checking feature, were effective within the European Union.

Another area of investigation is transparency. The EU said there are “suspected shortcomings” in researchers’ access to X’s publicly accessible data” as well as its ad database, both of which are required by the DSA. Lastly, the investigation will look into whether users are being tricked by suspected “deceptive design” of X’s interface, including for its blue check subscription service. The blue checkmarks once signified that the person or institution behind an account was genuine, such as a celebrity, athlete or journalist, but now merely indicate someone pays $8 a month to boost their posts above unchecked users.

The EU has called out X as the worst place online for fake news, and officials have exhorted owner Musk to do more to clean it up.

Now, it’s taking official steps under the Digital Services Act, a set of far-reaching rules designed to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content that’s either illegal or violates a platform’s terms of service.

A raft of big tech companies faced stricter scrutiny after the DSA took effect earlier this year, threatening penalties of up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a ban from the EU. Fines are, however, considered a last ditch resort, and Brussels could first use “interim measures” to force companies to comply.

There’s no deadline for a decision on the investigation into X, and the commission said it would continue to gather evidence, carry out interviews and conduct inspections.

Southwest Airlines reaches $140 million settlement over holiday flight-canceling meltdown last year The Associated Press DALLAS — Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.

Most of the settlement will go toward compensating future passengers, which the U.S. Department of Transportation considers an incentive for Southwest to avoid repeating last winter’s mess.

The government said the assessment was the largest it has ever imposed on an airline for violating consumer protection laws.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the settlement demonstrates his agency’s resolve to make airlines take care of their passengers.

“This penalty should put all airlines on notice to take every step possible to ensure that a meltdown like this never happens again,” he said.

Southwest said it was “grateful to have reached a consumer-friendly settlement” that gives the airline credit for compensation it already provided to customers. The airline said it has “learned from the event, and now can shift its entire focus to the future.”

The assessment stems from nearly 17,000 canceled flights a year ago, which started as a winter storm paralyzed Southwest operations in Denver and Chicago and then snowballed when a crew-rescheduling system couldn’t keep up with the chaos.

Even before the settlement, the nation’s fourth-biggest airline by revenue said the meltdown cost it more than $1.1 billion in refunds and reimbursements, extra costs and lost ticket sales over several months.

The government said in a consent decree dated Friday that

AP PHOTO

A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on Dec. 28, 2022.

Southwest “violated the law on numerous occasions,” including by failing to help customers who were stranded in airports and hotels, leaving many of them to scramble for other flights.

Many who called the airline’s overwhelmed customer service center got a busy signal or were stuck on hold for hours.

Southwest also did not keep customers updated about canceled and delayed flights, failing to fulfill a requirement that airlines notify the public within 30 minutes of a change. Some said they never got an email or text notice and couldn’t access Southwest’s website.

The government also charged Southwest did not provide refunds quickly enough. People who made a mistake entering details in refund requests to a special Southwest website were not told to fix the error; they simply didn’t get the money.

Others didn’t receive immediate refunds for things like pet

fees and boarding upgrades that went unused because of canceled flights, according to the department.

In the consent order, Dallas-based Southwest disputed many of the Transportation Department’s findings.

Southwest said that only a small percentage of refunds were issued late and that it never gave false promises about long wait times for reaching customer service during weather-related disruptions. Still, the company said it entered the agreement just to settle the matter.

Southwest said the 2022 storm that produced record cold temperatures, blizzards and power outages a few days before Christmas created “unanticipated operational challenges.”

The airline said it quickly began reimbursing travelers for meals, hotels and alternative transportation and also distributed frequent flyer points.

Southwest has added trucks

and other de-icing equipment and will increase staff during extreme cold temperatures at key airports such as Denver, CEO Robert Jordan said.

Southwest had previously agreed to make more than $600 million in refunds and reimbursements. Still, the carrier disclosed in October that federal officials found its efforts fell short and the carrier could face a civil penalty over its service to customers.

The settlement provides that in addition to the $35 million fine, Southwest will get $33 million in credit for compensation already handed out, mostly for giving 25,000 frequent flyer points each, worth about $300, to affected customers. The company promised to give out $90 million in vouchers to future travelers.

Starting next spring and running until April 2027, Southwest will provide a voucher of at least $75 to travelers who request them if they reach their destination at least three hours late because of a delay or flight cancellation caused by the airline.

The government values vouchers at 80% of their face value, so Southwest received credit for $72 million for the future vouchers, not the full $90 million to be distributed over three years. If Southwest pays out less than $30 million in any of those years, it will owe the government a penalty of 80% of any shortfall.

In exchange for Southwest agreeing to the fine and other measures, the government stopped short of deciding whether the airline advertised a flight schedule that it knew could not be kept. Buttigieg had raised that charge publicly.

The Transportation Department said it reviewed thousands of consumer complaints, visited Southwest facilities and met with senior company officials during the investigatio

Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas, not brakes on shopping, travel, restaurants The Associated Press NEW YORK — Americans picked up their spending from October to November unexpectedly as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring the power of shoppers despite elevated prices.

Retail sales rose 0.3%, in November from October, when sales fell 0.2%, according to the Commerce Department on Thursday. Sales were expected to decline again in November due to a myriad of issues, including uncertainty over the economy.

Excluding car and gas sales, retail sales rose 0.6%.

As they have been doing for much of the year, American consumers, a huge engine for economic growth in the U.S., hit the stores, shopped online, went out to restaurants or traveled.

Business at restaurants, furniture stores and online rose. Sales at clothing and accessories stores were also up. Sales at electronics, appliance and department stores fell. The figures aren’t adjusted for inflation.

The urge to spend for Americans appears to have some running room even after a blowout summer. Consumer spending jumped in the July-September quarter. Economists have been expecting spending to slow in the final three months of the year as credit card debt and delinquencies rise, and savings fall. And while inflation is easing, prices are still higher at restaurants, car shops, or for things like rent.

“While consumers continue to face hurdles from higher borrowing costs, tighter credit conditions and elevated prices, a still-strong labor market, a positive trend in incomes and an easing in price pressures should keep spending and growth positive for now,” wrote Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist for High Frequency Economics.

U.S. employment data last week showed that employers

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A woman carrying a shopping bag passes Macy’s department store in Herald Square, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in New York. added 199,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate declined to 3.7%. Inflation has plummeted in little over a year from a troubling 9.1%, to 3.2%.

While inflation is still above the desired level, the economy by most counts is likely to avoid the recession many economists had feared, a potential side effect of U.S. attempts to cool inflation.

Yet a lot of Americans remain gloomy, according to the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment. The preliminary December figures issued Friday showed moods have improved as more people see inflation cooling.

Stores have been discounting holiday merchandise earlier and heavier. Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, believes that stores have been intensifying sales to get shoppers to buy.

Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, noted that credit card balances and rates are at all-time highs. That has led to some concerns about the willingness to take on debt with

the cost of borrowing still comparatively high.

“It feels like the holiday debt hangover could be particularly nasty this year,” he said.

The strong retail numbers Thursday were particularly surprising given some of the news coming from retailers themselves.

In the most recent quarter, retailers including Walmart and Macy’s said shoppers were being more selective in what they were buying as the holiday shopping season approached.

Walmart attracted shoppers looking for deals, but its expectations going forward were muted.

Sales at Target slid even though the chain did better than many industry watchers had expected.

Sales also fell at Home Depot, as customers put off home renovations as well as purchases of big-ticket items like appliances and other goods often bought with credit cards.

The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, still expects shoppers will spend more during the

2023 winter holidays than last year.

The group forecast in November that U.S. holiday sales will rise 3% to 4% for November through December. That is slower than the 5.4% growth over the same period a year ago, but more consistent with the average annual holiday increase of 3.6% from 2010 to pre-pandemic 2019.

Merlin Tavares, father of five, ages 2 to 22, was at the Camp toy store in Manhattan earlier this week. He said that inflation was forcing him to start earlier than last year to buy holiday gifts so he could spread out the bills.

“Every year I tell myself I’m going to start early and it doesn’t happen,” said Tavares. “But this year, I had to make sure that I actually get this holiday shopping started early so I can be able to afford everything that I have to buy.”

Black Friday was expected to again be the busiest day of the season even as sales have become more spread out. But retailers still have six of the top 10 busiest days of the season ahead of them, including Dec. 26, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which tracks store traffic. On average, the top 10 busiest shopping days in the U.S. account for roughly 40% of all holiday retail traffic, it said.

Ethan Chernofsky, vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, which tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage, noted that Black Friday traffic was strong. But then there’s group of shoppers that will wait for deals closer to the holiday.

Those shoppers are “willing to play that game, a game of chicken until the last possible minute,” he said.

The government’s monthly retail sales report offers only a partial look at consumer spending; it doesn’t include many services, including health care, travel and hotel lodging.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

EPA begins formal review of vinyl chloride, toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration has initiated a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic black smoke following a fiery train derailment earlier this year in eastern Ohio.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it will review risks posed by a handful of chemicals, including vinyl chloride, which is used to make a variety of plastic products, including pipes, wire and packaging materials. The chemical is found in polyvinyl chloride plastic, better known as PVC. The EPA said it will study vinyl chloride to determine whether it poses an “unreasonable risk to human health or the environment,” a process that would take at least three years.

Vinyl chloride is one of five chemicals the agency is reviewing, including four that are used to make plastics. Other chemicals set for review under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act include acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, and a compound known as MBOCA. “Under the Biden-Harris administration, EPA has made significant progress ... to strengthen our nation’s chemical safety laws after years of mismanagement and delay. Today marks an important step forward,” said Michal Freedhoff, assistant EPA administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention.

Studying the safety of vinyl chloride and other chemicals

AP PHOTO

A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, Feb. 6, 2023. that have been in use for decades “is key to better-protecting people from toxic exposure,” Freedhoff said in a statement.

Environmental and public health activists welcomed the announcement, calling the review long overdue.

“Vinyl chloride was classified as a human carcinogen in 1974. That same year, the federal government wisely banned the use of vinyl chloride in hair sprays, refrigerants, cosmetics and drugs,’’ said Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator and president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics.

Enck and other advocates had called the toxic train derail-

ment in East Palestine, Ohio, a warning that the U.S. must ban petrochemicals such as vinyl chloride.

Jess Conard, an East Palestine resident who now works as a regional director for Beyond Plastics, said EPA was making the right decision.

“Vinyl chloride is transported by rail all over the country and is the primary chemical that has contaminated not just my home in East Palestine, Ohio, but other communities where PVC and vinyl chloride manufacturing facilities exist,’’ Conard said in a statement.

“If you live along the rail line, you are at risk for the same fate

(as East Palestine) with every passing train that is transporting toxic chemicals,’’ she said. Conard faulted what she called “an insatiable demand”

by Americans for plastic products that has “driven the need for increased transport of these hazardous substances, placing communities like mine at risk every single day.”

Vinyl chloride is found in plastic PVC pipes, as well as vinyl siding, packaging and a range of consumer goods, including furniture, car parts, shower curtains and toys used by children and pets.

Inhalation of vinyl chloride has been linked to liver cancer and other health problems, according to the National Cancer Institute, and its use has long been banned in cosmetics, hair spray and other personal products. PVC plastic is not a known or suspected carcinogen, the agency said.

The Vinyl Institute, a trade group that represents manufacturers, said it was prepared to work with EPA on the risk analysis.

The institute “has indicated our strong interest to be engaged in the process early, and to serve as a collaborative resource for the agency,’’ said Ned Monroe, the Vinyl Institute’s president and CEO. “This is an opportunity to correct any misunderstanding about the regulation of vinyl chloride manufacturing and the safety of PVC products,’’ Monroe said. “We believe this risk evaluation will further assure that the production of vinyl chloride and use of PVC products are safe. Manufacturers of

A11 vinyl chloride adhere to some of the most stringent safety and environmental regulations in the chemical industry.’’

Vinyl chloride monomer is an intermediary chemical found in PVC products that are used every day, Monroe said, including PVC pipes used for drinking water, vinyl windows and siding, and medical products such as IV blood bags.

Debate over vinyl chloride has simmered for years but gained a new urgency after the Feb. 3 derailment of a 50-car Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine. Three days later, emergency crews released toxic vinyl chloride from five tank cars and burned it to keep them from exploding.

That sent a billowing plume of black smoke over the town near the Pennsylvania border and prompted the evacuation of about half of its 5,000 residents. Nearly a year later, residents remain concerned about lingering impacts on health, even though state and federal officials say tests show the town’s air and water are safe.

The Feb. 6 burn sparked worries that it could have formed dioxins, a known carcinogen created from burning chlorinated carbon materials.

Since an evacuation order was lifted near the derailment site, vinyl chloride has not been found in the community at or above an intermediate screening level, the EPA said. The agency ordered testing for the highly toxic compounds after the derailment; results so far suggest there’s a low chance that dioxins were released following the derailment, the EPA said.

Daniel Rosenberg, director of federal toxics policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said vinyl chloride is highly toxic, “from manufacture to use and disposal — not to mention transport, as the community of East Palestine, Ohio, knows all too well. EPA should factor in all possible sources of exposure to vinyl chloride when assessing its risk.”

The average long-term US mortgage rate dips below 7% to its lowest level since early August The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dropped below 7% to its lowest level since early August, another boost for prospective homebuyers who have largely been held back by sharply higher borrowing costs and heightened competition for relatively few homes for sale.

The average rate on a 30year mortgage dropped to 6.95% from 7.03% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.31%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loan, edged up this week, lifting the average rate to 6.38% from 6.29% last week.

A year ago, it averaged 5.54%, Freddie Mac said.

The latest drop in rates is the seventh in as many weeks.

Mortgage rates have been easing since late October, when they reached 7.79%, the highest

TRUMP from page A9

fraud and unjustly enriched himself and his family, this trial revealed the full extent of that fraud — and the defendants’ inability to disprove it.”

Trump lawyer Christopher Kise urged Engoron to rule immediately for the defense, contending evidence showed “there was no fraud, there were no victims and there has simply been no harm.” Trump will appeal if he loses, Kise said.

Testimony and documents showed the Trump Tower penthouse was claimed as nearly three times its actual size — just a mistake, Trump said. Mar-aLago was valued as high as $612 million, based on its potential sale as a private home, though Trump signed a 2002 agreement

AP PHOTO

A for sale sign stands outside a single-family residence on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Denver. level since late 2000.

The pullback has echoed a decline in the 10-year Trea-

not “to develop the property for any usage other than club usage.” Trump says he believes it could revert to only a home.

The trial gave the court and onlookers a view into Trump’s properties — sometimes quite literally, as when a real estate broker played a drone video of Mar-a-Lago.

Much testimony entailed deep dives into loan underwriting, property appraisal methods and financial practices.

For every magazine-like photo of a Trump property, there were pages of accounting rules or lines of charts and spreadsheets.

The proceedings featured testimony from three of Trump’s adult children: Donald Jr., Eric and their sister Ivanka, who was their fellow executive

sury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans.

The yield, which in mid Octo-

“In a strange way, I’m gonna miss this trial.”

Judge Arthur Engoron vice president at the Trump Organization before she left the company for the White House.

Former Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen took the stand for the attorney general’s office.

The former president himself was a voluble and sharptongued witness, airing his grievances about the case as “a political witch hunt.”

He insisted he was worth billions more, not less, than his financial statements said. Trump

ber surged to its highest level since 2007, has been falling on hopes that inflation has cooled enough for the Federal Reserve to finally stop raising interest rates.

Those hopes strengthened Wednesday after the Fed held its main interest rate steady for the third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to begin cutting rates beginning as early as next summer.

Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Fed does with its benchmark federal funds rate can influence rates on home loans.

“Given inflation continues to decelerate and the Federal Reserve Board’s current expectations that they will lower the federal funds target rate next year, we likely will see a gradual thawing of the housing market in the new year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

The sharp runup in mort-

gage rates that began early last year has pushed up borrowing costs on home loans, reducing how much would-be homebuyers can afford even as home prices have kept climbing due to a stubbornly low supply of properties on the market.

That’s weighed on sales of previously occupied U.S. homes, which are down 20.2% through the first 10 months of this year.

The recent downward shift in mortgage rates is a welcome development for homebuyers.

Mortgage applications notched their sixth consecutive weekly increase last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Still, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was 3.12%.

The large gap between rates now and then is contributing to the low inventory of homes for sale by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two years ago from selling.

insisted that any misstatements were immaterial mistakes and that disclaimers effectively told recipients not to count on the numbers. The disclaimers said, among other things, that the statements weren’t audited.

His discursive answers prompted the judge to bristle that “this is not a political rally.” Complaining that Trump was giving speeches instead of answering questions, Engoron urged defense lawyers to “control” the former president.

Some of Trump’s out-of-court comments led to a gag order that barred all trial participants from commenting publicly on the judge’s staff. The order, which Trump has decried and his attorneys are appealing, came after he maligned the judge’s principal law clerk.

Engoron has fined Trump a total of $15,000 after finding that he violated the order.

Yet the testimony phase ended on a cordial note Wednesday, with Kise thanking the court for investing time in the case and the judge expressing appreciation for all the work lawyers had done. Kise and some other defense attorneys shook James’ hand as they headed out of court.

Hours later, Engoron was among people who had to evacuate the courthouse after a man set some papers afire and doused them with a fire extinguisher. The man was arrested, court spokesperson Al Baker said. No one was injured, and Engoron and others returned to the courthouse after the allclear.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Federal Reserve keeps key interest rate unchanged and foresees 3 rate cuts next year The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged last week for a third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark rate next year.

The Fed’s message last Wednesday strongly suggested that it is finished with rate hikes — after the fastest increases in four decades — and is edging closer to cutting rates as early as next summer.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell said that Fed officials are likely done raising rates because of how steadily inflation has cooled.

“Inflation keeps coming down, the labor market keeps getting back into balance and, it’s so far, so good,” Powell said after the Fed’s 19-member policy committee ended its latest meeting.

On Wall Street, traders celebrated the prospect of lower rates ahead. Stock prices soared and bond yields sank after the Fed issued its statement and Powell held his news conference.

Wednesday marked a major shift in the central bank’s outlook on interest rates and the economy.

Just two weeks ago, Powell had said it was “premature” to conclude that the Fed has finished raising its key benchmark rate or to “speculate” about cuts in that rate.

But on Wednesday, he signaled that the Fed is almost certainly done raising rates. And he acknowledged that the officials had discussed the prospect of rate reductions in their meeting.

He also conceded that his warning, in a high-profile speech last year, that the “pain” of higher unemployment would accompany a sharp decline in inflation, was overly pessimistic. Instead, inflation has slowed significantly toward the Fed’s 2% target, even while unemployment, at 3.7%,

AP PHOTO

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference about the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. and the pace of layoffs, have remained low.

In response to a question, Powell said the Fed recognizes that keeping rates high for too long, and waiting too long to cut them, could endanger the economy.

“We’re aware of the risk that we would hang on too long” before reducing borrowing rates, the Fed chair said. “We know that’s a risk, and we’re very focused on not making that mistake.”

Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, said she thought the Fed’s message Wednesday was: “We’re done.”

The Fed, she said, has the “luxury” of leaving rates elevated, for now, in case the economy and inflation reaccelerate, “while declaring that they’re done hiking, and that cuts are in the making.”

Wall Street investors are betting that rate cuts could begin as soon as March, while economists generally foresee them beginning

in May or June.

Throughout his news conference, Powell expressed optimism that inflation, which has bedeviled American consumers and businesses for more than two years, is edging down toward the Fed’s 2% target. He noted, by example, that inflation has eased in goods, housing and services — three categories the Fed has been closely monitoring.

The Fed chair downplayed one concern that some economists have expressed — that the final step down to 2% inflation, from its current level of about 3%, could be harder than the previous slowdowns in price increases.

“We kind of assume that that it will get harder from here,” he said.

“But so far it hasn’t.”

The Fed kept its benchmark rate at about 5.4%, its highest level in 22 years, a rate that has led to much higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, business bor-

rowing and many other forms of credit. Higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced home sales.

Spending on appliances and other expensive goods that people often buy on credit has also declined.

Conversely, interest rate cuts by the Fed, whenever they happen, would reduce borrowing costs across the economy. Stock prices could rise, too, though share prices have already rallied in expectation of rate cuts, potentially limiting any further increases.

So far, the Fed has achieved what few observers had thought possible a year ago: Inflation has tumbled without an accompanying surge in unemployment or a recession, which typically coincide with a central bank’s efforts to cool the economy and curb inflation. Though inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, it has declined faster than Fed officials had expected, allowing them to keep rates unchanged and wait

to see if price increases continue to ease.

On Wednesday, the Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed that its officials envision a “soft landing” for the economy, in which inflation would continue its decline toward the central bank’s 2% target without causing a steep downturn. The forecasts showed that the policymakers expect to cut their benchmark rate to 4.6% by the end of 2024 — three quarter-point reductions from its current level.

A sharp economic slowdown could prompt even faster rate reductions. So far, though, there is no sign that a downturn is imminent.

In its quarterly projections, the Fed’s policymakers now expect “core” inflation, according to its preferred measure, to fall to just 2.4% by the end of 2024, down from a 2.6% forecast in September. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, is considered a better gauge to inflation’s future path.

The policymakers foresee unemployment rising to 4.1% next year, from its current 3.7%, which would still be a low level historically. They project that the economy will expand at a modest 1.4% next year and 1.8% in 2025.

One reason the Fed could be able to cut rates next year, even if the economy plows ahead, would be if inflation kept falling, as expected. A steady slowdown in price increases would have the effect of raising inflation-adjusted interest rates, thereby making borrowing costs higher than the Fed intends. Reducing rates, in this scenario, would simply keep inflation-adjusted borrowing costs from rising.

The Fed is the first of several major central banks to meet this week, with others also expected to keep their rates on hold. Both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England will decide on their next moves Thursday.

More people are using CBD products. There’s still little research on the benefits and risks The Associated Press CBD USE INCREASED 50% in the past four years, according to a new survey published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

About 1 in 5 survey respondents said they used CBD in the past year.

People who use cannabis are more likely to report using CBD, CBG and other hemp-derived compounds, the survey, done by NORC at the University of Chi-

cago, showed. Also, people who live in a state where marijuana is illegal are more likely to use delta-8 THC, a mildly intoxicating sibling of delta-9 THC, which is the psychoactive compound in marijuana.

“Although there are a lot of survey studies out that show this increased use, we don’t have a lot of good data on what effects any of these things have, either harmful or beneficial,” said Angela Bryan, a University of Colorado-Boulder profes-

sor who has studied the public health implications of cannabis legalization for more than a decade. She was not involved in the JAMA study.

CBD and similar compounds have boomed in popularity since the 2018 farm bill legalized hemp production, and are found in lotions, tinctures, candies, vapes and more. While there is a lack of government regulation for the products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did approve one drug

that contains CBD in 2018 to help treat two rare seizure disorders.

Surveys show people use CBD and other hemp compounds to treat everything from anxiety and sleep issues to pain. But experts say there is not enough clinical research on the compounds. The FDA warned CBD can cause liver injury and can poorly interact with certain medications.

Delta-8 THC is of particular concern, because of adverse side

effects and because of how it is chemically manufactured.

Several states, including Colorado, ban or regulate delta-8 THC, though it is sold in many states due to a loophole in federal law.

“The implication in the paper, and I think it’s accurate, is that if you don’t have access to legal delta-9, then you’re going to seek out delta-8,” Bryan said.

“But we know even less about delta-8 than we do about delta-9.”

CBD wax is displayed at a shop in Sunset Hills, Mo., on June 27, 2019.

AP PHOTO

Panthers look to play spoiler, B3

AP PHOTO

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall said last week he’ll transfer to NC State following an injury-plagued season in which he appeared in only seven games.

Comings, goings in transfer portal The state’s football players are looking for better situations while teams try to fill holes during the offseason

COLLEGE SPORTS

NC A&T named top band by ESPN Atlanta North Carolina A&T was named ESPN’s Division I Band of the Year on Saturday, topping fellow HBCU Jackson State after both schools performed Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on the day before the Celebration Bowl. A&T’s band, the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, was also scheduled to perform at halftime of Sunday’s Panthers-Falcons game in Charlotte and will take part in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. Florida Memorial topped Virginia State to earn Division II Band of the Year honors. ESPN offered weekly rankings of HBCU marching bands during the first year of the season-long competition, with past and present band directors, band alumni, administrators and ABC/ ESPN staff making up the selection committee.

NFL

Panthers place Hurst on injured reserve Charlotte The Panthers placed Hayden Hurst on injured reserve just weeks after the veteran tight end’s father, Jerry Hurst, posted on social media that his son was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia following a concussion sustained on Nov. 9 against the Bears. Shortly after his father’s post, which asked for prayers for his son, Hurst took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote that he suffered a “pretty nasty concussion” and didn’t remember up to four hours after the game. Hurst said the injury is not career-ending, and he has remained in the concussion protocol since and has not played. He had been practicing on a limited basis.

Hurst signed a three-year, $21.7 million contract with the Panthers last offseason, and he has 18 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown in nine games.

AP PHOTO

Dean Smith, pictured in January 2022 when he was manager of Norwich City in the English Premier League, was hired last week as Charlotte FC’s new coach.

Charlotte FC selects familiar name to be its next head coach Owner David Tepper decides on former English Premier League manager Dean Smith

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal CHARLOTTE FC announced the hiring of their new head coach last week, and while the name may sound very familiar to North Carolinians, this Dean Smith has more experience kicking a ball than shooting one.

“I’m honored to be appointed as the next head coach of Charlotte FC and cannot wait to start preparations for the 2024 season,” Smith said in a press release. “Throughout the interview process, it was clear that this is an ambitious club with the right ingredients for success and I’m delighted to begin a new chapter in Charlotte.”

Charlotte fired head coach Christian Lattanzio after just 18 months with the club despite having led it to the MLS playoffs for the first time in team history this season.

The Crown had a 10-11-13 record this year before losing 5-2 to the New York Red Bulls

in the first round of the playoffs.

Smith will already be the third coach for Charlotte FC since it joined MLS in 2022, adding to the chaos that has become the hallmark of owner David Tepper’s management style. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the other pro sports team he owns in Charlotte, is also searching for its third coach since 2022.

“We’re excited to welcome Dean and his family to Charlotte to become the next head coach of Charlotte FC,” Tepper said in a press release.

“We’re confident his leadership and experience will help elevate our Club beyond its first playoff appearance into a championship team.”

Smith has extensive managerial experience in both the English Football League Championship and the English Premier League, having coached Brentford, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Leicester City since 2015.

“I just feel like the standard of the league, the MLS, is getting better and better,” Smith said. “I think this is a new club that’s interesting, See CHARLOTTE, page B3

Devils, either unhappy with the choice or with their prospects after meeting with the new coach, are now in the portal, most notably running back Jordan Waters, who is being courted by both UNC and NC State, and corner

By Shawn Krest Brandon Johnson.

North State Journal Meanwhile, Diaz has been busy hiring a staff and working THE TRANSFER PORTAL on high school recruiting with is still active with many un- signing day approaching and committed players from around hasn’t been able to add anyone the country, but the initial rush from the portal. Duke has ofseems to have passed, giving us fers outstanding from the Elko a chance to look around the state era to Penn’s Joey Slackman, and see how college football’s the Ivy League defensive player version of free agency has im- of the year, and Harvard offenpacted North Carolina’s college sive tackle Jacob Rizy. Diaz also programs. brought in former Texas quarThe big winner — NC terback Maalik Murphy on an State: The transfer portal has official visit. been good to Dave Doeren and Here’s a look at the other prothe Wolfpack this offseason. NC grams in the state, ranked from State is ranked in the top 10 na- best to worst impact of transfer tionally for its portal class, and portal comings and going. only Louisville is higher among Charlotte: The 49ers have ACC teams. The Wolfadded seven incompack has added tight ing transfers, includend Justin Joly from ing five from Power UConn and CoastFive conferences. The al Carolina quarterdefense adds edge back Grayson McCall, rusher D’Andre Marwhich helps ease the tin from South Carsting of losing MJ olina and Western Morris, who left for Michigan corner AnMaryland. State has thony Romphf. The Touchdown also added offensive offense adds three passes for linemen Valen Erlinemen, from Clemickson from Missouson, Texas A&M and UNC incoming ri and Zeke Correll Tennessee, as well as transfer from Notre Dame, as Florida quarterback quarterback well as Wake receiver Max Brown. The bigWesley Grimes. Outgest losses are runMax Johnson side of Morris, defenning backs Shadrick in four seasons sive tackle CJ Clark Byrd and Durell Robwith LSU and (Miami) is the biggest inson, linebackers loss, although several Nikhai Hill-Green Texas A&M skill position players and Derek Boykins, have departed from and defensive linethe offense, including man Miguel Jackson. tight end Christopher Wake Forest: Toudle, receivers Anthony Smith The Demon Deacons have addand Porter Rooks, and running ed three players, but it’s debatbacks Michael Allen and Jordan able whether they stand at a net Houston. positive or negative regarding The big loser (so far) — the portal. Quarterback Hank Duke: The coaching change has Bachmeier arrives from Louisihurt the Blue Devils in the trans- ana Tech to help replace startfer portal twice. When Mike Elko er Mitch Griffis, who left for first left for Texas A&M, several Marshall, and backup Santino top players followed him out the Marucci, who is still looking door, most notably quarterback for a new home. Bachmeier has Riley Leonard, who almost im- started 38 games in four years mediately committed to Notre for Tech and Boise State. Wake Dame. He’ll be joined in South also added a pair of standouts Bend by pass rusher RJ Oben. from the FCS level in SouthDefensive tackle Aeneas Peebles ern Illinois linebacker Branson is also leaving, although he’s still Combs and Indiana State offensorting through offers. Now that sive lineman Keagan Trost.

Manny Diaz is on board as the new coach, a second wave of Blue See TRANSFER, page B4

47

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B2 WEDNESDAY

12.20.23

TRENDING

Tom Lockyer: The captain of Luton of the English Premier League was in stable condition after collapsing on the field for the second time this year due to cardiac arrest.

Saturday’s match at Bournemouth was stopped, and Lockyer was taken to the hospital.

The 29-year-old defender dropped to the ground untouched in the 59th minute before being attended to.

Tyler Glasnow: The former Durham Bulls pitcher was acquired by the Dodgers from Tampa Bay Rays in a four-player trade after the pitcher agreed to a $136.5 million, five-year contract.

Los Angeles also received outfielder Manuel Margot and sent the Rays young right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca. The move comes a week after L.A. landed Shohei Ohtani on a record $700 million, 10-year contract.

Tom Allen: The former Indiana coach is close to becoming Penn State’s next defensive coordinator. Allen was fired last month by Indiana after eight years as head coach. The 53-year-old Indiana native went 33-49 with the Hoosiers, including 3-9 this season. Penn State is looking for a replacement for Manny Diaz, who left to become head coach at Duke after two seasons as a coordinator with the Nittany Lions.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Former UNC and NBA big man Eric Montross, center, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 52. The school released a statement from the family Monday morning saying Montross died Sunday surrounded by loved ones at his Chapel Hill home. He had been diagnosed with cancer in March. That led to him stepping away from his duties as a radio analyst for UNC game broadcasts.

Montross was the starting center on Dean Smith’s second NCAA title winner in 1993 before being a first-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics a year later.

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

“You’re closer to a quadrupledouble with turnovers.”

Duke coach Jon Scheyer, according to Kyle Filipowski, when the forward asked to stay in the game last week against Hofstra to try and get a triple-double.

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

“No one knew how good we could be but us.”

NC State center River Baldwin after the third-ranked Wolfpack improved to 11-0 with a 66-54 win Saturday over South Florida.

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

NBA

NFL

MARK J. TERRILL | AP PHOTO

CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP PHOTO

Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar underwent surgery for a broken hip Saturday following a fall at a concert in Los Angeles. The six-time NBA MVP was attending a show Friday night when he was injured.

Abdul-Jabbar, 76, was the league’s all-time leading scorer until he was passed by LeBron James in February.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid, above, was fined $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials following Kansas City’s loss to Buffalo last week.

Both violated league rules on public criticism of officials by questioning an offside penalty that negated a touchdown late in the game.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PRIME NUMBER

53 Points the Hornets lost by to the 76ers on Saturday, the biggest margin of defeat in Charlotte franchise history. Philadelphia, led by 42 points and 15 rebounds by Joel Embiid, won 135-82.

MATT SLOCUM | AP PHOTO

Appalachian State finished its season with a win, beating Miami (Ohio) 13-9 Saturday in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Mountaineers quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 211 yards and had the deciding 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. App State won six of its final seven games to finish 8-5.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B3

No playing out the string for Panthers Facing four straight playoff bubble teams will create urgency at the end of Carolina’s season

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE CAROLINA PANTHERS began a crucial last month of the 2023 season with a last-second win over the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Unfortunately for fans of North Carolina’s only NFL team, the games are critical for Carolina’s opponents, not the Panthers themselves. The Carolina Panthers’ season faded from relevance in late autumn, as the team stumbled to a 1-12 start to the season. The Panthers were the first team in the NFL to be eliminated from the playoffs this season, back in Week 13.

However, the Panthers will find themselves in the spotlight through the holiday season since their opponents are all firmly on the NFL playoff bubble.

The Panthers haven’t made the playoffs since the end of the 2017 season, the fourth-longest postseason drought in the NFL. Plus, two of the three teams ahead of them — the Lions and Broncos — are still in the mix to end their longer waits next month. Carolina hasn’t even entered the final week of the season with a mathematical chance of making it in the half-dozen years since their last postseason trip. They were eliminated the week before the final game (Week 17) last year, Week 16 in 2021, 15 in 2020 and 14 in 2019.

In 2018, the team broke the pat-

AP PHOTO

Panthers interim coach Chris Tabor talks with quarterback Bryce Young during Carolina’s win over the Falcons on Sunday in Charlotte. tern, going out again in Week 16.

When Eddy Piniero’s field goal split the uprights on Sunday, giving the Panthers a wet, ugly 9-7 win over the visiting Falcons, Carolina began its late-season relevance with a bang. The loss put a serious dent in Atlanta’s playoff chances. Entering play, the Falcons were tied for the final spot at 6-7 but on the outside due to tiebreakers. The upset loss in Charlotte essentially cut their playoff odds

in half, from 37%, according to NFL.com, to 18%.

Next up on the Panthers’ slate of playoff hopefuls are the Green Bay Packers, who will visit Bank of America Stadium for a Christmas Eve matchup.

The Packers will be even more desperate than the Falcons were this past weekend. Green Bay entered Week 15 in possession of the final playoff spot in the NFC, but a loss to Tampa Bay dropped them four spots.

The loss halved their odds as

well, dropping them from 47% to 23%. At 6-8, Green Bay basically needs to win out to have a chance. A loss to Carolina will be a kill shot.

The Panthers then hit the road for New Year’s Eve and hop over to the other conference’s playoff scenarios. Carolina plays the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17. Trevor Lawrence and Co. entered Sunday night’s game at 8-6 and in fourth place in the AFC playoff standings, if the season ended at the mo-

ment. However, Jacksonville is clinging to the divisional lead over the Colts, who beat Pittsburgh on Saturday to move to within a half-game of the Jags.

Losing the division lead would put Jacksonville on the wild card bubble — the Colts currently hold the final seventh seed in the AFC. Obviously, next week’s games — the Colts play the Falcons and the Jags the Bucs, both on the road — could shuffle things, but Jacksonville will certainly enter the game with the Panthers urgently needing a win to improve its playoff position.

Then the Panthers close the regular season at home with a game against Tampa Bay in the regular season finale. The Bucs are currently tied for the division lead in the woeful NFC South at 7-7. Tampa will likely be fighting for the divisional title as the season comes to an end. The division lead is the difference between the fourth seed, which the Bucs currently hold, and a seventh seed, which the Saints occupy.

Panthers interim coach Chris Tabor has said repeatedly that he will continue to play rookie quarterback Bryce Young despite concerns by some that the number of hits the top draft pick has taken could pose a threat to his development. Young’s last-minute game-winning drive this week seemed to lend credence to Tabor’s approach.

While it’s not a true playoff chase, the last three games will give the top draft pick a taste of the urgency of a team fighting for its postseason life, which should help with Young’s maturity as the leader of an NFL offense.

And who knows, a couple more upset wins could give Young and the Panthers something to build on heading into the offseason.

Injuries mount as Hornets implode in worst loss in franchise history Charlotte has lost seven of nine games since LaMelo Ball’s latest injury

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — A lot can change for a team in just three weeks.

In late November, star point guard LaMelo Ball was playing the best basketball of his career as things were starting to finally click for the Charlotte Hornets, who had just beaten the Celtics and Wizards, when Ball went down with a right ankle sprain.

Nine games and seven losses later, the Hornets (7-17) have spiraled into an unprecedented pit, suffering their worst margin of defeat (53) in franchise history on Friday night as Joel Embiid and the 76ers handed Charlotte a 135-82 loss at Spectrum Center.

Embiid feasted on the undermanned Hornets, racking up 42 points (on 78% shooting) to go along with 15 rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks.

To make matters worse, injuries have begun to mount for Charlotte, and the return timelines for Ball, Mark Williams (back), P.J. Washington (shoulder) and Cody Martin (knee) all remain unclear. Martin is out indefinitely, while Ball might not return till January. Williams and Washington are both dayto-day with a chance of coming

CHARLOTTE from page B1 exciting and I think it’s going to be a great challenge for me.

Yes, there were teams knocking on the door and looking to secure my services, but I thought this was going to be the greater challenge for myself and one that really excited myself and my family.

