the BRIEF this week
NCDOR begins processing tax refunds
Raleigh The North Carolina Department of Revenue started processing individual income tax returns for 2024. Taxpayers can expect to receive refunds through the mail or direct deposit beginning the week of March 10. The NCDOR started accepting individual income tax returns Jan. 27 and encourages taxpayers to file electronically for security and convenience. Several free filing options are available. Individuals can check the status of their refunds through the “Where’s My Refund” application at ncdor.gov.
Pentagon changes name of Georgia Army base back to Fort Benning Washington, D.C.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has, for the second time, reversed the renaming of a U.S. military base, saying that Fort Moore in Georgia should revert back to being called Fort Benning. The move reflects an effort by the Pentagon to overturn the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to remove names that honored Confederate leaders, including for nine Army bases. The drive to revert to former names means that officials need to find service members with the same name as the Confederate leaders.
NC’s McNabb among special guests at Trump joint session address
“Thank you for giving a voice to this issue!!!”
Payton McNabb on X
She was injured while competing against a transgender volleyball player in 2022
By A.P. Dillon Chatham News & Record
RALEIGH — President Donald Trump delivered his first address of his second term to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, outlining his administration’s plans for the nation with the main theme being the “Renewal of the American Dream,” and North Carolina’s Payton McNabb was among the special guests who joined the president and first lady at the address, including.
“Payton is a former high school athlete who had her dreams of competing in college sports crushed in a September 2022 volleyball match
when a biological man playing on the opposing women’s team spiked the volleyball at Payton’s face, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury,” the press release states. “Payton joined with the Independent Women’s Forum and has made it her mission to put an end to this brutal unfairness.”
McNabb issued a statement on X that said it is an “incredible honor” to be the guest of the president and first lady.
“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be present and to have my story recognized as part of the fight to protect women’s sports. Thank you for giving a voice to this issue!!!” McNabb wrote.
McNabb spoke with North State Journal on several occasions as the legislature
The county could see a baseline enrollment of nearly 15,000 by 2034-35
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — On Feb. 25, the Chatham County Board of Education held a joint meeting with the Board of Commissioners to go over a few relevant updates, most notably a future land use study.
The group was presented with a future land use study for potential school facility needs prepared by the Operations Research and Education Laboratory (OREd) of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at NC State University.
“The most meaningful, most reliable and leading long-term indicator of where your enrollment is See MCNABB, page A3See SCHOOLS, page A3
Woman returns Helene ‘trash’ to rightful owners
“It’s not just trash, and it’s not just trees and pieces of metal. It’s their lives. This is their hearts, their homes, the generations of history.”
Jill Holtz
Floods didn’t just sweep away homes; they took memories
By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press
SWANNANOA — The tops of dried, bent cornstalks crunch underfoot. Jill Holtz’s gaze is fixed on the ground ahead. She wanders into the nearby woods and weaves between twisted branches. Then, Holtz spots something and starts to riffle through the withered twigs. To the untrained eye, it’s easy to overlook. But for Holtz, it’s instantaneous recognition. Scraggly, white lines give the appearance of shattered glass, but a name can still be made out at the top. It is a sonogram strip — crinkled, abused
by the elements, but intact. In early February, Holtz combed through parts of a flattened cornfield in Swannanoa — a rural area razed by fierce floodwaters from Hurricane Helene a few months earlier. The deluge swept away entire homes, and with it, people’s beloved photos, keepsakes and family heirlooms. Many have accepted that they are gone forever. But lost items remain scattered across the region — tangled in gnarled trees, washed up in deep ravines and buried under mud. That’s why Holtz is on a mission: find and reunite those cherished possessions with storm victims who don’t have the time or energy to look themselves.
“This level of growth is unprecedented.”
Thomas Dudley, OREd program manager
Payton McNabb — standing next to second lady Usha Vance, right — waves as she is recognized by President Donald Trump during his speech at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO
If veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack® LiquiVict 2x® to treat hook & round worms. 3 year stability. 2x strength. J R MOORE & SON. 898- 2998
Feb. 25
• Josh Murice Patterson, 32, of Goldston, was arrested for negligent child abuse causing serious physical injuries, involuntary servitude of a child victim, and human trafficking of a child victim.
Feb. 26
• Travis Clay Woody, 40, of Pittsboro, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Feb. 27
• Kayla Paige Harris, 28, of Thomasville, was arrested for identity theft, resisting a public officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Kayla Paige Harris, 28, of Thomasville, was arrested for identity theft and misdemeanor larceny.
Feb. 28
• Melodyne Dawn Huson, 54, of Siler City, was arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle and obtaining property by false pretense.
• Frederic Lee Harris, 50, of Bear Creek, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana up to ½ ounce, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Saul Antonio Ramirez-Guevara, 26, was arrested for first-degree kidnapping, human trafficking for commercial sex acts, and soliciting a child by computer.
March 1
• Sandy Marie Alston, 51, of Siler City, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance on prison/jail premises, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Guiseppe Lorenzo Cataldo, 48, of Durham, was arrested for simple assault and communicating threats.
Sheriff’s Polar Plunge shatters record for Special Olympics fundraising
Two-day event at Jordan Lake raises nearly $80,000 with hundreds of participants braving 49-degree waters
Chatham News & Record staff
THE CHATHAM County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Polar Plunge shattered previous fundraising records this weekend, raising nearly $80,000 for Special Olympics North Carolina as participants braved the 49-degree waters of Jordan Lake. The main event, held Saturday at Seaforth Beach, featured 25 teams taking the icy dip while spectators cheered from the shore. Sheriff Mike Roberson and his wife, Annette, maintained tradition by
leading the charge into the frigid waters.
“It’s always incredible to see our community come together in support of Special Olympics NC,” said Roberson in a press release. “This event is about more than just taking a chilly dip — it’s about inclusion, encouragement, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to shine. I want to personally thank everyone who participated, donated, and cheered from the sidelines. Your generosity and enthusiasm make a real difference.”
Saturday’s plunge included a DJ providing lively music, while the sheriff’s office’s Mobile Kitchen served warm biscuits and coffee to participants and spectators. Warming tents helped plungers recover after their exhilarating dips.
The Polar Plunge event raised a record-breaking $79,823 for Special Olympics North Carolina, significantly exceeding the previous year’s total of more than $50,000.
Among Saturday’s participants, Chatham Charter School stood out as the top fundraising school, while Seaforth High School’s Cheer, Dance, HOSA and FC Unified teams claimed the prize for top school participation. Lindsey Vickers was recognized as the top individual fundraiser. One of the event’s most enthusiastic participants was the sheriff’s office’s K-9 mascot, UNO, who took a solo plunge before returning to the water twice more alongside two sheriff’s office teams. The oldest plunger was 78 years old, while the youngest was just 4.
RESIDENTIAL
• 2930 Wayne White Road (Climax), 7.60 acres, 3 bed/2.5 bath, $275,000
• 389 Dewitt Smith Road (Pittsboro), 9.109 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $525,000
• 298 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.40 acres, 3bed/2 bath, $600,000
• 9550 Silk Hope Liberty Road (Siler City), 73.740 acres, 3 bed/3bath, $1,450,000
• 557 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 12.802 acres, 3 bed/3 bath, $2,500,000
• 4147 Siler City Snow Camp Road (Siler City), 57.43 acres, 5 separate living spaces, $2,750,000
RESIDENTIAL
• 5515 Rives Chapel Church Road (Siler City), 2.607acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $295,000
• 1115 Manco Dairy Road (Pittsboro), 14 acres, 3 bed/1 bath, $500,000
• 83 Karen Calhoun Road (Pittsboro), 4.36 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $800,000
LAND
• 37 E Cotton Road (Pittsboro), 0.996 acres, $100,000
• 170 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
• 188 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
• 327 Poplar Trail (Siler City), 5.022 acres, $150,000
• 9311 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 4.602 acres, $225,000
• 9231 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 5.630 acres, $250,000
• Tract 1 Robedo Road (Mount Gilead), 15.123 acres, $227,000
• Tract 2 Robedo Road (Mount Gilead), 17.425 acres, $262,000
LAND
• 0 Panama Terrace (Durham), 0.420 acres, $29,000
• 0 JB Morgan Road (Apex), 21 acres, $825,000
• 00 Hamlets Chapel Road (Pittsboro), 118.742 acres, $4,250,000
• 323 Wagon Trace (Pittsboro), 10.255 acres, $325,000
• 639 Hills of the Haw Road (Pittsboro), 5.2470 acres, $450,000
• 0 Chatham Church Road (Moncure), 15.94 acres, $750,000
• 0 Pasture Branch Road (Rose Hill), 29 acres, $1,250,000
• 8636/8710 Johnson Mill Road (Bahama),182.888 acres, $3,240,000
• 0 US 64 W (Siler City), 9.670 acres, $4,500,000
• 0 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 75.4330 acres, $17,000,000
COMMERCIAL IMPROVED 140 & 148 East Street (Pittsboro), 1.49 acres, $1,350,000
COMMERCIAL UNIMPROVED
• 10681 US Hwy 64 E (Apex), 3.97 acres, $1,000,000
• 1700 Hillsboro Street (Pittsboro), 29.79 acres, $4,500,000
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
March 6
Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party
6-8 p.m.
Join Koshu Sake every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for an Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party! Movie selections are announced a few days before each event on their Facebook page. You must be 21 with an ID to consume sake. Part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops
6-8 p.m.
Join House of Hops every Thursday, 6-8 p.m. for Opinionation Trivia. This Family Feud-style trivia game is so much fun! Play at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. for two chances to win $15 or $25 House of Hops gift cards. More events at House of Hops; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail. 112 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro
March
7
Vino!! Wine Shop Tasting
5-7 p.m.
Weekly free tastings at Vino!! Wine Shop are hosted every Friday. Experts share their picks of wines with varied pricing and from diverse locations. Tasting details, including which wines will be served, are shared on their Facebook page and in their newsletter.
March
8
Battle of the Chili Bowl Fundraisers 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A $20 entry fee per pot of homemade chili (2 gallons — approximate standard crock pot size). Chili must be cooked off-site and brought to the judging location listed below. Please bring a list of ingredients used for each pot. For those who want to eat chili and other items that will be served, please stop in to support the Chatham County American Legion Posts. Plates are $10 each. For additional information, contact (919) 799-7583. 721 Alston Bridge Road Siler City
March 12
Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills
6-9 p.m.