“I think I’ve got to learn fast, and that’s one of the things that excites me. I like to be pushed and prodded, so I’m going to have to learn fast myself, and I’m looking forward to that. The biggest thing is making sure

back by Christmas.

With two weeks of games against playoff-caliber talent up next, the Hornets are now 10 games under .500 and with no relief in sight.

“One thing about the NBA, you tell them the truth. Look, we’ve got to get our guys back,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said after his team’s blowout loss to Philadelphia. “It’s a brutal stretch over the next two weeks.

I mean, there’s no easy weeks in this league, but if you look at the upcoming schedule, it’s going to be hard. We’re not sure when those guys will come back.”

The Hornets have Indiana, Denver, the Clippers, Lakers and Phoenix — all over .500 — to close out the calendar year.

Clifford needs to navigate Charlotte before things get even worse: The Hornets have fallen to 13th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ve got to find a way to win enough so that when we get everybody in full strength and then a little time to get a game together, that we’re not too far out,” Clifford said. “And right now, we’re not. So much of your record — and this is every year — depends on how good the East is. Right now this year, the East is brutal. If you can get close to .500, I bet you that’ll be good enough to get in.”

While Terry Rozier has scored a career-best 23.1 points per game and Hornets’ No. 2 overall draft pick Brandon Miller (14.8

that we’re set and ready for the first day that the players turn up and they have clarity on what we want from them and what we want them to do. I think when we do that, there’ll be some hard work and culture in the preseason, and we’ll go into the regular season full of optimism.”

When describing his philosophy, Smith stated that he wants to employ an aggressive style.

“I want to play attacking football,” Smith said. “I want to play in the opposition half. I want to, when we lose it, win the ball back quickly. That’s how I like my teams to play. Again, football

AP PHOTO

Hornets guard Terry Rozier is averaging a career-best 23.1 points this season. points and 4.1 rebounds) has performed well, Charlotte’s trajectory after Ball’s latest ankle injury has plummeted.

Charlotte’s opponents have scored at least 111 points in all nine games since Ball’s injury.

With an average of 111.5 points scored (23rd in the league) and 121 points surrendered (26th), Charlotte hasn’t been getting done on either side of the ball.

Clifford believes there is still value and perspective to be gained from the current situation.

“I want to play attacking football.”

Dean Smith, new Charlotte FC coach hasn’t changed. You’ve either got the ball or you haven’t got the ball, and there’s ways you win the ball back and ways how you look to score, but my big thing is when we win the ball back, we’re looking to score straight away.”

Smith also stated that while

“I think there’ll be things that we can learn from the film that will help — little things, execution things,” he said. “The overall story of the game would be more about the guys that didn’t play than did, I would say. There’s always things you can learn from a game.”

On a positive note, Charlotte’s core is nearly locked in with Ball, Miller, Williams and (possibly) Miles Bridges.

Rozier and Gordon Hayward, meanwhile, could be shopped in the not-so-distant future to allow younger players more reps

at shooting guard and small forward, respectively.

The key in assessing the roster will be first getting everyone back healthy.

Now in his fourth year, Ball has had just one season during which he’s managed to stay on the court for more than 60 games. Ball is said to be considering protective ankle braces — a safety measure that he has voiced his displeasure with — to keep himself healthy.

Without him, the Hornets may continue its fall into the bottom of the NBA standings.

he may not make any big changes to the club immediately, he will aim to transform it over his tenure.

“You have to look at what you have within a squad to mold your team into your style,” Smith said. “What’s really important for any club when you’re building is to profile the players that you want to fit your style of play.

When you first go into a club, you have to look at what’s there and you have to adapt. I think that’s key to being a good coach.

When you first go in, you have to survive and be adaptable because you got to have a look at

what staff you’ve got and then you slowly mold your style to your philosophy.”

And while Smith is a UK native, he still has ties to the Carolinas.

“We’ve been coming to the Carolinas over the last six years,” Smith said. “My son moved over here to study six years ago. He went to a small college in South Carolina first called Limestone and then he went to NC State in Raleigh. We bought a vacation home in Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago, so we’re well versed in the Carolinas and really looking forward to being here.”

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Hurricanes waive Raanta, explore options in goal The 34-year-old veteran goalie has gone nearly a month without a win

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Following the Hurricanes’ overtime loss to the Predators on Friday, coach Rod Brind’Amour tried to shield goaltender Antti Raanta from criticism.

“You know, it’s not on him,” Brind’Amour said after Raanta allowed six goals on 30 shots in a 6-5 defeat.

The reality, however, came a little over 15 hours later when Carolina placed Raanta on waivers. He cleared waivers Sunday, a handful of hours before the Hurricanes were set to host the Capitals, and was assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

“He’s been part of our group for a while, and you don’t like to see that,” Brind’Amour said following Sunday’s morning skate.

“But obviously his game wasn’t quite there, and it’s such an important position.”

Despite a 6-5-1 record, Raanta has been among the worst goaltenders in the NHL this season.

His save percentage is down to .854 after the loss to Nashville.

According to Hockey-Reference.com, no other goalie since the start of the 2007-08 season has had 12 starts with that low of a save percentage. Just eight other goalies — including the Blackhawks’ Arvid Soderblom this season and former Carolina goalie John Grahame back in 2007-08 — have been at or below .875 with at least 12 starts in the past 16 seasons.

The Hurricanes leaned on Raanta last season when Frederik Andersen battled injuries and played just 34 games in the regular season. The player affectionately known as Father Finn went 19-3-3 overall and was unstoppable at home, going 11-0-1 at PNC Arena.

When Andersen performed well in Carolina’s run to the Eastern Conference finals, the

AP PHOTO

Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta was assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves on Sunday after he cleared waivers earlier in the day. front office decided to re-sign both him and Raanta, giving rookie Pyotr Kochetkov another year to marinate in the minors in preparation for him to eventually be part of the team’s goalie tandem.

Those plans backfired when Andersen was diagnosed with a blood clotting issue after just six starts this season, leaving the net to Raanta and Kochetkov.

Neither goalie fared particularly well as the Hurricanes underperformed compared to expectations, but Raanta in particular failed to gain any footing.

After Friday’s loss, Raanta was still in his stall when the media arrived in the locker room, hanging his head and looking at the floor as team-

mate Jordan Martinook offered words of encouragement and a slap of the pads to try and lift the spirits of his downtrodden teammate.

“It’s not all on him the way we’ve been struggling,” center Sebastian Aho said Sunday morning. “That’s never how it works, it’s never one guy. Obviously goalies, that’s a tough job.

I feel like it’s you’re the hero or the anti-hero. It’s tough.”

Aho also added that the entire team needs to find its footing after its 16-12-2 start to the season.

“This has to be the wake-up call for the locker room, and everyone has to go take kind of a deep look in the mirror and show up to work and do our best

tonight,” he added.

The team recalled rookie Yaniv Perets from the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals for Sunday’s game against the Capitals. Perets, who won an NCAA championship playing alongside Brind’Amour’s son Skyler with Quinnipiac last season, is 5-5-1 with a 2.38 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and a shutout in his first professional season with the Admirals.

“I just called call my parents right away,” Perets said of what he did after getting the news he was being recalled. “Pretty exciting moment, obviously, definitely had some tears. But it’s all right. I’m just here now. That’s all that matters.”

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun

Gragson to get 2nd chance with Stewart-Haas Racing The 25-year-old says he has worked on his maturity since his suspension in August

ing apart in his life.

“I was like ‘Man, what’s going on? Like, is this real? Why is this happening?’” Gragson recalled in an interview with The Associated Press. “He said ‘Hey buddy, I’m going to tell you this because you’re like a little brother to me, but it’s time you grow up and it’s time you take accountability and you allow yourself to take this opportunity to work on yourself and self-reflect.’”

And that’s what Gragson did during his suspension, during which he had to work through a sensitivity training course with

NASCAR but also sought professional help from a psychologist. Gragson said the work he’s put in over the last five months has been life-changing.

“It has brought a tremendous amount of self-awareness to myself, self-reflection, and ultimately it opened my eyes to the world and showed me I was a pretty selfish guy,” Gragson said.

“I’ve learned to pay more attention, be more present, enjoy the people I’m with. This has really been a rude awakening of all the work I needed to do on myself.”

Gragson, who won 13 races in

the Xfinity Series driving for JR Motorsports and was the 2022 championship runner-up, ran 21 races in Cup with Legacy before his suspension. Legacy, now co-owned by Jimmie Johnson, was dramatically uncompetitive and Gragson didn’t score a single top-10 finish and was 33rd in the standings when he lost his job.

He doesn’t know why he hit the like button on the Floyd meme in early August, but his journey of self-reflection has given Gragson some theories.

“I think my ignorance and lack of awareness put me in that position to like that meme,” Gragson said. “I think through everything I’ve learned, I’m able to have situational awareness.

I think at that time, it was laziness on social media. I don’t know why it came up on my page, but I take accountability for the lack of awareness and realize I put myself in that position and want to become better from it.”

He wasn’t sure he’d get another chance but landed a seat at SHR, which was winless last season in the Cup Series and had to replace both Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola for 2024.

Gragson is getting Almirola’s seat.

SHR co-owner Tony Stewart, no stranger to controversy on and off the track himself, was willing to give Gragson an opening to return to racing.

ready for a new start with another team. Running back George Pettaway, who arrived with (and eventually took a back seat to) Omarion Hampton, is leaving.

Kedrick Bingley-Jones, one of the bumper crop class of defensive linemen a few years ago, left for Mississippi State. Other big names on the move out of Chapel Hill are tight end Kamari Morales (Boston College), receivers Doc Chapman (Marshall) and Andre Green (uncommitted),

and linebacker Deuce Caldwell.

Brown has only added a pair of incoming transfers, but both should have an impact: Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson and Georgia offensive lineman Austin Blaske.

App State: The Mountaineers added one transfer in former NC Central corner Jason Chambers, who led the Eagles in interceptions and pass breakups and was first-team All-MEAC. They got hit hard on departing

transfers, however. The number of departees was relatively low — 10 players — but several were huge contributors. The list includes 2022 All-American kick returner Milan Tucker, running back Nate Noel, who was second in the nation in rushing before going down to injury in October, and starting receiver Dashaun Davis. On the other side of the ball, starting linebacker Donovan Spellman departs.

East Carolina: Like Duke,

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Noah Gragson has spent the last five months working on personal growth and maturity after his “like” of an insensitive meme of George Floyd nearly cost him his NASCAR career.

He’ll get a chance to show if he’s truly evolved with Stewart-Haas Racing, which said Wednesday it has hired Gragson to drive the No. 10 Ford in the Cup Series. It’s a second chance Gragson is not taking lightly after his career imploded in August.

Social media users noted that a meme circulating of Floyd, a black man who was killed in 2020 by white police officers, had been “liked” by Gragson. NASCAR suspended the 25-year-old and he parted ways with Legacy Motor Club, which had hired the Las Vegas native for his first full season racing in the top Cup level.

Gragson, who had built a reputation as an aggressive driver both on and off the track in the second-tier Xfinity Series, reached out to good friend Brandon McReynolds and wondered why everything was fall-

TRANSFER from page B1

In addition to losing two quarterbacks, the Deacs lost a host of receivers, topped by team-leading pass catcher Jahmal Banks and another member of the 100-career catch club, Ke’Shawn Williams, as well as running back Justice Ellison (Indiana).

UNC: The Tar Heels have had a string of strong recruiting classes under Mack Brown, and several blue-chippers are

AP PHOTO

Noah Gragson willget a chance to show if he’s truly evolved with Stewart-Haas Racing, which said last week it has hired him to drive the No. 10 Ford in the Cup Series.

reported on Saturday that Carolina “will likely be in the trade market for a goalie eventually but nothing appears imminent at the moment.”

If Carolina wants to bring in someone familiar, reacquiring a past goalie like Petr Mrazek, James Reimer or Alex Lyon to fill the hole could be an option.

Mrazek has performed well on an undermanned Blackhawks team this season, while Lyon and Reimer are two of three goalies currently on Detroit’s roster.

The Hurricanes have invited journeyman Aaron Dell to come to Raleigh on a professional tryout. If that doesn’t work out, Carolina could explore adding a veteran goalie like Montreal’s Jake Allen, Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury or San Jose’s Kaapo Kahkonen or Mackenzie Blackwood. There are also pricier options — both in cap hit and acquisition cost — but Carolina has usually steered clear of overcommitting to goaltending.For now, the Hurricanes will have to lean on another rookie.

After a 20-save performance in a 2-1 shootout loss Sunday to the Capitals, Kochetkov has a 6-6-2 record, 2.62 goals-against average and .894 save percentage, and he has allowed just one goal in each of his last three starts.

The 24-year-old Russian is certainly capable of getting hot.

Last season, Kochetkov went on a 10-game point streak from Nov. 25 to the end of the calendar year, going 8-0-2 with a pair of shutouts.

While Raanta tries to rediscover his game in the AHL, the Hurricanes revealed some good news Sunday when GM Don Waddell told radio broadcaster Adam Gold that Andersen has been cleared to resume skating and could be a month away from returning.

“Well, a month is a long time,” Brind’Amour said, “and he hasn’t played. When he gets cleared and he’s ready to go, that’ll be a good day, but that’s a long time away.”

“Noah deserves to be in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Stewart said. “Noah has performed at every level where he’s competed and has regularly been in championship contention. That’s the kind of driver we need at Stewart-Haas, and that’s why Noah is a part of our team.”

Gragson is the great-grandson of Oran Gragson, the mayor of Las Vegas from 1959 to 1974, and his father, Scott, in 2020 pleaded guilty to DUI causing death for a 2019 crash that killed a mother of three. Scott Gragson was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison.

Gragson declined to discuss any effects his father’s situation had on his behavior, which seemingly became erratic after the fatal crash. The youngster was in physical confrontations at the track, and, after wins, would often accept alcoholic beverages from fans in the stands to celebrate.

He did, however, acknowledge that seeing a psychologist then would have benefited him.

“It just takes becoming honest with myself. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but with that situation, it’s definitely something that I’ve become more honest with myself and accepting of the situation,” Gragson said. “It’s how you adapt and how you overcome the adversity and challenges. I feel like I’m still trying to learn life and learn how to do the right things and it’s been tough, to say the least.

“But right now I feel confident with myself in all avenues, including that one (with his father).”

the Pirates have yet to add anyone from the portal. They’ve lost a bunch of talent, however, shedding a half-dozen players who started games for East Carolina, including quarterback Mason Garcia (3), defensive back Teagan Wilk (4), offensive linemen Richard Pearce (3) and Isaiah Foote (13), and linebacker RaRa Dilworth (7). Taylor Jackson was fifth on the team in tackles this season and had 4.5 tackles for loss.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

entertainment ‘Wonka’ waltzes to $39 million opening, propelled by Chalamet’s starring role The Associated Press

“It shows you the power of a star, and it also shows you the power of a star going out and working a movie.”

Jeffrey Goldstein

NEW YORK — “Wonka” debuted with $39 million in box office sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That made it a strong start for the Timothée Chalamet -starring Willy Wonka musical that underscored the young star’s draw.

Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years, so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song and dance elements of “Wonka” in trailers.

Instead, the studio emphasized Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor who, with “Wonka,” notched his second No. 1 movie following 2021’s “Dune.” The earlier film recorded a $41 million opening.

While “Dune” was a sprawling and star-studded sci-fi adventure, “Wonka” relies chiefly on Chalamet’s charisma.

“Wonka,” which cost about $125 million to produce and played at 4,203 locations, was also the first big Hollywood release to launch following the end of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike. Chalamet hosted “Saturday Night Live” just days after the strike ended. In his opening monologue, he sang to the tune of “Pure Imagination” about “returning to this magical world where actors can promote their projects.”

“It shows you the power of a star, and it also shows you the power of a star going out and working a movie,” said Jeffrey Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “Having him out there after the strikes were over was a win for him and a win for the movie.”

Goldstein expects “Wonka” to be the go-to choice from families over the holidays. Its main competition for kids will be Universal Pictures’ animated “Migration.”

“Wonka,” directed by Paul King of “Paddington” and “Paddington 2,” is a prequel to 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” with Chalamet starring as a young Wonka trying to open a candy store. Its ensemble cast includes Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman and Keegan-Michael Key. Warner Bros. last revived Roald Dahl’s classic with the 2005 Tim Burton-directed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” starring Johnny Depp. It debuted with $56.2 million and

AP PHOTO

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Timothee Chalamet in a scene from “Wonka.” ultimately grossed $475 million worldwide.

To reach those numbers, “Wonka” will need strong legs through the lucrative holiday moviegoing period. On its side are mostly good reviews (84% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) and positive audience reaction (an “A-” CinemaScore).

Chalamet is also drawing younger ticket-buyers. Moviegoers under the age of 25 accounted for 36% of the audience, which was split evenly between 51% females and 49% males. “Wonka” added $53.6 million in overseas ticket sales.

“Chalamet is a true movie star who’s been developing his craft and his reputation over many years,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “Everybody’s looking for who’s the next big movie star. Is it all about the old-school leading men? Chalamet is definitely that.”

For Warner Bros., it’s the first in a trio of high-profile holiday releases, to be followed by “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on Dec. 22 and another musical, “The Color Purple” on Dec. 25.

The only other new wide release in theaters was “Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night,” from Christian-theme distributor Angel Studios. It debuted with $2.9 million in sales through 2,094 theaters.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” again ranked second this week with $5.8 million in its fifth week of release. The Lionsgate “Hunger Games” prequel, now up to $145.2 million domestically and more than $300 million globally,

has held strong week after week.

Last week’s top film, Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron,” dipped to third with $5.1 million in its second week of release. The latest film from the 82-year-old Japanese anime master has already set records for Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli and its North American distributor GKids.

With holdovers making up most of the top 10 movies in theaters, the weekend’s other most notable business was a group of award contenders trying to make their mark following Monday’s Golden Globes nominations.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” a surreal Frankenstein-esque fairy tale starring Emma Stone, expanded into 82 theaters and grossed $1.3 million for Searchlight Pictures. The film, which will expand further in the coming weeks, is nominated for seven Golden Globes, including best comedy or musical.

Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction,” starring Jeffrey Wright as a sardonic novelist, debuted in seven theaters in three cities with a $32,411 per-screen average. MGM’s “American Fiction,” nominated for two Globes, will expand to 40 theaters next week.

It won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” a chilling Holocaust drama about a Nazi commandant and his family living next to Auschwitz, opened in four theaters with a $31,198 perscreen average. Nominated for three Globes, it will play in limited release before expanding in January.

Matthew Perry died from the effects of ketamine, autopsy report says The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his Oct. 28 death, deemed an accident.

People close to Perry told investigators that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment used to treat depression and anxiety.

But the medical examiner said AP PHOTO the levels of ketamine in Perry’s body were in the range used for Matthew Perry poses for a portrait on Feb. 17, 2015, in New York. general anesthesia during surgery, and that his last treatment 1 1/2 weeks earlier wouldn’t ex- ity to keep himself above the wa- can be used safely. plain those levels. The drug is ter,” said Dr. Andrew Stolbach, a Perry was declared dead aftypically metabolized in a mat- medical toxicologist with Johns ter being found unresponsive at ter of hours.

Hopkins Medicine who reviewed his home in the Pacific Palisades The report says coronary ar- the autopsy report at the request area of Los Angeles. Investigatery disease and buprenorphine, of The Associated Press. tors performed the autopsy the which is used to treat opioid use “Using sedative drugs in a following day. disorder, also contributed. pool or hot tub, especially when The actor had taken drugs in The amount of ketamine you’re alone, is extremely risky the past but had been “reporteddetected “would be enough to and, sadly, here it’s fatal,” said ly clean for 19 months,” accordmake him lose consciousness Stolbach, who noted that both ing to the report. and lose his posture and his abil- ketamine and buprenorphine Perry had played pickleball

B5 The Velvet Underground’s story and afterlife told in the oral history ‘Loaded’ The Associated Press BEFORE THEY BECAME synonymous with downtown cool, the Velvet Underground played a multi-band bill at a suburban New Jersey high school in 1965. Parents and kids in the crowd were repelled by the “screeching urge of sound” from Lou Reed and his bandmates, a local reviewer wrote, and retreated in horror after their second song, “Heroin.”

The Velvet Underground soon found a more appreciative audience when artist Andy Warhol spotted them and set them up at the Factory, his Manhattan studio-and-happening space. But wide success and fame eluded the Velvet Underground during their fractious run. They became lionized as edgy musical groundbreakers later on — reversing the stereotypical rock band success story by breaking up and then conquering the world.

Veteran journalist and author Dylan Jones tells that unusual story in “Loaded: The Life (and Afterlife) of The Velvet Underground.” Or more precisely, Jones weaves together an oral history that relies on the voices of friends, Warhol “superstars,” fellow musicians and members of the band. Jones interviewed a bunch of people who were in the orbit of Reed, John Cale and the other band members. The author also relies on past interviews from Reed and others who have died.

The staying power of the Velvet Underground stems from their songs, which could be beautiful, dissonant or hypnotic. But it also revolves around their style, which has been widely copied by rockers ever since. They wore sunglasses inside. They didn’t care what you thought. They could barely stand each other. “We hated everybody and everything,” said Cale.

This is largely a story about Reed, who was a restless artist, a canny songwriter and — quite often — a surly jerk. But some of the book’s most compelling passages describe Reed’s difficult and all-too-brief partnership with the equally intense Cale, a classically trained musician from Wales.

The book also tracks the post-Velvet work of Reed, Cale and the singer/songwriter Nico, who was featured on the band’s debut album. Reed finally began getting his due in 1972 with the release of the “Transformer” album, which included the signature song “Walk On the Wild Side.”

Good oral histories hit the right mix of insight, opinion and dish. And Jones mostly delivers. The offthe-wall stuff is in there too, like tales of Cale chopping the head off a chicken on stage and Reed slapping around David Bowie at a restaurant.

Jones falls a bit short in his mission of softening the image of Reed, who was notorious for being difficult, especially with journalists. But he convincingly makes the case for the band’s historical importance.

“Unpack the last 50 years of pop,” Jones writes, “and the broken fragments of the Velvet Underground are everywhere.”

earlier in the day, the report says, and his assistant, who lives with him, found him face down in the pool after returning from errands.

The assistant told investigators Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and had not shown evidence of recent alcohol or drug use.

Postmortem blood tests showed “high levels” of ketamine in his system, which could have raised his blood pressure and heart rate and dulled his impulse to breathe.

Buprenorphine, commonly used in opioid addiction and found in therapeutic levels in Perry’s blood, could have contributed to the breathing problem, the autopsy said. It would have been risky to mix the central nervous system depressant with ketamine “due to the additive respiratory effects when present with high levels of ketamine,” according to the autopsy report.

The report said his coronary artery disease would have made him more susceptible to the drugs’ effects.

Perry was among the biggest television stars of his generation when he played Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s megahit sitcom “Friends.”

His castmates, like many of his friends, family and fans, were stunned by his death, and paid

This cover image released

by Grand Central shows “Loaded: The Uncensored Oral History of the Velvet Underground”

by Dylan Jones.

AP PHOTO

him loving tribute in the weeks that followed.

Perry was open about discussing his struggles with addiction dating back to his time on “Friends.”

“I loved everything about the show but I was struggling with my addictions which only added to my sense of shame,” he wrote in his 2022 memoir. “I had a secret and no one could know.”

A woman whose name is redacted in the autopsy report told investigators that Perry had been in good spirits when she spoke to him a few days earlier, but had been taking testosterone shots which she said were making him “angry and mean.” She said he had quit smoking two weeks earlier.

The woman said he had been receiving the ketamine infusions for his mental health, and that his doctor had been giving them to him less often because he had been feeling well.

Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic approved by U.S. health regulators for use during surgery, but in the past decade it has emerged as an experimental treatment for a range of psychiatric and hard-to-treat conditions, including depression, anxiety and chronic pain.

While not approved by regulators, doctors are free to prescribe drugs for these alternate uses if they think their patients could benefit, and hundreds of clinics across the U.S. offer ketamine infusions and other formulations for various health conditions.

B6

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B7

2024 GMC Sierra HD 2500 Denali Ultimate

PHOTOS COURTESY GMC

The Ultimate Pickup Luxury and toughness unite in the biggest Denali around

By Jordan Golson North State Journal BOSTON — Americans love big trucks. What’s not to love?

You get a commanding view of the road, an enormous amount of machinery and metal surrounding you to keep you feeling safe, and you can haul lots of people and stuff.

Hauling people and stuff is the best part of pickup truck ownership, except when your friends ask you to help them move. This happens quite often when you’re the designated Friend With A Truck. Alternatively, you’ll have friends wanting to borrow your truck, leaving you with a Toyota Prius to roll around in rather than your massive ‘Muricawagon.

That’s better for fuel efficiency, but if you have this, you don’t care. As a car journalist, testing dozens of cars every year, I’m often asked what I have in my driveway (Volvo wagon) and what I would have in my driveway if I had my pick (RollsRoyce Ghost). But the dream garage is never a single-car — if I had my way, I might add my test vehicle this week, the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Ultimate.

This massive machine is the best pickup that General Motors knows how to make, with almost every single feature, widget, and gizmo imaginable fitted, with an eye-popping as spec’d price tag of $94,835 to match.

Visually, it’s an imposing presence. An imposing, dark grey grille dominates the front.

It’s a new color GMC calls Vader

Chrome, which probably won’t get them sued by Disney, and it’s a deliciously luxurious alternative to the all-black packages that have exploded in popularity recently.

Rather than being murdered out, you might say the Denali Ultimate has been Midnighted.

A gorgeous mix of curves and angles has the 2500HD looking something like a darkened spaceship, with clever illuminations from LED lighting everywhere, including an attractive horizontal marker lamp above each wheel and the all-important roof lighting (to emphasize just how immense this truck is).

The back is not nearly as impressive as the front, but you do get the 6-way MultiPro tailgate that debuted a few years ago, as well as toe holds for easy climbing at the rear corners of the bed and along the sides. Tasteful hints of chrome, a Denali signature, appear in the door handles and the Denali badging on the sides and rear of the truck.

That there are more instances of Denali branding than GMC badging on this truck is no coincidence. Denali is perhaps the most successful accidental subbrand in automotive, beginning a few decades ago as a mere trim level that has now grown into a near-standalone nameplate. Ask owners if they have a GMC, and they’ll say, “No, I drive a Denali.”

Even the steering wheel says Denali, and there are nods to the Ultimate-ness of this truck all over the interior. The exquisite leather interior is in an intoxicating dark tan called Alpine Umber. Chrome Ultimate badges adorning the center console and seats are engraved with the latitude and longitude of Denali mountain in Alaska.

The wood trim on the glove box

cover in front of the passenger has a topographical map of the mountain laser etched upon it.

And that’s just the cosmetic stuff. Be sure to opt for the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel for some next-level pulling power (and a nice diesel burble at the drive-thru). Then, you can enjoy all the terrific interior tech while effortlessly hauling your eight-horse gooseneck trailer down the interstate.

There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — GM is only getting rid of that in its electric vehicles, or at least it’s threatening to for some absurd reason — and a 4G LTE hotspot from AT&T. A 12-speaker Bose stereo and some big screens will keep you entertained, as will the graphics of the instrument cluster borrowed almost straight from the Iron Man-inspired look of the Hummer EV electric pickup.

There are actual knobs to adjust the climate control up and down, and the trailer brake controller has been moved to the center console, which will likely start some arguments amongst towing aficionados. The gear selector is on the steering column, I suspect because it makes life easier for plow drivers, but also because that’s where Real Truck Guys Want It — I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it’s what I’ve heard.

I’m reasonably sure the Denali Ultimate exists because wealthy truck buyers kept going into GMC dealers and asking for “The Best Denali,” and they needed something to point to.

That’s undoubtedly what the name suggests.

GMC declares this the best pickup it can make. The Ultimate Pickup. The Denali of Pickups.

I think they’re right.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B8

Mickey Mouse will soon belong to you and me — with some caveats The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — M-I-C-KE-Y will soon belong to you and me.

With several asterisks, qualification and caveats, Mickey Mouse in his earliest form will be the leader of the band of characters, films and books that will become public domain as the year turns to 2024.

In a moment many close observers thought might never come, at least one version of the quintessential piece of intellectual property and perhaps the most iconic character in American pop culture will be free from Disney’s copyright as his first screen release, the 1928 short “Steamboat Willie,” featuring both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, becomes available for public use.

“This is it. This is Mickey Mouse. This is exciting because it’s kind of symbolic,” said Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of law and director of Duke’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, who writes an annual Jan. 1 column for “Public Domain Day.” “I kind of feel like the pipe on the steamboat, like expelling smoke. It’s so exciting.”

U.S. law allows a copyright to be held for 95 years after Congress expanded it several times during Mickey’s life.

“It’s sometimes derisively referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” Jenkins said.

“That’s oversimplified because it wasn’t just Disney that was pushing for term extension. It was a whole group of copyright holders whose works were set to go into the public domain soon, who benefited greatly from the 20 years of extra protection.”

“Ever since Mickey Mouse’s first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, people have associated the character with Disney’s stories, experiences, and authentic products,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement to The Associated Press. “That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires.”

Current artists and creators will be able to make use of Mickey, but with major limits. It is only the more mischievous, ratlike, non-speaking boat captain in “Steamboat Willie” that has become public.

IMAGE VIA AP

Mickey Mouse balloons appear at Disneyland Paris, May 12, 2015, in Chessy, France, east of Paris.

“More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise,” Disney’s statement said.

Not every feature or personality trait a character displays is necessarily copyrightable, however, and courts could be busy in the coming years determining what’s inside and outside Disney’s ownership.

“We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright,” the company said.

Disney still solidly and separately holds a trademark on Mickey as a corporate mascot and brand identifier, and the law forbids using the character deceptively to fool consumers into

thinking a product is from the original creator. Anyone starting a film company or a theme park will not be free to make mouse ears their logo.

Disney’s statement said it “will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”

“Steamboat Willie,” directed

by Walt Disney and his partner Ub Iwerks and among the first cartoons to have sound synced with its visuals, was actually the third cartoon featuring Mickey and Minnie the men made, but the first to be released. It features a more menacing Mickey captaining a boat and making musical instruments out of other animals.

In it, and in a clip from it used in the introduction to Disney animated films in recent years, Mickey whistles the 1910 tune “Steamboat Bill.” The song inspired the title of the Buster Keaton film “ Steamboat Bill Jr,”

released just a few months before “Steamboat Willie,” which in turn may have inspired the title of the Disney short. The copyright wasn’t renewed on the Keaton film and it’s been in the public domain since 1956.

Another famous animal sidekick, Tigger, will join his friend Winnie the Pooh in the public domain as the book in which the bouncing tiger first appeared, “The House at Pooh Corner,” turns 96. Pooh, probably the most celebrated prior character to become public property, took on that status two years ago when A.A. Milne’s original “Winnie the Pooh” entered the public domain, resulting in some truly novel uses, including this year’s horror film “Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey.”

Young Mickey could get the same treatment.

“Now, the audience is going to set the terms,” said Cory Doctorow, an author and activist who advocates for broader public

ownership of works.

Jan. 1, 2024, has long been circled on the calendars of public domain watchers, but some say it serves to show how overlong it takes for U.S. works to go public, and many properties with less pedigree than Winnie or Minnie can disappear or be forgotten with their copyrights murky.

“The fact that there are works that are still recognizable and enduring after 95 years is is frankly remarkable,” Doctorow said.

“And it makes you think about the stuff that we must have lost, that would still have currency.”

Other properties entering the U.S. public domain are Charlie Chaplin’s film “Circus,” Virginia Woolf’s novel “Orlando” and Bertolt Brecht’s musical play “The Threepenny Opera.”

The current copyright term passed in 1998 brought the U.S. into closer sync with the European Union, making it unlikely Congress would extend it now.

There are also now powerful companies, including Amazon with its fan-fiction-heavy publishing arm and Google with its books project, that in some cases advocate for the public domain.

“There’s actually more pushback now than there was 20 some years ago when the Mickey Mouse act was passed,” said Paul Heald, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Law who specializes in copyright and international intellectual property law.

In some instances, the U.S. goes well beyond Europe, and maintains copyright on work that is already public in its country of origin, though international agreements would allow the U.S. to adopt the shorter term of other nations on work produced there.

The books of George Orwell for example, including “Animal Farm” and “1984,” both published in the 1940s, are now public domain in his native Great Britain.

“Those works aren’t going to fall into the public domain in the United States for 25 years,” Heald said. “It would be literally costless for Congress to pass a law saying, ‘we now adopt the rule of the shorter term,’ which would throw a butt ton of works into the public domain over here.”

Air Jordans made for filmmaker Spike Lee are up for auction after being donated to Oregon shelter The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — The shiny, gold Nike sneakers were hard to miss in the donation pile at a shelter in Portland, Oregon, earlier this year.

They were Air Jordan 3s, size 12 1/2, and one of just a few custom pairs that had been made for filmmaker Spike Lee. Now they’re up for auction, where they could fetch $20,000 to benefit the shelter.

The shoes were anonymously dropped in the donation chute at the Portland Rescue Mission in the spring. A formerly homeless man in the mission’s long-term shelter program found them while sorting through donations and brought them to the attention of the staff, according to a blog post on the mission’s website this week.

Nike designer Tinker Hatfield designed the kicks in 2019 for Lee, who wore his pair to the Academy Awards that year when he accepted an Oscar for his “BlacKkKlansmen” screenplay. The donated sneakers weren’t Lee’s personal pair, but were among a few made for him to give out to his inner circle, the Portland Rescue Mission said.

Hatfield visited the shelter and authenticated the shoes. He also signed a replacement box and donated other Nike merchandise. The company is based in nearby Beaverton, Oregon.

“I’m thrilled the shoes ended up here,” Hatfield said in a statement shared by the Portland Rescue Mission. “It’s a happy ending to a really great project.”

The shoes are on auction at Sotheby’s until Monday, and could fetch $15,000 to $20,000, according to the auction house.

Sotheby’s is waiving its fee, so all of the proceeds will benefit the shelter, which has helped people struggling with homelessness, hunger and addiction since 1949.

The identity of whoever donated the shoes remains a mystery.

IMAGE VIA AP

Spike Lee accepts the award for best adapted screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman” at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B9

‘General Hospital’ dominates 50th annual Daytime Emmys with 6 trophies, Susan Lucci honored The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Thorsten Kaye and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood of “The Bold and the Beautiful” won lead acting honors at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night, when “General Hospital” collected six trophies, including four for acting.

Kaye, who plays Ridge Forrester on the CBS soap, wasn’t on hand to accept.

“Thorsten would have thanked me because I help him through everything,” joked co-star John McCook, last year’s lead actor winner who presented the lead actress award this year.

MacInnes Wood collected her third trophy for her role as Steffy Forrester, the daughter of Ridge.

“Wow! Awesome! Oh my gosh,” MacInnes Wood said. “I’m so grateful for this ride.”

“General Hospital” capped a dominating night by winning outstanding drama series.

“This is really a special night and I feel very appreciative and a little anxious,” executive producer Frank Valentini said. “We’d like to dedicate this to Sonya Eddy and N’Neka Garland, we love you so much.”

Eddy won supporting actress honors for her 16-year role as no-nonsense head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the venerable ABC show. She died in December 2022 at age 55 from an infection after surgery.

Garland worked as a producer at “General Hospital” for 22 years

IMAGE VIA AP

This March 2007 photo shows a bronze sculpture titled “Standing Shiva” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. before dying of a heart attack in March at age 49.

Robert Gossett, who plays Marshall Ashford on “General Hospital,” claimed the supporting actor trophy. He also won last year in the guest performer category for the same role.

Eden McCoy won for outstanding younger performer as Josslyn Jacks. The 20-year-old actor debuted on “General Hospital” in 2015. Her mother, Na-

tasha McCoy, died of cancer in November.

“This is for and because of my mother,” McCoy said. “It’s not lost on me what an absolute privilege it is to be able to do something, not only I like to do but love to do for a living, and I love what I do.

It’s really easy to be grateful on nights like this, but I am grateful every day.”

Alley Mills, best-known for her role as the mother on “The

Wonder Years,” won for guest performance on a daytime drama. The 72-year-old actor began playing Heather Webber on “General Hospital” when the role was recast last year.

Her husband, actor Orson Bean, was killed in 2020 after being hit by two cars while crossing a street in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles.

“I had just lost my beloved husband — it was pretty traumatic — and then I get asked to play a seriously traumatized person who kills a lot of people, but she’s got a heart of gold,” Mills said. “And she’s barreling towards the light all the time and it gave me that ability to keep going and barrel towards the light.

The world is so screwed up right now that all I can say to all of you traumatized people out there, just keep barreling towards the light.”

“General Hospital” also won for its directing team.

Susan Lucci received the Lifetime Achievement Honor for her 40-year run as Erica Kane on “All My Children.” The actor, who turns 77 next week, was nominated 18 times in the lead actress category without winning before she ended the wait in 1999.

Shemar Moore, who shouted, “The streak is over!” when presenting her with the trophy back then, returned to introduce her.

“She’s the leading lady of daytime,” Moore said before Lucci was greeted with a standing ovation.

“How lucky am I to dream my dreams of becoming an actress and grow up to have my dreams come true?” said Lucci, who sniffled during her remarks. “There were obstacles and roadblocks.

I mean, there were wannabe obstacles and roadblocks.”

“The Young and the Restless” was honored for outstanding writing team.

Kelly Clarkson earned her third consecutive trophy for a daytime talk series and won as daytime talk host. The singer, who didn’t attend, moved her syndicated show from Los Angeles to New York this year.