Every Wednesday night from 6-9 p.m, The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. The Sycamore also offers their Lounge Menu in the dining room on Wednesday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.
480 Hillsboro St.
Suite 500 Pittsboro
COURTESY CCSO
MCNABB from page A1
passed House Bill 574, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, during its 2023 session.
In one interview, McNabb described how she was knocked unconscious and exhibited a fencing response, which is an indication of a traumatic brain injury, following a forceful blow to the head from a volleyball spike by a biological male playing on the opponent’s team.
McNabb was playing volleyball on the Hiwassee Dam High School team, located in Cherokee County, when the injury occurred. As a result of the incident involving McNabb, the school board voted to forfeit all future games against the team involved or any team with a transgender athlete on it.
McNabb says the impact of the blow left her with significant long-term physical and mental effects, including impaired vision, partial paralysis on her right side, and anxiety and depression. She was also forced to abandon her goal of playing college softball.
In April 2023, McNabb testified in front of the North Carolina House Judiciary Committee alongside All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, who has been a leader with the Independent Women’s Forum on the issue. At that time, Gaines posted the video of McNabb’s injury to the social media platform X to underscore the severity of the situation.
McNabb told members of the committee that she was forced to quit the rest of the season and still was experiencing pain, neurological injuries and was also having learning issues.
Female Democrats offered pushback during committee
hearings that month leading up to the bill’s passage. During a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guildford) called the bill a “solution looking for a problem” while citing a small number of males playing on female teams.
Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg), during a Senate Education/Higher Education Committee meeting, seemed to doubt McNabb’s incident involved a male.
“I understand there was one report at a volleyball game where it’s unclear if the athlete was a trans athlete and if that was the reason, injuries happen,” Marcus. “I will point out injuries happen in sports all the time. We don’t need legislation to try to protect everyone and in every case.”
Then-Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed House Bill 574, stating
in his veto message that, “We don’t need politicians inflaming their political culture wars by making broad, uninformed decisions about an extremely small number of vulnerable children that are already handled by a robust system that relies on parents, schools and sports organizations.”
McNabb responded to Cooper’s veto message, saying, “I can’t comprehend why we’re even having to have this debate. Allowing biological males to compete against biological females is dangerous. This is an incredibly important bill to me especially because I had to live it. I may be the first to suffer an injury, but if this doesn’t pass, I won’t be the last.”
Gaines echoed McNabb’s sentiments on the veto, stating, “His argument, actually, I didn’t understand it at all.”
Payton McNabb, a senior at Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy, speaks at a news conference about transgender inclusion in sports at the North Carolina Legislative Building on April 19, 2023.
“He essentially said that, if we were to pass (H.B. 574) ultimately in the long term, it hurts women,” said Gaines. “I couldn’t grasp what he means.”
Cooper’s veto was overridden by lawmakers in August 2023.
No Democrats in the Senate supported the override, however, two House Democrats did.
The debate on men in women’s sports and spaces was a running theme under former President Joe Biden, who directed the U.S. Department of Education to issue changes to Title IX that altered the definition of sex to include gender identity. The change allowed for males to compete on female sports teams and opened up female locker rooms and bathrooms to males.
States sued over the rule change, which was dealt a final legal blow this January after a
federal judge’s ruling struck it down nationwide. The ruling followed the Biden administration quietly withdrawing the rule from the Federal Register in December 2024. The withdrawal notice cited mounting legal challenges and public comments opposing the rule.
In early February, Trump made headlines for signing the executive order “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports.” The president signed the order in the Oval Office surrounded by young women and girls.
Trump’s order directs the secretary of Education to enforce Title IX in a way that reserves women’s sports exclusively for biological females, instructs that agency to rescind funding from educational programs that allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports and directs other agencies to develop policies to protect women. McNabb is mentioned by name in the order’s fact sheet. North Carolina native Linda McMahon was confirmed to lead the Education Department on Monday. Democrats in Congress have continued to oppose legislation banning transgender athletes, most recently with Senate Democrats blocking advancement of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. The vote was 51-45, which is short of the 60 needed to move the bill forward. All 45 who voted in opposition were Democrats. North Carolina’s Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd voted yes. The House passed the Act by a vote of 218-206 in January, and all but two Democrats voted the measure down. North Carolina U.S. Reps. Alma Adams, Valerie Foushee and Deborah Ross all voted no. Rep. Don Davis voted present.
Central Electric awards two Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships annually to local students in Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, or Randolph counties. A young man will be selected to attend the Carolina Basketball School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a young woman will be selected to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp at N.C. State University in Raleigh.
SCHOOLS from page A1
going to go is residential live births,” said OREd Program Manager Thomas Dudley. “A large percentage of these births are going to become your kindergarten students five years down the line. A percent or two change can be significant in the long-term.”
According to the study, Chatham County had a 10% jump in residential live births from 2021 to 2022, and that number stayed consistent into 2023.
Also, with the continued development of Chatham Park — an approximately 8,500 acre, 27,000-unit planned development district — and the countywide water and sewer merger with TriRiver Water, population growth is anticipated to continue to explode in the coming decade in Chatham County.
what our student population growth is looking like, transportation planning and we don’t often get this kind of granular student-school connected data,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Karen Howard.
The group was also given an update on the progress of the county’s Digital Inclusion Plan.
“We all know (broadband) is very important to education,” said Policy and Legislative Analyst Brenton Hart. “Virtual learning has become a thing in the past 10 years, so broadband is a big important thing for students to be able to do their homework and those sorts of things.”
According to Hart, counties in North Carolina are unable to use taxpayer money to directly fund broadband expansion, but they can provide grants to ISPs for the purpose of expanding services in unserved areas.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be in the sixth or seventh grade during the upcoming school year, have permission from a parent or guardian to attend the overnight camp and must provide their own transportation if selected to attend.
Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com for more information or to apply. The deadline for applications to both camps is March 31. Central Electric sponsoring two youth to attend basketball camp this summer
“One of the biggest determinants of growth is water and sewer and the regionalization of that with TriRiver Water is a very big deal,” said OREd Planner Brian Godfrey. “That is, in the short term, mostly a bureaucratic situation, but longterm, signals that we can support growth and development around the county in the years to come.”
Based on all the data they collected, OREd is forecasting baseline school enrollment growth from approximately 8,800 in 2024-25 to approximately 14,000 by 2034-25 and potentially all the way up to 15,000 assuming additional sewer capacity is available.
“This level of growth is unprecedented,” Dudley said. “I looked back at the records that we have since the ’90s and of those roughly 250 enrollment forecasts, what you just saw is the most aggressive forecast we’ve ever produced.”
“We’re making so many decisions that are hinged on the availability of housing,
Currently, Chatham County is working to expand broadband access to approximately 8,500 locations through three grants: the Rural Digital Opportunity Grant, the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant and the Completing Access to Broadband CAB) Program.
The county also received $800,000 from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology which will be utilized to provide 500 laptops to residents once they complete a free digital inclusion class at various county libraries.
The aim is to serve various populations such as justice-impacted, rural, seniors, low-income, low-literacy and those with language barriers.
The Chatham County Board of Education will next meet March 10 and the Board of Commissioners will next meet March 17.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com
HANNAH SCHOENBAUM / AP PHOTO
obituaries
Edwin “Pawpaw” Lee Thompson
Feb.22, 1932 – Feb.25, 2025
Edwin “Pawpaw” Lee Thompson, 93, of Bear Creek, went to his Heavenly home Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, at SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House in Pittsboro, surrounded by loved ones.
Edwin was born in Chatham County on February 22nd, 1932, to the late Norman Edward and Mary Frances Lowe Thompson. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Beulah Cole Thompson; his brothers, Dean and Carter Thompson; his sisters, Lois T. Marley, Lucille T. Dixon, and Betty T. Holloway; and his granddaughter, Terri Thompson.
Left to cherish Edwin’s memory are his daughter, Linda Thompson Murrow and her husband, Pat of Bonlee; his sons, Ronnie Thompson and his wife, Debbie of Bear Creek, and Tony W. Thompson; five grandchildren, Rhett, Sabra (Ryan), Dan, Jereme, and Kristin; great grandchildren, Makayla, Madalynn, Hadley, Reagan, Hudson, Brock, and Wynslee; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous step-children, stepgrandchildren, and stepgreat grandchildren.
IN MEMORY
Edwin was a lifetime member at Oakley Baptist Church. He loved his church. He was a Christian and loved the Lord. He was a member of the Pauline Powers friendship Sunday school class. Edwin loved reading his bible and doing his daily devotions. He loved people and talking to them. He didn’t know a stranger. He also loved gardening. He loved his family – especially his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Edwin worked for Dixon Cabinet Shop, Kellwood, and Chatham County School maintenance. Later he worked with Jim Brewer. As he got older, he would sit in his shop and make many bluebird houses. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations sent to SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House, 100 Roundtree Way, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or Oakley Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2300 Siler City Glendon Rd., Siler City, NC 27344. Family will be at the home of Ronnie Thompson at 1534 Joe Brown Rd. Bear Creek, NC 27207 or the home of Linda Murrow 1712 Elmer Moore Rd. Siler City, NC 27344.
Celebration of Life services will be held Sunday, March 2nd, 2025, at 3 pm, at Oakley Baptist Church. The family will receive friends and family after the service in the fellowship hall. Services will be officiated by Dr. Jeff Johnson and Pastor Robert Lovette, Sr. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Thompson family.
Online condolences can be made at smithbucknerfh.com.
DR. FRANCES BLONDELL KENNEDY ANDREWS MAY 31, 1934 – MARCH 2, 2025
Dr. Frances Blondell Kennedy Andrews, age 90 of Broadway, passed away on Sunday (3/2/2025) at her home. She was born in Harnett County on May 31, 1934, daughter of the late Walker Haskel Kennedy and Evelyn Wade Kennedy. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Frankie Kennedy Sawyer and her husband, Don F. Andrews Sr. Surviving is her son, Donald F. Andrews Jr. and wife Lori of Broadway, NC; daughter, Lisa Sutton and husband Mac of Clinton, NC, and grandchildren, Dylan Andrews, Cherish Allen and Christopher Venable.