“It’s a pleasure to work with her. She makes it fun, she’s a joy every day and that makes it a little easier,” executive producer Alex Duda said. “She wanted me to thank all of our viewers for sticking with us on this migration as we moved.”

“Entertainment Tonight” won its eighth trophy as outstanding entertainment news series. Kevin Frazier and Nichelle Turner, who hosted Friday night, came out of the audience to accept.

The 50th annual ceremony honoring talk shows and soap operas is the first major awards show to return since the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes ended. It was pushed back from its scheduled June date.

To celebrate the awards’ golden anniversary, the previous winner of a category was paired with a long-ago winner as presenters. Attendees

Cambodia welcomes the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s plan to return looted antiquities The Associated Press PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia has welcomed the announcement that New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will return more than a dozen pieces of ancient artwork to Cambodia and Thailand that were tied to an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.

This most recent repatriation of artwork comes as many museums in the United States and Europe reckon with collections that contain objects looted from Asia, Africa and other places during centuries of colonialism or in times of upheaval.

Fourteen Khmer sculptures will be returned to Cambodia and two will be returned to Thailand, the Manhattan museum announced Friday, though no specific timeline was given.

“We appreciate this first step in the right direction,” said a statement issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. “We look forward to further returns and acknowledgements of the truth regarding our lost national treasures, taken from Cambodia in the time of war and genocide.”

Cambodia suffered from war and the brutal rule of the communist Khmer Rouge in the 1970s and 1980s, causing disorder that opened the opportunity for its archaeological treasures to be looted.

The repatriation of the ancient pieces was linked to well-known art dealer Douglas Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 for allegedly orchestrating a multiyear scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market. Latchford, who died the following year, had denied any involvement in smuggling.

The museum initially cooperated with the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan and the New York office of Homeland Security Investigations on the return of 13 sculptures tied to Latchford before determining there were three more that should be repatriated.

“As demonstrated with today’s announcement, pieces linked

to the investigation of Douglas Latchford continue to reveal themselves,” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said in a statement Friday. “The Metropolitan Museum of Art has not only recognized the significance of these 13 Khmer artifacts, which were shamelessly stolen, but has also volunteered to return them, as part of their ongoing cooperation, to their rightful owners: the People of Cambodia.”

This isn’t the first time the museum has repatriated art linked to Latchford. In 2013, it returned two objects to Cambodia.

The Latchford family also had a load of centuries-old Cambodian jewelry in their possession that they later returned to Cambodia. In February, 77 pieces of jewelry made of gold and other precious metal pieces — including items such as crowns, necklaces and earrings — were returned to their homeland. Other stone and bronze artifacts were returned in September 2021.

Pieces being returned include a bronze sculpture called The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease, made sometime between the late 10th century and early 11th century.

Another piece of art, made of stone in the seventh century and named Head of Buddha, will also be returned. Those pieces are part of 10 that can still be viewed in the museum’s galleries while arrangements are made for their return.

“These returns contribute to the reconciliation and healing of the Cambodian people who went through decades of civil war and suffered tremendously from the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge genocide, and to a greater strengthening of our relationship with the United States,” Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona, said in her agency’s statement.

Research efforts were already underway by the museum to examine the ownership history of its objects, focusing on how ancient art and cultural property changed hands, as well as the provenance of Nazi-looted artwork.

IMAGE VIA AP

This March 2007 photo shows a bronze sculpture titled “Standing Shiva” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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Trevor Noah will host the 2024 Grammys for fourth year in a row The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — As the ageold adage goes, don’t mess with success. The Grammy Awards aren’t, bringing Trevor Noah back as host in 2024.

Noah shared the news Wednesday night on his podcast “What Now? With Trevor Noah.”

For those keeping count, the 66th Grammys will mark his fourth consecutive year of hosting duties.

SZA heads into the 2024 ceremony with a leading nine nominations. “Kill Bill,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for record of the year, song of the year, and best R&B performance. “SOS” is also up for album of the year and best progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony is the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song in the same year.

Phoebe Bridgers has the second-most nominations, with seven.

Six of those are with her band boygenius. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff also earned six.

The 2024 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 4 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the http://Crypto. com Arena in Los Angeles.

AP PHOTO

Host Trevor Noah arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Noah announced that he will once again host the Grammy Awards in 2024.

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND

CUMBERLAND

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 23E005028-590 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Sarah Christian, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before March 13, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 13th day of December, 2023.

Donna Donaldson, Executor of the Estate of Sarah Christian NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY, CRAVEN & CORLEY, L.L.P. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 23-E-2011 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Frances Marie Cato, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before March 20, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 20th day of December, 2023.

Tami Marie Robinson, Executor of the Estate of Frances Marie Cato NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY, CRAVEN & CORLEY, L.L.P. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 23-E-126 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Bertha H. Lockerman, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 1034 Palestine Road, Linden, North Carolina 28356, on or before March 6, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 6th day of December, 2023.

Kenneth Wayne Carter Executor of the Estate of Bertha H. Lockerman, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 12/6/23, 12/13/23, 12/20/23 and 12/27/23

NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned having qualified as Executors of the Estate of Audrey M. Morse , deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, (Estate File No 2021 E 01429) this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to the undersigned at 247 Charlotte Street, Suite 205, Asheville, North Carolina on or before the 4th day of March, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This the 29th day of November, 2023.

Jennifer Carol McCullough & Becky Lynne McClure, Executors c/o John C. Frue, Attorney 247 Charlotte Street, Suite 205 Asheville, NC 28801 (828)255-0309

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, ASH WINNER WIGGINS., having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of JEANNEAN WINNER WIGGINS, Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said ASH WINNER WIGGINS., at the address set out below, on or before February 29, 2024, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 27th day of November , 2023.

ASH WINNER WIGGINS. Executor OF THE ESTATE OF JEANNEAN WINNER WIGGINS c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington NC, 28405

CUMBERLAND 23 SP 987 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Justin Wayne Deer and Tammy Deer to M J Huggins III, Trustee(s), which was dated January 31, 2020 and recorded on February 3, 2020 in Book 10685 at Page 549, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the

county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 3, 2024 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 9 CORNERSTONE PLANTATION, SECTION 2, according to the plat thereof recorded Book of Plats 103, Page 195, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 7516 Abator Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale.

Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING

NEW HANOVER

WAKE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, Margaret Edwards Mason, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of MARGARET D. EDWARDS, deceased, (Estate File 23E 1698) hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said Margaret E. Mason, at the address set out below, on or before March 14, 2024 or this case may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 13th day of December, 2023.

Margaret Edwards Mason, Executor OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARET D. EDWARDS 2237 Lakeside Circle Wilmington, NC 28401

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

I N THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 23-E-1568 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Carl Benedetto, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 317 Hay Hill Ct., Elgin, South Carolina 29045, on or before March 13, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 13th day of December 2023.

Alicia Benedetto Executor of the Estate of Carl Benedetto 317 Hay Hill Ct. Elgin, South Carolina 29045 For Publication 12/13/23, 12/20/23, 12/27/23, 01/03/24

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Wilber Yelton III, Deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, (Estate File No 23E1412) this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to the undersigned at the address set out below, on or before the 6th of March, 2024, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This the 6th day of December, 2023.

Brandon Michael Yelton, Administrator 1913 Island Pine Way Leland, NC 28451

COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Justin Wayne Deer and wife, Tammy Deer.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Mary Elizabeth Cafini, late of Wake County, North Carolina (23E005585-910), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of March 2024 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 29th day of November 2023.

Regenia Dayree Cafini Executor of the Estate of Mary Elizabeth Cafini c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20/2023)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Marceline Carol Gilroy, late of Wake County (23E002389-910), North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of March 2024 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 29th day of November 2023.

Doresa Carol Hunt Administrator of the Estate of Marceline Carol Gilroy c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20/2023)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Louis Dale Gullie, late of Wake County, North Carolina (23E005498-910), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 9th day of March, 2024 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 6th day of December 2023.

Brian Dale Gullie Administrator of the Estate of Louis Dale Gullie c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2023)

sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-21820-FC01

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

B11

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 23 CVS 2910

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION ACTION INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC, Plaintiff, v.

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP484

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SALE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JESSIE R PARKER, JR AND REGENIA PARKER DATED JANUARY 20, 1998 RECORDED IN BOOK 4790 AT PAGE 710 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale

DURHAM IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DURHAM COUNTY 23sp940

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY STEPHANIE JOHNSON-CANTY DATED APRIL 20, 2016 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7915 AT PAGE 289 IN THE DURHAM COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 771

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Margaret Anna Hubbard (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Margaret Anna Hubbard) to LLG Trustee, LLC, Trustee(s), dated February 23, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 9628, at Page 860 in Durham County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Durham County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 3:00 PM on January 2, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Durham in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

FORSYTH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 298

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Peter A. Lael and Lisa L. Lael (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Lisa L. Lael and Peter A. Lael) to Rebecca W. Shaia, Trustee(s), dated June 7, 2007, and recorded in Book No. RE 2760, at Page 722 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP001521-500

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by April L. Groncki (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): April L. Groncki) to WFG National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated October 10, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 4510, at Page 243 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 59

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Ned Moore (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Ned Moore, Heirs of Ned Moore: James E. Moore, Sr., Nathan Moore, Dorene Moore; Heirs of James E. Moore, Sr.: James E. Moore, Jr.; Heirs of Dorene Moore: Yolanda Moore a/k/a Yolanda Richardson, Yamease Moore, William Moore, Estella Birdsong, Natalie Birdsong; Heirs of Nathan Moore: Tamara Moore Orr, Nathan Moore, Jr.) to Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated December 7, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 8339, at Page 0529 in Union County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP002773-910

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Pierre Ndiaye (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Pierre Ndiaye) to Stephanie F. Bynum, Trustee(s), dated March 28, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 013029, at Page 01966 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on April 4, 2019, in Book No. 017403, at Page 02051, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust

CLYDE ALBUM; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DEBRA ALBUM; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS Residing at 1619 Barmack Court, Hope Mills, NC 28348; and JOSEPH ALBUM, Defendants.

TO: JOSEPH ALBUM 1902 Gumberry Court Hope Mills, NC 28348 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Plaintiff in the above entitled action has filed with the Clerk of Superior Court’s office of Cumberland County, North Carolina, a civil action concerning one parcel of real property located at 1619 Barmack Court, Hope Mills, NC 28348. You are required

to make defense to such pleading no later than January 15, 2024 (40 days from date of first publication) and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This the 6th day of December, 2023.

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP Claire Collins Dickerhoff State Bar Number: 44306 Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 Telephone: (910) 864-6888 Facsimile: (910) 864-6848 Claire.dickerhoff@hutchenslawfirm.com Attorney for Plaintiff Dates of Publication: December 6, 2023, December 13, 2023 and December 20, 2023

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

at the Cumberland County courthouse at 1:30 PM on January 3, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jessie R Parker, Jr; Regenia Parker, dated January 20, 1998 to secure the original principal amount of $40,100.00, and recorded in Book 4790 at Page 710 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 3 5 3 6 Rich Walker Rd, Wade, NC 28395 Tax Parcel ID: 056078-0151 Present Record Owners: H e i r s of Regenia Parker; Nikita Smith; Catherine Perez;

Paulette Price; Carmen Parker; LaPorscha Parker; Jesse Parker, III The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Heirs of Regenia Parker and Nikita Smith and Catherine Perez and Paulette Price and Carmen Parker and LaPorscha Parker and Jesse Parker, III. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and

encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Durham County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 3, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Durham County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Stephanie Johnson-Canty, dated April 20, 2016 to secure the original principal amount of $151,156.00, and recorded in Book 7915 at Page 289 of the Durham County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record.

Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property:

2 Tinsbury Pl, Durham, NC 27713 Tax Parcel ID: 147521 Present Record Owners: Keith Canty The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Keith Canty.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and

encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order

for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 7, 2023. _________ ____________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By: 23-117026

All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Durham Durham Township, Durham County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lots 15 and 16, Block Q PROPERTY OF WILLOWHAVEN, INC. Subdivision, as shown on the plat recorded at Plat Book 34, Page 76, Durham County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5211 Summit Ridge Drive, Durham, North Carolina.

Subject to easements, rights of way and restrictions of record and ad valorem taxes for 2008 and susequent years.

Being the same property conveyed to Margaret Anna Hubbard, by Ruth A. Sommers in deed dated June 10, 2008 and recorded June 12, 2008 in Book 5983, Page 578, in the County of Durham and State of North Carolina.

More commonly known as: 5211 Summit Ridge Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27712 Parcel/ tax id: 181929 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S.

§45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on January 3, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS Lot No. 147 as shown on the Map of Salem Woods, Section 2, same being recorded in Plat Book 22, Page 30 in the office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to said plat being made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 419 Hathaway Drive, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by

N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing

written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on January 2, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Clayton in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 7 in Poplar Creek Subdivision as shown on plat recorded in Book of Maps 29, Page 337, Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 111 Poplar Drive, Clayton, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the

Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability

to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at

least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on January 4, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The following described property located in the City of Monroe, County of Union, State of North Carolina, more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 65 of Lexington Commons, Phase II, as shown on Map recorded in Plat Cabinet J, File 834-840, in the Union County, North Carolina, Register of Deeds. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2211 Kingstree Drive, Monroe, North Carolina.

Being the same property as conveyed to Ned Moore and Diane L. Moore (Deceased) from Essex Homes Southeast, Inc. by the Deed dated 07/18/2013 and Recorded 07/19/2013 in Book/Page/Instrument Number: 08055/0757/24989 in the Union County Records.

PARCEL ID(S): 09321582 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S.

§45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and

must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to

be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on January 3, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 50, Landings at Neuse Crossings Subdivision, Phase 2, as shown on map of same duly recorded in Book of Maps 2006, Pages 412-413, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2948 Landing Falls Lane, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant

to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is

the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at

least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is 13th day of November, 2023.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 15546-22047

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15693 - 71396

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1228754 - 20579

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 16639 - 77608

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 11760 - 50602

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15231 - 68381

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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AP PHOTO

Courtney Steed and Jesse Wimberley talk about the need for controlled burns at his property Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in West End.

WHAT’S HAPPENING SCC gets $21m for new public safety building Stanly Community College received $21.25 million from the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2023-24 state budget, the largest single allocation in the college’s history, for constructing a new building in Locust.

Announced on December 14, 2023, by Rep. Wayne Sasser, the new building will house a number of SCC programs including Basic Law Enforcement Training, Criminal Justice Technology, and Emergency Medical Science programs.

SCC Board Chair Joe Brooks expressed profound gratitude for Rep. Sasser’s efforts, noting how the significant investment underscores the importance of education and community development.

New driving license changes coming for 2024 Teen drivers and parents, changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system are coming on Jan. 1. As of the new year, teens must hold their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months, increased from the current six months, before taking the road test to obtain a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

The GDL system, in effect since 1997, had a 12-month requirement for Level 2 for most of its existence. This was temporarily reduced to six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law, enacted on May 8, 2023, establishes the ninemonth requirement starting in 2024.

To obtain a Level 2 license, teen drivers must be at least 16, log 60 hours of driving, pass a road test, and provide printed proof of insurance in their name.

Rekindling ‘fire culture’ to help pine trees thrive Prescribed burns clear the ground, leaving tree trunks free to grow

By James Pollard for AP/Report for America WEST END — Jesse Wimberley burns the woods with neighbors.

Using new tools to revive an old communal tradition, they set fire to wiregrasses and forest debris with a drip torch, corralling embers with leaf blowers.

Wimberley, 65, gathers groups across eight North Carolina counties to starve future wildfires by lighting leaf litter ablaze.

The burns clear space for longleaf pine, a tree species whose seeds won’t sprout on under-

growth blocking bare soil. Since 2016, the fourth-generation burner has fueled a burgeoning movement to formalize these volunteer ranks.

Prescribed burn associations are proving key to conservationists’ efforts to restore a longleaf pine range forming the backbone of forest ecology in the American Southeast. Volunteer teams, many working private land where participants reside or make a living, are filling service and knowledge gaps one blaze at a time.

Prescribed fires, the intentional burning replicating natural fires crucial for forest health, require more hands than experts can supply. In North Carolina, the practice sometimes ends with a barbecue.

“Southerners like coming together and doing things and helping each other and having some food,” Wimberley said.

“Fire is not something you do by yourself.”

More than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states, according to North Carolina State University researchers, and the Southeast is a hot spot for new ones. Wimberley’s Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves.

The proliferation follows federal officials’ push in the past century to suppress forest fires.

The policy sought to protect the expanding footprint of private homes and interrupted fire cy-

cles that accompanied longleaf evolution, which Indigenous people and early settlers simulated through targeted burns.

“Fire is medicine and it heals the land. It’s also medicine for our people,” said Courtney Steed, outreach coordinator for the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association and a Lumbee Tribe member. “It’s putting us back in touch with our traditions.”

The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles (360,000 square kilometers) it encompassed before industrialization and urbanization. But some pockets remain, from Virginia to Texas to Florida. The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species. The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change.

A big tent of environmentalists, hunters, nonprofit groups and government agencies recently celebrated a 53% increase in the longleaf pine range since See BURNS, page 2

Candidates set for ‘24 Stanly County elections Primary scheduled for March 5

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — The candidate filing period for the 2024 elections concluded this past Friday, solidifying the roster of candidates for offices in Stanly County.

The primary, set for March 5, 2024, will precede the general election on November 5. It will include races with at least two candidates from the same party.

Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) announced last month that he would not seek reelection for the District 67 seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Sasser, 73, in the middle of his third term, has been serving since January 1, 2019, after being initially elected in 2018. He represents Stanly and Montgomery Counties.

In the race for Sasser’s seat,

Republicans Cody Huneycutt of Oakboro and Brandon King of Albemarle will face off in March.

The winner will compete against Democrat Daniel Quick of Badin. Sasser has endorsed Huneycutt, stating, “Since I will not be seeking reelection, I am excited to openly endorse Cody Huneycutt in filling my position. Cody is a lifelong resident of Stanly County and has worked alongside me for the last four years of my tenure as my policy advisor.

He has worked in the North Carolina General Assembly for nearly a decade on a variety of policy committees and has the experience needed to best serve our district.”

In a repeat of the 2022 election for the N.C. Senate’s District 33 seat, covering Stanly and Rowan Counties, Republican incumbent Sen. Carl Ford of China Grove will compete against Democrat Tangela “Lucy Horne” Morgan of China Grove. Ford previously won with 73.3% of the vote.

For the Stanly County Board

“I am excited to openly endorse Cody Huneycutt” for the District 67 seat.

Retiring Rep. Wayne Sasser of Commissioners’ At-Large race, incumbent Republican Scott Efird of Locust and Levi Greene of Stanfield will run against Libertarian Melvin Poole of Oakboro.

In the commissioners’ District 5 race, GOP candidates Peter Asciutto, the incumbent, and Billy Dean Mills, both from Albemarle, will contend.

The Stanly County Board of Education At-Large race includes Republicans Rufus Lefler, the incumbent, from Albemarle, and Meghan Almond from Stanfield.

Four Republican incumbents are unopposed for their school

board seats: Bill Sorenson (District 2), Glenda Gibson (District 3), Vicky Watson (District 4), and Carla Poplin (District 5).

The GOP race for Stanly County Register of Deeds includes Jennie Helms, the incumbent from New London, George Burris from Albemarle, and Misty Enoch from New London.

Republican Adam M. Elkins of Albemarle is running for NC Superior Court Judge District 28 Seat 1.

Unaffiliated candidates must file a petition with the Stanly County Board of Elections by noon on March 5 to seek partisan office.

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG

December 12 x Andrew James Anderson, 47, was arrested and charged with simple possession of schedule-VI controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, first deg trespassing, and was served a warrant for failure to appear. His bond was set at $7,400.

December 13 x Tony Lentz Morton, 76, was arrested for assault on female and was given a $10,000 bond.

x Dillon Durant Hinson, 31, was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine, driving while impaired, and reckless driving to endanger. Bond was set at $5,000.

December 15 x Christopher Thomas Shepard, 32, was arrested and charged with assault by strangulation and two counts of assault on female.

Under NC Law bond was denied.

December 16 x Brian Shane Pethel, 45, was arrested and charged with assault on female. Under NC Law bond was denied. x Damien Quintrel Griffin, 37, was arrested and charged with assault on female, driving while impaired, and child abuse. Under NC Law bond was denied.

Albemarle man arrested for identity theft Felony charges following renters insurance purchase

aware of insurance scams and report suspected scams or insurance fraud immediately by calling 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684,” Causey said in a press release.

The Albemarle resident was accused of illegally obtaining renters’ insurance from State

Farm Fire and Casualty Co. by using another man’s Social Security card and driver’s license, according to the NCDOI’s report of a March 13 offense.

Holmes has a prior arrest in Stanly County’s jurisdiction dating back to 2021 for misdemeanor simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance.

Stanly Health Dept. recognized with honors

departments, and conditionally accredited one new department, with a record 79% achieving honors.

In its 2022-2023 annual report, the NCIPH noted, “In May, we organized a regional workshop, allowing health departments to collaborate and support each other’s accreditation efforts.” The Institute expressed enthusiasm for the future, emphasizing the continuation of its mission to innovate and advance public health through accreditation.

The NC Local Health Department Accreditation program is a joint effort of the NCIPH (part of the Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill), the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors, and the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC Department of Health and Human Services).

Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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One of six counties in NC to achieve the designation

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — The North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation (NCLHDA) Board has reaccredited the Stanly County Health Department with honors.

Stanly’s department is among only six counties to earn this honors designation, which was announced on Dec. 8.

Evaluated by the state board in the fall 2023 cycle, Stanly County was one of eight health departments to receive reaccreditation. Excelling in its accredi-

BURNS from page 1

2009, spanning an estimated 8,100 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). However, those strides fell short of their goal to hit 12,500 square miles (32,000 square kilometers).

Private landowners are central to the coalition’s latest restoration effort. They hold roughly 86% of forested land in the South, according to America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

The partnership needs thousands of new landowners to support longleaf management on their properties. The nascent burn associations are vital in their education, according to a 15-year plan released in November.

Federal agencies back the endeavor through activities such as invasive species removal and land management workshops.

Nearly $50 million in federal grants are available for projects bolstering forest health, including prescribed fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a “Longleaf Pine Initiative” partnering with burn groups like Wimberley’s. Farm bill money supports planning and planting. Personnel can help install firebreaks.

But applicants are increasingly competing for limited funding that cannot cover all the needed maintenance burns, Longleaf

Stanly County Journal A 28-year old Albemarle man was charged with felony identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense following an investigation by the North Caro-

tation assessment, it met all the required performance standards as mandated by legislation.

The department was first accredited on December 19, 2008, with subsequent reaccreditations on December 20, 2013, and December 19, 2017, before the latest on November 17, 2023.

In a statement, the North Carolina Institute for Public Health (NCIPH) noted the health departments of Anson, Catawba, Craven, Harnett, Lenoir, Macon, Nash, Stanly, Granville, and Vance counties all received reaccreditation by the state accreditation board.

North Carolina is the pioneer state in mandating accreditation for its local health departments, aimed at ensuring a fundamen-

Pine Initiative Coordinator Matthew Vandersande said.

Landowners say liability-concerned states are reluctant to send their relatively few burners onto private property and private contractors cannot meet the demand.

“When it comes time to drop the match, you’re kind of on your own,” said Keith Tribble, 62, who owns a North Carolina tree farm.

While state forestry services provide classes, Tribble credits burn associations for the handson experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines.

Humidity and wind speed are the biggest factors in a burn plan, according to Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker, manager of a private forest in South Carolina. The pine’s oils allow it to almost always carry fire and it typically burns at a relative humidity between 25% and 50%.

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions,” Tucker said.

Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand. The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes. Runaway fires are rare, according to stud-

lina Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division.

In a Nov. 29 press release, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey shared that Deandre Niko Holmes had been arrested in early November and released on a $2,000 secured bond.

“I encourage the public to be

Stanly’s department is one of only six counties to earn accreditation with honors. tal level of capacity and services statewide.

Since a pilot in 2004 involving six departments, all 85 health departments in the state have achieved accreditation, and 82 have been reaccredited at least once.

The NCLHDA’s accreditation process includes a self-assessment by the agency, a site visit by a team of multidisciplinary peers, and accreditation sta-

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions.”

Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker ies of federal agencies and surveys of community burn groups.

Wimberley’s teams haven’t had one yet, even with 40 burns per year.

Climate change is reducing the number of safe burn days.

Rising temperatures cause lower relative humidity in the South and intensify periods when it’s too dry, said Jennifer Fawcett, a North Carolina State University wildland fire expert.

As the severity and frequency of storms, droughts and wildfires increase, longleaf pines could become even more important for ecological resilience in the South. Deep roots anchor them during strong winds and stretch far into the ground for water. Flames enhance soil nutrients.

Further, the surrounding ecosystems have few known rivals for biodiversity in the U.S. Light

tus determination by an independent board comprising local public health officials, board of health members, county commissioners, and public members.

The honors designation, introduced in 2017, is for agencies that excel in their accreditation assessment, missing one or fewer activities within the NCLHDA standards. Apart from Stanly County, Anson, Catawba, Craven, Harnett, and Lenoir County Health Departments also received the honor.

The past year marked significant progress for North Carolina’s local health department accreditation program. Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the NCIPH resumed site visits, reaccredited 27 health

pours through open canopies onto the sparse floor, giving way to flora like an insect-eating plant that needs sun exposure and wet soil. Gopher tortoises feed on the native vegetation and dig up to 15-foot (4.5-meter) burrows sheltering other at-risk species.

“It’s more than just planting trees,” said Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance conservation programs director. “We want to take the time to restore all of the values of the forest.”

A late 1920s education campaign known as the “Dixie Crusaders” harmed those interdependent relationships.

Federal officials turned southerners against the practice and burning fell off. Flammable needles and wiregrasses piled up to dangerous tinder levels.

Wimberley’s family resisted, knowing their livelihoods depended on fire. His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants. Later generations burned to shield crops.

Burning looks different from the times Wimberley’s mother dragged kindling known as “fat lighter” through the forest. But public understanding of its importance is returning and the ranks are growing.

“We’re all a bunch of pyromaniacs,” said Tribble, the tree farm owner.

Still, Tribble burns for a reason: he values connecting with people and the land.

Before his burns, brush cluttered the ground, choking water flow to parts of the property that were “bone dry.” Now water runs from more marshy areas and the squeaky call of the rarely spotted red-cockaded woodpecker resounds from mature pines. Wild turkeys appear when smoke fills the sky.

Steed, the Lumbee outreach coordinator, is heartened by the rekindling of this proactive “fire culture” beyond the tribe that she says introduced it to the region.

She ran through her grandfather’s scorched woods as a child, but the expanse has gone about a decade without fire. Steed plans to lead her first burn next year in Wimberley’s woods and then manage a family property she recently inherited.

“It feels empowering,” Steed said of prescribed fire. “It feels like a very tangible way to connect to the past and also guide the future.”

Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

3

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Why does Washington want to destroy America’s ‘magnificent 7’?

These are the General Motors, Standard Oil, J.P. Morgan and U.S. Steel of the 21st century.

NOTHING EXEMPLIFIES America’s tech industry dominance in the global economy more than the meteoric rise of what is now being called the “Magnificent Seven” stocks — Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla. These companies singlehandedly account for nearly all the gains in the stock market this year. They — which is to say we as American shareholders who own them — have a net worth of nearly $10 trillion.

Think about it. None of these gazelles are Japanese, German or Chinese. All seven are American companies. They are globally dominant. They are innovators nearly unrivaled in human history. Amazingly, you would think their best years are behind them, like an aging baseball player.

No. They are getting stronger, not weaker.

As a consequence, they are keeping the 401(k) and retirement plans owned by more than 100 million Americans in the green.

These are the General Motors, Standard Oil, J.P. Morgan and U.S. Steel of the 21st century.

Yet, here’s the mystery. In Washington and among the political class, instead of being lionized for their amazing products, they are like Rodney Dangerfield: they get no respect.

Worse, Democrats, Republicans and federal regulators have their carving knives out for them. Apparently, making a profit, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and adding trillions of dollars of consumer welfare are now nefarious pursuits in America where, to

paraphrase Calvin Coolidge, the business of America is supposed to be business. Or, to put it in more modern terms, as Jerry Maguire would say, “Show me the money!” These powerhouses have certainly done that.

Many Democrats want to break up Big Tech companies because they are too dominant. They don’t seem to understand that it’s far preferable to be dominant than inferior. There is also a teeny-weeny problem with the accusation that these firms engage in monopolistic behavior. Every one of them has substantially lowered prices for consumers — in cellphones, in social media interactions, in the cost of products delivered right to your door, laptop computers and artificial intelligence. Or how about gaining instant access to almost any information you want? Google puts virtually the entire Library of Congress at your fingertips — and astonishingly for free. The villains!

Even more absurd is the claim that the multitrillion-dollar size and influence of these companies is squeezing out the smaller entrepreneurial companies that dare compete with them. That happens sometimes. But the bigger impact of these behemoths is to breathe life into literally thousands of startups that attract capital based on the dream that five years from now, they will be acquired at 20 times their current value by, say, Microsoft or Meta.

Then there are those on the Right who

want to tether the Magnificent Seven because they don’t like their leftist politics or the suppression of conservative voices on their platforms. I share their concerns, but it’s a free country, and they own the products and megaphones. There are plenty of alternatives if you don’t like their public policy positions.

Congress is intent on killing the Google — er, the goose — that lays the golden eggs.

Apparently, they’d rather have us all be poorer and buy our cellphones and search engines and robots from China or India.

One of the ironies of calling America’s tech giants the Magnificent Seven is that in the 1960 movie of that title, five of the seven are killed in the last scene.

In this age of Mach 5-speed innovation, that could eventually happen to Google and Apple — and sooner than you think. It’s not easy to remain the king of the hill. These companies have stayed erect by constantly innovating and giving customers more for less.

But when they get knocked down to earth, let’s hope it’s because of the forces of free market competition, not government regulators trying to fix something that surely ain’t broke.

Here’s the final irony of this war against the Magnificent Seven. If the politicians do succeed in driving these epic American companies to their knees, there will be a hullabaloo about how America is losing its tech dominance. Then the knuckleheads in Washington will start passing out billiondollar taxpayer subsidies to the very companies they now set out to impede and destroy.

Stephen Moore is a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and chief economist at FreedomWorks. His latest book is “Govzilla: How the Relentless Growth of Government Is Devouring Our Economy.”

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

Yes, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel.

Imagine a group of people who work to destroy Italy because, they claim, Italy’s origins are illegitimate.

Imagine further that these people maintain that of all the countries in the world, only Italy doesn’t deserve to exist. Then imagine that these people vigorously deny that they are anti-Italian.

Would you believe them?

Now substitute “Israel” for “Italy,” and you’ll understand the dishonesty and absurdity of the argument that one can be anti-Zionist — that is, against the existence of a Jewish state — but not be anti-Jew. Yet, that is precisely what anti-Zionists say.

They say that Israel’s existence is illegitimate.

They don’t say this about any other country in the world, no matter how bloody its origins. And then they get offended when they’re accused of being anti-Jew. How can they make this argument?

First, they change the topic. They say it’s unfair to charge those who merely “criticize” Israel with being antisemitic. No one says criticism of Israel is antisemitic. But anti-Zionism isn’t criticism of Israel. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Israel’s existence.

Zionism is the name of the movement for the return of the Jews to their historic homeland.

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel.

Both were Jewish states, and invaders destroyed both. No Arab or Muslim or any other sovereign country ever existed in that land, which was given the name “Palestine” by the Romans so as to remove all memory of the Jewish state they destroyed in the year 70.

Second, anti-Zionists claim they can’t be antiJew because Zionism has nothing to do with Judaism. That is the same as saying Italy has nothing to do with being Italian. Judaism has always consisted of three components: God, Torah and Israel (the people Israel and the Land of Israel). Israel is as much a part of Judaism as are

God and the Bible. Moreover, the most pro-Israel, i.e. the most Zionist, Jews are the Orthodox, the most religious Jews. That there exists one tiny group of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Neturei Karta) that is anti-Zionist means nothing. They are as representative of Judaism as the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity.

Third, anti-Zionists claim that Judaism is only a religion; therefore, Jews are only members of a religion, not a nation. But the Jews are called a “nation” more than one hundred times in the Bible. That is why there can be irreligious, secular and even atheist Jews — because Jews are not only a religion, but a people — a nation. No one thinks non-religious Jews are not Jews. There can be no atheist Christians because Christianity is a religion, not a nation.

Fourth, people point to anti-Zionist Jews to prove that anti-Zionism isn’t anti-Jewish. That would be like pointing to Americans who gave Stalin the secrets to the atom bomb to argue that siding with the Soviet Union in the Cold War was not anti-American. Or, to provide another Jewish example, it would be like pointing Jews who eat pork in Yom Kippur to argue that eating pork on Yom Kippur is Jewish. What Jews do or believe is not always the same as Judaism.

Fifth, anti-Zionists claim that Israel is illegitimate because Zionism — and therefore, Israel — is “racist.” This is a libel. Half of Israel’s Jews are not even white, and anyone, of any race or ethnicity, can become a Jew. Furthermore, one in five Israelis isn’t a Jew. And these Israeli non-Jews, mostly Arab Muslims, have the same rights as Jewish Israelis. As for Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza (Israel completely abandoned Gaza in 2005), that has nothing to do with race and everything to do with security. It is because the Palestinians and other Arabs tried to destroy Israel in 1967 and lost the war.

If the Palestinians would stop killing Israelis, Israel would have no problem with a “two-state solution.” But Palestinians have rejected offers to

have their own state on four separate occasions since 1947. That is the only reason they don’t have their own state.

And why have they always rejected having a Palestinian state? Because the only state they would accept is one that eradicates Israel. They have therefore been solely dedicated to destroying the Jewish state, not in having their own state alongside Israel.

Sixth, and finally, anti-Zionists claim that Israel’s origins are illegitimate. Of all the world’s 200-plus countries, the only country anti-Zionists declare illegitimate is also the only Jewish one.

That’s pretty much all you need to know about their motives.

Why don’t they make this claim about Pakistan? In 1947, nine months before the establishment of Israel, India was partitioned into a Muslim state (Pakistan) and a Hindu state (India), just as Palestine was partitioned into a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab one (Palestine).

But, unlike Israel, no Pakistan had ever existed.

And unlike Israel’s founding, which created about 700,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands and about 700,000 Arab refugees from what became Israel, the founding of Pakistan created about seven million Muslim refugees from India and about seven million Hindu refugees from Pakistan. And while the highest estimate of Arab deaths in the fighting that took place when Israel was established is 10,000, the number of deaths as a result of Pakistan’s creation is around one million. So why is Israel’s legitimacy challenged while Pakistan’s isn’t?

The only possible answer is because Israel is Jewish.

Of course, not all anti-Zionists hate all Jews.

But if you seek to destroy Italy, you don’t have to hate every Italian to be anti-Italian. Not every anti-American hates all Americans, but they are still called anti-American. If you seek to destroy the one Jewish state, you don’t have to hate every Jew to be called anti-Jew. And the name for that is antisemite.

Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist.

4 SIDELINE REPORT

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

SPORTS

NBA

Curry’s 3-pointer streak ends at 268 games Portland, Ore. Stephen Curry’s NBArecord 3-pointer streak ended at 268 games Sunday night in the Golden State Warriors’ 118-114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Curry was 0 for 8 from 3-point range, 2 for 12 overall and scored seven points. He began the streak Dec. 1, 2018, at Detroit. Curry, the NBA career leader who recently made his 3,500th 3-pointer, last went without one in a regular-season game on Nov. 8, 2018, when he was 0 for 4 against Milwaukee.

He also owns the secondlongest NBA streak at 157 games.

COLLEGE SPORTS

MSU trustees approve release of Nassar documents to AG East Lansing, Mich.

Trustees at Michigan State University have unanimously voted Friday to release documents related to the school’s investigations into nowimprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar to the state’s attorney general.

The documents first will be reviewed by the school’s general counsel before they’re released. The school had argued that the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment.

MLB

Scherzer has back surgery to miss start of ’24 season Arlington, Texas Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss the start of next season for the World Series champion Texas Rangers. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer had surgery Thursday after injections and other conservative treatments didn’t relieve the pain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was removed from Game 3 of the World Series because of his back. Young says the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July.

Scherzer says the pain got worse after returning to his offseason home in Florida.

AP PHOTO

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar looks to throw a pass during the Mountaineers’ win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

App State slogs past Miami (Ohio) in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl The Mountaineers won six of their final seven games to finish 8-5 The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — Joey Aguilar threw for 211 yards and scored on an 8-yard run in the third quarter as Appalachian State beat Miami (Ohio) 13-9 on Saturday in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl.

Aguilar’s scoring run capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive and gave App State (9-5) a 13-3 lead after Michael Hughes kicked field goals of 29 and 22 yards in the first half.

Miami (11-3) running back Rashad Amos answered Aguilar’s TD with a 23-yard score late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13-9. He finished with a career-best 180 yards on 33 carries.

Los Angeles A show produced by Lakers superstar LeBron James has won a Daytime Emmy. “Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism” won for outstanding daytime special at the Creative Arts and Lifestyle ceremony in Los Angeles. The YouTube Originals special was executive produced by James and his business partner Maverick Carter.

It was hosted by Ilana Glazer, Moshe Kasher and Idina Menzel. James has previously won three Sports Emmy awards, including one this year for “The Redeem Team” about the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

“We had to make one more play than they did.

And we did.”