Boris Spassky, chess champion who lost match to Bobby Fischer, dies at 88
The Soviet grandmaster brought international attention to chess
The Associated Press
MOSCOW — Boris Spassky, a Soviet-era world chess champion who lost his title to American Bobby Fischer in a legendary 1972 match that became a proxy for Cold War rivalries, died Thursday in Moscow. He was 88.
The death of the one-time chess prodigy was announced by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body. No cause was given.
Spassky was “one of the greatest players of all time,” the group said on the social platform X. He “left an indelible mark on the game.”
The televised 1972 match with Fischer, at the height of the Cold War, became an international sensation and was known as the “Match of the Century.”
When Fischer won the international chess crown in Reykjavik, Iceland, the then-29-yearold chess genius from Brooklyn, New York, brought the U.S. its first world chess title.
Fischer, known to be testy and difficult, died in 2008. After his victory over Spassky, he later forfeited the title by refusing to defend it.
Former world champion Garry Kasparov wrote on X that Spassky “was never above befriending and mentoring
the next generation, especially those of us who, like him, didn’t fit comfortably into the Soviet machine.”
Spassky emigrated to France in 1976. On its website, the chess federation called Spassky’s match with Fischer “one of the most iconic” in the history of the game.
Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric said that Spassky’s secret strength “lay in his colossal skill in adapting himself to the different styles of his opponents,” The Washington Post reported.
The chess federation called Spassky “the first genuinely universal player” who “was not an opening specialist, but he excelled in complex and dynamic
middlegame positions where he was in his element.”
At the time of their famous match, the Soviet Union had compiled an unbroken streak of world chess championships that stretched back decades.
After his loss, Spassky went home to a cold reception in the Soviet Union, where he had become a national disappointment, the Post said. He said he was not allowed to leave the country, and his marriage, his second, fell apart.
“I feel at home at the chessboard,” he was quoted as saying in a recollection of the Reykjavik match published by the World Chess Hall of Fame in 2022, the Post said. “Our chess kingdom does not have borders.”
Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, dies at 82
The couple met the day the country star moved to Nashville
By Maria Sherman The Associated Press
CARL DEAN, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, died Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 82.
According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton’s publicist, Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton wrote in a statement.
The family has asked for respect and privacy. No cause of death was announced.
Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.
CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP PHOTO
Dolly Parton performs during an event celebrating the Kansas statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on Aug. 14, 2023, in Overland Park, Kansas.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” Parton described the meeting. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding
out who I was and what I was about.”
They married two years later, on Memorial Day — May 30, 1966 — in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.
Dean was a businessman, having owned an asphalt-paving business in Nashville. His parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean, had three children. Parton referred to his mother as “Mama Dean.”
Dean is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.
Parton and Dean kept strict privacy around their relationship for decades, Parton telling The Associated Press in 1984: “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”
She joked that she’d like to pose with him on the cover of a magazine “So that people could at least know that I’m not married to a wart or something.”
J. WALTER GREEN / AP PHOTO
Bobby Fischer, right, and Boris Spassky play their last game together in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Aug. 31, 1972.
Greenland’s leader says the territory ‘is ours’
President Trump has vowed to acquire the Danish island
By Danica Kirk and Stefanie Dazio Chatham News & Record
NUUK, Greenland — Greenland’s prime minister declared Wednesday that “Greenland is ours” and cannot be taken or bought in defiance of a message from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the United States will acquire the territory “one way or another” even though his administration supports the Arctic island’s right of self-determination.
“Kalaallit Nunaat is ours,”
Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede wrote, using Greenlandic for the “Land of the People” or the “Land of the Greenlanders.”
Egede added: “We don’t want to be Americans, nor Danes; we are Kalaallit. The Americans and their leader must understand that. We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland.”
His post, written in Greenlandic and Danish, later updated to include English, came hours after Trump made a direct appeal to Greenlanders in a speech to Congress on Tuesday, a week before islanders head to the
“Kalaallit Nunaat is ours.”
Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede
polls for parliamentary elections.
“We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” Trump said. “We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.”
But Trump also said his administration was “working with everybody involved to try to get it,” referring to his wishes to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally.
“We need it really for international world security. And I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it,” Trump said.
Many in Greenland, a vast and mineral-rich island that is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, are worried and offended by Trump’s threats to seize control of homeland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in an interview with broadcaster TV2, echoed Egede in repeating that Greenland is not for sale.
She said that Denmark would like to hold onto its commonwealth, but it’s a commonwealth that must be improved through equality and respect.
Asked about Trump’s comments, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Wednesday he did not think Greenlanders wanted to separate from Denmark in order to instead become “an integrated part of America.”
Løkke sought to strike an optimistic tone, saying he believed that Trump’s reference to respecting Greenlanders’ right to self-determination was “the most important part of that speech.”
“I’m very optimistic about what will be a Greenlandic decision about this. They want to loosen their ties to Denmark, we’re working on that, to have a more equal relationship,” the minister said during a trip to Finland, adding it was important that next week’s parliamentary elections are free and fair “without any kind of international intervention.”
Greenlanders will head to the polls Tuesday. Trump’s recent comments about taking over the island have ignited unprecedented interest in full independence from Denmark, which has become a key issue during campaign season.
Chatham County Aging Services Weekly Activities Calendar
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from page A1
“It’s not just trash, and it’s not just trees and pieces of metal,” Holtz says. “It’s their lives. This is their hearts, their homes, the generations of history.”
Searching the cornfield
Over the past few months, Holtz has spent much of her free time making the nearly four-hour drive from Raleigh to Swannanoa to search for lost items. She balances her job as a North Carolina National Guard captain and being a mom to two sons — a 10-year-old and a 24-yearold. It’s difficult being away, Holtz says, but her kids support her efforts. Holtz first visited western North Carolina after the storm on duty delivering aid. Then, while helping retrieve lost objects in Swannanoa for Violet Vardiman — a woman Holtz fondly calls “Miss Violet” — Holtz realized how many other missing belongings were out there. So she kept coming back. Holtz posts her finds to Facebook in hopes of finding their owners.
At first, searching for lost belongings was overwhelming because of the sheer volume of objects strewn about, Holtz says. Now, she looks a few feet ahead of her at a time to stay focused. She’s learned other tips and tricks, too. Use larger pieces of debris to store missing keepsakes while walking. Put on a hat or your hair will get caught in tree branches. Wear gloves and sturdy boots. And if you see a Dallas Cowboys mat, stomp on it first before picking it up — Holtz, after all, is a Buffalo Bills fan.
After exploring the cornfield and adjacent woods for about 20 minutes, Holtz already has a handful to bring back — an 8-track tape, a teddy bear with golden wings and plenty of photos. Despite some scratches and their sunbleached tone, the photos are in decent shape for what they’ve been through.
As Holtz walks back to her truck, she squints and scours the cornstalks for anything she missed. Holtz views each valuable she finds as an opportunity for joy, and if it’s left behind, there’s no guarantee it will be there next time.
Holding onto belongings until the time is right
What Holtz found in the cornfield will join the collection of other lost possessions in her trailer as she tries to find their owners. The spread inside resembles a garage sale. Photos make up a large chunk of Holtz’s collection. Pictures captured from weddings, school and simple slices of life. Just from collecting photos, Holtz says she feels like she knows some people’s entire life story without ever meeting them.
To restore photos, she’s developed her own cleaning routine: Use cool water and rubbing alcohol, then carefully scrub with a soft toothbrush. It’s time-consuming yet therapeutic.
Holtz sets down a large mud-spattered canvas — a piece that will require the toothbrush treatment — and slowly pours water over it. The gentle stream crackles against the crisp canvas. Faces emerge from the splotchy, brown haze. It’s a family portrait, Holtz says.
“I hope I find the owner of that,” she says softly.
Since Holtz started posting pictures of the lost possessions on Facebook, she’s consistently in contact with about 15 families. She has returned belongings to some and is waiting to connect in person with others. Some of the families have evacuated the state and haven’t returned — but Holtz doesn’t mind holding onto their things.
“I’m in no hurry, and I don’t expect them to be in a hurry,” she says. “They’re still getting their lives back together.”
“Getting back history”
The next day, Holtz sets up her trailer by the cornfield. She had posted her location to social media and patiently waits to see if anyone comes. About a half hour later, a silver SUV pulls over. A woman from Swannanoa, Angie McGee, steps out.
McGee is looking for lost photos. The 42-year-old searched for her family’s belongings after Helene washed away her home, but she wasn’t successful. Wearing black latex gloves, she rubs caked dirt from the photos and notices familiar faces: her brother, her father and her son.
She even spots her ultrasound photos — the same scroll that Jill had picked up the day before. She is stunned. McGee can’t believe the photos traveled nearly 2 miles downriver from her home — much less that Holtz had somehow found them. After months of anguish over what she had lost, McGee says she is finally “getting history back.”
“She done brought back a smile to me, she done brought back life to me. Not just me, my family,” McGee says. “Because, you know, there were things we lost that we thought maybe we never get back.”
At one point, McGee’s gaze settles on football shoulder pads with silver marker writing. The sight brings her to tears. They belong to her 12-year-old son, Link.
Holtz tries to not to cry. Later, the two women embrace before McGee leaves with her things. Giving people back their lost hope is why Holtz says she continues this work. But in these reunifying moments, it gives Holtz a little of her own hope, too.
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and is waiting to return to a family she contacted.
HELENE
MAKIYA SEMINERA / AP PHOTO
Jill Holtz looks at a crumpled sonogram she found in the woods near a cornfield she was searching in Swannanoa.
MAKIYA SEMINERA / AP PHOTO
Jill Holtz somberly holds a burial flag she pulled from the mud — one of the most emotional moments in her searches, she said —
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NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
In the District Court Division
File NO: 25CV000137-180
LAURA MONROE v. DANIELLE R. MONROE and UNKNOWN FATHER To: DANIELLE R. MONROE and UNKNOWN FATHER
Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff seeks custody of and child support for Kinsley Rose Monroe, born January 26, 2023. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than April 1, 2025 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 20th day of February, 2025.
Kirsten A. Grieser, Attorney for Plaintiff 101 Conner Drive, Suite 402 Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Public Notice
Chatham County Schools’ federal projects under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 are presently being developed. Projects included: Title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) Title II (High Quality Teachers and Principals) Title III (Language Acquisition) Title IV A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment) Migrant Education Program (MEP) Career and Technical Education (CTE) High school students can enroll, without cost, in college credit classes through the Career and College Promise program. This includes Career and Technical Education pathways of study. IDEA (Students with Disabilities) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-Part B, Public Law 108.446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for Federal funding for the 2025-2026 School Year. Interested persons are encouraged to review amendments to the Project and make comments concerning the implementation of special education under this Federal Program. All comments will be considered prior to submission of the amended Project to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, North Carolina These projects describe the programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year. Non-profit private schools and interested persons are encouraged to review these federal guidelines for the above listed projects and indicate their interest in participation in the projects if qualified. These projects are being developed during April and May and are due to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on June 30, 2025. The initial Equitable Services for Private Schools meeting will be held on March 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM, in person, at the address listed below. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the office of Carol Little, Executive Director Federal Programs and School Improvement, at Chatham County Board of Education, P.O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C. Spanish Version below: NOTICIA PUBLICA Los proyectos federales de las Escuelas del Condado Chatham bajo la Ley Cada Estudiante Triunfa (ESSA) de 2015 están en proceso de planificación. Los proyectos incluidos son: Título I (Ayuda a los niños desfavorecidos a alcanzar altos estándares) Título II (Maestros y directores de alta calidad) Título III (Adquisición del Lenguaje) Título IV A (Apoyo al Estudiante y Enriquecimiento Académico) Programa de Educación para Familias Migrantes (MEP, por sus siglas en Inglés) Carreras y Educación Técnica (CTE, por sus siglas en Inglés) Los estudiantes de preparatoria pueden inscribirse, sin costo, en clases de créditos universitarios a través del programa Career and College Promise. Esto incluye vías de estudio de Educación Técnica y Profesional. IDEA (Estudiantes con Discapacidades) Actualmente se encuentra en proceso de modificación el Proyecto de Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidad (IDEA-Parte B, Ley Pública 108.446). El Proyecto describe los programas de educación especial que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para financiamiento federal para el año escolar 2025-2026. Se anima a las personas interesadas a revisar las enmiendas al Proyecto y hacer comentarios sobre la implementación de la educación especial bajo este Programa Federal. Todos los comentarios serán considerados antes de la presentación del Proyecto modificado al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. Estos proyectos describen los programas que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para financiamiento federal para el año escolar 2025-2026. Se anima a las escuelas privadas sin fines de lucro y a las personas interesadas a revisar estas pautas federales para los proyectos enumerados anteriormente e indicar su interés en participar en los proyectos si califican. Estos proyectos se están desarrollando durante abril y mayo y deben entregarse al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte el 30 de junio de 2025. La reunión inicial de Servicios Equitativos para Escuelas Privadas se llevará a cabo el 25 de marzo de 2025 a las 2:00 PM, en persona en la dirección listada abajo. Se anima a las partes interesadas a comunicarse con la oficina de Carol Little, Directora Ejecutiva de Programas Federales y Mejoramiento Escolar, en la Junta de Educación del Condado de Chatham, P. O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000063-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Marcus Crossman, having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Daniel G. Crossman, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 3, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th of February, 2025. Marcus Crossman Executor Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Co-Executors of the Estate of Michael R. Ferguson, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 4th day of February, 2025. Jeffrey Ferguson, Co-Executor of the Estate of Michael R. Ferguson 1001 Bowers Store Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 Heidi K. Faucette, Co-Executor of the Estate of Michael R. Ferguson 20 Harold Hackney Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
Notice to Creditors
Estate of Steven Botha Chatham File No.: 25E000085-180 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Steven Botha, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 2, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This the 27th day of February 2025. Zelda Harlean Botha, Limited Personal Representative, in c/o Kellie M. Corbett, Attorney, at Carolina Family Estate Planning, 201 Commonwealth Court, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511. Publication Dates: February 27, 2025 March 6, 2025 March 13, 2025 March 20, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF DEBORAH KALISH COPLIN
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against DEORAH KALISH COPLIN, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit them to Laurie A. Coplin as Limited Personal Representative of the decedent’s estate on or before June 6, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 6th day of March, 2025. Laurie A. Coplin c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified on the 18th day of February , 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams, deceased, of Chatham County does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 12, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 6th day of March, 2025. Carol B. Williams Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams c/o J Alan Campbell Law PO Box 850 Hillsborough, NC 27278
NOTICE
NOTICE OF MEETING FOR THE TOWN OF PITTSBORO BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Pittsboro Board of Adjustment will conduct a meeting to be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Town of Pittsboro Town Hall, 287 East Street, Suite 221, Pittsboro. The purpose of the meeting will be for the Board of Adjustment to participate in the following: Election of Officers Training For more information contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (984) 282-6647.
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against Mairead Lockwood, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before May 16, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 13th day of February 2025. Brian N. Lockwood, Exec., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF IRIS SHIPP STOUTT CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO.
25E000097-180 All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Iris Shipp Stoutt, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 8th, 2025 or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.
This 6th day of March, 2025. Dawn Byrd Andrews, Executor c/o Attorney, Walter Brodie Burwell, Jr. Envisage Law 2601 Oberlin Road, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27608
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, March 17, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. Additional information is available at the Chatham County Planning Department office. Speakers are requested to sign up at the meeting prior to the hearing. You may also sign up on the county website prior to the meeting at www. chathamcountync.gov by selecting the heading County Government, then Commissioner Meetings, then Public Input/Hearing Sign Up. The public hearing may be continued to another date at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input, both written and oral, on the issues listed below: Testimony is required to be given under oath during the evidentiary hearing for the following item: Quasi-Judicial Request: A quasi-judicial public hearing for a Special Use Permit (SUP) requested by Chatham County Facilities and Construction for a new EMS station to be located on Parcel No. 62221 (2.3 acres) and 95753 (.66 acres), located at 9251 US 15-501 N, Baldwin Township. Substantial changes may be made following the public hearing due to verbal or written comments received or based on the Board’s discussions. Notice to people with special needs: If you have an audio or visual impairment, unique accessibility requirements or need language assistance, please call the number listed below prior to the hearing and assistance may be provided. If you have any questions or comments concerning these issues, please call the Chatham County Planning Department at 919-542-8204 or write to P.O. Box 54, Pittsboro N.C. 27312. Please run in your paper: March 6th and 13th, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Jannell Hanood qualified before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on February 14, 2025, as the Executor of the Estate of JOHNNY DAVIS BUTLER, 140 Brookstone Lane, Room 317, Pittsboro, NC 27312. This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations, as required by N.C.G.S. 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 27th of May, 2025 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 payments to the undersigned. Payments and claims should be presented to Deirdre M. Stephenson, Attorney at Law, 1518 Elm Street, Sanford, NC 27330.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000100-180 The undersigned, PAMELA BARTH JACOBS, having qualified on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GEORGIA RUTH HUDSON BARTH, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 27TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. PAMELA BARTH JACOBS, EXECUTOR 7 AZALEA LANE SPRUCE PINE, NC 28777
*MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: 13604 US HIGHWAY 64 W. SILER CITY, NC 27344-6445 Run dates: F27,M6,13,20p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000101-180 The undersigned, YVONNE M STEWART, having qualified on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of THOMAS VINCENT MORLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. YVONNE M STEWART, ADMINSTRATOR
793 ROSSWOOD RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against the estate of Pauline Ann Gergen, of Chatham County, NC, who died on December 1, 2024 are notified to present them on or before May 15, 2025 to Maria Gergen Teague, Executrix, c/o Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, 2 Couch Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Michele L. Stiffler MAITLAND & STIFFLER LAW FIRM 2 Couch Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Attorney for the Estate
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, Tina Victoria Darden, having duly qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Miotzi Eugenia Darden, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned in care of Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney for the Estate, 3400 Croasdaile Dr., Ste 205, Durham, NC 27705, within ninety (90) days of the first publication of this Notice or it will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons and legal entities indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February, 2025. Tina Victoria Darden, Executrix C/O Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney 3400 Croasdaile Drive Ste 205 Durham, NC 27705 1-919-246-5775 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY 24E001587-180 All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Richard Henry Amlung, deceased, late of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February 2025. Susan Rubin, Administrator CTA c/o Hemphill Gelder, PC PO Box 97035 Raleigh, NC 27624-7035 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13 and 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000058-180
The undersigned, GARY L. MARBRY, having qualified on the 30TH Day of JANUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DONALD L. MARBRY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. GARY L. MARBRY, EXECUTOR 1550 US 15-501 CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517 Run dates: F13,20,27,M6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000019-180
The undersigned, ROBERT JAMES CLARK, having qualified on the 27TH Day of JANUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ELAINE THAIN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. ROBERT JAMES CLARK, EXECUTOR 104 S DOGWOOD AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: F13,20,27,M6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000065-180
The undersigned, KIMBERLY TERRELL TEUNIS, having qualified on the 4TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JOHN SYLVESTER TEUNIS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21ST Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. KIMBERLY TERRELL TEUNIS, ADMINISTRATOR 1157 SAINT CLOUD LOOP APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: F20,27,M6,13p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000082-180
The undersigned, SHERRIE HATFIELD, having qualified on the 14TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PATSY KING BLACK, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
SHERRIE HATFIELD, EXECUTOR 2129 SANDY BRANCH CHURCH ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: THE LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS FADELY 119 N FIR AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000095-180
The undersigned, RANDALL L. HOLT, having qualified on the 18TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PEGGY HOLT ROSENBERGER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 27TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025.