Shawn Clark, App State coach Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Officials with the Cure Bowl reported an inch of rain fell before the game started and another inch fell between kickoff and the final play.

The conditions certainly affected play. There were 13 fumbles, with Appalachian State losing two and Miami losing three.

“Ball security is at a premium, and it didn’t seem like either team managed to do it,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin said. “Just kind of have to plod

through it and make the last play.”

Appalachian State rushed for 151 yards in the second half to put the game away. Anderson Castle had 119 yards on 18 carries for the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers had a 332227 advantage in total yards.

Amos accounted for most of the RedHawks’ total.

Miami kicker and Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter. He missed his lone PAT attempt.

“The elements were rough,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said. “We had to make one more play than they did. And we did. Toward the end, our running game started to wear them down.”

Appalachian State celebrated its victory the only way it could, by sliding through the water and mud covering the midfield logo.

NCAA, states seek to extend order letting transfer athletes play North Carolina is one of seven states that filed a lawsuit on behalf of players who have switched schools more than once

TELEVISION

LeBron-produced special wins Daytime Emmy

But the RedHawks squandered a potential chance to take the lead when backup running back Keyon Mozee fumbled on a short carry near midfield with 2:39 remaining. Miami never got the ball back.

Aguilar was named the MVP. He completed 19 of 33 passes and spread the ball around, hitting seven receivers. Kaedin Robinson caught nine passes for 118 yards in the difficult conditions.

“We just want to stay true to ourselves,” Aguilar said. “The weather is going to be however the weather is going to be.”

The rainy weather forced both teams to try to focus more on ball security and stick to the ground.

The game was played as a steady rain soaked the area and pools of water formed around midfield over the bowl logo and in the end zone at FBC Mortgage

The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters.

The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from enforcing a rule for those athletes who transfer multiple times.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games for 14 days.

The NCAA then circulated a document to its member schools clarifying that the redshirt rule for athletes would still apply if

the court’s decision is reversed: Basketball players who compete during the two-week window would be using up a season of eligibility.

Now, the two sides apparently are coming together to address the athletes’ desires.

“Let the kids play,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.

The motion said that following consultation among the parties, the court is being requested to convert the retraining order into a preliminary injunction that will remain in place until the case is decided.

“The NCAA shall take no action to retaliate” against any participating athlete or their school while the preliminary injunction is in effect, based on the athlete’s reliance on the injunction’s terms, the motion said.

NCAA spokeswoman Saquandra Heath said in a statement that, as a result of the joint motion, it “will not enforce the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools.”

Heath said the proposal “is the best outcome for multiple-time transfer student-athletes wishing to compete immediately. This action provides clarity for student-athletes and mem-

AP PHOTO

College athletes who were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can return to competition — for now — after a federal judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order last Wednesday against the NCAA. ber schools for the remainder of the academic year — any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who competes this season will be subject to the same eligibility and use of a season of competition rules as all other student-athletes.”

The motion asks that a hearing on the restraining order set for Dec. 27 be canceled and that the case be set for trial no sooner than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.

The lawsuit, which alleges the NCAA transfer rule’s waiver process violates federal antitrust law, could have a profound impact on college sports if successful. In court documents, the NCAA has said the plaintiffs “seek to remake

collegiate athletics and replace it with a system of perpetual and unchecked free agency.”

NCAA rules allow underclassmen to transfer once without having to sit out a year. But an additional transfer as an undergraduate generally requires the NCAA to grant a waiver allowing the athlete to compete immediately. Without it, the athlete would have to sit out for a year at the new school.

Last January, the NCAA implemented stricter guidelines for granting those waivers on a caseby-case basis.

The states involved in the restraining order were North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

5

Undefeated South Stanly boys slip past West Stanly on the road

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jack Williamson

The Bulls have won all seven of their games this season

on the board.

The Comets hit the road on Monday to face Forest Hills (4-3) and will return home on Dec. 27 to challenge Central Academy (27).

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

Eastern Randolph 83, Albemarle 66

TRAILING 39-37 headNothing has come easy ing into the fourth quarter, the South Stanly boys’ this season for the Albebasketball team edged past marle Bulldogs (0-6), who fell 83-66 in a West Stanly in a home loss to the 56-53 road win Eastern Ranon Friday night. dolph Wildcats The Bulls (7(1-1) on Friday.

0) outscored the Colts (4-4) by a The winless 19-14 margin in Bulldogs have the final eight lost their past minutes, managthree games ing to hold on to by a combined their undefeated 94 points but Date of the last start to the 2023were still able win for Gray 24 season. The to produce a Stone. The victory marked season-high 66 South’s second points against Knights have win over West in a Eastern Ranlost 62 straight span of two weeks dolph. games since as the Bulls deAlbemarfeated the Colts le will face the 46-44 at home on Wildcats again Dec. 1.

— this time in Looking to exa Wednesday tend their winning streak, night road matchup — beSouth hosted Anson (4- fore heading to Concord (41) on Tuesday and is set to 3) on Dec. 27. host BCLA (2-5) on Dec. 28.

Langtree Charter 59, Hoping to bounce back Gray Stone 30 from a pair of recent losses, West is slated to host CorStill searching for their vian Community (3-2) on first victory since 2020, the Dec. 28.

Gray Stone Knights (0-6) failed again to score over 30 North Stanly 71, points in a game this seaSouth Rowan 54 son as the Langtree Charter Lions (1-9) pulled out a The North Stanly Com- 59-30 road win on Dec. 11. ets (8-1) won their sevGray Stone trailed 29-16 enth-straight game on Fri- at halftime and was unable day in a 17-point home to cut into the Lions’ lead in victory over the South Row- the second half. an Raiders (0-6).

The Knights have a blank North has now eclipsed slate for the rest of the the 70-point mark in five of month until their schedule its eight wins, demonstrat- resumes at home with East ing an ability to put points Rowan (0-7) on Jan. 3.

Jan 28 2020

SETH MABRY FOR STANLY COUNTY JOURNAL

North Stanly, boys’ basketball Jack Williamson is a junior guard for the North Stanly Comets, who went 2-0 last week to improve to 8-1 on the season. Williamson led the way in an 82-78 win over West Stanly, scoring 27 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

The next day, in a 71-54 win over North Rowan, Williamson was again the team’s leading scorer with 18. He had a double-double, adding 10 rebounds and also contributed 5 assists.

North Stanly girls continue unbeaten streak with 11th win The Comets have matched an 11-0 record from last season

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal Showing no signs of slowing down, the North Stanly girls’ basketball team is continuing to roll through the season as the Comets (11-0) pulled out a 48-29 home win over the South Rowan Raiders (1-5) on Friday.

North has now defeated its opponents by at least 14 points

each of its past six contests, holding the teams to under 30 points.

The undefeated Comets’ surging start to the schedule is reminiscent of their previous campaign where the team also won its first 11 games. However, North went on to lose five of its next 15 games as Albemarle jumped to the top of the Yadkin Valley Conference.

The Comets traveled to Forest Hills (3-4) on Monday and will have a break before hosting Union Academy (6-1) on Jan. 5.

Tuesday and will return to action on Jan. 3 with a home game against Southwestern Randolph (7-1).

Albemarle (win by forfeit), Eastern Randolph

West Stanly 67, South Stanly 24 Playing at home, the West Stanly Colts (3-5) snapped a three-game losing streak as they took down South Stanly in a 43-point rout of the Bulls (1-6).

The Colts’ 67 points marks a season-high total for the team through eight games. West’s second-highest scoring output (63 points) came in a road win over South on Dec. 1.

West will host Northwest Cabarrus (5-1) on Dec. 27, while South hosted Anson (1-8) on

Call us today!

The Albemarle Bulldogs (51) hosted the Eastern Randolph Wildcats (1-6) on Friday, picking up their fifth win as the Wildcats were forced to forfeit the matchup.

Albemarle’s only loss this season came on Dec. 5 in an 87-72 road loss to North Rowan (4-1).

The Bulldogs are set to face Eastern Randolph on the road on Wednesday before heading to Parkwood (2-4) on Dec. 27.

Gray Stone 59, Corvian Community 21 Rebounding from a pair of

14 smallest margin of victory for North Stanly over its 11 game winning streak losses earlier in the month, the Gray Stone Knights (5-4) won their second-straight game as they pulled out a 59-21 home victory over the Corvian Community Cardinals (1-5) on Wednesday.

Gray Stone has been outscored in total by its opponents this season but now carry on with a winning record.

The Knights have the rest of the month off before returning to the court on Jan. 3 in a home game versus East Rowan (3-4).

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Millennial Money: What the 2024 Social Security COLA could mean for your retirement

By Dalia Ramirez NerdWallet SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS for millions of people will rise by an average of over $50 a month starting in January, thanks to the Social Security Administration’s 3.2% annual cost of living adjustment for 2024, announced on Oct. 12.

The change will immediately put more money in current retirees’ pockets, but it also could have a considerable effect on payouts to future retirees.

The 2024 increase is much smaller than last year’s 8.7%, the largest since 1981. But because the COLA reflects inflation, a smaller increase is not necessarily a bad thing; it suggests that inflation is more stable and may help the Social Security Administration provide maximum benefits for longer.

The COLA has been relatively volatile in recent years, however, and future retirees are understandably concerned about the health of the Social Security benefits program.

Here’s what the cost of living adjustments really mean and how to factor Social Security benefits into your future retirement budget.

A LOWER COLA IS A GOOD SIGN Though it’s reasonable to assume that a lower cost of living adjustment is worse for Social Security recipients, it may also point to a healthier economy.

The SSA increases the COLA in response to inflation, which means that a hefty COLA jump — like last year’s 8.7% — reflects a serious bump in the costs of goods and services.

“The (Federal Reserve’s) goal is for inflation to be 2% or lower, and therefore, the COLA increases by Social Security would be 2% or lower,” says Randall Holcombe, a certified financial planner and director of wealth planning at Confluence Financial Partners in Pittsburgh. “If your costs aren’t going up so much, then your Social Security isn’t going up as much, but then again, you don’t need Social Security to go up as much,” he says.

Many financial planners incorporate a flat annual COLA into their clients’ retirement plans. “I typically build in an inflation rate of around 3%,” says Elaine Floyd, a certified financial planner and director of retirement and life planning at New York-based financial advisory firm Horsesmouth LLC. “We want to be conservative when we’re projecting Social Security income,” Floyd says. Even this year’s increase may not be the most accurate predictor of what your benefits might look like decades in the future.

FOCUS ON WAGES The COLA isn’t the only annual change to Social Security benefit amounts. Yearly changes to the lesser-known national average wage index can also significantly impact current and future

retirees. The SSA applies the index to your 35 highest-earning years in the workforce as part of its benefits calculation.

“Wages tend to rise faster than prices,” Floyd says. The most recent increase in the average wage index is 5.32%, more than the 3.2% COLA. “I really want younger people to understand the connection between their own earnings and their eventual Social Security benefits,” Floyd adds. She suggests thinking about that connection throughout your career, especially when making decisions about sabbaticals or job choices.

“Your eventual benefits will reflect the rise in wages over your career,” she says. “Ask for those raises.”

AP PHOTO

DON’T DISCOUNT SOCIAL SECURITY ENTIRELY

In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo people watch as the sun sets from the Presidio in San Francisco.

Many workers set to retire after 2034, when the SSA currentlyexpects to deplete the reserves it holds in the Social Security trust fund, are concerned about whether they can count on Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits now make up, on average, 30% of retiree income, according to the SSA, a significant chunk.

But Holcombe says he reminds wary clients that most of the Social Security program is funded directly from current employee and employer taxes.

Because of declining birth rates, the gap between the number of workers paying Social Se-

curity taxes and the number of retirees receiving benefits is larger now. “The trust fund exists to make up the shortfall,” Holcombe says, explaining that the fund works as a buffer to ensure retirees receive full benefits despite declining taxpayer funding.

There are ways to prepare for volatility or major changes, especially if you have a while to go before retirement. Individual retirement accounts and a well-rounded investment portfolio can balance out some of that uncertainty over the course of decades.

“A little bit over a long time goes a long way with the stock market,” Holcombe says. “It’s a lot easier to make those adjustments in your 20s and 30s than it is when you’re 50 to 60 and thinking about retirement.”

Holcombe adds that any changes the SSA makes to the program are more likely to affect future retirees, who have more time now to plan accordingly.

“It is not prudent to assume there won’t be any changes by the time (millennials) retire,” Holcombe says. “But it’s also not prudent to discount Social Security entirely.”

Apology letters by Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in Georgia election case are one sentence long The Associated Press ATLANTA — The apology letters that Donald Trump-allied lawyers Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro were required to write as a condition of their plea deals in the Georgia election interference case are just one sentence long.

The letters, obtained last Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an open records request, were hand-written and terse. Neither letter acknowledges the legitimacy of Democrat Joe Biden’s win in Georgia’s 2020 election nor denounces the conspiracy theories they pushed to claim Trump was cheated out of victory through fraud.

“I apologize for my actions in connection with the events in Coffee County,” Powell wrote in a letter dated Oct. 19, the same day she pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties.

“I apologize to the citizens of the state of Georgia and of Fulton County for my involvement in Count 15 of the indictment,” Chesebro wrote in a letter dated Oct. 20, when he appeared in court to plead guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to com-

AP PHOTO

Attorney Sidney Powell, an attorney for Donald Trump, speaks during in Alpharetta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2020. mit filing false documents.

A spokesperson for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought the election interference case, declined to comment on the contents of the letters.

Powell and Chesebro were among four defendants to plead guilty in the case after reaching agreements with prosecutors. They were indicted alongside Trump and others in August and charged with participating

in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally keep the Republican in power. The remaining 15 defendants — including Trump, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — have all pleaded not guilty.

Each of the four who reached a deal with prosecutors received a sentence that included probation but no jail time. They were also allowed to plead guilty under Georgia’s first offender law,

meaning that if they complete their probation without violating the terms or committing another crime, their records will be wiped clean.

The letters written by the other two defendants to plead guilty — Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis and bail bondsman Scott Hall — were longer and more specific. Ellis read her letter in open court on Oct. 24, tearfully telling the judge that she looked back on her involvement in challenging the election results with “deep remorse.”

“What I did not do but should have done, Your Honor, was to make sure that the facts the other lawyers alleged to be true were in fact true,” she said. “In the frenetic pace of attempting to raise challenges to the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.”

Hall, who pleaded guilty Sept.

29, wrote in his five-paragraph letter to the citizens of Georgia, “I owe you an apology.”

“I wish I had never involved myself in the post-election activities that brought me before the court,” he wrote, explaining that he got involved after observing what he thought were some irregularities.

Powell was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that she conspired with Hall and others to access election equipment without authorization and hired computer forensics firm SullivanStrickler to send a team to Coffee County, in south Georgia, to copy software and data from voting machines and computers there. The indictment says a person who is not named sent an email to a top SullivanStrickler executive and instructed him to send all data copied from Dominion Voting Systems equipment in Coffee County to an unidentified lawyer associated with Powell and the Trump campaign.

Chesebro was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have the group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged.

Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts for his role in accessing Coffee County elections equipment.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

7

obituaries obituaries

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye David Glenn April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023 Eudy

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, December 23, away 1954Saturday, - December of Oakboro, passed January 14, 202312, at 2023 her home.

David Glenn 68, Barbara was born Eudy, April 17, 1936 of Albemarle passed away in North Carolina to the late Robert December 2023 LeeTuesday, Taylor and the late Eva12, Belle at Tucker Hospice House in Watts Taylor.

Kannapolis.

A Celebration She was also preceded in deathof Life willofbe Tuesday, by husband 61held years,on Keith Furr December 19 atRobert 2 PMLee in the Drye, and brothers, Stanly Funeral Chapel.

Taylor, Jr. and GeorgeHome Kenneth The family will receive friends Taylor. from 12:45 to 1:45 prior to the Survivors include children, service.

Burial will of follow the Debbie (Mike) Williams service Teresa in the (Tom) Anderson Albemarle, CurryGrove Baptist Church of Oakboro, Douglas cemetery.

(Tammy) David wasgrandchildren, born December Drye of Oakboro; Melissa (Don)in Parrish Albemarle, 23, 1954 StanlyofCounty and Samantha (Destiny) SmithSenior of attended Albemarle Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, High School.

He began his Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and working career with EJ Snyder Jessie Stover Lylesville; sisterwhere heofmet the love of his in-law, Goodman; manyhe life Beatrice Deborah Carter. Later nieces and nephews; her and beloved worked for Bostand Bread cats,Merita Bo andBread Garfield. for over 25 years Barbara was Salesman. a member ofDavid as a Route Oakboro Baptist Church for overin also worked with Gentry 60 years.

She worked years Albemarle whereover he 30 retired at Stanly Knitting Mills.

After just in 2020. He enjoyed riding twomotorcycles years of retirement, she began and attending managing the Oakboro Senior live music events. He loved Center and didCarolina that for 18Panthers years watching until this pastgames week. Barbara was football and spending known for her good cooking and time with his family and always taking care of others. She also grandkids. loved going on day long shopping He is survived by two trips - she could out walk and out sons, Derrick Eudy and wife shop people half her age. She kept herDeborah mind and and bodyChad activeEudy through both of Albemarle. is also gardening, word searches,He and survived by two grandchildren, various other hobbies.

Landon and Carter Eudy, and that she brother Terry Eudy. David is and oth- preceded in death by his wife, quipment Deborah Carter Eudy. and hired m Sulliteam to Georgia, ata from computment says med sent anStrickcted him from Dos equipto an unated with ampaign. y charged g and six

at he unh Trump with his group of sign the December 20, 1967 — December e and to 14, 2023 deral au- Angela Lee Gray Cousins, municat- 55, of Concord, passed away aign law- Thursday, December 14, 2023. eaders in Angie was born December

by Biden 20, 1967, in Concord. She was bmit false lovingly raised by the late ll, prose- Hurley Lee Gray and the late Stella Mae Allred Gray. She was y to five also preceded in death by her r his role siblings, Buddy, Pete, Vivian unty elec- and Peggy.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 38 years, Chuck Cousins of Concord; son, Landon Cousins of Concord; son, Brandon Cousins of Concord; 6 grandchildren, Ariana, Jaidyn, Ja'King, Brayla, Gage, and Kymbrie; aunt, Judy Gray; and cousins, Lisa, Richard, David, Amy, Kim, Kevin, and Kelly.

Angela Lee Gray Cousins

Dwight Farmer

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

Shirley Carroll DwightBroadway Britten Farmer Sr., 83,

of Norwood died morning, February 4, Sunday 1948 - December January 15, 2023 Forrest Oakes.

13,at2023 Dwight was born January 24, Shirley Carroll Broadway, 1939 Countypassed to the late 75, in ofStanly Albemarle, Walter and Martha Adkins awayVirgil Wednesday, December Farmer.

He was a 1957 graduate 13, 2023 at Atrium Health ofCabarrus.

Norwood High School and was a United ArmyFebruary Veteran. 4, She States was born He1948 was ainmember of Cedar Grove Columbia County, WI United Methodist Church where to Dorothy Mae Kleist Cashhe had served as church and the late Floydtreasurer Hardinand choir member. He began his career Cash. Shirley was a member of with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Grace Baptist Church where Department moving to the Norwood she sang in the choir. She Police Department and retiring as wasofnever a loss words.

Chief Policeatwith thefor Town of Shirley loved cooking, Norwood after many years canning, of service. pickles, puzzles andgardener, her love for Dwight was an avid a good toothpick. bird watcher and Carolina fan. wasby preceded HeShirley is survived his wife Hilda in death by her husband, Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Dennis second Farmer Jr. Carroll (Mary) ofand McLeansville, husband, David Broadway.

NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer She(David) is survived by two one sons, Lowe of Norwood; Greg Carroll Dennis (April)ofofTroy; Indian sister Geraldine two Trail, NC and BrentBritten Carroll grandchildren, Dwight “Dee” (Cate)III ofand Black Mountain, Farmer Whitley Rose Hui NC; a brother, Mike Cash; five Lowe. grandchildren, Megan, He was precededTim, in death by Madison Taylor (James) hisNick, son Alex, brothers, Tommy and and Jacob a greatJimmy, sisters,Carroll Nancy, and Cornelia granddaughter, Leighton.

Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.

Memorials made to Cedar Shirley wasmay alsobepreceded in Grove United Church, death by a Methodist brother, Floyd Cash, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Jr. Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

James Roseboro

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

Barry Malcolm Dick

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health September 6, 1941 - December and Rehab. 14, 2023 Mr. Roseboro was born on82, Barry Malcolm Dick, June 23, 1967 to passed the late Robert of Albemarle away on and Delena Shipp Roseboro.14, He Wednesday, December graduated from South Stanly 2023 in Woodhaven Court. A High School and by Celebration ofwas Lifeemployed service will Triangle Brick.

He enjoyed watching be announced at a later date. football and basketball,6, especially Born September 1941 the Carolina TarHeels and Miami. in Stanly County, NC he was In addition to his he is the son of the lateparents Harold preceded in death by his brothers McKeever Dick and Margaret and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Poplin Dick. He was a retired Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, employee of Alcoa and a Henrietta Ingram, and Harold member of Albemarle Lodge Roseboro. #703 F. & A.M. was He isA. survived by hisHe sisters: also active the Scottish Rite Helen (James)in Roseboro Edwards when his health permitted. of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro Mr. Dick was preceded of Washington DC, and Marion in deathofby his wife Nora Morrison Albemarle; brothers: CarterD. Dick.

Survivors include Thomas Roseboro of Charlotte, daughter Misty(Patricia) Vaughnof(Steve) Robert Roseboro of Locust, stepdaughters Norwood, and Van Horne; a special Debbie Shugoll (Richard) friend of over 40 years, Michelle of Charlotte, Mauldin McLendon of theLynn home; special of Albemarle, and Pamela nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Woodle, siblings Jimmy Little, and Laquanza Crump;Dick special (Kathy)Robert of Albemarle, Peggy nephews: Jr., Desmond Dick of Albemarle, Roseboro, and Marcus and Lilly;Roger and Dick of Albemarle, God daughter, Daphneseven Johnson; and grandchildren Tabatha Cox,and special friends, Vetrella Johnson Ben McLendon.

Mellisa Maudlin, Cody Woodle, Bradley Shugoll, Matthew Vaughn, Jason Shugoll and Jessie Woodle and six greatgrandchildren.

Darrick Baldwin

Christy Hatfield

April 22, 1963 — December 15, 2023 Christy Hatfield, 60, of Concord, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 15, 2023 at home surrounded by family.

Christy was born on April 22, 1963 to the late James Thomas Turbeville and Ethel Fisher Turbeville.

She was also preceded in death by husband, Kennie Hatfield and sister, Natalie Turbeville (Collins).

Christy is survived by brothers; Jamie Turbeville and Danny Turbeville; sons, Kenny Hatfield (Monica) and Billy Campbell; grandson, Riley Hatfield; nieces, Jessica Helms (Jeff) and Paige Palmer (Grayson); nephews Tony Hatfield (Caitlin), Brian Turbeville, and Seth Turbeville (Emily); great nieces, Addison and Laney; great- nephew, Jaxon and best friend, Patti Cook.

Mrs. Hatfield was a God fearing woman. Christy loved to spend time with her family and her joy was spending time with her grandson Riley.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina.

Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick12, was July 23, 1956 — December the son of Eddie2023 James Baldwin Sr. andJackie the lateMarie PhyllisRudisill Blue Baldwin.

Mullis Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Torrence, 67, of Charlotte, things lively andTuesday, enjoyed making passed away others smile. 12, His2023. presence is no December longer in our but Over themidst, course ofhis hermemory life, will forever live in our hearts. she enjoyed bowling, and He was educated the met Stanly shooting pool, andinshe County public schools and attended many wonderful friends in the Albemarle Senior High School, process. Jackie dearly loved her Albemarle. family and her little "JT." He was a great conversationalist Jackie leaves behind her and loved meeting people. Darrick loving husband of 27 years, never met a stranger and always Eli Charles Torrence of for his showed love and compassion Charlotte; her loving fellowman. He also lovedson, his dog, Jonathan Coleman Mullis, Rocky. and KerrybyAnne Mullis, Hewife, is survived his father, of Lexington, Eddie J. BaldwinSC; Sr.; brother, sisters: Crystal Thomas Edward Rudisill of (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Charlotte; step-son, Warren Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; Christopher stepbrothers: EddieTorrence; Baldwin Jr., Anton granddaughter, Ashley Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a Torrence. was host of otherJackie relatives andpreceded friends. A in death by her parents, George limb has fallen from our family tree.

Edward and Ivey We will notRudisill grieve Darrick’ s death; Thomas Faulkhis Rudisill. we will celebrate life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

Jackie Rudisill Torrence

John B. Kluttz March 23, 1935 - January 9, Biard Stephen 2023 "Steve" Osborne John grew up in the Millingport

community13, where he drove a school September 1944 - December bus and worked at the local gas 11, 2023 station his High School years.

Biardduring Stephen “Steve” He graduated Millingport Osborne also from known by his High inas 1954 and entered family “Poppy”, 79, ofinto service with US Airforce Locust, NC,the passed away immediately afterward.

Monday, December 11,Upon 2023 return from theHospice service, he and his in the Tucker House, high school sweetheart Julie were Kannapolis, NC. His funeral marriedwill in 1956.

He graduated service be 3pm Saturday,from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in December 16, 2023 at Locust 1959 and began his career as Rev. a diesel First Baptist Church with mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Eddie Barbee and Dr. Tommy Company, moving his growing Ross officiating. Burial will family to Charlotte where they lived follow in the church cemetery until their retirement. with Military Honors. The When John purchased his first family will receive friends Model A Ford at the age of 17, he from 1pm until 2:30pm prior said that he took the car to the to the service at the church. community mechanic when he had He was born September a small problem.The mechanic13, told 1944 in New Portgoing News, VA to him that if he was to keep the the Biardto “Bud” car,late he needed learnOsborne to work on and Julia Elizabeth it. This is when John’s Smith passion for Osborne.

Model A Fords began and how he Mr.his Osborne survived spent happiestisdays with his best by his wife of 58 years, Lois for the friends from around the globe Lorene Huneycutt Osborne. rest of his life!

HeAt is age also50, survived by as a son after years a Detroit Brian of Diesel Osborne Mechanic(Shelley) he and Julie Locust; a daughter, Crystal decided to take the plunge and Barbee (Stan) of A Stanfield, NC open a full Model Restoration and a They granddaughter, Ragen Shop. thrived at their shop in Barbee of NC Stanfield, NC. Cornelius, until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily.

While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.

John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Award the highest award given to members at the national level.

This is what John’s Model A June 6, 1943 —toDecember Community had say upon 12, learning of his2023 death: He wasAnn an active member Karla Selvey, 80, of Wesley Chapelpassed Methodist Church of Charlotte, away where he loved serving12, as 2023 greeter on Tuesday, December Sunday mornings. also belonged at Atrium HealthHe Cabarrus to the United Methodist Men. Hospital in Concord.

John iswas survived his wife Karla bornby June 6, 1943 Julie Ussery forJohn 66 years in Illinois toKluttz, the late of the home.

HeJr. is also Rolland Perry andsurvived the late by a son John David Kluttz Wintress Margaret Perry.(Kim) She of Oakboro, NC; twoin daughters, was also preceded death by Sallyhusband, SimersonErnest of Denver, CO and her Clayton Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, Selvey Jr. and son, Ernest CO; three grandchildren, Clayton Selvey III. Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, What meant the most toNC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) her was being a mother and of Asheville, NC and Seth William becoming Granny. She loved to McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; spend time gardening an going five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, on family vacations to the Meredith, Grant, Victoria and beach with her family which Ronan. John is also preceded in was her place, But most death byhappy his parents, J.S. Kluttz and of all she loved her family Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; and a large making sure everyone wasand and loving group of brothers happy and taken care of. sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Survivors include daughter, Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Lisa Spear and husband, Eric; Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia grandsons, Smith Phillips and aAndrew grandson, Kevin and wife Montana, Kyle Fowler Kluttz.

Smith, Aaron Lucas; great grandchildren, Caylee Smith, Zoey Smith, and Briar Lucas.

Karla Ann Selvey

7

Doris Jones Coleman Winnie Ruth

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Watkins

December 1, 1951 - December 8, Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, 2023 went home into God’s presence on Mrs. Winnie Ruth Watkins January 10 after a sudden illness and born December 1, 1951 to Ms. a valiant week-long fight in ICU. Willie Mae ofOctober Anson 11, Doris wasSmith born on County.

Ruth went to with 1944, in the mountains be of Marion, the Lord on Friday, December NC while her father was away 8,fighting 2023. in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion.

The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During May 29, 1948 — December 15, this time, Doris mentored young 2023 nurses and assisted in saving the I lost my soulmate and my lives of so many babies. She also dearest in the world, worked friend for Pediatrician Dr. William Linda Fikkan Blalock death A. Wilkes in Augusta forto several today (Friday, December 15, Doris years prior to her NICU career.

2023) and my heart is broken, retired from the mother/baby area at although my spirit stillafter soars Atrium Stanly in 2007 over 40 because of her.

We have been years of nursing. together since we were Doris was a gentle andmarried sweet over years July spirit43 and lovedago, her on Lord.

She19, never 1980. met a stranger, and she always left Linda was born after in Yakima, you feeling uplifted talking Washington May 29, claim that with her. She on would often 1948.

She was thefriends daughter she had “adopted” into her ofimmediate Earl and family, Helenand Fikkan, honestly, she and her great-grandparents never made a distinction between immigrated to America the two. Positivity radiatedfrom from her Norway.

Linda graduate like sunlight.

Shewas wasaselfless, funny, ofsmart, A.C. and Davis High School in her sentimental.

During lifetime she anaactive member Yakima.

Shewas was Registered of Firstand Baptist Church of Durham, Nurse a Nurse Practitioner, First Baptist Churchher of Augusta, having completed training Holy Trinity Catholic inMost Washington State and Church in in Augusta, and Palestine United North Carolina, and having Methodist Albemarle. earned herChurch B.S.N. in degree at the She especially loved helping at in University of North Carolina church with older adults, youth, and Charlotte.

Linda was a member ofchildren. the Golden Key National She Society, was especially talented Honor and she was a at sewing from a young ageTau and member of Sigma Theta made gifts for friends, International Honor Christmas Society of ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Nursing. doll clothes, pageantSteve dresses, prom I, her husband, Blalock dresses, coats,Thomas tote bags,and scarves, and our son, his outfits for Amysurvive and Laura, wife, Jennifer her.and Christening gowns for each of her She is also survived by her grandchildren. brother, Robert Fikkan of Doris was preceded in death by Yakima, and a large number her father Arthur Raymond Jones, ofher wonderful nieces, nephews mother Mary Ellen Cameron and cousins in Washington Jones, and her sister Maryanne State and in Wisconsin and Jones Brantley. elsewhere.

Survivors include her two She was preceded in death precious daughters: Amy Cameron by her sister and our brother-Neal Coleman (partner Dr. Edward in-law, Susan and BobbyNC, Ray Chernault) of Albemarle, and Rushing of Albemarle, North Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio Carolina, byofher dear (husband and David) Cincinnati, Ohio; friend and sister-in-law, Vickie seven grandchildren: Cameron Fikkan of Yakima.

David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, I shall love her, cherish Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John her, andCarson very deeply herRyan Dejak, Josephmiss Oliverio, forever.

Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

Linda Fikkan Blalock

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

8

STATE & NATION US House approves impeachment inquiry into President Biden

equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference last week.

Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”

Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by

leadership’s recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.

A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House.

Richard Sauber, special counsel

to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. “Let’s see what they find out.”

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.

Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed additional charges last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.

DeSantis goes after Trump on abortion, COVID-19 and the border wall in an Iowa town hall

Trump has responded by emphasizing his support from more than 150 pastors around the state.

Abortion has become a flashpoint in U.S. politics since a Supreme Court majority shaped by Trump’s three appointments eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, helping to power unexpectedly strong Democratic performances in the 2022 midterms.

Trump has not backed a national abortion ban and has criticized the way many Republican politicians talk about the issue. He has implied that a Florida law DeSantis signed, which outlaws abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, is “ too harsh.”

Asked about the case of Kate Cox, a Texas woman who sought an abortion when her health deteriorated as she carried a fetus with a fatal condition, DeSantis was vague. He said “these are very difficult issues” and pointed to the Florida law’s exceptions allowing abortions when the mother’s life is in danger, though in Cox’s case, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that her pregnancy complications did not constitute the kind of medical emergency under which abortions are allowed.

DeSantis has staked his campaign on a strong showing in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses on Jan. 15, but he’s struggled to break out of a distant second place. Like most of his rivals, he has largely treated the front-runner gingerly, avoiding direct criticism of Trump, who

remains popular with GOP primary voters.

But sprinkled through the CNN town hall was a case to Trump-supporting voters that it’s time to move on. Trump, he said, is no longer the colorful “America First” advocate whom Republicans embraced in 2016.

“Now a lot of it’s about him,” DeSantis said.

And he worked to pierce rosy memories of Trump’s tenure in the White House. He said Trump erred in his response to COVID-19, an issue that helped catapult DeSantis to GOP prominence when he refused to go along with strict lockdowns that most other governors imposed early in the pandemic.

“The first three years of the Trump administration, the economy’s better than it has been, but that last year with COVID, I think was mishandled dramatically,” DeSantis said. “Shutting down the country was a huge mistake.

Printing trillions and trillions of dollars was a huge mistake.”

DeSantis also took aim at one of the defining themes of Trump’s first run for the White House: his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and have the Mexican government pay for it.

“That didn’t happen,” DeSantis said. “And why didn’t it happen?

Well, one, I think he got distracted, and he didn’t do it on day one.

But, two, he didn’t utilize the levers of power that he had.”

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the process despite lingering concerns among some that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.

Biden, in a rare statement about the impeachment effort, questioned the priorities of House Republicans in pursuing an inquiry against him and his family.

“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” the president said following the vote. “Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”

Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off

AP PHOTO

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House.

“We do not take this responsibility lightly and will not prejudge the investigation’s outcome,” Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team said in a joint statement after the vote. “But the evidentiary record is impossible to ignore.”

“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not

The Associated Press DONALD TRUMP “flipflipped” on abortion, overreached in response to COVID-19 and failed to uphold his campaign pledge to get Mexico to pay for a wall on the southern U.S. border, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last weekin Iowa.

DeSantis, who is in a distant second place behind Trump in most national polls in the battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, stepped up his case against the former president during a CNN town hall in Des Moines five weeks before the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

He zeroed in on abortion in a state where evangelical voters form the backbone of the GOP, contrasting Trump’s recent skepticism about strict anti-abortion laws with his earlier comments about protecting the sanctity of life.

“You should be consistent in your beliefs, especially on some-

AP PHOTO

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. thing that’s very fundamental, and he has not been consistent,” DeSantis said. “And there’s a lot of voters in Iowa who really care about this, who need to know how he’s changed his position.”

DeSantis last month picked up the endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent Iowa evangelical leader who has also questioned Trump’s commitment to the anti-abortion movement.

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A long night out

Asheboro Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at a duplex on South Church Street the night of December 12. Firefighters extinguished a fire in one of the apartments and ventilated the building. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is unknown.

WHAT’S HAPPENING FBI looking for minivan in substation shooting The FBI and Moore Sheriff’s Office are asking for assistance to find a minivan seen on December 3, 2022, the night of two electrical substation shootings in West End and Carthage.

The occupant(s) of the van may have information relevant to the investigation. The van is likely a silver or light blue, 2011-2017, Honda Odyssey.

Investigators are asking anyone who saw the van the night of the shooting between 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, the Moore SO tip line at 910-947-4444 or online at tips.fbi.gov. There is a combined reward of up to $100,000.

New driver license changes coming for 2024 Teen drivers and parents, changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system are coming on Jan. 1.

As of the new year, teens must hold their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months, increased from the current six months, before taking the road test to obtain a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

“The law doesn’t allow for grandfathering anyone in,” said North Carolina DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in a press release.

“So, if someone completes their six months of Level 1 before year’s end but fails to take their road test by Dec. 29, they will have to wait until nine months to take the test and get Level 2.”

The GDL system, in effect since 1997, had a 12-month requirement for Level 2 for most of its existence. This was temporarily reduced to six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law, enacted on May 8, 2023, establishes the nine-month requirement starting in 2024.

Asheboro rallies in support of family after devastating house fire Local events and fundraisers ongoing; 10-year-old boy stable through multiple surgeries after third-degree burns

By Scott Pelkey Randolph Record ASHEBORO — The Asheboro community is uniting to support the Burroughs family, whose 10-year-old son, Chevy, suffered severe injuries in a house fire that ravaged their home on December 8th.

In the early hours, Kevin and Shauna Burroughs and their children, Kamdyn, 15, and Chevy, were asleep when the fire broke out just before 3 a.m. Shauna rescued Kamdyn

COURTESY PHOTO

10-year old Chevy Burroughs through a window, while Kevin, hindered by heavy smoke and fire, eventually reached Chevy by breaking through an exteri-

or wall. By the time firefighters arrived, 11 minutes after the 911 call was placed, the family had left to meet Randolph County EMS units on the way to the hospital.

Fire units from the Ulah, Seagrove, East-Side, West-Side, and New Hope fire departments responded to the structure fire on Mountain Creek Road.

Chevy was flown to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem and was placed on a ventilator before undergoing a pair of surgeries to treat second and third-degree burns. On a newly created “CHEVY Strong” Facebook page that doubles as a fundraising hub, the Burroughs revealed that Chevy was in stable condition following the surgery.

Displaced by the fire, the Bur-

roughs are staying at the hospital during Chevy’s recovery.