RANDALL L. HOLT, EXECUTOR 175 EDWARDS HILL CHURCH RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: F27,M6,13,20p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000073-180
The undersigned, ANNE L. CAMPBELL, having qualified on the 5TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PEGGY LEWIS LINDLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. ANNE L. CAMPBELL, EXECUTOR 635 SHEEP ROCK RD. SNOW CAMP, NC 27349 Run dates: F13,20,27,M6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000062-180 The undersigned, JEFFREY S. LeGAY, having qualified on the 5TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of SANDRA K. LeGAY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14TH Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. JEFFREY S LeGAY, EXECUTOR 140 LANDRUM CREEK DR. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: F13,20,27,M6p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Co-Executors of the Estate of Michael R. Ferguson, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against
County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 11th day of February, 2025. Cathy L. Moody, Executor of the Estate of Charles Lee Moody 2090 Silk Hope Liberty Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS 25E000105-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Karen Howard, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Ralph A. Howard Jr., deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 4, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 6th of March,
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
A debate over profit versus safety on slowing cars in school zones
By Jeff Amy
The Associated Press
DECATUR, Ga.
— Outside
Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone.
Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can’t equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively.
More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights but pulled the plug in 2014.
Georgia’s fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018.
Opponents say cameras are about money, not safety
More than 100 representatives in Georgia’s 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsor -
ing that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren’t flashing, they didn’t even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair.
While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don’t go on a driver’s criminal record, the state does block people who don’t pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019,
WANF-TV found last year.
Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue.
“These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,” Washburn said. “Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children’s safety.”
One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics.
Others want to reform camera use, not end it
Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage.
“So the objective is to alert drivers that they’re entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,” said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that
is similar to Burns’ would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that’s also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents’ cars, a majority of Decatur’s 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home.
Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall.
“We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle,” Garrett said.
Violations drop but many drivers still speed
Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said.
“We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,” Richards said.
Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles per hour over the speed limit to be cited.
Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior.
“Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted,” John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. “I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good.”
MARCH
JEFF AMY / AP PHOTO
Students walk home past an automated speed camera outside Beacon Hill Middle School in Decatur, Georgia.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Quilting hope
My friend believes that making quilts is a form of spiritual practice.
MY FRIEND greeted me in my pastor’s study: “Good morning, Sunshine!” I was heartened to see the smile on her face. She has an upbeat personality yet has confessed to feeling down lately about the state of the world. President Donald Trump’s executive actions have threatened the loss of lives both here and abroad.
That day at church, I had been preparing for a busy season. For many Christians, this is the beginning of Lent — a season of journeying with Jesus to the cross. Lent often entails fasting or giving something up. While poignant and true, such spiritual disciples might not feel exactly like a ray of sunshine.
Though not “sunny” per se, I believe self-sacrifice can shed light on our commitments and values. What are you willing to give up for a greater good? What sacrifices are you willing to make to put the needs of others before your own? What does the community look like that you wish to be a part of? As writer Frederick Buechner claimed,
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
“To hear yourself try to answer those questions is to begin to hear something not only of who you are but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become.”
I wouldn’t characterize myself as optimistic for the next four years if it implies that I hold a positive outlook. I am gravely concerned that the actions of our federal government, as well as state representatives, will have negative consequences for the vulnerable in our society and threaten the long-term stability of our world.
I am hopeful. There is a difference. My friend believes that making quilts is a form of spiritual practice. She often uses old or discarded materials, like T-shirts and banners. She stitches these scraps together and makes something new and beautiful.
I think hope is like that. You might take a little bit of good news from here, a kind gesture from there. Perhaps someone admits a mistake, while another person tries to right a wrong.
Fishing around separates our wants from our needs
Sometimes our wants and our needs get mixed up. Sometimes the distinction is pretty clear but we still go on our way.
A NUMBER of years ago, in another life, I was in love with a 15-foot bass boat.
It wasn’t something I owned. Instead, it was something I wanted ... really wanted.
And I’m not sure why since I’d not grown up as much of a fisherman.
Most of my equipment for that hobby through my formative years had centered around a cane pole or two, some floats and some red wigglers, if I could dig them up in the back yard or garden.
And most of the locations were pretty local — either Wallace Farrell’s pond behind my house, Johnnie and Elsie Burke’s pond down the Hanks Chapel Road or the big pond at my Uncle Charlie and Aunt Sis’s farm north of Pittsboro.
The rate of success for said adventures was pretty low. I don’t remember the guys from Field & Stream magazine ever interviewing me about my secrets. More than likely the total haul for whatever number of years I wet a hook might have filled up two 5-gallon buckets and the reality was I didn’t really like the taste of the bream I caught — too many bones, not enough meat and a really strong smell. When we had neighborhood fish fries, I majored on the cornbread and French fries that accompanied the fish and in time learned to eat onions, as well.
But for some reason, during those days of living in Apex and working in Raleigh
in the 1970s, I was convinced I needed a bass boat — that 15-footer with a trolling motor and live well and the fancy seats that sit up really high. Maybe it was the proximity of Jordan Lake. Maybe I was looking for a new hobby. I don’t know. I just know I wanted — even needed — one. So I’d go to boat shows, big ol’ events at the N.C. fairgrounds, even slip away from work early or take longer lunch hours than an hour. Talk to the salesmen. Read the literature. Ask questions. I was hooked ... no pun intended.
Now, from the vantage point of today, I can say with gratitude I never got one. Several things happened. We moved. I resigned my job and entered seminary. Children were born and they needed shoes more than I needed a boat. And it’s a good thing things turned out that way. I probably would have fallen overboard anyway.
The point I want to make is not that a boat is a bad thing or fishing should be avoided. Lots of great folks have boats and go fishing and all that. It’s just that for me it wasn’t the right thing. And I wonder how many times and how many places we want something that isn’t the right thing for us. Probably many times in many places but we don’t — or can’t or won’t — see it at the time.
Sometimes our wants and our needs get mixed up. Sometimes the distinction is pretty clear, but we still go on our way.
Reminds me of a story my father-in-law used to tell about a senior adult farmer
Individually, such acts are fine and good. When they all come together, transformation can occur.
When I came home from church that evening, my daughter happened to select Lizzy Rockwell’s children’s book “All Quilt Together” for a bedtime story. The picture book is based on the author’s actual experience at a senior living facility in Connecticut. People of all ages in the community are part of the quilting group called Peace by Piece. Rockwell wrote, “It takes a long time to quilt the quilt. Everybody lends a hand.”
As I read of a diverse community that gathered to stitch fabric, I saw a vision of what our society might become, and I felt new inspiration to live into that hope.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
who, along with his two adult sons, came into his tractor and farm equipment dealership one day.
As was my father-in-law’s custom, he struck up a conversation with the older gentleman, and before they parted ways, the salesman had done his job and the customer was the proud owner of a new and not cheap tractor. As the deal was being concluded, one son looked at his father and said, “Daddy, what do you need with that tractor?” And the older gentleman said, “Son, I don’t need it; I just want it.”
Then there are those times our wants and desires don’t come about because of the cost, both in time and money. I guess the key is to know the differences and act accordingly.
As for me, I just know that I still don’t have that boat — but no longer do I want it. Instead, I’ll settle for a good cup of stout coffee, today’s newspaper, some friends and a seat on the porch, if the weather will cooperate. Those things never go out of style or prove to be too costly, and I’m pretty sure they don’t hurt us or are bad for us.
Hope you’re able to determine the difference between the wants and needs in your life.
I’m pretty sure it’s worth the effort.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
COLUMN SEN. TODD JOHNSON
My life as a cheerleader
Hmmm maybe
I’m not a cheerleader after all but a reporter instead? Well, who’s picky here? Not me.
OK, JUST PULLING your leg, whatever that means. I was never a high school cheerleader, waving my pompoms, elevating team spirit, doing splits or somersaults. (No, wait a minute, I probably could have managed the somersaults.)
Cheerleaders were the bubbly, perky and popular girls. Me? I was on the debate team. My gymnastic ability extended to the juggling of words. Pompoms were, generally, not a feature in debate tournaments. And bubbly? Probably much more likely sarcastic.
The years rolled by. (Have you noticed how frequently this happens?) A change occurred. I’ve evolved into, and it’s so embarrassing to say, a cheerleader. Me!
Of all people. At long last, a skilled somersaulter and performer of splits?
Well, maybe not that particular version of cheerleading. But the cheerleader’s role of elevating others? You bet!
Huh?
Gosh, I think that’s a pretty straightforward statement. Elevating the spirits of others. Is this too saccharine or Shirley Temple-like?
No way.
I can still curse up a storm (generally when alone in my living room.) Only very, very rarely do I shoot the finger at an outrageous driver (I’m usually dangerously low in blood sugar when that occurs.) Hanging my head, in shame, at responsibly (don’t you mean irresponsibly?) dealing
with recycling. I, occasionally, really yell at the purgatory of automated phone systems because I feel trapped and unheard. (You’ve been there, too?) For the most part, though, I choose to happily embody my self-designated cheerleader role. “Elevating spirits is now my middle name!”
OK, OK, I get the point! But one doesn’t, generally, evolve from debate nerd to a cheerleader (whoopee!) for the masses. You know?
I see your point. This was certainly not a lickety-split evolution. In all honesty, I don’t know how it transpired, but I think I’m going to blame E.B. White for it.
E.B. White? Who …
E.B. White, the author of that classic children’s book “Charlotte’s Web.”
“I am often mad, but would hate to be nothing but mad. I would lose what value I have if I were to refuse to accept the warming rays of the sun and report them …”
Hmmm … maybe I’m not a cheerleader after all but a reporter instead? Well, who’s picky here? Not me. No reason I can’t do both, is there? Report life’s warming rays of the sun and cheerlead us all in celebrating them.
As we speak, much needed elevators of spirit tryouts are happening. Come one, come all …
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
What happened last Friday?
There is no Republican resistance to Trump right now.
THE PRESIDENT and JD Vance turned a meeting that was supposed to make nice in the White House into a segment for Fox News as they openly shouted at Ukraine’s leader for not being thankful enough for America’s aid and Donald Trump’s leadership.
After Vance accused him of being “disrespectful” by being insufficiently thankful, Trump joined in, telling him he was “gambling with World War III” and was “not really in a very good position.”
“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump threatened. “And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out, and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.” The rest of the visit was canceled. The mineral rights deal, which was supposed to be something for Trump to claim credit for and a sign of cooperation, never got signed.
Reporters covering the event could recall nothing like it in modern American history.
Welcome to “Fox & Friends” from the Oval Office.
When the camera goes on, that’s what this presidency is.
Only some people find that terrifying.
That was the lead story for the day, on top of the usual stories of mass firings, potential Medicaid cuts (how else do you fund the tax cuts), DOGE incursions, judicial rulings and the fact that Republicans commandeered every vote they have in the House to support a budget resolution that can only be funded that way.
There is no Republican resistance to Trump right now. They are muzzling themselves. Everyone got confirmed. Trump treats Vladimir Putin with greater deference and respect than he does the leader of our ally whose free country Putin invaded. And the old Republican foreign policy establishment holds its tongue.
The resistance is coming from governors’ offices, state attorneys general and lawsuits. Lawyers in this country are stepping up to challenge the overreach. And judges, federal and state, are stepping up to put the pause if not the hold button on the worst of this administration’s excesses.
This is not nothing. It is the product of enormous effort and organization. So to say
BE IN TOUCH
the opposition is not really doing anything is simply not so.
Still, it feels that way. Party-line votes, while reflecting Democratic solidarity, don’t feel like anything other than the overwhelming capture of Congress by Trump.
James Carville, the famed former Clinton strategist, thinks it’s fine if Democrats sit back and do nothing and let Trump so vastly overreach that it will collapse from within in months. That may be the default, but it’s hard to see it as the best strategy.
The Democratic National Committee filed its first lawsuit against the Trump administration, and this actually made me laugh, although that was clearly not the intended purpose. The suit claims that an executive order would turn the until-now independent Federal Election Commission into an arm of the president and the attorney general. The executive order at issue stated that federal agencies cannot interpret the law differently than the president or attorney general.
“The executive order purports to provide President Trump — the leader of the Republican Party — with the ability to order the F.E.C. to take particular positions on any question of law arising in the commission’s performance of any of its duties,” the Democrats’ lawsuit states. Which is all true, the FEC is bipartisan, which is the whole point, although over the course of its tenure, it has been far less effective — toothless might be a better word — in rooting out corruption in campaigns and elections than the vehemence with which the Democratic rhetoric would suggest.
Which is my point. Of all the things the Democratic National Committee could choose to sue Trump over — as its “first lawsuit” — they choose something that no one but election law junkies knows or cares about. This is the new committee chair’s debut? This is what he is being quoted about?
The Democrats have to do better than that.
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.
Protecting North Carolina jobs by protecting manufacturing
IT’S A NEW day in Washington, D.C.
With President Donald Trump’s return and a Republican-controlled Congress, there is real hope for change that will strengthen our economy and make the nation more secure.
Before this new Congress, one of the first tasks is to make Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent. Some of these cuts were enacted in 2017 but have already expired. If Congress does not act, more will disappear at the end of this year.
A new report from the National Association of Manufacturers shows why preserving these tax cuts is critical for North Carolina. Without action to extend the tax breaks, North Carolina could lose nearly 200,000 jobs and billions in economic activity. Those are steep costs that communities across North Carolina would pay.
The good news is that Republicans in Congress, including members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, are working hard on a tax bill. A quick look at the history of these tax cuts explains why this issue is a congressional priority.
The 2017 Trump tax cuts included tax breaks for individuals and businesses across the economy. Manufacturers, big and small, were among the bill’s principal beneficiaries. Lower domestic and international tax rates, new deductions for small business owners, and incentives for innovation and investment spurred unprecedented manufacturing growth.
In 2018, the first year the tax cuts were in place, manufacturers created jobs at the highest rate in decades. Capital spending also spiked as manufacturers took advantage of tax reform to purchase new equipment, raise wages and expand facilities.
We in North Carolina benefited from this manufacturing resurgence. Across the state, we now have more than 9,000 manufacturers that employ nearly 475,000 people. The industry accounts for almost 15% of our gross domestic product, adding $98.5 billion to our economy.
Today, some of the world’s leading manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, food and chemistry call the Tarheel State home. Last year, Site Selection Group named us the best state in the U.S. for manufacturing due to our strong, educated workforce, pro-business climate and geography.
In 2025, Congress can keep the momentum going and protect North Carolina’s manufacturing sector by restoring Trump’s pro-manufacturing tax code.
Among the most vital tax provisions that Congress must renew are those that lower costs for research and innovation by allowing businesses to expense and deduct certain costs. Also, lawmakers’ priorities are keeping exclusions that protect small, family-owned manufacturers from the estate tax and maintaining individual and corporate tax rates that have helped business owners keep more of their hard-earned money and compete on an international scale.
Beyond getting the policy right, Congress’s timing is critical.
Currently, manufacturers across our state are making hiring and production plans for the years ahead. Other manufacturers outside our state consider North Carolina a possible place to relocate or expand. The sooner Congress provides certainty that the U.S. tax code will continue to support manufacturers, the sooner business leaders can lock in their decisions and make additional investments in our state.
As a North Carolina legislator, I am proud of our work in Raleigh to make our state a place where businesses can thrive. We have cut the corporate tax rate, invested in our infrastructure, and streamlined state regulations. Thankfully, North Carolina legislators again have strong partners in the nation’s capital.
Eight years ago, Trump and Republicans in Congress helped North Carolina launch a manufacturing boom. In 2025, it is time for Congress to do it again by sending a bill to Trump’s desk that permanently makes all of 2017’s pro-manufacturing tax policies.
Sen. Todd Johnson represents District 35 in the N.C. Senate and is majority whip.
Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 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.
Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com
COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH
CHATHAM SPORTS
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: ROUNDS 1-3
Chatham Central’s comeback falls short in second round loss
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
1A
No. 9 Chatham Central’s late fourth quarter comeback fell short in a 56-53 second round loss to No. 8 Bear Grass Charter Friday. The Bears, who beat Bear Grass in the same round last season, trailed by as much as 11 in the fourth quarter, but their rally didn’t start until they were behind 10 with just over a minute left to play.
Senior guard Chloe Scott got the comeback started with a corner three to bring the deficit to seven. Bear Grass Charter sank two free throws to go back up nine, but after a made free throw by Chatham Central sophomore Lizzy Murray, Scott earned herself two trips to the free throw line in the final minute.
Scott knocked down four free throws, including two after a foul on a put-back attempt and two after an unforced turnover on a Bear Grass inbound led to Scott driving for a foul, to put the Bears down 54-50 with 18 seconds remaining. Following two foul shot misses from Bear Grass, sophomore guard Addison Overman found Scott in the corner, and she hit another three
to bring Chatham Central within one point.
Sophomore Belle Douglass stole the ensuing inbound pass after a deflection by freshman Addison Goldston, but Douglass accidentally knocked the ball out of bounds. On its final chance to get the ball in and seal the win, Bear Grass got the ball down the court to Aubery Dotson who put in the final layup as time expired.
Prior to the second round, Chatham Central beat No. 24 Southside 69-34 in the first round for the second straight year. The Bears outscored the Seahawks 34-12 in the second half.
Bear Grass eliminated No. 25
Chatham Charter in the first round 76-43. Dotson scored a season-high 30 points on the Knights while shooting 58% from the floor.
No. 31 Woods Charter fell to No. 2 Wilson Prep 57-23 in the first round. The Wolves couldn’t get anything going offensively, being held to single digits in each quarter.
Wilson Prep sophomore Nakiya Boston led the way with 18 points on a 62% shooting clip.
2A
No. 2 Seaforth dominated
its opponents in the first two rounds, beating No. 31 Spring Creek 73-15 in the first round and No. 18 Clinton 70-16 in the second round.
With those wins, the Hawks’ win streak grew to seven.
Seaforth’s victory over Spring Creek saw its largest scoring output of the season. The Hawks started the game on a 29-0 run and led 49-6 at halftime.
Clinton put up a better fight, trailing by just nine at the end of the first quarter. However, Seaforth ramped up its defensive intensity and caught fire from 3 in a 26-0 run to close the second quarter.
No. 17 Northwood lost to No. 16 Southwest Edgecombe 59-49 in the first round.
The Cougars had three scorers in double digits as seniors Deniya Mayo and Aaliyah Whitehead scored 18 points apiece.
Northwood got off to a slow start, ending the first quarter down 11 and going into halftime down 38-20. The Chargers struggled from the floor, and many of their possessions ended in turnovers.
Northwood had a better showing in the second half, outscoring Southwest Edgecombe 29-22, but the improved play wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: ROUNDS 1-3
Chatham Central beats defending 1A champions Wilson Prep
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
1A
Perhaps the biggest second round game in the county took place in Bear Creek Friday night when No. 7 Chatham Central took down back-toback defending state champs No. 10 Wilson Prep 61-58 to make the third round of the state playoffs for the first time since 2019.
1,000
points
“I just knew when I drove, the way Aiden has been shooting in practice, that we all believed in him,” Young said.
Both teams traded baskets all night with the Bears trailing
With the game tied at 58 with less than a minute to play, Chatham Central senior Aiden Johnson hit the game-winning 3 on an assist from junior Jeremiah Young, sending in the final say to a back-andforth affair.
Local athletes take on college conference basketball tournaments
McKenna Snively and Christopher Newport won the Coast-to-Coast Tournament
By Asheebo Rojas
Chatham News & Record
IT’S OFFICIALLY March, which means Chatham’s former basketball standouts will be competing for spots in postseason tournaments.
As always, the work is done in the conference tournaments.
Here is a breakdown of how some of the county’s former hoopers did, or are hoping to accomplish, in their respective conference brackets.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Max Frazier (Central Connecticut, Northwood) Frazier and the Central Con-
necticut Blue Devils earned the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Conference Tournament and battled No. 8 Le Moyne in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The winner advanced to Saturday’s semifinal round.
Central Connecticut won the conference regular season title after defeating Le Moyne 84-75 on Feb. 27. Frazier, a sophomore forward, logged just under four minutes and recorded four points and two rebounds in the win.
The NEC Tournament winner will get an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Should the Blue Devils come out on top, Northwood could have a former player in the big dance this season. The NEC Tournament championship game will air on ESPN2 Tuesday at 7 p.m.
ASHEEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Chatham Central’s Brennen Oldham makes a layup during the Bears’ playoff win over Wilson Prep.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Seaforth’s Gabby White (3) puts up an off-balanced shot during the Hawks’ playoff win over Clinton.
Career
achieved by Cam Fowler in Northwood’s first round win.