The community’s response has been significant, with several efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign, have raised nearly $38,000 as of Monday.

Local business is joining the effort, with the Black Powder Smokehouse in Asheboro running a charity event through December 23, with a portion of proceeds going to the Burroughs family.

“The love and compassion we are receiving is truly humbling,” said Kevin Burroughs. Bambi Church, a GoFundMe page organizer, emphasized the importance of monetary donations, gift cards, and clothing.

The Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Rekindling ‘fire culture’ to help pine trees thrive Prescribed burns clear the ground, leaving tree trunks free to grow

By James Pollard for AP/Report for America WEST END — Jesse Wimberley burns the woods with neighbors.

Using new tools to revive an old communal tradition, they set fire to wiregrasses and forest debris with a drip torch, corralling embers with leaf blowers.

Wimberley, 65, gathers groups across eight North Carolina counties to starve future wildfires by lighting leaf litter ablaze. The burns clear space for longleaf pine, a tree species whose seeds won’t sprout on undergrowth blocking bare soil.

Since 2016, the fourth-generation burner has fueled a burgeoning movement to formalize these volunteer ranks.

Prescribed burn associations

are proving key to conservationists’ efforts to restore a longleaf pine range forming the backbone of forest ecology in the American Southeast. Volunteer teams, many working private land where participants reside or make a living, are filling service and knowledge gaps one blaze at a time.

Prescribed fires, the intentional burning replicating natural fires crucial for forest health, require more hands than experts can supply. In North Carolina, the practice sometimes ends with a barbecue.

“Southerners like coming together and doing things and helping each other and having some food,” Wimberley said.

“Fire is not something you do by yourself.”

More than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states, according to North Carolina State University researchers, and the Southeast is a hot spot for new ones. Wimberley’s Sandhills Pre-

scribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves.

The proliferation follows federal officials’ push in the past century to suppress forest fires.

The policy sought to protect the expanding footprint of private homes and interrupted fire cycles that accompanied longleaf evolution, which Indigenous people and early settlers simulated through targeted burns.

“Fire is medicine and it heals the land. It’s also medicine for our people,” said Courtney Steed, outreach coordinator for the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association and a Lumbee Tribe member. “It’s putting us back in touch with our traditions.”

The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles (360,000 square kilometers) it encompassed before industrialization and urbanization. But some pockets re-

main, from Virginia to Texas to Florida. The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species. The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change.

A big tent of environmentalists, hunters, nonprofit groups and government agencies recently celebrated a 53% increase in the longleaf pine range since 2009, spanning an estimated 8,100 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). However, those strides fell short of their goal to hit 12,500 square miles See BURNS, page 2

$2.00

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

12.20.23

RCSS board incumbent Sink won’t be on ballot

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor Scott Pelkey, Breaking News Jesse Deal, Reporter Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

ASHEBORO – There will be at least one new member of the Randolph County School System’s board of education after the 2024 voting with incumbent Mike Sink choosing not to seek re-election.

There are four spots on the 2024 ballot for the seven-member board.

Board chairman Gary Cook and fellow incumbents Sharon Petty Farlow of Sophia and Tracy Boyles of Denton have filed to keep seats. Farlow is the board’s vice chair.

Rana Gantt of Trinity and Todd Cutler of Asheboro are the other candidates to file by last week’s deadline.

Sink, who turns 75 in January, has been a longtime ed-

There are six candidates for the Randolph County board of commissioners, including a pair of incumbent Republicans from Asheboro.

ucator. He’s a soccer and girls’ basketball coach at Trinity. He couldn’t be reached for comment.

There are six candidates for the Randolph County board of commissioners, including incumbent Asheboro Republicans Kenny Kidd and Maxton McDowell.

The last two to file were William McCaskill, a Democrat from Asheboro, and Jane Ledwell-Gant, also a Democrat from Asheboro. The other challengers are Republicans Lester Rivenbark III of Asheboro and Christopher McLeod of Denton.

Republican David Craven of Asheboro has a challenger for his N.C. Senate seat in District 29. Apparently, Craven’s only opposition will come in the general election from Democrat Kevin Clark of Rockingham.

Susan Lee Scott, a Democrat from Asheboro, filed to oppose incumbent Brian Biggs, a Republican from Trinity, for N.C. House of Representatives Seat 70.

A pair of N.C. District Court Judge races have only one candidate, and they’re both Republicans. Rob Wilkins of Asheboro unopposed for District 37, Seat 2. Barron Thompson of Asheboro is unopposed for District 37, Seat 5.

The primary will be held March 5.

BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline. com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

WEEKLY FORECAST SPONSORED BY

Randolph County Board of Ed honors teachers and students, re-elects leadership Recognition of grant winners, CTE achievers, and board chair reelection highlight the meeting

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, Dec. 11 to honor educators, students, and to handle administrative matters.

The board reelected Gary Cook as board chair and Sharon Farlow as vice chair.

“I appreciate it,” Cook said.

“It’s a lot of work and we talk a lot. Sometimes we have our moments, but you know, that’s okay. At the end of the day, I think this board… I watch some boards on Youtube and I hear stories and all, we’ve got something to be proud of. We really do because I truly believe the best interests of the students are here.”

The board recognized the 18 winners of the 2023-24 Randolph County School System Endowment Teacher Grants,

Grant winners represent various schools across the district, including Anna Foster from Archdale Elementary and Leslie Jessup from Wheatmore High, among others. supporting student needs, staff development, and other needs.

The grant winners represent various schools across the district, including Anna Foster from Archdale Elementary and Leslie Jessup from Wheatmore High, among others.

“This grant program is made possible through a partnership with the North Carolina Community Foundation,” said Public Information Officer Amber Ward. “Recipients are selected by the RCS Endowment Committee.”

The total amount awarded was $6,438.67.

A number of Randolph

County CTE students who recently earned national recognition were praised by the board as well.

The Providence Grove High School FFA Hunter Safety Team, composed of Austin Williams, Christian Swaim, Troy Blakley, Cooper Wright and Amelia Lackey, competed in the Eastern Regional Youth Hunter Education Challenge.

The team took third place in archery and hunter safety trail and first place in the hunter safety test. Williams finished second in muzzleloader and third in the hunter safety test individually.

The Randleman High School Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event Team, composed of Brooklyn Sharpe, Ethan Hulin, Brandon Turner and Patrick Jones, competed in the National FFA Convention.

The team finished as a silver emblem team overall and Hulin was a gold finalist individually.

The Randolph County Schools Board of Education will next meet Jan. 8.

CALL OR TEXT 336-629-7588

WEDNESDAY DEC 20 HI 55 LOW 27 PRECIP 5%

THURSDAY DEC 21 HI 49 LOW 23 PRECIP 2%

FRIDAY DEC 22 HI 51 LOW 27 PRECIP 5%

SATURDAY DEC 23 HI 56 LOW 33 PRECIP 19%

SUNDAY DEC 24 HI 54 LOW 41 PRECIP 50%

MONDAY DEC 25 HI 58 LOW 39 PRECIP 37%

TUESDAY DEC 26 HI 55 LOW 35 PRECIP 31%

CRIME LOG December 9

entering.

x On December 9, 2023, Braxton Lee Trogdon, 22, arrived at the Randolph County Jail after being extradited from Kansas.

He was served with warrants for felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony possession of stolen goods/property, and felony extortion as well as an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.

December 12

December 11 x Brad Anthony Christian, 36, was arrested and charged by the Sheriff’s Office for felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and

x Harley Aviles-Hernandez, 22, was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Jason Scott Stephens, 35, turned himself in for a warrant of felony larceny by employee and misdemeanor possession of stolen goods.

December 13 x Julie Warner McNeill, 52, was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s

Office and charged with one count of felony embezzlement.

December 14 x Tosha Leann Dixon, 42, of Randleman, was arrested by the Asheboro Police Department and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and driving with license revoked.

December 15 x Rodney Lester Welch, 61, from Asheboro, was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of meth, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Randolph

Guide The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

Dec. 21 Polar Express Pajama Party 6 p.m.

All ages are welcome to watch this Christmas Classic and enjoy some cocoa and popcorn at the Franklinville Public Library. Don’t forget the stuffy and blankie.

Dec. 23 Red Cross Blood Drive 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Donate blood at the bus parked at the Asheboro Randolph YMCA.

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Dec. 30 The Liberty Showcase presents Tuesday‘s Gone 7 – 9 p.m.

Tuesday’s Gone, a classic Skynyrd reenactmynt replicating the original 1970’s era of Lynyrd Skynyrd right down to the last detail. Admission: $35 - $60

Dec. 31 Hindsight Bluegrass News Years Eve Concert 8 p.m.

At the historic Sunset Theater, doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at Brightside Gallery (170 Worth St) or at Silver Dollar Pawn in Ramseur.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

3

OPINION

de

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Proud to keep serving you

This holiday season, let us remember all those who have defended freedom serving in our nation’s uniform— especially those who do not have the opportunity to return home to their families.

FOR MY FAMILY and many of yours, the holiday season is the best time of the year. From decking the halls to exchanging gifts with loved ones and friends, our joyful holiday traditions serve as a bright light in uncertain times.

As another year is drawing to a close, I have been reflecting on the incredible results House Republicans have delivered this year on behalf of the American people.

To address the crisis at our Southern Border, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act—the strongest border security bill America has ever seen in order to keep our nation safe and our border secure. My legislation, the HALT Fentanyl Act, also passed the House and would increase penalties on this dangerous substance flowing across our border. Every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of President Joe Biden’s open border policies. Just last week, 118 pounds of fentanyl was intercepted in North Carolina—enough to kill our entire population two times over.

Despite the record-breaking amount of migrant crossings and deadly drugs flowing across our borders, Senate Democrats refuse to take up these bills. Their lack of action combined with the disastrous policies of the Biden Administration continues to fuel the crisis at the Southern Border.

In addition, my legislation, the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply

Chain Act, recently passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and will be brought up soon for a vote in the full House. This bill would strengthen the U.S. supply chain for distribution transformers, and help prevent communities from experiencing long outages similar to what we endured last December in Moore County.

As the representative of the largest Army base in the world, I’m proud of everything we have accomplished this year to strengthen our nation’s defense and military readiness.

Last week, the House passed the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which bolsters our nation’s defense capabilities to keep up with foreign adversaries, eliminates the woke ideology infiltrating our military, and takes care of our men and women in uniform by providing the largest pay raise in over 20 years.

It is not a perfect bill, but ensuring our military families and veterans have the resources they deserve is among the most important duties we have in Congress. I will never stop fighting to make sure our community’s veterans, troops, and their families receive the support they deserve.

This holiday season, let us remember all those who have defended freedom serving in our nation’s uniform—especially those who do not have the opportunity to return home to their families. I continue to pray for

the strength and safety of soldiers from our region, and across the country, who are away from their families. Let’s not forget those family members who miss them. God bless you all.

I hope you are proud of all the work our office accomplished this year on your behalf. I will always work hard on the issues that are important to you and your family.

My dedicated staff in our Southern Pines and Fayetteville district offices are here to provide you with high-quality constituent services. To find our office locations and office hours, visit hudson.house.gov.

While we have a lot of work left ahead of us, I look forward to 2024 and the opportunity to continue to serve you and our community. Together, House Republicans will keep fighting to get our country on a better path forward.

As Hanukkah ends and the Christmas holiday nears, I hope you enjoy time with loved ones and remember what’s most important—our faith, our families, our friends, and the many blessings we enjoy as citizens of the greatest nation on Earth.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.

He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

Yes, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel.

IMAGINE A GROUP of people who work to destroy Italy because, they claim, Italy’s origins are illegitimate.

Imagine further that these people maintain that of all the countries in the world, only Italy doesn’t deserve to exist. Then imagine that these people vigorously deny that they are antiItalian. Would you believe them?

Now substitute “Israel” for “Italy,” and you’ll understand the dishonesty and absurdity of the argument that one can be anti-Zionist — that is, against the existence of a Jewish state — but not be anti-Jew. Yet, that is precisely what anti-Zionists say.

They say that Israel’s existence is illegitimate.

They don’t say this about any other country in the world, no matter how bloody its origins.

And then they get offended when they’re accused of being anti-Jew. How can they make this argument?

First, they change the topic. They say it’s unfair to charge those who merely “criticize” Israel with being antisemitic. No one says criticism of Israel is antisemitic. But antiZionism isn’t criticism of Israel. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Israel’s existence.

Zionism is the name of the movement for the return of the Jews to their historic homeland.

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel. Both were Jewish states, and invaders destroyed both. No Arab or Muslim or any other sovereign country ever existed in that land, which was given the name “Palestine” by the Romans so as to remove all memory of the Jewish state they destroyed in the year 70.

Second, anti-Zionists claim they can’t be anti-Jew because Zionism has nothing to do with Judaism. That is the same as saying Italy has nothing to do with being Italian. Judaism has always consisted of three components: God, Torah and Israel (the people Israel and the Land of Israel). Israel is as much a part of Judaism as are God and the Bible. Moreover, the most pro-Israel, i.e. the most Zionist,

Jews are the Orthodox, the most religious Jews. That there exists one tiny group of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Neturei Karta) that is anti-Zionist means nothing. They are as representative of Judaism as the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity.

Third, anti-Zionists claim that Judaism is only a religion; therefore, Jews are only members of a religion, not a nation. But the Jews are called a “nation” more than one hundred times in the Bible. That is why there can be irreligious, secular and even atheist Jews — because Jews are not only a religion, but a people — a nation. No one thinks nonreligious Jews are not Jews. There can be no atheist Christians because Christianity is a religion, not a nation.

Fourth, people point to anti-Zionist Jews to prove that anti-Zionism isn’t anti-Jewish.

That would be like pointing to Americans who gave Stalin the secrets to the atom bomb to argue that siding with the Soviet Union in the Cold War was not anti-American. Or, to provide another Jewish example, it would be like pointing Jews who eat pork in Yom Kippur to argue that eating pork on Yom Kippur is Jewish. What Jews do or believe is not always the same as Judaism.

Fifth, anti-Zionists claim that Israel is illegitimate because Zionism — and therefore, Israel — is “racist.” This is a libel. Half of Israel’s Jews are not even white, and anyone, of any race or ethnicity, can become a Jew. Furthermore, one in five Israelis isn’t a Jew. And these Israeli non-Jews, mostly Arab Muslims, have the same rights as Jewish Israelis. As for Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza (Israel completely abandoned Gaza in 2005), that has nothing to do with race and everything to do with security. It is because the Palestinians and other Arabs tried to destroy Israel in 1967 and lost the war.

If the Palestinians would stop killing Israelis, Israel would have no problem with a “two-state solution.” But Palestinians have

rejected offers to have their own state on four separate occasions since 1947. That is the only reason they don’t have their own state.

And why have they always rejected having a Palestinian state? Because the only state they would accept is one that eradicates Israel.

They have therefore been solely dedicated to destroying the Jewish state, not in having their own state alongside Israel.

Sixth, and finally, anti-Zionists claim that Israel’s origins are illegitimate. Of all the world’s 200-plus countries, the only country anti-Zionists declare illegitimate is also the only Jewish one. That’s pretty much all you need to know about their motives.

Why don’t they make this claim about Pakistan? In 1947, nine months before the establishment of Israel, India was partitioned into a Muslim state (Pakistan) and a Hindu state (India), just as Palestine was partitioned into a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab one (Palestine).

But, unlike Israel, no Pakistan had ever existed. And unlike Israel’s founding, which created about 700,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands and about 700,000 Arab refugees from what became Israel, the founding of Pakistan created about seven million Muslim refugees from India and about seven million Hindu refugees from Pakistan. And while the highest estimate of Arab deaths in the fighting that took place when Israel was established is 10,000, the number of deaths as a result of Pakistan’s creation is around one million. So why is Israel’s legitimacy challenged while Pakistan’s isn’t?

The only possible answer is because Israel is Jewish.

Of course, not all anti-Zionists hate all Jews.

But if you seek to destroy Italy, you don’t have to hate every Italian to be anti-Italian. Not every anti-American hates all Americans, but they are still called anti-American. If you seek to destroy the one Jewish state, you don’t have to hate every Jew to be called anti-Jew. And the name for that is antisemite.

Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

4

SPORTS

SPONSORED BY

All they REALLY want for Christmas this year is a Chick-fil-A gift card!

NBA

App State slogs past Miami (Ohio) in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl

Curry’s 3-pointer streak ends at 268 games

The Mountaineers won six of their final seven games to finish 8-5

Portland, Ore. Stephen Curry’s NBA-record 3-pointer streak ended at 268 games Sunday night in the Golden State Warriors’ 118114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Curry was 0 for 8 from 3-point range, 2 for 12 overall and scored seven points. He began the streak Dec. 1, 2018, at Detroit.

Curry, the NBA career leader who recently made his 3,500th 3-pointer, last went without one in a regularseason game on Nov. 8, 2018, when he was 0 for 4 against Milwaukee. He also owns the second-longest NBA streak at 157 games.

The Associated Press

SIDELINE REPORT

ORLANDO, Fla. — Joey Aguilar threw for 211 yards and scored on an 8-yard run in the third quarter as Appalachian State beat Miami (Ohio) 13-9 on Saturday in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl.

Aguilar’s scoring run capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive and gave App State (9-5) a 13-3 lead after Michael Hughes kicked field goals of 29 and 22 yards in the first half.

Miami (11-3) running back Rashad Amos answered Aguilar’s TD with a 23-yard score late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13-9. He finished

with a career-best 180 yards on 33 carries.

But the RedHawks squandered a potential chance to take the lead when backup running back Keyon Mozee fumbled on a short carry near midfield with 2:39 remaining. Miami never got the ball back.

Aguilar was named the MVP. He completed 19 of 33 passes and spread the ball around, hitting seven receivers. Kaedin Robinson caught nine passes for 118 yards in the difficult conditions.

“We just want to stay true to ourselves,” Aguilar said. “The weather is going to be however the weather is going to be.”

The rainy weather forced both teams to try to focus more on ball security and stick to the ground.

The game was played as a steady rain soaked the area and pools of water formed around midfield over the bowl logo and in the end zone at FBC Mortgage Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Officials with the Cure Bowl reported an inch of rain fell before the game started and another inch fell between kickoff and the final play.

The conditions certainly affected play. There were 13 fumbles, with Appalachian State losing two and Miami losing three.

“Ball security is at a premium, and it didn’t seem like either team managed to do it,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin said. “Just kind of have to plod through it and make the last play.”

Appalachian State rushed for

151 yards in the second half to put the game away. Anderson Castle had 119 yards on 18 carries for the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers had a 332227 advantage in total yards.

Amos accounted for most of the RedHawks’ total.

Miami kicker and Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter. He missed his lone PAT attempt.

“The elements were rough,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said. “We had to make one more play than they did. And we did. Toward the end, our running game started to wear them down.”

Appalachian State celebrated its victory the only way it could, by sliding through the water and mud covering the midfield logo.

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar looks to throw a pass during the Mountaineers’ win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

COLLEGE SPORTS

MSU trustees approve release of Nassar documents to AG East Lansing, Mich.

Trustees at Michigan State University have unanimously voted Friday to release documents related to the school’s investigations into now-imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar to the state’s attorney general.

The documents first will be reviewed by the school’s general counsel before they’re released. The school had argued that the documents are protected by attorneyclient privilege. Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment.

AP PHOTO

MLB

Scherzer has back surgery to miss start of ’24 season Arlington, Texas Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss the start of next season for the World Series champion Texas Rangers. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer had surgery Thursday after injections and other conservative treatments didn’t relieve the pain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was removed from Game 3 of the World Series because of his back. Young says the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July. Scherzer says the pain got worse after returning to his offseason home in Florida.

TELEVISION

LeBron-produced special wins Daytime Emmy Los Angeles A show produced by Lakers superstar LeBron James has won a Daytime Emmy.

“Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism” won for outstanding daytime special at the Creative Arts and Lifestyle ceremony in Los Angeles. The YouTube Originals special was executive produced by James and his business partner Maverick Carter. It was hosted by Ilana Glazer, Moshe Kasher and Idina Menzel. James has previously won three Sports Emmy awards, including one this year for “The Redeem Team” about the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

NFL

NCAA, states seek to extend order letting transfer athletes play North Carolina is one of seven states that filed a lawsuit on behalf of players who have switched schools more than once The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters.

The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from enforcing a rule for those athletes who transfer multiple times.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games for 14 days.

The NCAA then circulated a document to its member schools clarifying that the redshirt rule for athletes would still apply if the court’s decision is reversed: Basketball players who compete during the two-week window would be using up a season of eligibility.

Now, the two sides apparent-

ly are coming together to address the athletes’ desires.

“Let the kids play,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.

The motion said that following consultation among the parties, the court is being requested to convert the retraining order into a preliminary injunction that will remain in place until the case is decided.

“The NCAA shall take no action to retaliate” against any participating athlete or their school while the preliminary injunction is in effect, based on the athlete’s reliance on the injunction’s terms, the motion said.

NCAA spokeswoman Saquandra Heath said in a statement that, as a result of the joint motion, it “will not enforce the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools.”

Heath said the proposal “is the best outcome for multiple-time transfer student-athletes wishing to compete immediately. This action provides clarity for student-athletes and member schools for the remainder of the academic year — any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who competes this season will be subject to the same eligibility and use of a season of competition rules as all other student-athletes.”

The motion asks that a hearing on the restraining order set for Dec. 27 be canceled and that the case be set for trial no sooner

than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.

The lawsuit, which alleges the NCAA transfer rule’s waiver process violates federal antitrust law, could have a profound impact on college sports if successful. In court documents, the NCAA has said the plaintiffs “seek to remake collegiate athletics and replace it with a system of perpetual and unchecked free agency.”

NCAA rules allow underclassmen to transfer once without having to sit out a year. But an

additional transfer as an undergraduate generally requires the NCAA to grant a waiver allowing the athlete to compete immediately. Without it, the athlete would have to sit out for a year at the new school.

Last January, the NCAA implemented stricter guidelines for granting those waivers on a caseby-case basis.

The states involved in the restraining order were North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

5

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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Randleman duo pins Brooke down tourney titles Ingram

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

MEBANE – Two Randleman wrestlers were champions in the Eagle Invitational, a twoday event that ended Saturday at the Mebane Arts & Community Center.

Alex Raymundo and Kolby Garner collected the individual titles.

“They just wrestled tough,” Randleman coach Andrew Molina said. “I think it being two days was good for them, and getting pins helped.”

Raymundo, a 106-pound sophomore, pinned Carson Giannotti of Southern Alamance in 4:35 of the final after an earlier pin and decision.

“Just went hard and wres-

tled,” Raymundo said. “Everything and anything can happen.”

Raymundo’s pin came in 67 seconds against Western Guilford’s Naziere Ford before he defeated Orange’s Chris Winstead 12-5 in the semifinals.

At 144 pounds, Garner registered a pin of top-seeded South Granville’s Jonathan Hayes in the final. It was Garner’s second fall of the tournament, which began with a bye before a second-period pin of Carson Gardner of host Eastern Alamance.

Garner, a junior, said there were challenging moments during the tournament. He won a 7-1 decision against Orange’s Talan Pearley in the semifinals.

“Not giving up when it was hard,” Garner said.

Randleman’s Jesus Garcia was the 150-pound runner-up, falling in a 7-5 decision to Southern Alamance’s Andrew Dudley in the final.

Kobe Kinley of the Tigers also placed second, falling in a 17-5 decision to Ryan Jones of Tunstall, Va., in the title bout at 165 pounds. Kinley reached the final with three pins. In the final, both wrestlers created first-period pinning opportunities.

Randleman placed third among 16 teams with 142 points, trailing only champion Orange (206) and runner-up Southern Alamance (147½) in the 16-team event. The Tigers were without Braxton Walker, a standout in upper weights, as he was unavailable.

Brooke Ingram takes a shot during a game last season.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE PHOTO

Providence Grove, girls’ basketball Ingram had a 25-point outing when Providence Grove won its Piedmont Athletic Conference opener by defeating visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy last week.

That continues a nice trend for the Patriots, who held a 6-2 overall record through the end of last week. With that, it meant that Providence Grove had matched the team’s win total for the entire 2022-23 season.

Ingram, a senior guard, entered this week with a team-leading 13.3 points per game – or about twice her average for last season. She also had provided 2.4 assists per game.

This is her fourth season as a regular in the Providence Grove lineup.

Ingram also has been a key member of the girls’ soccer team for the Patriots.

BOB SUTTON | RANDOLPH RECORD

Randleman wrestlers Alex Raymundo, left, and Kolby Garner were individual champions in the Eagle Invitational, which ended Saturday in Mebane.

PREP BASKETBALL

Holiday hoops return to Asheboro

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Holiday high school basketball action returns to Asheboro after a three-year gap with next week’s 16-team event at Asheboro High School.

The tournament includes a girls’ bracket and a boys’ bracket, with five schools from Randolph County in the field.

It’s called the SportsTone. net Christmas Invitational.

Games will be held next Wednesday through Friday.

Along with host Asheboro, the schools entered are Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph, Trinity, Eastern Guilford, North Carolina Leadership Academy and West Brunswick.

Holiday tournaments were scrapped in 2020 because of the pandemic and the delayed season that was held exclusively in 2021. The past two years, Asheboro’s gym was unavailable because of renovations at the high school.

So in late December in 2021 Asheboro’s Malaika Khan takes a shot against Uwharrie Charter Academy earlier this season. Next week, there will be holiday tournament play in Asheboro’s gym.

and 2022, most Randolph County teams were involved in the Davidson-Randolph Christmas Classic.

Those games were held with daylong action at Providence Grove and Ledford using separate brackets.

Eastern Guilford, a Class 3-A school, is sending its teams to Asheboro for the Wildcats’ first holiday tournament action away from home in more than a decade. A longstanding boys’ and girls’ tournament at Eastern Guilford has been discontinued this year, making the Wildcats available.

North Carolina Leadership Academy is based in Kernersville.

The opening-night matchups pitting Providence Grove vs. Asheboro will be the third meetings of the season between those teams.

Asheboro boys won earlier clashes by 53-39 and 63-32, while the girls split two meetings — Providence Grove won 71-68 in overtime at home before Asheboro claimed the rematch 52-44 at home.

NEXT WEEK’S SCHEDULE (AT ASHEBORO) GIRLS

Dec. 27 Eastern Guilford vs.

Randleman, 10 a.m.Trinity vs.

West Brunswick, 1 p.m.

North Carolina Leadership Academy vs. Southwestern Randolph, 4 p.m.

Providence Grove vs.

Asheboro, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 Consolation games: 10 a.m., 1 p.m.

Semifinals: 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

BOYS

Dec. 27 Eastern Guilford vs.

Randleman, 11:30 a.m.

Trinity vs. West Brunswick, 2:30 p.m.

North Carolina Leadership Academy vs. Southwestern Randolph, 5:50 p.m.

Providence Grove vs.

Asheboro, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 Consolation games: 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m.

Semifinals: 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

PREP BASKETBALL

PAC play begins with tight girls’ games Randolph Record TEAMS BEGAN play Friday in the Piedmont Athletic Conference and there were a couple of close games in girls’ basketball.

Defending champion Randleman received 21 points and 10 rebounds from Audra Petty in a 47-41 home victory against Wheatmore.

Providence Grove edged visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy 59-53 with Brooke Ingram racking up 25 points.

Southwestern Randolph had an easy time with visiting Trinity in a 55-4 result.

Eastern Randolph was slated to begin PAC play this week.

Earlier last week, Jordin George scored 21 points when Southwestern Randolph trounced visiting North Davidson 55-28 in non-conference action.

Boys’ basketball Providence Grove opened PAC play by winning 51-46 against visiting UCA behind Will Dabbs’ 19 points.

Randleman benefitted from defense in defeating visiting Wheatmore 50-36 to begin PAC play.

Trinity’s conference opener came with Dominic Payne tallying 35 points in a 69-56 victory at Southwestern Randolph. ** Eastern Randolph opened its season with a 72-57 loss at Oak Grove last Thursday despite Nicah Taylor’s 19 points.

The Wildcats, who fell into a 38-17 hole, hoisted 95 shots in that game, making just 22 (23.2 percent). They were 5-for-31 on 3-point attempts.

That was the first of three games in three days for Eastern Randolph, which won 83-66 at Albemarle and then lost 86-72 to Oak Ridge Military Academy. ** Jerquarius Stanback posted 19 points and David Rodriguez had 16 points when Asheboro defeated visiting Providence Grove 63-32 in a non-conference game. ** There were several solid point totals for area players in defeats last week.

Parker Kines had 20 points when Wheatmore lost 54-52 in overtime to visiting South Davidson.

Randleman’s Greg Price had 19 points in a 5047 loss to visiting Oak Grove.

Nathan Ellis of Southwestern Randolph racked up 22 points in a loss at East Davidson.

Brayden Chapman had 15 points for the Cougars in that game a night after scoring 16 in a loss to visiting North Davidson.

Conference games started last week for some area high school basketball teams.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

6

Millennial Money: What the 2024 Social Security COLA could mean for your retirement

By Dalia Ramirez NerdWallet

benefits into your future retirement budget.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS for millions of people will rise by an average of over $50 a month starting in January, thanks to the Social Security Administration’s 3.2% annual cost of living adjustment for 2024, announced on Oct. 12. The change will immediately put more money in current retirees’ pockets, but it also could have a considerable effect on payouts to future retirees.

The 2024 increase is much smaller than last year’s 8.7%, the largest since 1981. But because the COLA reflects inflation, a smaller increase is not necessarily a bad thing; it suggests that inflation is more stable and may help the Social Security Administration provide maximum benefits for longer.

The COLA has been relatively volatile in recent years, however, and future retirees are understandably concerned about the health of the Social Security benefits program.

Here’s what the cost of living adjustments really mean and how to factor Social Security

A LOWER COLA IS A GOOD SIGN Though it’s reasonable to assume that a lower cost of living adjustment is worse for Social Security recipients, it may also point to a healthier economy.

The SSA increases the COLA in response to inflation, which means that a hefty COLA jump — like last year’s 8.7% — reflects a serious bump in the costs of goods and services.

“The (Federal Reserve’s) goal is for inflation to be 2% or lower, and therefore, the COLA increases by Social Security would be 2% or lower,” says Randall Holcombe, a certified financial planner and director of wealth planning at Confluence Financial Partners in Pittsburgh. “If your costs aren’t going up so much, then your Social Security isn’t going up as much, but then again, you don’t need Social Security to go up as much,” he says.

Many financial planners incorporate a flat annual COLA into their clients’ retirement plans. “I typically build in an in-

flation rate of around 3%,” says Elaine Floyd, a certified financial planner and director of retirement and life planning at New York-based financial advisory firm Horsesmouth LLC. “We want to be conservative when we’re projecting Social Security income,” Floyd says. Even this year’s increase may not be the most accurate predictor of what your benefits might look like decades in the future.

FOCUS ON WAGES The COLA isn’t the only annual change to Social Security benefit amounts. Yearly changes to the lesser-known national average wage index can also significantly impact current and future retirees. The SSA applies the index to your 35 highest-earning years in the workforce as part of its benefits calculation.

“Wages tend to rise faster than prices,” Floyd says. The most recent increase in the average wage index is 5.32%, more than the 3.2% COLA. “I really want younger people to understand the connection between their own earnings

and their eventual Social Security benefits,” Floyd adds. She suggests thinking about that connection throughout your career, especially when making decisions about sabbaticals or job choices.

“Your eventual benefits will reflect the rise in wages over your career,” she says. “Ask for those raises.”

DON’T DISCOUNT SOCIAL SECURITY ENTIRELY Many workers set to retire after 2034, when the SSA currentlyexpects to deplete the reserves it holds in the Social Security trust fund, are concerned about whether they can count on Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits now make up, on average, 30% of retiree income, according to the SSA, a significant chunk.

But Holcombe says he reminds wary clients that most of the Social Security program is funded directly from current employee and employer taxes.

Because of declining birth rates, the gap between the number of workers paying Social Security taxes and the number of

retirees receiving benefits is larger now. “The trust fund exists to make up the shortfall,” Holcombe says, explaining that the fund works as a buffer to ensure retirees receive full benefits despite declining taxpayer funding.

There are ways to prepare for volatility or major changes, especially if you have a while to go before retirement. Individual retirement accounts and a well-rounded investment portfolio can balance out some of that uncertainty over the course of decades.

“A little bit over a long time goes a long way with the stock market,” Holcombe says. “It’s a lot easier to make those adjustments in your 20s and 30s than it is when you’re 50 to 60 and thinking about retirement.”

Holcombe adds that any changes the SSA makes to the program are more likely to affect future retirees, who have more time now to plan accordingly.

“It is not prudent to assume there won’t be any changes by the time (millennials) retire,” Holcombe says. “But it’s also not prudent to discount Social Security entirely.”

Apology letters by Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in Georgia election case are one sentence long The Associated Press ATLANTA — The apology letters that Donald Trump-allied lawyers Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro were required to write as a condition of their plea deals in the Georgia election interference case are just one sentence long.

The letters, obtained last Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an open records request, were hand-written and terse. Neither letter acknowledges the legitimacy of Democrat Joe Biden’s win in Georgia’s 2020 election nor denounces the conspiracy theories they pushed to claim Trump was cheated out of victory through fraud.

“I apologize for my actions in connection with the events in Coffee County,” Powell wrote in a letter dated Oct. 19, the same day she pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties.

“I apologize to the citizens of the state of Georgia and of Fulton County for my involvement in Count 15 of the indictment,” Chesebro wrote in a letter dated Oct. 20, when he appeared in court to plead guilty to one felony

AP PHOTO

Attorney Sidney Powell, an attorney for Donald Trump, speaks during in Alpharetta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2020. charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents.

A spokesperson for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought the election interference case, declined to comment on the contents of the letters.

Powell and Chesebro were among four defendants to plead guilty in the case after reaching agreements with prosecutors. They were indicted alongside Trump and others in August and charged with participating

in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally keep the Republican in power. The remaining 15 defendants — including Trump, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — have all pleaded not guilty.

Each of the four who reached a deal with prosecutors received a sentence that included probation but no jail time. They were also allowed to plead guilty under Georgia’s first offender law, meaning that if they complete their probation without violating the terms or

committing another crime, their records will be wiped clean.

The letters written by the other two defendants to plead guilty — Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis and bail bondsman Scott Hall — were longer and more specific. Ellis read her letter in open court on Oct. 24, tearfully telling the judge that she looked back on her involvement in challenging the election results with “deep remorse.”

“What I did not do but should have done, Your Honor, was to make sure that the facts the other lawyers alleged to be true were in fact true,” she said. “In the frenetic pace of attempting to raise challenges to the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.”

Hall, who pleaded guilty Sept.

29, wrote in his five-paragraph letter to the citizens of Georgia, “I owe you an apology.”

“I wish I had never involved myself in the post-election activities that brought me before the court,” he wrote, explaining that he got involved after observing what he thought were some irregularities.

Powell was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that she conspired with Hall and others to

access election equipment without authorization and hired computer forensics firm SullivanStrickler to send a team to Coffee County, in south Georgia, to copy software and data from voting machines and computers there.

The indictment says a person who is not named sent an email to a top SullivanStrickler executive and instructed him to send all data copied from Dominion Voting Systems equipment in Coffee County to an unidentified lawyer associated with Powell and the Trump campaign.

Chesebro was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have the group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged.

Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts for his role in accessing Coffee County elections equipment.

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7

obituaries

Richard Leveret Kemp

September 11, 1933 — December 13, 2023 Richard Leveret Kemp of Asheboro, husband and best friend of the late Joan Carlton Kemp and loving father of Cheri Lynn Ferguson of Wilmington and Mark Richard Kemp of Asheboro, died December 13, 2023, at the Randolph Hospice House. He was 90.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 224 North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. in the church sanctuary with the Rev. Lynda Ferguson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church.

Mr. Kemp was born in Asheboro, North Carolina, on September 11, 1933, to Eli and Edna Beeson Kemp. He was raised in a Quaker household and graduated from Asheboro High School in 1951. It was during high school that he fell in love with classmate Joan Carlton, and the couple soon began dating. Richard attended Guilford College for two years, and later served his country in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Morocco, where he learned about the then-new transistor technology that would transform the world of electronics. Richard and Joan were married in Nashville in 1953, and the couple lived briefly in Belleville, Illinois, and then Waco, Texas, during Richard’s time in the Air Force.

They settled back home in 1957. Their first child, daughter Cheri, was born in 1955; son Mark came in 1960.

The family spent their summers in Tennessee, Georgia, or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After Cheri and Mark graduated college and moved, respectively, to California and New York City, the Kemps, in their retirement, would drive to see them.

As their children continued moving to other parts of the country, the Kemps continued driving to visit them, and by 2005, the couple had driven through every state in the continental United States. “My friends would ask me, ‘How in the world can you spend so much time cooped up in a car with your wife on the road?’” Richard once told son Mark, who wrote extensively of his father and family in his 2004 book Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South. “I said, ‘Well, because I love her.

She’s my best friend.’”

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his wife; his grandson, Nathan Ferguson; and his sister, Louise Moody. Richard was active throughout his life, bicycling to work in the 1970s, jogging, playing golf at Asheboro Country Club, and walking his faithful Labrador retrievers, Otis and later Jetta, at the YMCA. He is survived by his daughter, Cheri, and her husband Howard Ferguson of Wilmington; son, Mark, of Asheboro, and Mark’s exwife Tarrah Segal, of South Carolina; granddaughter, Danielle Eriksson, and her husband Chris of Wilmington; adopted granddaughter Amber Stone; great-grandchildren, Jax, Malin, and Axl Eriksson; and his faithful canine companion, Jetta, whom he was still walking just weeks before his death.