Local football players invited to Carolina Coaches Combine
The county’s invitees include players from Chatham Central and Seaforth
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
LOCAL HIGH school football players form Chatham Central and Seaforth were selected to participate in the Carolina Coaches Combine at Page High School on April 12.
The Carolina Coaches Combines are a series of invite-only combine events hosted in North and South Carolina organized by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association and the North Carolina Football Coaches Association. Players are nominated by their school’s coaches, and a select number of nominees get invited to attend a combine in their region.
Chatham Central’s Brooks Albright (wide receiver), Sayvion Burnette (defensive back), Reed Douglas (quarterback), Gavin Williams (tight end), Bryson Alston (running back), Tyler Congrove (running back) and Hance Ramirez (wide receiver) were selected to participate in the underclass event at 2 p.m. Seaforth’s Nick Gregory (defensive back), Austin Ingram (defensive lineman), Patrick Miller (defensive back), Duncan Parker (quarterback), Max Hinchman (wide receiver), Travis Mann (kicker) and Evan Minor (running back) were also selected to the underclass event.
Chatham Central’s Nick Glover was the only Chatham play-
by one after each of the first two quarters.
Down 53-47 entering the fourth quarter, Chatham Central relied on its solid rim protection and timely baskets to rally back.
With senior forward Brennen Oldham (two blocks in the fourth quarter, six in the game), junior center Simon Sabbagh and Johnson down low, Wilson Prep couldn’t get much going in the paint. The Tigers settled for 3s, going 0 for 9 from beyond the arc and scoring just five points in the fourth quarter.
Chatham Central kept chipping away at the lead with hustle plays. Back-to-back putbacks from Johnson and Oldham, who led the Bears with 15 points, tied the game at 53, and forced turnovers helped create extra possessions.
The Bears capitalized on those opportunities down the stretch. Young, who set the tone early for Chatham Central with seven first quarter points, tied the game at 58 with just under three minutes to play.
The win was sweet revenge for Young and Oldham, who were on the 2022-23 Chatham Charter team that lost to Wilson Prep by two in the fourth round.
“That get back,” Oldham said. “I was talking about it all week. ‘I want them again. I want them again.’”
On the topic of Chatham Charter, the 17-seeded Knights fell to No. 1 Washington County in the second round 85-53 Friday. Chatham Charter trailed just 18-9 after the first quarter, but Washington County took full control after scoring 31 points in the second.
Prior to the loss, the Knights edged Central Tar Heel 1A conference rival No. 16 Woods Charter 52-45 in the first round. Junior guard Gabe McKoy and senior forward Brennan LaVelle led Chatham Charter with 17 points apiece, scoring all 13 of their team’s points in the third quarter.
Despite a poor first half shooting performance by the Wolves, Woods Charter hung around and only trailed 2620 at halftime. Yet the Knights put together a complete quarter in which its offensive production, sparked by LaVelle’s tenacity on the offensive boards and McKoy’s constant attacking, matched its defensive intensity, leading to a 39-27 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“For us, it starts with defense,” Chatham Charter coach Jason Messier said. “Defensively, we wanted to make sure their
er invited to the senior event on the same day at 8:30 a.m.
Players that compete in the senior combine will have their information shared with selection committees for all-star games, including the North Carolina Coaches Association EastWest All-Star Game and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
At the combine, each athlete will wear a Catapult One
Chatham Charter’s
two shooters (Alden Phelps and Grant Richardson) didn’t get any easy shots, and just rebounding and being physical on defense.”
Woods Charter couldn’t surmount the lead despite cutting it to under 10 later with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Although the loss wasn’t the desired result, the Wolves still walked away with their best season in program history, finishing 13-9 overall and hosting a playoff game for the first time.
2A
Northwood overcame a slow start to beat No. 14 Southwest Edgecombe 50-43 in the second round.
Down 43-42 with 47 seconds to play, a put back and-one from junior Cam Fowler and a put back by senior Isaiah Blair on Fowler’s missed free throw quickly turned the game back in the Chargers’ favor. Fowler sealed the deal moments later with a steal and transition layup to give Northwood a 48-43 lead with 30 seconds left.
The Chargers trailed as much as 10 in the first quarter and trailed 23-17 at halftime in a rough shooting night.
Northwood dominated No. 30 Camden County in the first round 60-25. Fowler reached his 1,000th career point in the win, becoming the sixth Charger to reach the milestone in the past six years.
No. 24 Seaforth lost to No. 8 Eastern Wayne in the second round 68-47 Friday, but to get there, the Hawks pulled off a 62-55 upset over No. 9 Franklin Academy and won their second-ever playoff game in the first round. Seaforth outscored Franklin Academy in each of the first three quarters. Junior Declan Lindquist led Seaforth with 20 points in the win, knocking down a team-high four 3s.
tracking system that measures metrics that improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
Glover had an outstanding season for Chatham Central, playing multiple positions and both sides of the ball. Glover, primarily a receiver, spent time at quarterback and defensive back. In the Bears’ first win of the season over South David-
from page B1
Aaron Ross (Chowan, Northwood)
Ross and the Chowan Hawks earned a No. 3 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, meaning Chowan will get a double bye and start in the quarterfinals Friday.
The Hawks won four of their last five leading into the tournament. Ross, a senior guard, scored a team and season-high 26 points in Chowan’s 81-68 win over Southern Wesleyan on Feb. 22.
Chowan could punch its ticket to the NCAA Division II Tournament by winning the CC bracket this weekend. Should they advance past the quarterfinals, the Hawks will face second-seeded Emmanuel. Chowan split the regular season series with Emmanuel, and Ross averaged 15.5 points in those games. Ross is Chowan’s second leading scorer, averaging 12.9 points per game.
Jalen Mcafee Marion (University of the Southwest, Northwood)
Marion and the University of the Southwest Mustangs fell short in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament championship game Sunday, losing to LSU Alexandria 88-79.
Marion, a senior guard, didn’t have the best offensive game as he scored three points on a 25% shooting clip, but he still grabbed three rebounds and a steal in the loss. This season, Marion has started 27 games and averaged 8.5 points per outing.
Southwest will see if it’ll be one of the 64 teams in the NAIA Tournament on March 6 at 7 p.m. EST.
Drake Powell (UNC, Northwood)
Powell and the North Carolina Tar Heels have a lot of work cut out during the ACC Tournament starting Tuesday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
As a March Madness bubble team, UNC will need a great week, likely an appearance in the conference championship game if not a title victory, to give itself the best chance to make the dance.
Powell, a freshman forward, has played a huge part in keeping the Tar Heels afloat the last few games, including a 16-point performance over Miami Saturday in which he knocked down four threes.
205
Receiving yards for Max Hinchman in a loss to Cummings last season.
recorded six tackles, including three solos.
The Bears’ other players selected for the combines also had significant contributions to the season in which the record (1-10) wasn’t pretty, but the level of play on the field improved game-by-game.
Seaforth’s cohort is more defense-heavy, which tracks with the strength of its team this past season.
The Hawks shut out multiple opponents for the first time in program history, and they held a talented Northwood offense to six points. Miller and Gregory were turnover machines this past year, combining for six interceptions (Miller led the team with four). Miller also caused five fumbles and recovered two.
son in August, Glover threw for 100 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 63 yards.
In a 24-12 unofficial win over East Columbus (added game due to an extra week from the effects of Hurricane Helene), Glover caught two touchdown passes (one for 15 yards and the other for 30) while also rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive end, he
On offense, Parker was the anchor, leading the team in rushing touchdowns (seven), passing touchdowns (six) and rushing yards per game (70). Hinchman was one of the Hawks’ top pass catchers, leading the team in receiving yards per game (51.8) and receiving touchdowns (six).
In a loss to Cummings in September, Hinchman hauled in four catches for 205 yards and two scores.
Jarin Stevenson (Alabama, Seaforth)
It’s no doubt that Stevenson and the Alabama Crimson Tide will be dancing once again, but the question is where they will land.
Alabama has been projected to be a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, but its buzzer-beater loss to Tennessee on Saturday could change that. Stevenson, a sophomore forward, has a chance to step up and help Alabama power through the gauntlet of the SEC for a conference tournament title and a solid case for the top seed in March Madness. The SEC Tournament will begin Wednesday at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
McKenna Snively (Christopher Newport, Northwood/North Raleigh Christian)
Snively and the Christopher Newport Captains won the Coast-to-Coast Conference Tournament championship game over Mary Washington 61-48 Saturday. On the way to the title game, Snively, a junior guard, hit a three in the Captains’ win over UC Santa Cruz in the semifinal game. Christopher Newport will play Montclair State in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Division III Tournament Friday at 4:30 p.m. The game will be played at the DuFour Center in Washington, D.C.
Olivia Porter (Marquette, Northwood)
Porter and the Marquette Golden Eagles will begin play in the Big East Tournament Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncas-
ville, Connecticut. Earning the No. 4 seed, Marquette will start with No. 5 Villanova at 2:30 p.m.
Marquette, projected by ESPN’s Charlie Creme as one of the first four out of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, will need a huge weekend to climb out of the bubble.
Porter, a junior guard averaging 6.2 points and three assists per game, will look to lead the Golden Eagles to a tournament bid.
Skylar Adams (Shaw, Northwood)
Adams and the Shaw Bears fell to Lincoln University (Pa.) 54-49 in the first round of the CIAA Tournament on Feb. 25. Adams, a freshman guard, dished out two assists and grabbed four rebounds in the loss. She ended her season averaging five points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Meah Brooks (Greensboro College, Chatham Charter)
Brooks and the Greensboro Pride fell to Brevard 103-31 in the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament on Feb. 25. Greensboro’s season came to an end in the loss.
Brooks, a freshman forward, recorded 11 points and six rebounds in the loss, marking her 11th game with at least 10 points.
Hannah Ajayi (Guilford College, Seaforth)
Ajayi and the Guilford Quakers lost to Washington and Lee University 8754 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 25. Guilford’s season ended with the loss.
Ajayi, a freshman guard, ended the year averaging two points and 1.1 rebounds per game.
COLLEGE
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Chatham Central’s Nick Glover (1) makes a move against Northwood in a game last fall.
BOYS from page B1
ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Gabe McKoy puts up a shot during a first-round playoff win over Woods Charter.