Bobby Lee Martin, Sr.

June 24, 1957 - December 12, 2023 Bobby Lee Martin, Sr., 66, of Seagrove, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at his home. Bobby was born on June 24, 1957, in Martinsville, VA, the son of the late Charlie Martin and Della Spencer Martin. He loved the outdoors, rummaging flea markets and yard sales.

He also liked cars and guns.

Bobby was a dedicated and faithful man with a great sense of humor. He loved his family with all his heart as well as his dog "Ace".

In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by his son, Bobby Lee Martin, Jr. He is survived by his daughters, Melissa Martin, Amy Martin; sons, Kyle Martin (Katelyn), Joshua Martin (Crystal); sister, Carolyn Smith (Gary); brothers, Otis Martin (Christina), Donald Martin (Robbie); grandchildren, Rickey Jones, Jonathan Jones, Kristen Jones, Charlie Martin, Riley Martin, Haley Martin, Lucy Martin, Kyle Martin, Karter Martin, Nicole Sill, Scarlett Sill, Danny Sill; and great grandchild, Delilah Jones.

Don Miller

August 18, 1939 - December 11, 2023 Donald “Don” Lee Miller, 84, of Asheboro, went home to be with his Lord, Monday, December 11, 2023, at his home. Don was born on August 18, 1939, in Randolph County, the son of the late Emory Miller and Mary Barnett Miller. He loved fishing, hunting, baking and gardening. Don loved singing with his family in the "Miller Family" group. He was gentle, strong, and full of faith. He had an endearing sense of humor. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by first wife, Barbara Spencer Miller; second wife, Rachel Mitcham Presnell; son, Greg Miller; brothers, Bill Miller, E.C. Miller, Jack Miller, Larry Miller; sisters, Marilyn Bunting, and Martha Jane Miller. Don is survived by his sisters, Joyce Skeen, Nancy Freeman, Beverly Miller; brothers, Johnny Miller and wife Dolores, Charles Miller, several nieces and nephews, and step-children.

Wendy Clark Marcus

December 7, 1958 — December 13, 2023 Wendy Clark Marcus, age 65, of Asheboro passed away on December 13, 2023 at Asheboro Health & Rehabilitation.

Ms. Marcus was born in Asheboro on December 7, 1958 to Jimmie and Betty Caughron Clark. Wendy was a 1976 graduate of Faith Christian School and was employed at Knorr/Best Foods for several years. Wendy was preceded in death by her father, Jimmie Clark.

She is survived by her son, Chad Allred and wife Dena of Asheboro; mother, Betty Clark of the home; sister, Angela Reeder of Asheboro; and niece, Courtney Stout of Asheboro.

Dalton Eugene Trogdon, Jr.

Timothy Johnson

Shirley Rhea Bean Moore

January 14, 1953 - December 6, 2023 Shirley “Tooter” Rhea Bean Moore, age 70, of Robbins passed away December 6, 2023 peacefully at home.

She was born January 14, 1953 in Troy, North Carolina the daughter of the late Howard Bean and Shirley Batten Bean. Also preceded in death are her son, Jamie Wilson; and sister, Donna Yopp.

Shirley enjoyed reading, word searches and most of all spending time at home with those she loved dearly.

Left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband of 31 years, Harold Moore; daughter, Ronda Collins; son, Chris Wilson; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; sisters, Barbara McNeill and Carol Bean; brothers, Billy Bean and Bo Bean; and a host of other beloved family and friends.

December 10, 1956 - December 13, 2023 Timothy Avery Johnson, 67, of Asheboro, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in WinstonSalem.

Tim was born on December 10, 1956, in Randolph County, NC. He loved sports especially the NFL and NASCAR. He always enjoyed reading and would often read the newspaper from front to back. Tim was a graduate of Asheboro High School, Class of 1975. He loved being outside, being at Myrtle Beach, and always had the radio beside him playing classic rock. Tim had a well rounded knowledge for everything and a great sense of humor to boot. He was over protective and very family orientated. He greatly loved his daughters, and loved his grandson, step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, and his dog, "Star".

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, John Avery Johnson and Margaret Holt Dowd.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine McDonald Johnson of the home; daughters, Kaysi Davis (Roy) of Hope Mills, NC, Lynsi Johnson of Sevierville, TN; son, Jared Johnson of Winston Salem; step daughter, Teresa Chriscoe of Asheboro; grandson, Canaan Covington of Sevierville, TN; step grandchildren, Jessica Maness (Chris) of Asheboro, Angel Beane (Harrison) of Asheboro, Ashley Carter (Allen) of Lexington, Zack Chriscoe of Asheboro; nine step great grandchildren; three aunts; and many, many cousins that he was very close to and loved spending time with.

August 6, 1955 - December 10, 2023 Dalton Eugene Trogdon, Jr., a devoted family man and hardworking individual, passed away on December 10, 2023, in Randolph County at the age of 68. Born on August 6, 1955, in Guilford County, Dalton lived a life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

Dalton had an extensive work history, having spent many years as a manager in various restaurants. Prior to that, he served as a security guard at Knorr Best Foods and Lorillard. His dedication and commitment to his work were evident in his accomplishments and the respect he earned from his colleagues.

Outside of work, Dalton had a deep passion for golf and music. He loved playing golf and found solace in the tranquility of the sport. Music, especially the tunes of Elvis Presley, held a special place in his heart. Dalton possessed a remarkable talent for singing like Elvis and even bore a striking resemblance to the legendary musician.

Dalton is preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Trogdon, who passed away just five months ago, and his sister, Betsy Forbes, who left this world in 2015. He also joins his parents, Dalton Eugene Trogdon, Sr., and Nora Gertrude Alberty Trogdon, in eternal rest.

He is survived by his daughters, Michelle Trogdon and her significant other, Jonathan Crouch of Asheboro, Robin Trogdon of Level Cross, and his son, Timothy Trogdon of Goldsboro, sisters, Teresa Heilbrun and husband Chris of Pennsylvania, Cynthia (Cindy) Laughlin and husband Jessie of Franklinville.

Additionally, he is survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, who will forever hold him dear in their hearts.

Kimberly Spainhour

March 2, 1961 — December 11, 2023 Kimberly Flowers Spainhour, passed away with family by her side on December 11, 2023, in Ramseur, NC. Kimberly was born on March 2nd, 1961, in Guilford County to the late Dorothy Lee Cox. Kimberly is survived by her husband, Gregory “Spanky” Spainhour; children, Kourtney Benjamin and husband, Paul, of Stokesdale, Adam Storm Flowers and wife, Natalie, of Trinity, and Kristin May and husband, Michael, of Archdale; and 8 grandchildren, Lillian (16), Madelyn (12), AJ (9), Charlotte (8), Connor (7), Cale (6), John (5), and Shepherd (2).

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 34 years, Fred Thomas Flowers (d. 2017).

Kim worked in the furniture industry for over 20 years and finished her career working at Mickey Truck Bodies. She was one to always be a shining light for friends and family.

It was a true gift to hear her laugh and see her smile. She enjoyed going to church and being a part of the Midway Wesleyan Church family. Kim loved to dote on her husband, children and grandchildren.

A passion of hers was making sure everyone around her was fed and taken care of. To provide comfort and support, Kim wanted to have food and fellowship after her service for anyone who wanted to join.

John William Jordan

December 27, 1949 — December 12, 2023 John William Jordan, 74, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Moses Cone Hospital surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Asheboro, NC on December 27, 1949 to Arthur A. Jordan and Beulah Lee Hobbs Jordan.

John was a caring and loving father and husband. He will be remembered as being a simple man that took very little to make him happy. He loved fishing and being with his family; especially spending time with his kids and wife of 53 years, Shirley.

John is survived by his wife, Shirley of the home, and daughter, Tina Scott of Franklinville. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sons, Todd Jordan and Jerry Brian Nance.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

8

STATE & NATION US House approves impeachment inquiry into President Biden

equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference last week.

Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”

Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by

leadership’s recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.

A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House.

Richard Sauber, special counsel

to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. “Let’s see what they find out.”

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.

Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed additional charges last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.

DeSantis goes after Trump on abortion, COVID-19 and the border wall in an Iowa town hall

Trump has responded by emphasizing his support from more than 150 pastors around the state.

Abortion has become a flashpoint in U.S. politics since a Supreme Court majority shaped by Trump’s three appointments eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, helping to power unexpectedly strong Democratic performances in the 2022 midterms.

Trump has not backed a national abortion ban and has criticized the way many Republican politicians talk about the issue. He has implied that a Florida law DeSantis signed, which outlaws abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, is “ too harsh.”

Asked about the case of Kate Cox, a Texas woman who sought an abortion when her health deteriorated as she carried a fetus with a fatal condition, DeSantis was vague. He said “these are very difficult issues” and pointed to the Florida law’s exceptions allowing abortions when the mother’s life is in danger, though in Cox’s case, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that her pregnancy complications did not constitute the kind of medical emergency under which abortions are allowed.

DeSantis has staked his campaign on a strong showing in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses on Jan. 15, but he’s struggled to break out of a distant second place. Like most of his rivals, he has largely treated the front-runner gingerly, avoiding direct criticism of Trump, who

remains popular with GOP primary voters.

But sprinkled through the CNN town hall was a case to Trump-supporting voters that it’s time to move on. Trump, he said, is no longer the colorful “America First” advocate whom Republicans embraced in 2016.

“Now a lot of it’s about him,” DeSantis said.

And he worked to pierce rosy memories of Trump’s tenure in the White House. He said Trump erred in his response to COVID-19, an issue that helped catapult DeSantis to GOP prominence when he refused to go along with strict lockdowns that most other governors imposed early in the pandemic.

“The first three years of the Trump administration, the economy’s better than it has been, but that last year with COVID, I think was mishandled dramatically,” DeSantis said. “Shutting down the country was a huge mistake.

Printing trillions and trillions of dollars was a huge mistake.”

DeSantis also took aim at one of the defining themes of Trump’s first run for the White House: his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and have the Mexican government pay for it.

“That didn’t happen,” DeSantis said. “And why didn’t it happen?

Well, one, I think he got distracted, and he didn’t do it on day one.

But, two, he didn’t utilize the levers of power that he had.”

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the process despite lingering concerns among some that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.

Biden, in a rare statement about the impeachment effort, questioned the priorities of House Republicans in pursuing an inquiry against him and his family.

“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” the president said following the vote. “Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”

Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off

AP PHOTO

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House.

“We do not take this responsibility lightly and will not prejudge the investigation’s outcome,” Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team said in a joint statement after the vote. “But the evidentiary record is impossible to ignore.”

“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not

The Associated Press DONALD TRUMP “flipflipped” on abortion, overreached in response to COVID-19 and failed to uphold his campaign pledge to get Mexico to pay for a wall on the southern U.S. border, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last weekin Iowa.

DeSantis, who is in a distant second place behind Trump in most national polls in the battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, stepped up his case against the former president during a CNN town hall in Des Moines five weeks before the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

He zeroed in on abortion in a state where evangelical voters form the backbone of the GOP, contrasting Trump’s recent skepticism about strict anti-abortion laws with his earlier comments about protecting the sanctity of life.

“You should be consistent in your beliefs, especially on some-

AP PHOTO

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. thing that’s very fundamental, and he has not been consistent,” DeSantis said. “And there’s a lot of voters in Iowa who really care about this, who need to know how he’s changed his position.”

DeSantis last month picked up the endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent Iowa evangelical leader who has also questioned Trump’s commitment to the anti-abortion movement.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

ENTERTAINMENT

AP PHOTO

Taylor Swift performs during “The Eras Tour,” May 5, 2023, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift era, her home state declares The Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. — She’s Time magazine’s person of the year. She’s the most-played artist globally on Spotify. She’s helmed the first tour to gross more than $1 billion and then the highest-grossing concert film of all time. And now Taylor Swift can add one more accolade: A state House of Representatives resolution is recognizing 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in her home state of Pennsylvania.

Lawmakers approved the resolution on Swift’s 34th birthday. The Associated Press has reached out to see if Swift was impressed with her birthday gift.

Pennsylvania (Taylor’s Version) has benefited from her Midas touch over the past year, sponsors say. The frenzy for tickets to her tour prompted legislative action in the state — and elsewhere, albeit slowly — to address Ticketmaster’s shortcomings. Swift buoyed the local economy on her tour stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and donated proceeds to hunger relief organizations as she blazed through.

Nationally, she’s encouraged thousands of people to register to vote, particularly young people.

The pure heft of the Pennsylvania native turned Miss Americana has displayed musically, culturally and economically over the past year prompted the res-

olution.

While the resolution had its naysayers, it passed 103-100.

Speaker Rep. Joanna McClinton, a Democrat from Philadelphia County, jested, “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate” — echoing the lyrics of Swift’s track “Shake It Off.” Most Republicans voted against the measure, as did a few Democrats.

She has “transcended the role of pop star,” the resolution said.

The resolution recognizes her accomplishments throughout the past year, saying she “shines as a role model of courage, self acceptance and self-determination, persisting in the face of personal and professional obstacles and challenges.”

Swift grew up near West Reading, in Berks County, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Part of her childhood was spent growing up on a Christmas tree farm, “where every wish comes true,” she sings in “Christmas Tree Farm.”

Though she left Pennsylvania for Nashville to begin her music career as a teenager, she’s had other nods to the Commonwealth in her songs (“gold rush,” and “seven,” were surprise songs at her Pennsylvania stops on tour.) And her home state hasn’t forgotten her. A mural commemorating the artist’s youth was posted in her hometown this summer, claiming her as “Reading’s own.”

Democratic Rep. Maureen Madden of Monroe County was an enthusiastic supporter of the measure and voiced appreciation for how Swift has pushed young people to become politically active.

“I turn 64 years old today, and I think about who’s going to carry on our legacy. She’s not popular because she writes breakup songs,” Madden said on the House floor. “She’s popular because the largest demographic of people eligible to vote, the 18- to 24-year-old demographic, listens to her and does what she says.”

Swift’s impact as a woman, and on young women specifically, can’t be understated, lawmakers said.

The resolution recognized her “singular economic and cultural influence” as demonstrating “the power of female agency, feminine ideas, feminine art and a distinctly feminine narrative.”

It comes at a time where women have broken a number of glass ceilings in local politics, Democratic Rep. Jennifer O’Mara of Delaware County, said in a committee hearing for the resolution on Tuesday.

The first woman was elected to serve as mayor of the nation’s sixth largest city, Philadelphia, as voters across the state chose the first woman to be Allegheny’s county executive. Women, for the first time in the Legislature, are serving as president pro tempore in the Senate and as speaker of the House.

“2023 is the year for women in many ways,” O’Mara said.

“And I urge you to help us make it Taylor Swift era here in Pennsylvania.”

“At first I was thinking, like, why?” Democratic Rep. Tarah Probst of Monroe County, said Tuesday. “But then you’re right — the year of women. As you know, women’s rights are being taken away left and right and by doing this, we’re empowering women in general.”

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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What to stream this week: Bradley Cooper conducts, Lidia Bastianich cooks and Percy Jackson quests The Associated Press NEW MOVIES TO STREAM “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper’s follow-up to “A Star Is Born” takes a loving look at the life of Leonard Bernstein and wife Felicia Montealegre. Cooper cowrites, directs and stars opposite Carey Mulligan in a portrait of the public and private side of the legendary composer and conductor. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle called it a “high wire act of a biopic” in his review, favoring the experimental black-andwhite beginning over the later years, which focuses more on the increasingly complex family dynamics. The first hour, he wrote, is “like a dream of 1950s New York modernism.” The film, streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, is expected to be a big contender through awards season, especially for Mulligan’s lived-in, decades-spanning portrayal of an artist living in the shadow of a genius and a wife grappling with the compromises she’s made to support him.

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of “The Creator,” Gareth Edwards’ visually dazzling sci-fi epic which begins streaming on Hulu on Wednesday. John David Washington plays a retired special forces operative enlist-

PBS is celebrating its 25-year partnership with James Beard-winning chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, Lidia Bastianich, with “25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee.” ed to help find the creator of advanced AIs after a nuclear bomb destroys downtown Los Angeles. In my review, I wrote that “even if it is a somewhat convoluted and silly mishmash of familiar tropes and sci-fi cliches, it still evokes the feeling of something fresh, something novel, something exciting to experience and behold — which is so much more than you can say about the vast majority of big budget movies these days.”

If “The Creator” didn’t have enough “Star Wars” vibes for you, Netflix has another ode to that ever-influential film from Zack Snyder with his long-inthe-works “Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire.” Sofia Boutella leads a starry cast (including Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam and the voice of Anthony Hop-

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

kins) in this space opera about a small colony that must rise up against a tyrannical threat to the galaxy. It begins streaming on Friday, Dec. 22 and the second part will follow in April.

NEW SERIES TO STREAM PBS is celebrating its 25year partnership with James Beard-winning chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, Lidia Bastianich, with “25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee.” Premiering Monday on PBS (check local listings), Lidia is joined by family and friends to reflect on her more than two decades in public television, and some of the dishes she’s made along the way.

The special will also stream on PBS.org and the PBS app.

Percy Jackson finds out that Greek myths aren’t just a history lesson in a new Disney+ series, based on the bestselling books

by Rick Riordan. Walker Scobell (“The Adam Project”) takes the lead as the 12-year-old who goes from dealing with school bullies to battling monsters, while finding out his paternity means he’s a demigod with special abilities.

Jackson sets out on a quest to clear his name. The first two episodes of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” drop Wednesday on Disney+.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar falls and breaks hip at Los Angeles concert The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was undergoing surgery for a broken hip Saturday after falling at a concert in Los Angeles.

The NBA Hall of Famer was attending a show Friday night when he was injured. Paramedics at the undisclosed venue responded and the 76-year-old was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

His business partner, Deborah Morales, declined to provide a further update Saturday and referred only to a statement posted on Abdul-Jabbar’s social media.

“We are all deeply appreciative of all the support for Kareem,” it said.

Abdul-Jabbar was a key player on the Los Angeles Lakers’ teams during their “Showtime” era in the 1980s, leading them to five NBA championships. He was a six-time NBA MVP. The 7-foot-2 center was the NBA’s career-scoring leader until being passed by current Laker LeBron James in February.

Abdul-Jabbar owned the mark for 39 years.

He starred at UCLA, when he was known as Lew Alcindor and was a three-time national player of the year under coach John Wooden.

Abdul-Jabbar disclosed in 2020 that he had prostate cancer. In 2009, he said he had been diagnosed the previous year with chronic myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer.

Solution for the puzzle in last week’s edition.

Solution for the puzzle in last week’s edition.

AP PHOTO

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks during a news conference prior to an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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accolades

Randolph Community College announces 2023 Fall Semester academic standing lists President’s List and Dean’s List awardees for Randolph Community College’s 2023 Fall Semester have been announced. Students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for the semester, excluding college preparatory hours and proficiency hours, who receive no incompletes and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 are eligible to be recognized.

President’s List - GPA of 4.00 Dean’s List - GPA of 3.50-3.99

Ramseur: Chelssy Borja, Anna Brown, Matthew Needham, Joshua Tucker, Reyna Zapto Flores.

Carthage: Cristian Abella.

Asheboro: Marcus Adame, Clarke Allen, Iris Allred, Crissie Ayers, Daphani Batten, Anna Baynes, Ashley Bodin, Ember Catherwood, Julio Clemente Mata, Tiffaney Cripps, Nicole Degraff, Adan Denova, Elizabeth Diaz, Sydney Duggins, Elizabeth Duncan, Brock Dunlap, Marissa Ezinga, Juan Frausto Garcia, Christy Frogge, Carmen Greene, Lucy Griffin, Hayden Gunter, Heather Harris, Jacob Hayes, Ashley Hedrick, Laila Hernandez, Guillermo Hernandez-Lobato, Reagan Hill, Vivian Hosterman, Noelle Howard, Harmony Huggins, Talia Jimenez, Shakeythua Jones, Cameron Kassebaum, Jason Kroeger, Heather Kroeger, Erik Kuykendall, Luke Lambeth, Simon Lucas, Emma Luther, Richard Macon, Blake Marsh, Lydia McLaughlin, Daniel Mendez, Nicole Mercado, Natalie Montes, Jacob Mraz, Dewey New, Journey Nixon, Adriana Perez, Bibiana Prieto Villegas, Adam Ratcliffe, Vanessa Rodriguez, Gabriela Rodriguez Vazquez, Gloria Santiago, Jacinda Sergent, Nicolas Sterne, Sydney Sterne, Melissa Strickland, Jeremy Sudduth, Skyler Trogdon, Emma Trotter, Joseph Williams, Kaitlyn Wilson, Sophia Wright, Sarah Wright.

Randleman: Heather Beaver, Sophie Blakley, Joshua Carmichael, Lesley Escobedo, Kaitlyn Glaze, Chelsea Hill, Chelsea Hodge, Joshua Huckabee, Angel Hutchens, Edie McKenzie, Brittany Mendenhall, Triston Smith, Camden Walker, Emily Woods.

Franklinville: Gage Baynes, Cindy Booth, Lydia Johnson, Juan Juarez, Ryan Morris, Joshua Ward.

Bennett: Cayley Kidd.

Archdale: Ayden Byrd, Breanna Hubbard, Austin Maynard.

PRESIDENT’S LIST Archdale: Riley Stevens.

Burlington: Katelin Gindlesperger.

Denton: Kate Jaimes, Megan Kearns, Kathleen Martin, Jordana Randlett, Cathy Turpin.

Franklinville: Jeffrey Gray, Ashley Kenney, Jayden Lanier, Jill West.

Glendon: Riley Lassiter.

Greensboro: Ireland Foley, Zachary Hayes, Toya Sloan.

High Point: Aliza Abdul, Jessica JuarezJimenez, Leah Poole, Neil Rice.

Lexington: Daniel Burkhart, Jordan Deaton.

Liberty: Priscilla Bautista Chahuiz, Jayde Carrasquillo, Angela Hernandez-Mariscal, Natalie Robinson.

Pleasant Garden: Hunter Neilson, Alexis Shoffner.

BURNS from page 1 (32,000 square kilometers).

Private landowners are central to the coalition’s latest restoration effort. They hold roughly 86% of forested land in the South, according to America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

The partnership needs thousands of new landowners to support longleaf management on their properties. The nascent burn associations are vital in their education, according to a 15-year plan released in November.

Federal agencies back the endeavor through activities such as invasive species removal and land management workshops.

Nearly $50 million in federal grants are available for projects bolstering forest health, including prescribed fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a “Longleaf Pine Initiative” partnering with burn groups like Wimberley’s. Farm bill money supports planning and planting. Personnel can help install firebreaks.

But applicants are increasingly competing for limited funding that cannot cover all the needed maintenance burns, Longleaf Pine Initiative Coordinator Matthew Vandersande said.

Landowners say liability-concerned states are reluctant to

Chapel Hill: Andrew Jones.

Greensboro: Isaiah Antis, Ezekiel Duncan, Melanie Romero.

Reidsville: Charlene Garcia.

High Point: Kayden Beane, Sam Delaisse, David Horton, Sollyn Lindsay, Brienee Magee.

Seagrove: MacKenzie Isom, Marlene Rodriguez Arroyo, Ethan Wallace.

Lexington: Kendahl Benson, Brianna HornHutchens, Ian Patrick.

Sophia: Stephania Gladden, Dixie Mitchell, Addison Moody, Ginger Pulliam, Emily Roach, Zackary Usterbowski, Havanna Wansley.

Liberty: Ivey Bradsher, Abigail Foust, Havyn Garren, Alaina Hinshaw, Natalie King, Yesenia Mondragon, Luis Morales, Makenzie Stapleton.

Staley: Crimson Drake.

Star: Esmeralda Gutierrez-Solis, Henry Walton, Margaret Walton.

Pittsboro: Caleb Harwood.

Thomasville: Emily Alvarez.

Ramseur: Savannah Briggs, Reyna Carrillo Diaz, Charles Edgar, Abigail Holmes, Morgan Johnson, Kimberly Snyder.

Pleasant Garden: Kasey Gardner.

Trinity: Jada Beck, Chloe Everhart, Hannah Holleman, David Lackey, Georgia Moorefield, Elisabeth Sekarsari, Gavin Shives.

Troy: Victoria Clare, Brittany Thomas.

DEAN’S LIST

Asheboro: Lori Ann Adame, Leslie Arce, Jonathan Ascencio, Brooke Beane, Caleb Callicutt, Alanna Cheek, Joshua Collins, Kayla Connelly, Ryan Davis, Chloe Douglas, Carson Fields, Paola Garcia, Dakota Gibson, Michael Gonzalez, Nicholas Gunter, Ashley Hadfield, Spencer Hammer, Walid Hassan, Jacob Hughes, Taylor Inman, Emily Jaimes, Rodney Ledford, Sadie Mabe, MacKenzie Martin, Madeline McGraw, Jeschelle Melendez, Josman Morales Morales, Christopher Morrison, Emma O’Neal, Brayden Redding, McKenna Robbins, Crystal Rogers, Angel Sanchez, Morgan Serrano, Shaunta Sewell, Edson Silva, Hunter Simpson, Kendra Smith, Anne Smith, Eden Smith, Dillon Smith, McKyla Spinks, Adam Weaver, Sara Whitfield, Maria Windsor.

Biscoe: Makayla Britt.

Candor: Karena Bernal-Jaimes.

send their relatively few burners onto private property and private contractors cannot meet the demand.

“When it comes time to drop the match, you’re kind of on your own,” said Keith Tribble, 62, who owns a North Carolina tree farm.

While state forestry services provide classes, Tribble credits burn associations for the handson experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines.

Humidity and wind speed are the biggest factors in a burn plan, according to Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker, manager of a private forest in South Carolina. The pine’s oils allow it to almost always carry fire and it typically burns at a relative humidity between 25% and 50%.

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions,” Tucker said.

Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand. The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes. Runaway fires are rare, according to studies of federal agencies and surveys of community burn groups.

Wimberley’s teams haven’t had one yet, even with 40 burns per

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions.”

Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker year.

Climate change is reducing the number of safe burn days.

Rising temperatures cause lower relative humidity in the South and intensify periods when it’s too dry, said Jennifer Fawcett, a North Carolina State University wildland fire expert.

As the severity and frequency of storms, droughts and wildfires increase, longleaf pines could become even more important for ecological resilience in the South. Deep roots anchor them during strong winds and stretch far into the ground for water. Flames enhance soil nutrients.

Further, the surrounding ecosystems have few known rivals for biodiversity in the U.S. Light pours through open canopies onto the sparse floor, giving way to flora like an insect-eating

Randleman: Melina Ambriz, Makenzie Brown, Elizabeth Carmichael, Lindsay Carter, Emma Green, Amy Holland, Jaime Jaimez, Joshua Jordan, Tyson Kight, Jason Lopez-Garcia, Clara May, Melissa Osborne, Alexander Soto-Muro, Darren Varner.

Robbins: Chloe Peralta.

Seagrove: Dylan Chriscoe, Ellie Hussey, Sabrina Snider, Hadley Stutts, Taylor Weary, Rylie Welch.

Siler City: Haven Barth, Anna Gee. Snow Camp: Kay-Leigh D’Amore.

Sophia: Jacqueline Ayllon-Escamilla, Nancy Contreras Gonzalez, Rachel Moore.

Staley: Abraham Garcia Cruz, Shanna Langley.

Stokesdale: Trinity Hatchel.

Thomasville: Elayna Brown, Edith Schroeder, Anna Taylor.

Trinity: Dominic Burns, Olivia Cody, Cassandra Harmon, Ashton Johnson, Anson Macon, Kaitlyn Miller, Emily Pacheco.

Troy: Kourtlyn Atkins, Jennifer Hoyt.

plant that needs sun exposure and wet soil. Gopher tortoises feed on the native vegetation and dig up to 15-foot (4.5-meter) burrows sheltering other at-risk species.

“It’s more than just planting trees,” said Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance conservation programs director. “We want to take the time to restore all of the values of the forest.”

A late 1920s education campaign known as the “Dixie Crusaders” harmed those interdependent relationships.

Federal officials turned southerners against the practice and burning fell off. Flammable needles and wiregrasses piled up to dangerous tinder levels.

Wimberley’s family resisted, knowing their livelihoods depended on fire. His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants. Later generations burned to shield crops.

Burning looks different from the times Wimberley’s mother dragged kindling known as “fat lighter” through the forest. But public understanding of its importance is returning and the ranks are growing.

“We’re all a bunch of pyromaniacs,” said Tribble, the tree farm owner.

Still, Tribble burns for a rea-

son: he values connecting with people and the land.

Before his burns, brush cluttered the ground, choking water flow to parts of the property that were “bone dry.” Now water runs from more marshy areas and the squeaky call of the rarely spotted red-cockaded woodpecker resounds from mature pines. Wild turkeys appear when smoke fills the sky.

Steed, the Lumbee outreach coordinator, is heartened by the rekindling of this proactive “fire culture” beyond the tribe that she says introduced it to the region.

She ran through her grandfather’s scorched woods as a child, but the expanse has gone about a decade without fire. Steed plans to lead her first burn next year in Wimberley’s woods and then manage a family property she recently inherited.

“It feels empowering,” Steed said of prescribed fire. “It feels like a very tangible way to connect to the past and also guide the future.”

Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 43 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

HOKE COUNTY THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Give the reindeer a day off

Members of the All Veteran Group parachute team ride in with Santa Claus before Operation Toy Drop at Skydive Paraclete XP at the Raeford Airport. The U.S. Veteran Corps held its largest ever Hoke Toy Drop with an assist from the North Pole, giving out thousands of toys for the children of active military, veteran and first responders on Saturday, Dec. 16. Visit myusvc.com for more.

WHAT’S HAPPENING FBI looking for minivan in substation shooting The FBI and Moore Sheriff’s Office are asking for assistance to find a minivan seen on December 3, 2022, the night of two electrical substation shootings in West End and Carthage.

The occupant(s) of the van may have information relevant to the investigation. The van is likely a silver or light blue, 2011-2017, Honda Odyssey.

Investigators are asking anyone who saw the van the night of the shooting between 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, the Moore SO tip line at 910947-4444 or online at tips.fbi.gov. There is a combined reward of up to $100,000.

New driving license changes coming for 2024 Teen drivers and parents, changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system are coming on Jan. 1. As of the new year, teens must hold their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months, increased from the current six months, before taking the road test to obtain a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

The GDL system, in effect since 1997, had a 12-month requirement for Level 2 for most of its existence. This was temporarily reduced to six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law, enacted on May 8, 2023, establishes the nine-month requirement starting in 2024.

To obtain a Level 2 license, teen drivers must be at least 16, log 60 hours of driving, pass a road test, and provide printed proof of insurance in their name.

School board votes to repay unauthorized bonuses Move likely will not end the district attorney’s criminal investigation

By Ryan Henkel and Jordan Golson North State Journal RAEFORD — At a recent Hoke County Schools Board of Education meeting, the board attempted to resolve a lingering compensation issue that attracted the district attorney’s attention and threatens board members with possible criminal prosecution.

At the board’s recent meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 12, a motion was quietly approved directing individual members of the board to repay “any unauthorized compensation” to Hoke County Schools by 5 p.m. on June 30, 2024, the end of the current fiscal year.

At the end of November, Hoke

County District Attorney Mike Hardin asked a Superior Court judge to unseal closed-session school board discussions around a series of federally-funded COVID-related retention bonuses paid to district staff.

The board appears to have approved retention bonus payments to elected members of the school board, the same as those paid to district staff, despite the fact that school board member compensation is set by the Hoke County Board of Commissioners. Hardin argues that these payments are a form of self-dealing and could bring about criminal fraud charges.

The members of the board — outgoing Board Chair Angela Southerland, new Board Chair and former Vice Chair Catherine Blue, Ruben Castellon, Keisha Gill, and Rosa McAllister McRae — all received payments, though emails released by the district

suggest that only Southerland had yet to repay the controversial bonuses, which totaled several thousand dollars.

Angela Southerland’s brother, Harry Southerland, also holds elected office as a member of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners.

A lawyer for the school district argued at the November hearing that the discussions were protected by attorney-client privilege, and Hardin asked the court to grant access to the records so his team could determine if any laws were broken.

Some of the closed session minutes were disclosed, but others remained sealed while the court considered its options. Additionally, the court granted a continuance until January so school board members could hire personal legal counsel, as the lawyers for Hoke County Schools are barred from representing individ-

ual board members in any potential criminal matter.

It’s unlikely that the promise to repay the funds will end the matter, however, as returning the money will likely not satisfy investigators from Hardin’s office or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which could also pursue the matter.

Another hearing in Hoke Superior Court is expected in January.

As for the remainder of last Tuesday’s school board meeting, it began with the introduction of Dr. Kenneth Spells, the district’s new superintendent beginning next year.

“I want to thank the board for trusting me and this honor,” Spells said. “I am so happy to be here. I grew up in Bladen County, not far from here, and so it’s almost like a homecoming.”

He praised Hoke County, noting that it was a special place. “We want to make this a great place, a destination district for everyone,” he continued. “Our focus is always going to be on the kids and making sure the students in this district have the opportunity to be great.”

See BOE, page 2

Rekindling ‘fire culture’ to help pine trees thrive Prescribed burns clear the ground, leaving tree trunks free to grow

By James Pollard for AP/Report for America WEST END — Jesse Wimberley burns the woods with neighbors.

Using new tools to revive an old communal tradition, they set fire to wiregrasses and forest debris with a drip torch, corralling embers with leaf blowers.

Wimberley, 65, gathers groups across eight North Carolina counties to starve future wildfires by lighting leaf litter ablaze.

The burns clear space for longleaf pine, a tree species whose seeds won’t sprout on undergrowth blocking bare soil. Since 2016, the fourth-generation burner has fueled a burgeoning movement to formalize these volunteer ranks.

Prescribed burn associations are proving key to conservationists’ efforts to restore a longleaf pine range forming the backbone of forest ecology in the American Southeast. Volunteer teams, many working private land where participants reside or make a living, are filling service and knowledge gaps one blaze at a time.

Prescribed fires, the intentional burning replicating natural fires crucial for forest health, require more hands than experts can supply. In North Carolina, the practice sometimes ends with a barbecue.

“Southerners like coming together and doing things and helping each other and having some food,” Wimberley said.

“Fire is not something you do by yourself.”

More than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states, according to North Carolina State University researchers, and the

Southeast is a hot spot for new ones. Wimberley’s Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves.

The proliferation follows federal officials’ push in the past century to suppress forest fires.

The policy sought to protect the expanding footprint of private homes and interrupted fire cycles that accompanied longleaf evolution, which Indigenous people and early settlers simulated through targeted burns.

“Fire is medicine and it heals the land. It’s also medicine for our people,” said Courtney Steed, outreach coordinator for the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association and a Lumbee Tribe member. “It’s putting us back in touch with our traditions.”

The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles (360,000 square

kilometers) it encompassed before industrialization and urbanization. But some pockets remain, from Virginia to Texas to Florida. The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species. The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change.

A big tent of environmentalists, hunters, nonprofit groups and government agencies recently celebrated a 53% increase in the longleaf pine range since See BURNS, page 8

$2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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“Join the conversation” BOE from page 1 Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter Jesse Deal, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

Spells has been superintendent of a school district in Hazel Crest, Illinois for the past four years.

The board also reached a settlement with an unnamed Hoke County Schools student.

“On October 30, 2023, a petition for a contested case hearing was filed in the office of administrative hearings on behalf of Hoke County Schools student C.W.,” announced board member Keisha Gill. “On December 12,

2023, the Hoke County Board of Education approved a settlement agreement in this manner.” The settlement directs $10,000 to be used toward the student’s educational services.

Catherine Blue was elected as board chair, while Rosa McAllister-McRae was named vice chair.

Bid packages for the installation of cameras and switches at Hoke County High School were presented by district staff, with Assistant Superintendent Dawn Ramseur noting that while there

TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

The board will vote on the packages at its next meeting.

Finally, the board approved several utility items related to the new high school building project.

The Hoke County Schools Board of Education will next meet on Jan. 9.

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was a $74,000 difference between the two bids — one from Intellicon, the other from ENCORE — there were some component differences, including a special wall switch that the district desired, that only ENCORE could provide.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: hokecommunity@northstatejournal.com

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

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CRIME LOG December 13 x Brian Parsons, 47, was arrested by the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement, probation, or parole officer or on a person employed at a State or local detention facility. x William Junior McBryde, 66, was arrested and charged with indecent liberties with children. x Johnie Gouez Woods, 75, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. x Jessica Edith Carol, 45, was arrested for trafficking heroin. x Antoine M Stanley, 42, was arrested on a warrant for four counts of firstdegree statutory sexual offense of indecent liberties with a child. He was also charged with indecent

liberties w/children, two counts of probation violation and one count of a parole violation.

December 14 x Tyree Deshawn Powell-Shipman, 20, was charged with a felony count of carrying a concealed gun and served with two outstanding warrants for failure to appear. x Fredrick Worriax, 49, was arrested and charged with identity fraud. x Martha Delia Santon Lopez, 34, was arrested and charged with financial transaction card fraud and possession of stolen vehicles. She was also served with a warrant for failure to appear.

December 15 x Tiffany Leanne Holifield, 35, was arrested and charged with felony fleeing and eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.

A weekly podcast getting to the facts across the state, around the world and at home HERE in Raeford, Hoke County, NC.

x Bradley William Ishman, 41, was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of violating a domestic violence protective order.

December 16 x Uronde Jermaine Hardin, 28, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was also served a warrant for failure to appear. x Johnathan Dean Chavis, 32, was arrested for felony larceny. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance on jail premises.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

3

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

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COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Proud to keep serving you

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This holiday season, let us remember all those who have defended freedom serving in our nation’s uniform— especially those who do not have the opportunity to return home to their families.

FOR MY FAMILY and many of yours, the holiday season is the best time of the year. From decking the halls to exchanging gifts with loved ones and friends, our joyful holiday traditions serve as a bright light in uncertain times.

As another year is drawing to a close, I have been reflecting on the incredible results House Republicans have delivered this year on behalf of the American people.

To address the crisis at our Southern Border, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act—the strongest border security bill America has ever seen in order to keep our nation safe and our border secure. My legislation, the HALT Fentanyl Act, also passed the House and would increase penalties on this dangerous substance flowing across our border. Every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of President Joe Biden’s open border policies. Just last week, 118 pounds of fentanyl was intercepted in North Carolina—enough to kill our entire population two times over.

Despite the record-breaking amount of migrant crossings and deadly drugs flowing across our borders, Senate Democrats refuse to take up these bills. Their lack of action combined with the disastrous policies of the Biden Administration continues to fuel the crisis at the Southern Border.

In addition, my legislation, the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply

Chain Act, recently passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and will be brought up soon for a vote in the full House. This bill would strengthen the U.S. supply chain for distribution transformers, and help prevent communities from experiencing long outages similar to what we endured last December in Moore County.

As the representative of the largest Army base in the world, I’m proud of everything we have accomplished this year to strengthen our nation’s defense and military readiness.

Last week, the House passed the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which bolsters our nation’s defense capabilities to keep up with foreign adversaries, eliminates the woke ideology infiltrating our military, and takes care of our men and women in uniform by providing the largest pay raise in over 20 years.

It is not a perfect bill, but ensuring our military families and veterans have the resources they deserve is among the most important duties we have in Congress. I will never stop fighting to make sure our community’s veterans, troops, and their families receive the support they deserve.

This holiday season, let us remember all those who have defended freedom serving in our nation’s uniform—especially those who do not have the opportunity to return home to their families. I continue to pray for

the strength and safety of soldiers from our region, and across the country, who are away from their families. Let’s not forget those family members who miss them. God bless you all.

I hope you are proud of all the work our office accomplished this year on your behalf. I will always work hard on the issues that are important to you and your family.

My dedicated staff in our Southern Pines and Fayetteville district offices are here to provide you with high-quality constituent services. To find our office locations and office hours, visit hudson.house.gov.

While we have a lot of work left ahead of us, I look forward to 2024 and the opportunity to continue to serve you and our community. Together, House Republicans will keep fighting to get our country on a better path forward.

As Hanukkah ends and the Christmas holiday nears, I hope you enjoy time with loved ones and remember what’s most important—our faith, our families, our friends, and the many blessings we enjoy as citizens of the greatest nation on Earth.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.

He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

Yes, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel.

IMAGINE A GROUP of people who work to destroy Italy because, they claim, Italy’s origins are illegitimate.

Imagine further that these people maintain that of all the countries in the world, only Italy doesn’t deserve to exist. Then imagine that these people vigorously deny that they are antiItalian. Would you believe them?

Now substitute “Israel” for “Italy,” and you’ll understand the dishonesty and absurdity of the argument that one can be anti-Zionist — that is, against the existence of a Jewish state — but not be anti-Jew. Yet, that is precisely what anti-Zionists say.

They say that Israel’s existence is illegitimate.

They don’t say this about any other country in the world, no matter how bloody its origins.

And then they get offended when they’re accused of being anti-Jew. How can they make this argument?

First, they change the topic. They say it’s unfair to charge those who merely “criticize” Israel with being antisemitic. No one says criticism of Israel is antisemitic. But antiZionism isn’t criticism of Israel. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Israel’s existence.

Zionism is the name of the movement for the return of the Jews to their historic homeland.

Over the past 3,000 years, there were only two independent states located in what is called Israel. Both were Jewish states, and invaders destroyed both. No Arab or Muslim or any other sovereign country ever existed in that land, which was given the name “Palestine” by the Romans so as to remove all memory of the Jewish state they destroyed in the year 70.

Second, anti-Zionists claim they can’t be anti-Jew because Zionism has nothing to do with Judaism. That is the same as saying Italy has nothing to do with being Italian. Judaism has always consisted of three components: God, Torah and Israel (the people Israel and the Land of Israel). Israel is as much a part of Judaism as are God and the Bible. Moreover, the most pro-Israel, i.e. the most Zionist,

Jews are the Orthodox, the most religious Jews. That there exists one tiny group of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Neturei Karta) that is anti-Zionist means nothing. They are as representative of Judaism as the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity.

Third, anti-Zionists claim that Judaism is only a religion; therefore, Jews are only members of a religion, not a nation. But the Jews are called a “nation” more than one hundred times in the Bible. That is why there can be irreligious, secular and even atheist Jews — because Jews are not only a religion, but a people — a nation. No one thinks nonreligious Jews are not Jews. There can be no atheist Christians because Christianity is a religion, not a nation.

Fourth, people point to anti-Zionist Jews to prove that anti-Zionism isn’t anti-Jewish.

That would be like pointing to Americans who gave Stalin the secrets to the atom bomb to argue that siding with the Soviet Union in the Cold War was not anti-American. Or, to provide another Jewish example, it would be like pointing Jews who eat pork in Yom Kippur to argue that eating pork on Yom Kippur is Jewish. What Jews do or believe is not always the same as Judaism.

Fifth, anti-Zionists claim that Israel is illegitimate because Zionism — and therefore, Israel — is “racist.” This is a libel. Half of Israel’s Jews are not even white, and anyone, of any race or ethnicity, can become a Jew. Furthermore, one in five Israelis isn’t a Jew. And these Israeli non-Jews, mostly Arab Muslims, have the same rights as Jewish Israelis. As for Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza (Israel completely abandoned Gaza in 2005), that has nothing to do with race and everything to do with security. It is because the Palestinians and other Arabs tried to destroy Israel in 1967 and lost the war.

If the Palestinians would stop killing Israelis, Israel would have no problem with a “two-state solution.” But Palestinians have

rejected offers to have their own state on four separate occasions since 1947. That is the only reason they don’t have their own state.

And why have they always rejected having a Palestinian state? Because the only state they would accept is one that eradicates Israel.

They have therefore been solely dedicated to destroying the Jewish state, not in having their own state alongside Israel.

Sixth, and finally, anti-Zionists claim that Israel’s origins are illegitimate. Of all the world’s 200-plus countries, the only country anti-Zionists declare illegitimate is also the only Jewish one. That’s pretty much all you need to know about their motives.

Why don’t they make this claim about Pakistan? In 1947, nine months before the establishment of Israel, India was partitioned into a Muslim state (Pakistan) and a Hindu state (India), just as Palestine was partitioned into a Jewish state (Israel) and an Arab one (Palestine).

But, unlike Israel, no Pakistan had ever existed. And unlike Israel’s founding, which created about 700,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands and about 700,000 Arab refugees from what became Israel, the founding of Pakistan created about seven million Muslim refugees from India and about seven million Hindu refugees from Pakistan. And while the highest estimate of Arab deaths in the fighting that took place when Israel was established is 10,000, the number of deaths as a result of Pakistan’s creation is around one million. So why is Israel’s legitimacy challenged while Pakistan’s isn’t?

The only possible answer is because Israel is Jewish.

Of course, not all anti-Zionists hate all Jews.

But if you seek to destroy Italy, you don’t have to hate every Italian to be anti-Italian. Not every anti-American hates all Americans, but they are still called anti-American. If you seek to destroy the one Jewish state, you don’t have to hate every Jew to be called anti-Jew. And the name for that is antisemite.

Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

4 SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

NBA

Curry’s 3-pointer streak ends at 268 games Portland, Ore. Stephen Curry’s NBA-record 3-pointer streak ended at 268 games Sunday night in the Golden State Warriors’ 118114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Curry was 0 for 8 from 3-point range, 2 for 12 overall and scored seven points. He began the streak Dec. 1, 2018, at Detroit. Curry, the NBA career leader who recently made his 3,500th 3-pointer, last went without one in a regular-season game on Nov. 8, 2018, when he was 0 for 4 against Milwaukee. He also owns the second-longest NBA streak at 157 games.

COLLEGE SPORTS

MSU trustees approve release of Nassar documents to AG East Lansing, Mich.

Trustees at Michigan State University have unanimously voted Friday to release documents related to the school’s investigations into now-imprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar to the state’s attorney general.

The documents first will be reviewed by the school’s general counsel before they’re released. The school had argued that the documents are protected by attorneyclient privilege. Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment.

MLB

Scherzer has back surgery to miss start of ’24 season Arlington, Texas Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss the start of next season for the World Series champion Texas Rangers. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer had surgery Thursday after injections and other conservative treatments didn’t relieve the pain. The threetime Cy Young Award winner was removed from Game 3 of the World Series because of his back. Young says the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July. Scherzer says the pain got worse after returning to his offseason home in Florida.

AP PHOTO

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar looks to throw a pass during the Mountaineers’ win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in the Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

App State slogs past Miami (Ohio) in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl The Mountaineers won six of their final seven games to finish 8-5 The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — Joey Aguilar threw for 211 yards and scored on an 8-yard run in the third quarter as Appalachian State beat Miami (Ohio) 13-9 on Saturday in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl.

Aguilar’s scoring run capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive and gave App State (9-5) a 13-3 lead after Michael Hughes kicked field goals of 29 and 22 yards in the first half.

Miami (11-3) running back Rashad Amos answered Aguilar’s TD with a 23-yard score late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13-9. He finished with a career-best 180 yards on 33 carries.

But the RedHawks squandered a potential chance to take the lead when backup running back Keyon Mozee fumbled on a short carry near midfield with 2:39 remaining. Miami never got the ball back.

Aguilar was named the MVP. He completed 19 of 33 passes and spread the ball around, hitting seven receivers. Kaedin Robinson caught nine passes for 118 yards in the difficult conditions.

“We just want to stay true to ourselves,” Aguilar said. “The weather is going to be however the weather is going to be.”

The rainy weather forced both teams to try to focus more on ball security and stick to the ground.

The game was played as a steady rain soaked the area and pools of water formed around midfield over the bowl logo and in the end zone at FBC Mortgage

“We had to make one more play than they did.

And we did.”

Shawn Clark, App State coach Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Officials with the Cure Bowl reported an inch of rain fell before the game started and another inch fell between kickoff and the final play.

The conditions certainly affected play. There were 13 fumbles, with Appalachian State losing two and Miami losing three.

“Ball security is at a premium, and it didn’t seem like either team managed to do it,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin said. “Just kind of have to plod

through it and make the last play.”

Appalachian State rushed for 151 yards in the second half to put the game away. Anderson Castle had 119 yards on 18 carries for the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers had a 332227 advantage in total yards.

Amos accounted for most of the RedHawks’ total.

Miami kicker and Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter. He missed his lone PAT attempt.

“The elements were rough,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said. “We had to make one more play than they did. And we did. Toward the end, our running game started to wear them down.”

Appalachian State celebrated its victory the only way it could, by sliding through the water and mud covering the midfield logo.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

5

PREP ROUNDUP

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Boys’ basketball takes hit in conference opener

Jaylen Sturdivant

North State Journal THE BUCKS BOYS’ basketball team opened its 3A/4A Sandhills Conference schedule with a wild road game at Lee County. The Bucks led by four points at the half and by as much as eight in the second half before the Yellow Jackets rallied for a 64-62 win. Athlete of the Week Jaylen Sturdivant scored 19 points with five three-pointers, with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, while last week’s choice

for the honor, Saleh Sutton, had 23 points on three three-pointers. Sutton added 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.

The Hoke boys have now dropped two straight games to fall to 5-3 on the year, 0-1 in conference.

Slump continues for Lady Bucks Hoke County’s girls’ basketball team lost its third straight game last week, dropping to 1-6

on the year and 0-2 in the conference. The Lady Bucks fell at Lee County, 53-41. Hoke was led by post player Karmen Campbell. The sophomore led the team with 11 points and tied for team high with 8 rebounds. She also blocked the only shot of the game for Hoke County. Senior Dashinedria Riggins also pulled down 8 boards, adding 5 points and 2 steals. Junior Lailah Crowder had 7 points and 6 rebounds, while tying for team lead with 2 assists.

CREDIT STURDIVANT’S INSTAGRAM

Hoke County, boys’ basketball

HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Lailah Crowder, shown here at the free throw line earlier this season, had 7 points and 6 rebounds with a team high 2 assists against Lee County

Jaylen Sturdivant is a senior for the Hoke County basketball team.

The Bucks dropped their conference opener at Lee County in a 64-62 barnburner, and Sturdivant helped to set the barn afire. He knocked down a total of five threepointers in the game, finishing with 19 points, adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

Sturdivant’s long-range shots came not just from NBA 3-point range, most were from Steph Curry territory, and all came at key point in the 2-point game. His first three, from the left wing, broke a first quarter tie. His next two wiped out 1-point Lee County leads. His fourth came from the top of the key in the third quarter and extended a onepoint Hoke lead to four. The final shot accounted for the Bucks’ last points in the game and tied the contest at 62 late in the fourth quarter.

NCAA, states seek to extend order letting transfer athletes play North Carolina is one of seven states that filed a lawsuit on behalf of players who have switched schools more than once The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters.

The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from enforcing a rule for those athletes who transfer multiple times.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games

for 14 days.

The NCAA then circulated a document to its member schools clarifying that the redshirt rule for athletes would still apply if the court’s decision is reversed: Basketball players who compete during the two-week window would be using up a season of eligibility.

Now, the two sides apparently are coming together to address the athletes’ desires.

“Let the kids play,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.

The motion said that following consultation among the parties, the court is being requested to convert the retraining order into a preliminary injunction that will remain in place until the case is decided.

“The NCAA shall take no action to retaliate” against any participating athlete or their school while the preliminary injunction is in effect, based on the athlete’s reliance on the injunction’s terms, the motion said.

NCAA spokeswoman Saquandra Heath said in a statement that, as a result of the joint mo-

AP PHOTO

College athletes who were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can return to competition — for now — after a federal judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order last Wednesday against the NCAA. tion, it “will not enforce the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools.”

Heath said the proposal “is the best outcome for multiple-time transfer student-athletes wishing to compete immediately. This action provides clarity for student-athletes and member schools for the remainder of the academic year — any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who competes this season will be subject to the same eligibility and use of a season of competition rules as all other student-athletes.”

The motion asks that a hearing on the restraining order set for Dec. 27 be canceled and that the case be set for trial no sooner than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.

The lawsuit, which alleges the NCAA transfer rule’s waiver process violates federal antitrust law, could have a profound impact on college sports if successful. In court documents, the NCAA has said the plaintiffs “seek to remake collegiate athletics and replace it with a system of perpetual and unchecked free agency.”

NCAA rules allow underclass-

men to transfer once without having to sit out a year. But an additional transfer as an undergraduate generally requires the NCAA to grant a waiver allowing the athlete to compete immediately. Without it, the athlete would have to sit out for a year at the new school.

Last January, the NCAA implemented stricter guidelines for granting those waivers on a caseby-case basis.

The states involved in the restraining order were North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

6

Millennial Money: What the 2024 Social Security COLA could mean for your retirement

By Dalia Ramirez NerdWallet

benefits into your future retirement budget.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS for millions of people will rise by an average of over $50 a month starting in January, thanks to the Social Security Administration’s 3.2% annual cost of living adjustment for 2024, announced on Oct. 12. The change will immediately put more money in current retirees’ pockets, but it also could have a considerable effect on payouts to future retirees.

The 2024 increase is much smaller than last year’s 8.7%, the largest since 1981. But because the COLA reflects inflation, a smaller increase is not necessarily a bad thing; it suggests that inflation is more stable and may help the Social Security Administration provide maximum benefits for longer.

The COLA has been relatively volatile in recent years, however, and future retirees are understandably concerned about the health of the Social Security benefits program.

Here’s what the cost of living adjustments really mean and how to factor Social Security

A LOWER COLA IS A GOOD SIGN Though it’s reasonable to assume that a lower cost of living adjustment is worse for Social Security recipients, it may also point to a healthier economy.

The SSA increases the COLA in response to inflation, which means that a hefty COLA jump — like last year’s 8.7% — reflects a serious bump in the costs of goods and services.

“The (Federal Reserve’s) goal is for inflation to be 2% or lower, and therefore, the COLA increases by Social Security would be 2% or lower,” says Randall Holcombe, a certified financial planner and director of wealth planning at Confluence Financial Partners in Pittsburgh. “If your costs aren’t going up so much, then your Social Security isn’t going up as much, but then again, you don’t need Social Security to go up as much,” he says.

Many financial planners incorporate a flat annual COLA into their clients’ retirement plans. “I typically build in an in-

flation rate of around 3%,” says Elaine Floyd, a certified financial planner and director of retirement and life planning at New York-based financial advisory firm Horsesmouth LLC. “We want to be conservative when we’re projecting Social Security income,” Floyd says. Even this year’s increase may not be the most accurate predictor of what your benefits might look like decades in the future.

FOCUS ON WAGES The COLA isn’t the only annual change to Social Security benefit amounts. Yearly changes to the lesser-known national average wage index can also significantly impact current and future retirees. The SSA applies the index to your 35 highest-earning years in the workforce as part of its benefits calculation.

“Wages tend to rise faster than prices,” Floyd says. The most recent increase in the average wage index is 5.32%, more than the 3.2% COLA. “I really want younger people to understand the connection between their own earnings

and their eventual Social Security benefits,” Floyd adds. She suggests thinking about that connection throughout your career, especially when making decisions about sabbaticals or job choices.

“Your eventual benefits will reflect the rise in wages over your career,” she says. “Ask for those raises.”

DON’T DISCOUNT SOCIAL SECURITY ENTIRELY Many workers set to retire after 2034, when the SSA currentlyexpects to deplete the reserves it holds in the Social Security trust fund, are concerned about whether they can count on Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits now make up, on average, 30% of retiree income, according to the SSA, a significant chunk.

But Holcombe says he reminds wary clients that most of the Social Security program is funded directly from current employee and employer taxes.

Because of declining birth rates, the gap between the number of workers paying Social Security taxes and the number of

retirees receiving benefits is larger now. “The trust fund exists to make up the shortfall,” Holcombe says, explaining that the fund works as a buffer to ensure retirees receive full benefits despite declining taxpayer funding.

There are ways to prepare for volatility or major changes, especially if you have a while to go before retirement. Individual retirement accounts and a well-rounded investment portfolio can balance out some of that uncertainty over the course of decades.

“A little bit over a long time goes a long way with the stock market,” Holcombe says. “It’s a lot easier to make those adjustments in your 20s and 30s than it is when you’re 50 to 60 and thinking about retirement.”

Holcombe adds that any changes the SSA makes to the program are more likely to affect future retirees, who have more time now to plan accordingly.

“It is not prudent to assume there won’t be any changes by the time (millennials) retire,” Holcombe says. “But it’s also not prudent to discount Social Security entirely.”

Apology letters by Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in Georgia election case are one sentence long The Associated Press ATLANTA — The apology letters that Donald Trump-allied lawyers Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro were required to write as a condition of their plea deals in the Georgia election interference case are just one sentence long.

The letters, obtained last Thursday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through an open records request, were hand-written and terse. Neither letter acknowledges the legitimacy of Democrat Joe Biden’s win in Georgia’s 2020 election nor denounces the conspiracy theories they pushed to claim Trump was cheated out of victory through fraud.

“I apologize for my actions in connection with the events in Coffee County,” Powell wrote in a letter dated Oct. 19, the same day she pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties.

“I apologize to the citizens of the state of Georgia and of Fulton County for my involvement in Count 15 of the indictment,” Chesebro wrote in a letter dated Oct. 20, when he appeared in court to plead guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents.

A spokesperson for Fulton

AP PHOTO

Attorney Sidney Powell, an attorney for Donald Trump, speaks during in Alpharetta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2020.

County District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought the election interference case, declined to comment on the contents of the letters.

Powell and Chesebro were among four defendants to plead guilty in the case after reaching agreements with prosecutors.

They were indicted alongside Trump and others in August and charged with participating

in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally keep the Republican in power. The remaining 15 defendants — including Trump, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — have all pleaded not guilty.

Each of the four who reached a deal with prosecutors received a sentence that included probation but no jail time. They were

also allowed to plead guilty under Georgia’s first offender law, meaning that if they complete their probation without violating the terms or committing another crime, their records will be wiped clean.

The letters written by the other two defendants to plead guilty — Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis and bail bondsman Scott Hall — were longer and more specific. Ellis read her letter in open court on Oct. 24, tearfully telling the judge that she looked back on her involvement in challenging the election results with “deep remorse.”

“What I did not do but should have done, Your Honor, was to make sure that the facts the other lawyers alleged to be true were in fact true,” she said. “In the frenetic pace of attempting to raise challenges to the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.”

Hall, who pleaded guilty Sept. 29, wrote in his five-paragraph letter to the citizens of Georgia, “I owe you an apology.”

“I wish I had never involved myself in the post-election activities that brought me before the court,” he wrote, explaining that he got involved after observing what he thought were some irregularities.

Powell was initially charged with felony racketeering and six

other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that she conspired with Hall and others to access election equipment without authorization and hired computer forensics firm SullivanStrickler to send a team to Coffee County, in south Georgia, to copy software and data from voting machines and computers there. The indictment says a person who is not named sent an email to a top SullivanStrickler executive and instructed him to send all data copied from Dominion Voting Systems equipment in Coffee County to an unidentified lawyer associated with Powell and the Trump campaign.

Chesebro was initially charged with felony racketeering and six other felony counts.

Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully conspired with Trump and lawyers associated with his campaign to have the group of Georgia Republicans sign the false elector certificate and to submit it to various federal authorities. He also communicated with Trump campaign lawyers and Republican leaders in other swing states won by Biden to get those states to submit false slates of electors as well, prosecutors alleged.

Hall pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts for his role in accessing Coffee County elections equipment.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

obituaries

Ronald Wayne Ellis

November 16, 1958 - December 12, 2023 Ronald Wayne Ellis (Ron), 65, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones.

Ron was a faithful man who loved the Lord, his family, church, and community. As a lifelong member of Raeford United Methodist Church, he served in leadership roles as the Chairperson of Trustees and a member of the Administrative Board. In the community, he was active during his life with Masonic Lodge #306, The American Red Cross, and the Hoke Rescue Squad.

He was known for his generous and kind spirit, his study of the Bible, and his sense of humor. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. For over forty years, Ron worked as a licensed general contractor in commercial construction.

In 1996, he and his partner established M&E Contracting, Inc. in Fayetteville, NC. He worked on many projects in Cumberland, Hoke, and surrounding counties until retiring in August of this year.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Leonard Ellis and Alice Ehret Ellis.

He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Sara (Cissy) Moses Ellis, of Raeford, NC; a daughter, Alice Megan Ellis of Anchorage, AK; two sons, Robert Christian Ellis, of Lexington, KY, and Austin Michael Wood, of Charlotte, NC; one grandson, McKennon Michael Wood, of Charlotte, NC; and numerous cousins from the Ellis and Ehret families.

C.D. Bounds

June 28, 1930 - December 14, 2023 Cameron Dewey Bounds, Jr. known to most as C.D., 93 years of age, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at his home. He was born on June 28, 1930, in Robeson County to Dewey and Lellon Culberth Bounds.

C.D. is survived by his wife of 74 years, Dorothy Deaver Bounds, known to all as Dot. Three daughters: Kathy Bounds of Bluffton SC, Susan Bounds Huggins of Bolivia, NC, and Cammy Bounds of Fayetteville, NC. He has four grandchildren, Amanda Gleason (Matt), Jeffrey Huggins, Corey Floyd, and Andrea Hayden; along with 3 great-children Evan Gleason, Hudson Floyd, and Noah Gleason. He leaves behind one brother, Charles Bounds (Miriam), two sister-in-laws Jeannette D. Edwards (Eddie), and Ann D. Gainey, as well as nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Lellon Bounds, two sisters Grace B. Ivey and husband Kelly, Gertrude B. Hearn, and husband Marshall, and one brother, Bobby Bounds, and wife Neecie.

He was a faithful member of Raeford First Baptist Church where he was a life-time deacon. He served as Youth Choir Director, congregational music leader, choir member, and church treasurer for 20 years.

He loved playing golf, fishing, singing, and working in the yard. He was extremely active in the Raeford community and schools. But above all else, he loved his family. They were his treasure.

Will A. Purcell

August 30, 1937 - December 13, 2023 Mr. Will Archie Purcell age, 86 went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on December 13, 2023.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories his wife, Jacklean Purcell; children: Archie L. Purcell, Antonio Purcell, Mark Davis, Bosco McDougald, Annie R. McDougald, James Barnes, Justin Barnes, Zachariah Purcell, Floyd McDougald, Delois Purcell; sisters: Eulah Leach, Beulah Morrisey, Yulla Hines; brothers: Herman Purcell, Alexander Purcell; eighteen grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Will will be greatly missed.

Vanessa Ann Edwards

February 11, 1956 - December 7, 2023 Mrs. Vanessa Edwards age, 67 went home to rest with her heavenly father on December 7, 2023.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories her husband, Robert L. Edwards Sr.; children: Angeleke Edwards, Robert L. Edwards Jr., Richard L. Edwards; sister, Susan L. Ladson; brothers: Maurice H. Linton, Frederick A. Linton eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Vanessa will be greatly missed.

y to five r his role unty elec-

Doris Barnett

March 23, 1938 - December 11, 2023 Ms. Doris Barnett age, 85 went home to rest with her Heavenly Father on December 11, 2023.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com

7

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

8

STATE & NATION US House approves impeachment inquiry into President Biden The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the process despite lingering concerns among some that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.

Biden, in a rare statement about the impeachment effort, questioned the priorities of House Republicans in pursuing an inquiry against him and his family.

“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” the president said following the vote. “Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”

Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off

BURNS from page 1 2009, spanning an estimated 8,100 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). However, those strides fell short of their goal to hit 12,500 square miles (32,000 square kilometers).

Private landowners are central to the coalition’s latest restoration effort. They hold roughly 86% of forested land in the South, according to America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

The partnership needs thousands of new landowners to support longleaf management on their properties. The nascent burn associations are vital in their education, according to a 15-year plan released in November.

Federal agencies back the endeavor through activities such as invasive species removal and land management workshops.

Nearly $50 million in federal grants are available for projects bolstering forest health, including prescribed fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a “Longleaf Pine Initiative” partnering with burn groups like Wimberley’s. Farm bill money supports planning and planting. Personnel can help install firebreaks.

But applicants are increasingly competing for limited funding that cannot cover all the needed maintenance burns, Longleaf

AP PHOTO

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House.

“We do not take this responsibility lightly and will not prejudge the investigation’s outcome,” Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team said in a joint statement after the vote. “But the evidentiary record is impossible to ignore.”

“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not

Pine Initiative Coordinator Matthew Vandersande said.

Landowners say liability-concerned states are reluctant to send their relatively few burners onto private property and private contractors cannot meet the demand.

“When it comes time to drop the match, you’re kind of on your own,” said Keith Tribble, 62, who owns a North Carolina tree farm.

While state forestry services provide classes, Tribble credits burn associations for the handson experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines.

Humidity and wind speed are the biggest factors in a burn plan, according to Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker, manager of a private forest in South Carolina. The pine’s oils allow it to almost always carry fire and it typically burns at a relative humidity between 25% and 50%.

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions,” Tucker said.

Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand. The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes. Runaway fires are rare, according to studies of federal agencies and sur-

equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference last week.

Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”

Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions.”

Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker veys of community burn groups.

Wimberley’s teams haven’t had one yet, even with 40 burns per year.

Climate change is reducing the number of safe burn days.

Rising temperatures cause lower relative humidity in the South and intensify periods when it’s too dry, said Jennifer Fawcett, a North Carolina State University wildland fire expert.

As the severity and frequency of storms, droughts and wildfires increase, longleaf pines could become even more important for ecological resilience in the South. Deep roots anchor them during strong winds and stretch far into the ground for water. Flames enhance soil nutrients.

Further, the surrounding ecosystems have few known rivals for biodiversity in the U.S. Light pours through open cano-

leadership’s recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.

A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House.

Richard Sauber, special counsel

pies onto the sparse floor, giving way to flora like an insect-eating plant that needs sun exposure and wet soil. Gopher tortoises feed on the native vegetation and dig up to 15-foot (4.5-meter) burrows sheltering other at-risk species.

“It’s more than just planting trees,” said Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance conservation programs director. “We want to take the time to restore all of the values of the forest.”

A late 1920s education campaign known as the “Dixie Crusaders” harmed those interdependent relationships.

Federal officials turned southerners against the practice and burning fell off. Flammable needles and wiregrasses piled up to dangerous tinder levels.

Wimberley’s family resisted, knowing their livelihoods depended on fire. His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants. Later generations burned to shield crops.

Burning looks different from the times Wimberley’s mother dragged kindling known as “fat lighter” through the forest. But public understanding of its importance is returning and the ranks are growing.

“We’re all a bunch of pyromaniacs,” said Tribble, the tree farm owner.

to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. “Let’s see what they find out.”

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.

Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed additional charges last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.

Still, Tribble burns for a reason: he values connecting with people and the land.

Before his burns, brush cluttered the ground, choking water flow to parts of the property that were “bone dry.” Now water runs from more marshy areas and the squeaky call of the rarely spotted red-cockaded woodpecker resounds from mature pines. Wild turkeys appear when smoke fills the sky.

Steed, the Lumbee outreach coordinator, is heartened by the rekindling of this proactive “fire culture” beyond the tribe that she says introduced it to the region.

She ran through her grandfather’s scorched woods as a child, but the expanse has gone about a decade without fire. Steed plans to lead her first burn next year in Wimberley’s woods and then manage a family property she recently inherited.

“It feels empowering,” Steed said of prescribed fire. “It feels like a very tangible way to connect to the past and also guide the future.”

Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Just out of reach

Wide receiver Cassidy Harvin, a Reagan High senior, escapes the clutches of the defense to scamper 42 yards for the West’s only touchdown in a 35-7 defeat during the 2023 East / West All Star game on Joe Franks Field at Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro on December 16, 2023.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Applications open for new Forsyth county manager The county has started a nationwide search for a new county manager. In charge of all county operations and reporting to the County Commissioners, the county manager is responsible for the annual county budget and advising commissioners on financial matters, services, and other issues.

Applications are due by noon on Jan. 26, 2024. Visit www.forsyth.cc for more.

New driving license changes coming for 2024 Teen drivers and parents, changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system are coming on Jan. 1. As of the new year, teens must hold their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months, increased from the current six months, before taking the road test to obtain a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

“The law doesn’t allow for grandfathering anyone in,” said North Carolina DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in a press release.

“So, if someone completes their six months of Level 1 before year’s end but fails to take their road test by Dec. 29, they will have to wait until nine months to take the test and get Level 2.”

The GDL system, in effect since 1997, had a 12-month requirement for Level 2 for most of its existence. This was temporarily reduced to six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law, enacted on May 8, 2023, establishes the nine-month requirement starting in 2024.

WSFCS considers 2024 calendar, to send parental survey Board reelects leadership, discusses school calendar guidelines, and greenlights key projects

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal WINSTON-SALEM – The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education convened on Tuesday, Dec. 12, covering an array of administrative and academic topics.

The meeting began with the reelection of Deanna Kaplan as chair and Alex Bohannon as vice chair.

“Thank you all so much,” Kaplan said. “It’s just been such a pleasure to serve all of you this

past year and I’m looking forward to another great year. I’m humbled.”

After approving a board meeting schedule for 2024 of the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, attention turned to the 2024-25 school and staff calendar.

“There is a North Carolina General Statute that governs how we plan our calendars,” explained Chief Operations Officer Lauren Richards. Students need a minimum of 1,025 instructional hours each year, with 215 paid days scheduled for all 10-month certified staff members. With the need for 10 days of leave, students need to be in school for 185 school days to meet the hours requirement.

According to legislation, the school year can’t start before

the Monday closest to August 26 and the end date can be no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

“I think we just need to submit a waiver to start earlier,” said board member Trevonia Brown-Gaither, urging that the results of an upcoming parental survey be attached. If they see a background of our parents and students wanting to start before so they can get their exams over before the Christmas break, because we cannot teach any information to those students in that two weeks and expect them to do well.”

A survey will be sent out for parents and guardians on the district’s website and will be open till December 22. The board will select a final 202425 calendar in January.

Finally, the board also approved the GMA for the early procurement of electrical components for East Forsyth High School, the new 202425 High School Course requests (Pre-AP English II, AP African American Studies, AP Pre-Calculus, Information Security I and II, Teach as a Profession I and II, Project Management I and II and PLTW - Engineering Design and Development), a $181,900 contract with Apptegy for website hosting and mass communications, revisions to the board policy pertaining to salary administration and a $1,366, 736.18 allotment from fund balance for additional financial support for the R.J. Reynolds/Wiley Stadium Project.

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet Jan. 9.

Rekindling ‘fire culture’ to help pine trees thrive Prescribed burns clear the ground, leaving tree trunks free to grow

By James Pollard for AP/Report for America WEST END — Jesse Wimberley burns the woods with neighbors.

Using new tools to revive an old communal tradition, they set fire to wiregrasses and forest debris with a drip torch, corralling embers with leaf blowers.

Wimberley, 65, gathers groups across eight North Carolina counties to starve future wildfires by lighting leaf litter ablaze. The burns clear space for longleaf pine, a tree species whose seeds won’t sprout on undergrowth blocking bare soil. Since 2016, the

fourth-generation burner has fueled a burgeoning movement to formalize these volunteer ranks.

Prescribed burn associations are proving key to conservationists’ efforts to restore a longleaf pine range forming the backbone of forest ecology in the American Southeast.

Volunteer teams, many working private land where participants reside or make a living, are filling service and knowledge gaps one blaze at a time.

Prescribed fires, the intentional burning replicating natural fires crucial for forest health, require more hands than experts can supply. In North Carolina, the practice sometimes ends with a barbecue.

“Southerners like coming together and doing things and helping each other and having

some food,” Wimberley said.

“Fire is not something you do by yourself.”

More than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states, according to North Carolina State University researchers, and the Southeast is a hot spot for new ones. Wimberley’s Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves.

The proliferation follows federal officials’ push in the past century to suppress forest fires. The policy sought to protect the expanding footprint of private homes and interrupted fire cycles that accompanied longleaf evolution, which Indigenous people and early settlers simulated through targeted burns.

“Fire is medicine and it heals the land. It’s also medicine for our people,” said Courtney Steed, outreach coordinator for the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association and a Lumbee Tribe member. “It’s putting us back in touch with our traditions.”

The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles (360,000 square kilometers) it encompassed See BURNS, page 2

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Jack Smith plays his Trump card Twin City Herald Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter Jesse Deal, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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BURNS from page 1 before industrialization and urbanization. But some pockets remain, from Virginia to Texas to Florida. The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species. The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change.

A big tent of environmentalists, hunters, nonprofit groups and government agencies recently celebrated a 53% increase in the longleaf pine range since 2009, spanning an estimated 8,100 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). However, those strides fell short of their goal to hit 12,500 square miles (32,000 square kilometers).

Private landowners are central to the coalition’s latest restoration effort. They hold roughly 86% of forested land in the South, according to America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

The partnership needs thousands of new landowners to support longleaf management on their properties. The nascent burn associations are vital in their education, according to a 15-year plan released in November.

Federal agencies back the endeavor through activities such as invasive species removal and land management workshops.

Nearly $50 million in federal grants are available for projects

The Watergate Special Counsel used the procedure to take directly to the Supreme Court the subpoena for the White House tapes.

IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOVE, Special Counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court on Monday to rule on President Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution for election interference. The trial judge has already rejected his claim of wholesale immunity, and in the normal course, the issue would next be taken up by the appellate court, which could delay the trial of Trump. Instead, Smith is taking the case directly to the Supreme Court, which has given Trump until Dec. 20 to respond to the request.

What’s going on here? It’s all about timing. The trial is currently scheduled to begin on March 4.

The president’s strategy has been to do everything he can to delay his trials so as to not interfere with his campaign for the presidency.

He is now in the awkward position where, having put forth the broad claim of presidential immunity, he has to decide whether to urge the court not to decide the claim now, even though a decision in his favor would result in the case against him being thrown out.

The underlying issue is one that the court has never decided: Does a president have absolute immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while he was president?

In papers filed last October, Trump put forward his claim of absolute immunity, which was rejected by the trial judge two weeks ago. The president’s lawyers had noticed an appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and asked the trial court to freeze the case until the appeal was decided -- a delay that could potentially put the trial off until a newly elected President Trump could pardon himself.

Technically speaking, Smith made two requests to the court: first, that they decide the case before the appellate court heard it; and second, that they do so on an expedited basis. “The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request,” Smith wrote in the papers he filed on Monday, adding that “this is an extraordinary case.”

Fifty years ago, the Watergate

bolstering forest health, including prescribed fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a “Longleaf Pine Initiative” partnering with burn groups like Wimberley’s. Farm bill money supports planning and planting. Personnel can help install firebreaks.

But applicants are increasingly competing for limited funding that cannot cover all the needed maintenance burns, Longleaf Pine Initiative Coordinator Matthew Vandersande said.

Landowners say liability-concerned states are reluctant to send their relatively few burners onto private property and private contractors cannot meet the demand.

“When it comes time to drop the match, you’re kind of on your own,” said Keith Tribble, 62, who owns a North Carolina tree farm.

While state forestry services provide classes, Tribble credits burn associations for the hands-on experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines.

Humidity and wind speed are the biggest factors in a burn plan, according to Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker, manager of a private forest in South Carolina.

The pine’s oils allow it to almost always carry fire and it typically burns at a relative humidity between 25% and 50%.

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the

AP PHOTO

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Special Counsel used the procedure to take directly to the Supreme Court the subpoena for the White House tapes; the Supreme Court ended up rejecting Richard Nixon’s claim of executive privilege, effectively ending his presidency. “Certiorari before judgment,” as the procedure is technically called, requires the votes of four justices to hear the case. The court has reportedly used the procedure some 19 times in the last 15 years.

To be sure, this is a conservative court dominated by Republican appointees. But on issues of executive privilege, the court has been more restrained than on social issues. In 2020, the court squarely rejected Trump’s claim that he had an absolute right to block the release of his financial records from prosecutors, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing that “no citizen, not even the president, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding.”

Also in 2020, the court rejected a suit brought by the state of Texas

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions.”

Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Bennett Tucker when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions,” Tucker said.

Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand. The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes.

Runaway fires are rare, according to studies of federal agencies and surveys of community burn groups. Wimberley’s teams haven’t had one yet, even with 40 burns per year.

Climate change is reducing the number of safe burn days.

Rising temperatures cause lower relative humidity in the South and intensify periods when it’s too dry, said Jennifer Fawcett, a North Carolina State University wildland fire expert.

As the severity and frequency of storms, droughts and wildfires increase, longleaf pines could become even more important for ecological resilience in the South. Deep roots anchor

that aimed to throw out results in four battleground states that Trump lost, and refused to review suits filed by Trump lawyers claiming that voting machines had been hacked in the election. And just last year, the court turned down a request from Trump seeking to halt the release of White House records relating to the attack on the Capitol, upholding the order of Judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge in this case, that “presidents are not kings.”

So far, the president has managed to turn the 91 counts against him into something of a calling card, using the charges effectively for fundraising while avoiding the political costs one might expect. But a decision going against him from the Supreme Court, and a full-blown trial beginning around Super Tuesday, could bring home the reality and change the equation. Arguing for delay may be awkward for the president, but not nearly as awkward as running his campaign from the steps of the federal courthouse in D.C. while he stands trial.

them during strong winds and stretch far into the ground for water. Flames enhance soil nutrients.

Further, the surrounding ecosystems have few known rivals for biodiversity in the U.S. Light pours through open canopies onto the sparse floor, giving way to flora like an insect-eating plant that needs sun exposure and wet soil. Gopher tortoises feed on the native vegetation and dig up to 15-foot (4.5-meter) burrows sheltering other at-risk species.

“It’s more than just planting trees,” said Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance conservation programs director. “We want to take the time to restore all of the values of the forest.”

A late 1920s education campaign known as the “Dixie Crusaders” harmed those interdependent relationships.

Federal officials turned southerners against the practice and burning fell off. Flammable needles and wiregrasses piled up to dangerous tinder levels.

Wimberley’s family resisted, knowing their livelihoods depended on fire. His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants. Later generations burned to shield crops.

Burning looks different from the times Wimberley’s mother dragged kindling known as “fat lighter” through the forest. But public understanding of its importance is returning and the

ranks are growing.

“We’re all a bunch of pyromaniacs,” said Tribble, the tree farm owner.

Still, Tribble burns for a reason: he values connecting with people and the land.

Before his burns, brush cluttered the ground, choking water flow to parts of the property that were “bone dry.” Now water runs from more marshy areas and the squeaky call of the rarely spotted red-cockaded woodpecker resounds from mature pines. Wild turkeys appear when smoke fills the sky.

Steed, the Lumbee outreach coordinator, is heartened by the rekindling of this proactive “fire culture” beyond the tribe that she says introduced it to the region.

She ran through her grandfather’s scorched woods as a child, but the expanse has gone about a decade without fire. Steed plans to lead her first burn next year in Wimberley’s woods and then manage a family property she recently inherited.

“It feels empowering,” Steed said of prescribed fire. “It feels like a very tangible way to connect to the past and also guide the future.”

Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

SIDELINE REPORT

3

SPORTS

SPONSORED BY

NBA

Curry’s 3-pointer streak ends at 268 games Portland, Ore. Stephen Curry’s NBArecord 3-pointer streak ended at 268 games Sunday night in the Golden State Warriors’ 118-114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Curry was 0 for 8 from 3-point range, 2 for 12 overall and scored seven points. He began the streak Dec. 1, 2018, at Detroit. Curry, the NBA career leader who recently made his 3,500th 3-pointer, last went without one in a regularseason game on Nov. 8, 2018, when he was 0 for 4 against Milwaukee. He also owns the secondlongest NBA streak at 157 games.

COLLEGE SPORTS

MSU trustees approve release of Nassar documents to AG East Lansing, Mich.

Trustees at Michigan State University have unanimously voted Friday to release documents related to the school’s investigations into nowimprisoned former sports doctor Larry Nassar to the state’s attorney general.

The documents first will be reviewed by the school’s general counsel before they’re released.

The school had argued that the documents are protected by attorneyclient privilege. Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison after he admitted to molesting some of the nation’s top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment.

MLB

Scherzer has back surgery to miss start of ’24 season

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar looks to throw a pass during the Mountaineers’ win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday in the Cure Bowl in Orlando,

Owen Calvert AP PHOTO

App State slogs past Miami (Ohio) in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl The Mountaineers won six of their final seven games to finish 8-5 The Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — Joey Aguilar threw for 211 yards and scored on an 8-yard run in the third quarter as Appalachian State beat Miami (Ohio) 13-9 on Saturday in the rain-soaked Cure Bowl.

Aguilar’s scoring run capped an 11play, 73-yard drive and gave App State (9-5) a 13-3 lead after Michael Hughes kicked field goals of 29 and 22 yards in the first half.

Miami (11-3) running back Rashad Amos answered Aguilar’s TD with a 23yard score late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 13-9. He finished with a career-best 180 yards on 33 carries.

But the RedHawks squandered a potential chance to take the lead when backup running back Keyon Mozee fumbled on a short carry near midfield with 2:39 remaining. Miami never got the ball back.

Aguilar was named the MVP. He completed 19 of 33 passes and spread the ball around, hitting seven receivers.

Kaedin Robinson caught nine passes for 118 yards in the difficult conditions.

“We just want to stay true to ourselves,” Aguilar said. “The weather is going to be however the weather is going to be.”

The rainy weather forced both teams to try to focus more on ball security and stick to the ground.

The game was played as a steady rain soaked the area and pools of water formed around midfield over the bowl logo and in the end zone at FBC Mortgage Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida.

Officials with the Cure Bowl reported an inch of rain fell before the game started and another inch fell between kickoff and the final play.

The conditions certainly affected play. There were 13 fumbles, with Appalachian State losing two and Miami losing three.

“Ball security is at a premium, and it didn’t seem like either team managed to do it,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin said. “Just kind of have to plod through it and make the last play.”

Appalachian State rushed for 151 yards in the second half to put the game away. Anderson Castle had 119 yards on 18 carries for the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers had a 332-227 advantage in total yards. Amos accounted for most of the RedHawks’ total.

Miami kicker and Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson kicked a 34yard field goal in the first quarter. He missed his lone PAT attempt.

“The elements were rough,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said.

“We had to make one more play than they did. And we did. Toward the end, our running game started to wear them down.”

Appalachian State celebrated its victory the only way it could, by sliding through the water and mud covering the midfield logo.

Arlington, Texas Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss the start of next season for the World Series champion Texas Rangers. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer had surgery Thursday after injections and other conservative treatments didn’t relieve the pain. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was removed from Game 3 of the World Series because of his back. Young says the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July. Scherzer says the pain got worse after returning to his offseason home in Florida.

NCAA, states seek to extend order letting transfer athletes play

TELEVISION

The Associated Press

LeBron-produced special wins Daytime Emmy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters.

The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from enforcing a rule for those athletes who transfer multiple times.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The ruling, part of a lawsuit by a coalition of seven states, said athletes who previously were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can compete in games for 14 days.

The NCAA then circulated a document to its member schools clarifying that the redshirt rule for athletes would still apply if

Los Angeles A show produced by Lakers superstar LeBron James has won a Daytime Emmy. “Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism” won for outstanding daytime special at the Creative Arts and Lifestyle ceremony in Los Angeles. The YouTube Originals special was executive produced by James and his business partner Maverick Carter.

It was hosted by Ilana Glazer, Moshe Kasher and Idina Menzel. James has previously won three Sports Emmy awards, including one this year for “The Redeem Team” about the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

the better part of th ing to earn acceptan stitutions,” Ural said don’t know what we’r now.”

The outbreak has for millions of stud taking virtual tou while also dealing about tuition payme

North Carolina is one of seven states that filed a lawsuit on behalf of players who have switched schools more than once

the court’s decision is reversed: Basketball players who compete during the two-week window would be using up a season of eligibility.

Now, the two sides apparently are coming together to address the athletes’ desires.

“Let the kids play,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.

The motion said that following consultation among the parties, the court is being requested to convert the retraining order into a preliminary injunction that will remain in place until the case is decided.

“The NCAA shall take no action to retaliate” against any participating athlete or their school while the preliminary injunction is in effect, based on the athlete’s reliance on the injunction’s terms, the motion said.

NCAA spokeswoman Saquandra Heath said in a statement that, as a result of the joint motion, it “will not enforce the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools.”

Heath said the proposal “is the best outcome for multiple-time transfer student-athletes wishing to compete immediately. This action provides clarity for student-athletes and mem-

CREDIT CALVARY DAY’S X ACCOUNT

Calvary Day School boys’ basketball

Owen Calvert is a sophomore guard for the Calvary Day School basketball team.

Calvert led all scorers in the Cougars’ 76-32 win over Gospel Light Christian. He had 22 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field. He also added three assists and a steal in the win.

In the second game of the week, Calvert scored 13 in a loss to Cary Christian, adding 4 steals in the game, then matched his weekopening 22 in a loss to New Garden Friends.

AP PHOTO

College athletes who were denied the chance to play immediately after transferring a second time can return to competition — for now — after a federal judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order last Wednesday against the NCAA. ber schools for the remainder of the academic year — any multiple-time transfer student-athlete who competes this season will be subject to the same eligibility and use of a season of competition rules as all other student-athletes.”

The motion asks that a hearing on the restraining order set for Dec. 27 be canceled and that the case be set for trial no sooner than the last day of competition in the winter and spring sports seasons.

The lawsuit, which alleges the NCAA transfer rule’s waiver process violates federal antitrust law, could have a profound impact on college sports if successful. In court documents, the NCAA has said the plaintiffs “seek to remake

collegiate athletics and replace it with a system of perpetual and unchecked free agency.”

NCAA rules allow underclassmen to transfer once without having to sit out a year. But an additional transfer as an undergraduate generally requires the NCAA to grant a waiver allowing the athlete to compete immediately. Without it, the athlete would have to sit out for a year at the new school.

Last January, the NCAA implemented stricter guidelines for granting those waivers on a caseby-case basis.

The states involved in the restraining order were North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

4

STATE & NATION

US House approves impeachment inquiry into President Biden

equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference last week.

Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”

Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by

leadership’s recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.

A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House.

Richard Sauber, special counsel

to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. “Let’s see what they find out.”

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in Hunter Biden and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.

Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed additional charges last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.

DeSantis goes after Trump on abortion, COVID-19 and the border wall in an Iowa town hall

Trump has responded by emphasizing his support from more than 150 pastors around the state.

Abortion has become a flashpoint in U.S. politics since a Supreme Court majority shaped by Trump’s three appointments eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, helping to power unexpectedly strong Democratic performances in the 2022 midterms.

Trump has not backed a national abortion ban and has criticized the way many Republican politicians talk about the issue. He has implied that a Florida law DeSantis signed, which outlaws abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, is “ too harsh.”

Asked about the case of Kate Cox, a Texas woman who sought an abortion when her health deteriorated as she carried a fetus with a fatal condition, DeSantis was vague. He said “these are very difficult issues” and pointed to the Florida law’s exceptions allowing abortions when the mother’s life is in danger, though in Cox’s case, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that her pregnancy complications did not constitute the kind of medical emergency under which abortions are allowed.

DeSantis has staked his campaign on a strong showing in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses on Jan. 15, but he’s struggled to break out of a distant second place. Like most of his rivals, he has largely treated the front-runner gingerly, avoiding direct criticism of Trump, who

remains popular with GOP primary voters.

But sprinkled through the CNN town hall was a case to Trump-supporting voters that it’s time to move on. Trump, he said, is no longer the colorful “America First” advocate whom Republicans embraced in 2016.

“Now a lot of it’s about him,” DeSantis said.

And he worked to pierce rosy memories of Trump’s tenure in the White House. He said Trump erred in his response to COVID-19, an issue that helped catapult DeSantis to GOP prominence when he refused to go along with strict lockdowns that most other governors imposed early in the pandemic.

“The first three years of the Trump administration, the economy’s better than it has been, but that last year with COVID, I think was mishandled dramatically,” DeSantis said. “Shutting down the country was a huge mistake.

Printing trillions and trillions of dollars was a huge mistake.”

DeSantis also took aim at one of the defining themes of Trump’s first run for the White House: his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and have the Mexican government pay for it.

“That didn’t happen,” DeSantis said. “And why didn’t it happen?

Well, one, I think he got distracted, and he didn’t do it on day one.

But, two, he didn’t utilize the levers of power that he had.”

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican rallying behind the process despite lingering concerns among some that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.

Biden, in a rare statement about the impeachment effort, questioned the priorities of House Republicans in pursuing an inquiry against him and his family.

“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” the president said following the vote. “Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”

Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off

AP PHOTO

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House.

“We do not take this responsibility lightly and will not prejudge the investigation’s outcome,” Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team said in a joint statement after the vote. “But the evidentiary record is impossible to ignore.”

“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not

The Associated Press DONALD TRUMP “flipflipped” on abortion, overreached in response to COVID-19 and failed to uphold his campaign pledge to get Mexico to pay for a wall on the southern U.S. border, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last weekin Iowa.

DeSantis, who is in a distant second place behind Trump in most national polls in the battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, stepped up his case against the former president during a CNN town hall in Des Moines five weeks before the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

He zeroed in on abortion in a state where evangelical voters form the backbone of the GOP, contrasting Trump’s recent skepticism about strict anti-abortion laws with his earlier comments about protecting the sanctity of life.

“You should be consistent in your beliefs, especially on some-

AP PHOTO

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a meet and greet, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. thing that’s very fundamental, and he has not been consistent,” DeSantis said. “And there’s a lot of voters in Iowa who really care about this, who need to know how he’s changed his position.”

DeSantis last month picked up the endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent Iowa evangelical leader who has also questioned Trump’s commitment to the anti-abortion movement.

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VOLUME 8 ISSUE 43 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

MOORE COUNTY THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

AP PHOTO

Courtney Steed and Jesse Wimberley talk about the need for controlled burns at his property Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in West End.

WHAT’S HAPPENING FBI looking for minivan in substation shooting The FBI and Moore Sheriff’s Office are asking for assistance to find a minivan seen on December 3, 2022, the night of two electrical substation shootings in West End and Carthage.

The occupant(s) of the van may have information relevant to the investigation. The van is likely a silver or light blue, 20112017, Honda Odyssey.

Investigators are asking anyone who saw the van the night of the shooting between 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, the Moore SO tip line at 910-947-4444 or online at tips.fbi.gov. There is a combined reward of up to $100,000.

New driving license changes coming for 2024 Teen drivers and parents, changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system are coming on Jan. 1. As of the new year, teens must hold their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months, increased from the current six months, before taking the road test to obtain a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

“The law doesn’t allow for grandfathering anyone in,” said North Carolina DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in a press release. “So, if someone completes their six months of Level 1 before year’s end but fails to take their road test by Dec. 29, they will have to wait until nine months to take the test and get Level 2.”

The GDL system, in effect since 1997, had a 12-month requirement for Level 2 for most of its existence. This was temporarily reduced to six months during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law, enacted on May 8, 2023, establishes the nine-month requirement starting in 2024.

To obtain a Level 2 license, teen drivers must be at least 16, log 60 hours of driving, pass a road test, and provide printed proof of insurance in their name.

Rekindling ‘fire culture’ to help pine trees thrive Prescribed burns clear the ground, leaving tree trunks free to grow

By James Pollard for AP/Report for America WEST END — Jesse Wimberley burns the woods with neighbors.

Using new tools to revive an old communal tradition, they set fire to wiregrasses and forest debris with a drip torch, corralling embers with leaf blowers.

Wimberley, 65, gathers groups across eight North Carolina counties to starve future wildfires by lighting leaf litter ablaze.

The burns clear space for longleaf pine, a tree species whose seeds won’t sprout on under-

growth blocking bare soil. Since 2016, the fourth-generation burner has fueled a burgeoning movement to formalize these volunteer ranks.

Prescribed burn associations are proving key to conservationists’ efforts to restore a longleaf pine range forming the backbone of forest ecology in the American Southeast. Volunteer teams, many working private land where participants reside or make a living, are filling service and knowledge gaps one blaze at a time.

Prescribed fires, the intentional burning replicating natural fires crucial for forest health, require more hands than experts can supply. In North Carolina, the practice sometimes ends with a barbecue.

“Southerners like coming together and doing things and helping each other and having some food,” Wimberley said.

“Fire is not something you do by yourself.”

More than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states, according to North Carolina State University researchers, and the Southeast is a hot spot for new ones. Wimberley’s Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves.

The proliferation follows federal officials’ push in the past century to suppress forest fires.

The policy sought to protect the expanding footprint of private homes and interrupted fire cy-

cles that accompanied longleaf evolution, which Indigenous people and early settlers simulated through targeted burns.

“Fire is medicine and it heals the land. It’s also medicine for our people,” said Courtney Steed, outreach coordinator for the Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association and a Lumbee Tribe member. “It’s putting us back in touch with our traditions.”

The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles (360,000 square kilometers) it encompassed before industrialization and urbanization. But some pockets remain, from Virginia to Texas to Florida. The system’s greenery still harbors the bobwhite quail and other declining species. The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change.

A big tent of environmentalists, hunters, nonprofit groups and government agencies recently celebrated a 53% increase in the longleaf pine range since See BURNS, page 2

Carthage Elementary 3rd-grade teacher honored Ms. Blake named Burroughs Wellcome Fund teacher of the year

tion Ms. Blake exemplifies in her third-grade classroom and at Carthage Elementary School,” Locklear said in a press release.

“Our students and staff are fortunate to have such an excellent and dedicated teacher like Ms. Blake to look up to and represent the Sandhills Region in the quest to become the North Carolina Teacher of the Year.”

Blake, previously named the Moore County Schools Teacher of the Year, now advances to compete for the title of North Carolina Teacher of the Year.

Interviews for the state title will take place in February, with the winner announced in April 2024.

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal CARTHAGE — Jennifer Blake, a third-grade teacher at Carthage Elementary School, has been named the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year for the Sandhills Region The announcement, a surprise event in her classroom, celebrated Ms. Blake’s outstanding contributions to education and her dedication to making a positive impact on her students’ lives.

“One must love teaching enough to survive it. You have to get excited when those little ‘light bulb’ moments happen,” Blake said. “You have to be reflective and willing, not only to make changes but also to embrace mistakes when they happen.”

Inspired by influential teachers from her own past, Ms.

PHOTO COURTESY MOORE COUNTY SCHOOLS

On Dec. 15, Ms. Blake was teaching in her third-grade classroom at Carthage Elementary School when she was surprised with the news.

Blake expressed her passion for teaching and emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and learning from mistakes.

Superintendent Dr. Tim

Locklair praised Blake’s commitment and dedication.

“I am so proud of Ms. Blake and honored to be a part of this special recognition that embodies the hard work and dedica-

$2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

12.20.23

moore

A long leaf pine tree shows signs from previous controlled burns on Jesse Wimberley’s property Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in West End.

happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Dec. 21 Movie at Sunrise Theater: The Polar Express

“Join the conversation” AP PHOTO

Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor A.P. Dillon, Reporter Ryan Henkel, Reporter Jesse Deal, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

CRIME LOG December 11 x Alexis Zareno Blue, 24, was arrested for possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana by the Moore Sheriff’s Office. x Bridget Marie McMillan, 38, was arrested for resisting a police officer by the Moore Sheriff’s Office.

December 12 x Steven Andrew Dailey, 40, was arrested for setting fires by the Aberdeen PD. x William Wayne Johnson, 60, was arrested for common law robbery by the Southern Pines PD. December 13 x Michael John Walker, 40, was arrested for violating a domestic violence protection order by the Moore Sheriff’s Office.

December 14 x Timothy Leonard Spence, 48, was arrested for simple assault by the Moore Sheriff’s Office. x Cameron Wardell Mcneill, 19, was arrested for breaking or entering by the Southern Pines PD. December 15 x Michael Alston, 60, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine by the Moore Sheriff’s Office. x Daquan Lashawn Murchison, 30, was arrested for probation violation by the Moore Sheriff’s Office. x Dillon Coyote Lyston, 35, was arrested for petty theft by the Robbins PD. x William Noble Hanley, 54, was arrested for driving under the influence by the Moore Sheriff’s Office. x Leah Faith Williams, 31, was arrested for petty theft by the Richmond Sheriff’s Office.

BURNS from page 1 2009, spanning an estimated 8,100 square miles (20,000 square kilometers). However, those strides fell short of their goal to hit 12,500 square miles (32,000 square kilometers).

Private landowners are central to the coalition’s latest restoration effort. They hold roughly 86% of forested land in the South, according to America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.

The partnership needs thousands of new landowners to support longleaf management on their properties. The nascent burn associations are vital in their education, according to a 15-year plan released in November.

Federal agencies back the endeavor through activities such as invasive species removal and land management workshops.

Nearly $50 million in federal grants are available for projects bolstering forest health, including prescribed fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a “Longleaf Pine Initiative” partnering with burn groups like Wimberley’s. Farm bill money supports planning and planting. Personnel can help install firebreaks.

But applicants are increasingly competing for limited funding that cannot cover all the needed maintenance burns, Longleaf Pine Initiative Coordinator Matthew Vandersande said.

Landowners say liability-concerned states are reluctant to send their relatively few burners onto private property and private contractors cannot meet the demand.

“When it comes time to drop the match, you’re kind of on your own,” said Keith Tribble, 62, who owns a North Carolina tree farm.

While state forestry services provide classes, Tribble credits burn associations for the handson experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines.

Humidity and wind speed are the biggest factors in a burn plan, according to Hitchcock Woods Superintendent Ben-

nett Tucker, manager of a private forest in South Carolina.

The pine’s oils allow it to almost always carry fire and it typically burns at a relative humidity between 25% and 50%.

“With a prescribed fire, we can control the where, the when, the how and all those factors by choosing the best conditions,” Tucker said.

Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand. The prescriptions also can reduce potential liability in the event a fire escapes.

Runaway fires are rare, according to studies of federal agencies and surveys of community burn groups. Wimberley’s teams haven’t had one yet, even with 40 burns per year.

Climate change is reducing the number of safe burn days.

Rising temperatures cause lower relative humidity in the South and intensify periods when it’s too dry, said Jennifer Fawcett, a North Carolina State University wildland fire expert.

As the severity and frequency of storms, droughts and wildfires increase, longleaf pines could become even more important for ecological resilience in the South. Deep roots anchor them during strong winds and stretch far into the ground for water. Flames enhance soil nutrients.

Further, the surrounding ecosystems have few known rivals for biodiversity in the U.S. Light pours through open canopies onto the sparse floor, giving way to flora like an insect-eating plant that needs sun exposure and wet soil. Gopher tortoises feed on the native vegetation and dig up to 15-foot (4.5-meter) burrows sheltering other at-risk species.

“It’s more than just planting trees,” said Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance conservation programs director. “We want to take the time to restore all of the values of the forest.”

A late 1920s education campaign known as the “Dixie Crusaders” harmed those interdependent relationships.

Federal officials turned southerners against the practice and burning fell off. Flammable needles and wiregrasses piled up to dangerous tinder levels.

Wimberley’s family resisted, knowing their livelihoods depended on fire. His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants. Later generations burned to shield crops.

Burning looks different from the times Wimberley’s mother dragged kindling known as “fat lighter” through the forest. But public understanding of its importance is returning and the ranks are growing.

“We’re all a bunch of pyromaniacs,” said Tribble, the tree farm owner.

Still, Tribble burns for a reason: he values connecting with people and the land.

Before his burns, brush cluttered the ground, choking water flow to parts of the property that were “bone dry.” Now water runs from more marshy areas and the squeaky call of the rarely spotted red-cockaded woodpecker resounds from mature pines. Wild turkeys appear when smoke fills the sky.

Steed, the Lumbee outreach coordinator, is heartened by the rekindling of this proactive “fire culture” beyond the tribe that she says introduced it to the region.

She ran through her grandfather’s scorched woods as a child, but the expanse has gone about a decade without fire. Steed plans to lead her first burn next year in Wimberley’s woods and then manage a family property she recently inherited.

“It feels empowering,” Steed said of prescribed fire. “It feels like a very tangible way to connect to the past and also guide the future.”

Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

FREE Sunrise Theater, Southern Pines 2004 Rated G holiday film, The Polar Express! On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

(First Come, First Served!)

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime, concessions are available for purchase, no outside food or drink permitted.

Dec. 23 Homegrown Restaurants: Pictures With Santa 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

FREE Santa Claus is making a special stop at HomeGrown Restaurants, LLC. Have your photograph taken with The Man in Red! Be sure to bring your own camera for photographs.

Christmas Luncheon with Mr. & Mrs. Claus 2 – 4 p.m.

TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

Dec. 24 Santa is Coming to The Sly Fox FREE Did your child forget to ask Santa for a toy or would like to add a toy last minute?

Guess what, Santa will be at the Sly Fox (795 SW Broad St, Southern Pines) before he lifts off! Tell Santa what you need and get a little treat. The Sly Fox wishes all a wonderful Christmas!

Dec. 25 T E A M WORKZ – Christmas Meal Event 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

Moore C boys’ ba power ra

Union Join for Mrs. Connie’s Pinec Christmas Luncheon with Mr. & Mrs. Claus at North the Rufus McLaughlin American Legion Post 177 (1650 W. New York Avenue, Moore C Southern Pines). For girls’ ba additional information, call power ra 910-684-8484.

Union

2 – 4 p.m.

December 16 x Glenn Joseph Poston, 47, was arrested for breaking or entering by the Aberdeen PD.

7 – 8:40 p.m.

Open to anyone in need of a good home cooked meal and fellowship on Christmas Day. Santa, Mrs Claus and Elves will be giving out gifts to children tots to teens from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. (Children will need to be registered to receive gifts. Email TEAMWORKS. CHRISTMAS@GMAIL.COM for information) The event will be held at two locations this year.

First Baptist Church - 200 East New York Avenue, Southern Pines Christ Way Community Church - 15767 US Hwy 15501 S Aberdeen

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

3

SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jaylen Kyle

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North Moore’s Austin Patterson brings the ball upcourt in a game against Northwood earlier this season. Paterson was one of five Mustangs to score in double figures this week.

Union Pines takes top spots in county basketball rankings Moore County boys’ basketball power rankings

Power rankings for boys’ and girls’ basketball North State Journal

Union Pines

Boys’ basketball

Pinecrest

The Union Pines boys won their conference opener last week, 79-71, over Lee County, extending their winning streak to seven games in a row. The win improved the Vikings to 8-1 on the year as athlete of the week Jaylen Kyle scored 23 points with 9 rebounds and 6 steals.

Junior Aiden Leonard added 19 points with 8 assists and senior Trent Hilburn scored 11.

The Pinecrest boys won backto-back games to move above .500 at 4-2, 0-1 in the conference. The Patriots followed up a 71-67 win over Apex with a 5850 win against Clayton. Senior Javion Saunders led Pinecrest

North Moore Moore County girls’ basketball power rankings:

Union Pines North Moore Pinecrest

with 24 against Clayton.

North Moore opened the week with a win but then dropped back-to-back contests to drop to .500 on the year at 4-4. The Mustangs are 0-3 in conference play. North Moore beat O’Neal, 61-54. The Mustangs hit the road with a conference loss at Southeast Alamance, 70-43. North Moore then lost a home conference contest to Jordan-Matthews, 47-34. Five different Vikings had double-figure scoring games—Colby Pennington, Dawson Futrell, Brady Preslar, Austin Patterson and Michael Copeland.

Girls’ basketball The Union Pines’ girls’ team opened its conference schedule with a 67-36 win at Lee County, moving over .500 on the year at 5-4. Junior Taryn Peka-

la scored 22 points for the Vikings, adding 5 rebounds,, 7 assists and 6 steals. Three other players scored in double figures for Union Pines—Corryn McCutchen (18), Natalie Auman (16) and Ailey Hise (11).

North Moore dropped out of the top spot in the power rankings with three straight losses last week. The Mustangs lost at O’Neal, 62-22, then lost a conference road matchup at Southeast Alamance, 56-16 and a conference home tilt with Jordan-Matthews, 30-24. North Moore is 4-4 on the year, 0-3 in conference.

The Pinecrest girls posted their first win of the season after six straight losses, winning at Clayton, 50-18. It was the second-highest point total of the season for Pinecrest and the best defensive effort of the year by far. The Patriots are 0-1 in conference.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Union Pines

boys’ basketball Jaylen Kyle is a junior guard for the Union Pines basketball team.

The Vikings won their conference opener last week at Lee County, beating the Yellow Jackets 79-71.

Kyle was the game’s leading scorer, hitting 10 of 13 shots from the field for 23 points. He added a team-high 9 rebounds, 5 of them on the offensive boards. He also led Union Pines with 6 steals and threw in a blocked shot and a pair of assists.

For the season, Kyle leads the Vikings in shooting percentage, is second in scoring and third in blocks and steals.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 20, 2023

4

obituaries

David Earl Pope

October 10, 1944 - December 13, 2023 David Earl Pope, 79, of Pinehurst went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, December 13th, from First Health Hospice House in Pinehurst. His wife Belinda Bryant Pope was by his side.

David was born at home in Fuquay-Varina on October 10, 1944, a son of the late Joffre Pope and Mary Tiley Pope.

He attended Fuquay Springs High School, where he played basketball and baseball. He played the bass clarinet in the marching band and concert band. David worked for the US Postal Service for 30 years before retiring. He served as a member of the Triangle Officials Association for 30 years and officiated football, baseball and basketball.

David loved and cherished coaching his players on the girls’ basketball teams at New Century Middle School and Union Pines High School. He spent 15 years encouraging each of them to be the best person they could be throughout life.

Together David and Belinda were among the most avid followers of all Duke athletics.

Along with Mike Ingram and Jim Norton, David and Belinda played many rounds of golf as half of this original foursome.

As a charter member of First Baptist Church - Pinehurst, David served several years as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for the Youth Class.

In addition to his wife of 40 years, Belinda Bryant Pope, David is survived by; sons Michael Pope (Lavette), Jeff Pope (Ellen), and daughter Christy Arnold, (L.E.) all of Fuquay-Varina; a sister, Joyce P. Stuart (Ricky); grandchildren, Brian Pope, April Pope, Brittany Arnold and Lonnie Arnold; one great grandchild River Pope; a special nephew, Mark Puryear; and several nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his brother, J.G. Pope, and sister Janet Blalock.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the Hospice House nurses and staff and the field hospice nurses, Michelle (RN), Lanney (RN) and Paula (nursing assistant).

Ann Marie Hall

October 21, 1940 - December 14, 2023 Ann Marie Hall, 83, of Jackson Springs, NC, passed away on December 14, 2023 at First Health Moore Regional Hospital.

Ann was born in Philadelphia, PA on October 21, 1940, to Angelo and Natalie Cosimano.

She married the love of her life, Robert Thomas Hall on January 9, 1960, shortly, following him to Germany, where he was stationed.

During his twenty years with the Army, they had five children, with the fifth one being born while he was in Vietnam. Ann spent many years accompanying him in various duty stations, abroad and stateside while working, attending many of the activities the kids were involved in, and active in different military and church related organizations. Much of that time, Bob was deployed.

After a few years of retirement, Ann and Bob decided to open a Daylight Donuts in Ogden, KS. They owned the business for 12 years, before deciding to relocate to NC, after which they settled in Jackson Springs.

They became members of Sacred Heart Catholic church and the Jackson Springs community club.

Ann was always about family, and welcomed everyone into their home, and heart.

She was a loving and giving woman, touching many lives along the way, and still sending cards up until her passing. She will be greatly, missed by all.

Ann is survived by her husband of 64 years, along with her children and their spouses, Patricia Cedeno (Jaime), Debra Stage (Clarence), Michael Hall (Patricia), and Diana McKenzie(Terry), and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great great granddaughter.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, her brother, Eugene Cosimano, and her son, Robert Thomas Hall, Jr.

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Richard W. Frye

April 20, 1949 - December 6, 2023 Richard W. Frye, born April 20, 1949 in Pinehurst, NC lost his years long battle with Multiple Myeloma on December 6, 2023. His cancer was contracted due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969 as an army medivac gunner.

Ever the warrior, when Richard was told there were no more treatments available, he said “Well then, It is what it is, but I’m not giving up.” Though he eventually lost the battle, he refused to surrender.

Richard was the embodiment of the term “southern gentleman” with his deep southern drawl and unique combination of kindness and strength. Two of his favorite sayings were “people often confuse kindness with weakness” and “when people don’t show you respect, sometimes you have to teach them a little respect.” Generous to a fault, Richard would give a stranger the shirt off his back and money to buy new clothes.

However, for his friends or family, no ask was too great.

After leaving the Army, Richard was a Pinehurst Firefighter and remained committed to serving his community throughout his life.

His dedication to his Southern heritage was unwavering and he took great pride in his local roots. Richard was an adamant supporter of, and advisor to, local small businesses. He had a diverse and successful career as a local entrepreneur. He owned and operated several small businesses such as Sandhill Amusements, SanStar Realty, Moore Storage, and DD&S Classic Cars to name a few.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, James (Mutt) and Margaret Frye; brother, Jerry Frye; beloved dogs, Cindy Lou Who and Thumper; and many friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Corinne “Corky” Frye; son Jeffrey (Karen); daughter Robin Lawhon (Robert); brothers, Jimmy, David and Chris; sister, Gail Bigger; granddaughters, Sarah and Norah Thomas; along with his pets: Ladybug, Macy, Rosie, Madeira, LeMieux, Patience and Handsome Ransom; and many, many friends and extended family.

Richard will be forever cherished and remembered by family and friends for his selflessness, generosity and profound love for his family, community and country. May his soul find eternal peace.

Wayne Thomas Martin

March 22, 1927 - December 13, 2023 Wayne Martin, 96, passed away December 13, 2023 at The Greens in Pinehurst. He formerly lived in Seven Lakes.

He was the son of the late Eddie and Wilda Martin.

He was born March 22, 1927 in East Canton, OH. He graduated from Ohio State Mechanical Engineering in 1951. He served in the Navy from 1945-1946. He married his high school sweetheart October 1946.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife of 77 years, Jeanette, one brother Jack Martin of Novie, MI; sons, David Martin and wife Denise of Antioch, CA., Gregory Martin and wife Denise of Seven Lakes West, NC; four grandchildren, Heather Lomax and husband Layton of Wilmington, NC., Carrie Hall and husband Dan of Rockingham, NC., Brad Martin and wife Kim of Clayton, NC., and Evan Martin of Los Angeles, CA; and four greatgrandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter Patricia Martin.

Wayne retired from Otis Elevator in 1987 and he and his wife Jeanette moved to Seven Lakes in 1987. He thoroughly enjoyed playing golf at Seven Lakes Country Club and belonging to Kiwanis for 30 years. Wayne and Jeanette loved traveling in their Travel Trailer all over the United States with their children for 37 years.

John Michael Snyder

November 27, 1941 - December 11, 2023 John M. Snyder, 82, of Pinehurst, NC passed away on Monday, December 11, 2023 at Quail Haven Retirement Village.

John was born November 27, 1941 in San Diego, CA to the late Roy Snyder and Kathleen Davis Snyder, who survives him.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy Snyder; three children; seven grandchildren, and his brother.

John lived most of his live in San Diego. Upon retirement, they moved to Pinehurst about twenty years ago. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed the time spent on the local golf courses. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Barbara Lucas Kimball

March 18, 1952 - December 6, 2023 Barbara Lucas Kimball, 71, of Whispering Pines passed away at First Health Hospice House in Pinehurst on December 6, 2023.

Barbara was born on March 18, 1952, in Pinehurst, NC to the late William “Mack” Henry Lucas and Lena Ann Lucas.

Barbara is survived by her husband, William Weldon Kimball III; her three daughters and sons-in-law: Terrah Shene (Andy), Kasey Caplan (David), and Kelley Johnson (Joel); her four beautiful grandchildren: Jake Johnson, Mary Catherine Shene, Walker Shene, and Owen Shene; her sister Charlotte Hill; her brother-inlaw: Hoke Kimball (Bruce); her nieces and nephews: Stephen Lucas (Amanda), Amanda Hill, Cassie Hill, and Kyle Hill; and her beloved dog Buddy.

Predeceasing Barbara in death was her sister Linda Lucas Clapp and niece Stephanie Gordon.

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CONTACT

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