CUHAWKS / X Northwood graduate Aaron Ross makes a dribble move during a January game for Chowan.
Chatham Central softball opens with two wins over Eastern Randolph
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Baseball
Chatham Charter picked up the biggest win of the week with a 16-4 rout over South Stokes in its season opener Saturday. Luke Johnson and Jace Young combined for five hits and eight runs while Brandon Rives recorded a team-high four RBIs.
Northwood split the week against North Moore, winning the season opener 10-0 and losing Friday’s rematch 10-1.
Seaforth had a rough first week, losing its season opener to Wake Forest 8-0 and ending the week with a 10-2 loss to Orange on Friday. The Hawks earned their first win over Southern Alamance 4-2 on Feb. 27.
Jordan-Matthews fell to Eastern Randolph 16-1 in its season opener. Eastern Randolph scored nine runs in the fourth inning.
Chatham Central struggled during the week with three straight losses (two to Southeast Alamance and one to Forbush), and the Bears were held to one run in each game.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday) (overall, conference): 1. Southeast Alamance (2-0, 2-0); T2. Northwood (1-1, 1-1); T2. North Moore (1-1, 1-1); 4. Chatham Central (0-3, 0-2); 5. Bartlett Yancey (1-0, 0-0); 6. Cummings (0-0, 0-0); 7. Graham (0-0, 0-0); 8. Jordan-Matthews (0-1, 0-0); 9. Seaforth (1-2, 0-0)
Softball
Chatham Central got off to a good start to the season with two wins over Eastern Randolph (12-2 on Feb. 24 and 8-5 Friday). In Friday’s win the Bears scored three runs in the fifth inning to overcome a 5-3 deficit. Sophomore Chloe Brewer went 3-3 from the plate with two RBIs Friday. Jordan-Matthews won its season opener over Lee County 18-5 on Feb. 25. Following a 14-3 loss to Apex Friendship in its first game, Seaforth dominated Graham in a double-header Friday (15 -3 a nd 23-8). Blair Hill went 2-2 from the plate and recorded a team-high four RBIs in the second game Friday.
Runs for Jordan-Matthews in its softball opener
Northwood took two tough losses to start the year, falling to North Moore 16-0 on Feb. 25 and Southeast Alamance 16-2 Friday.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Seaforth (2-1, 2-0); T2. North Moore (3-0, 1-0); T2. Southeast Alamance (1-1, 1-0); T4. Northwood (0-2, 0-2); T4. Graham (0-2, 0-2); 6. Bartlett Yancey (0-0, 0-0); 7. Chatham Central (2-0, 0-0); 8. Cummings (0-0, 0-0); 9. Jordan-Matthews (1-0, 0-0)
Girls’ soccer
Northwood split its first week of the season with a 9-0 loss to Carrboro on Feb. 24 and a 9-0 win over Cummings on Feb. 27.
Jordan-Matthews also went 1-1 during the week, losing its season opener 9-0 on Feb. 24 and beating Phoenix Academy 6-1 on Feb. 27. Senior Alondra Arce scored a hat trick in the win.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Northwood (1-1, 1-0); 2. Cummings (0-2, 0-1); 3. Bartlett Yancey (0-0, 0-0); 4. Graham (0-0, 0-0); 5. Jordan-Matthews (1-1, 0-0); 6. North Moore (0-0, 0-0); 7. Seaforth (0-0, 0-0); 8. Southeast Alamance (0-2, 0-0)
Boys’ lacrosse
Northwood lost its season opener at Athens Drive 16-5 on Feb. 25, but the Chargers bounced back and beat Eastern Alamance 15-3 in its conference opener on Feb. 27. Seaforth lost its season opener to East Chapel Hill 13- 6. Central/Mid-Carolina conference standings (as of Sunday); 1. Orange (3-0, 1-0); 2. Williams (2-1, 1-0); 3. Northwood (1-1, 1-0); 4. Eastern Alamance (0-1, 0-1); 5. Southeast Alamance (0-3, 0-2); 6. Cedar Ridge (0-1, 0-0); 7. Seaforth (0-1, 0-0); 8. Southern Alamance (1-0, 0-0); 9. Western Alamance (0-0, 0-0)
Girls’ lacrosse
Seaforth took two tough losses to start the season, losing to Pinecrest 19-8 on Feb. 24 and Apex 17-3 on Feb. 26.
Boys’ tennis
Seaforth beat Chatham Charter 9-0 on Feb. 24, but the Knights responded with a 7-0 victory over Jordan-Matthews the next day. Northwood started the season on a good note, beating North Moore 5-1 and Southeast Alamance 6-0 during the week. Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Northwood (2-0, 2-0); 2. Seaforth (1-0, 1-0); 3. North Moore (1-1, 0-1); 4. Bartlett Yancey (00, 0-0); 5. Chatham Central (0-0, 0-0); 6. Cummings (0-0, 0-0); 7. Graham (0-0, 0-0); 8. Jordan-Matthews (0-2, 0-0)
Boys’ golf
Seaforth won the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference match No. 1 on Feb. 27 by a score of 153. Here are the rest of the results from the meet (team score): 2. North Moore (165); 3. Southeast Alamance (182); 4. Chatham Central (184); 5. Northwood (191); 6. Graham (248); Jordan Matthews (only two golfers) (+28)
Track and Field
Jordan-Matthews, Woods Charter and Chatham Charter competed in Jordan-Matthews’ home meet on Feb. 27. Here are the county’s first place finishers from the meet: Boys: Jermaine White (Jordan-Matthews, 200 (25.88 seconds), long jump (18 feet, 4 inches)); Wyatt Webster (Woods Charter, 400 (53.66)); Torris Price (Chatham Charter, 800 (2:05.78)) Girls: Rachael Woods (Jordan-Matthews, 100 (13:58), long jump (15 feet, 4 inches)); Khamya Woods (Jordan-Matthews, 100 hurdles (19.15)); Molly Selleck (Woods Charter, 400 (1:14.54)); Anna Peeler (Woods Charter, 800 (2:41.23)); Dana Sudhir (Woods Charter, 1,600, (4:47)); Woods Charter (4x800-meter relay (12:02.42)); Kalayah Headen (Jordan-Matthews, shot put (26 feet, 7 inches)); Jordyn Garner (Chatham Charter, discus (79 feet, 11 inches))
Chloe Brewer
Chatham Central, softball
Chatham Central’s Chloe Brewer earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Feb. 24.
In Chatham Central’s 8-5 win over Eastern Randolph on Friday, Brewer, a sophomore, knocked in the go-ahead run to complete the fifth-inning comeback for the Bears. Chatham Central trailed 5-3 entering the top of the fifth. After a walk tied the game at five runs apiece, Brewer, with two outs, singled on a ground ball, sending Nicole Maness home for the lead. Brewer hit Maness home in the top of the seventh inning, too, giving Chatham Central a 7-5 lead.
Brewer finished the night 3 for 3 from the plate.
Brewer returns to the Bears after a solid freshman season in which she batted at a .438 average and recorded 17 doubles. After the Bears first two games in 2025, she’s posted a .571 batting average with four hits in seven at-bats.
SIDELINE REPORT
NFL
NFL franchise tags increase with record-high salary cap
Indianapolis NFL quarterbacks will have the highest franchise tag cost at $40.242 million, up $7.5 million from last year. The league released figures for franchise and transition tags on Friday, a day after announcing the salary cap has increased to a record-high $279.2 million in 2025. Linebackers are second to quarterbacks with a franchise number of $25.452 million, and defensive tackles are close behind at $25,123,100.
WNBA
Mercury’s Taurasi retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles, 6 Olympic golds
Phoenix Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history. The WNBA’s career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she played for — also confirmed it. The 42-year- old won her sixth Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games and finishes her WNBA career with 10,646 points, nearly 3,000 more than second-place Tina Charles. She led UConn to three consecutive national titles, and the Mercury selected her No. 1 overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft.
GOLF
After 5 years in jail, Peake wins New Zealand Open, qualifies for British Open Queenstown, New Zealand Ryan Peake, an Australian former motorcycle gang member who turned to golf to turn his life around, has earned a place at the British Open by winning the 104th New Zealand Open by one stroke. The 31-year-old from Western Australia called the win “life-changing” after sinking a par putt on the 72nd hole to avoid a four-way playoff with fellow Australian Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman and Japan’s Kazuki Higi. He earned about $112,000 U.S. for winning.
NCAA FOOTBALL
Texas raising football ticket prices due to cost of paying players, more scholarships Austin, Texas Texas will be raising football season ticket prices by $13 per game next season as one of the wealthiest programs in the country tries to meet rising costs. Athletic director Chris Del Conte announced the price increase in his annual campus town hall. He detailed the program’s expected finances upon final approval of a landmark $2.8 billion lawsuit settlement that lays the foundation for players to receive money directly from their schools. Texas will have nearly $30 million in new costs and about 200 new scholarships across all sports.
Agassi, son of tennis legends, works to make mark in baseball
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf’s son Jaden is a pitching prospect
By David Brandt The Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. — It’s not the least bit surprising that Jaden Agassi — son of tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf — had a racket in his hand from the time he could walk.
The little boy loved to run. He loved to hit the ball. The problem was accuracy wasn’t his thing.
“It was hard for me to keep the ball in the lines,” Agassi said, laughing. “I just wanted to hit it as far as I could.”
So his parents signed him up for baseball. About 20 years later, he’s trying to make his own mark in the sports world.
The 23-year-old Agassi is a pitcher for Team Germany in this week’s World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Tucson, Arizona. The right-hander
grew up in Las Vegas with his famous American dad and German mother before playing college baseball at USC. He holds dual citizenship and speaks a little German.
The popularity of baseball has grown in Germany over the past few decades, but manager Jendrick Speer was still searching for a few additions to the roster for the WBC qualifiers when he stumbled across Agassi on social media and realized his connections to the country.
“I found him because he’s a good baseball player,” Speer said. “With all the technology out there, we found him while researching and discovered that he had played in college and had citizenship. It worked out great, and he’s a great guy.”
Agassi said his parents never pushed him into tennis, baseball or any other sport because they didn’t want to repeat their childhood and teenage years, which were totally consumed by tennis. Instead, he had a rel-
Francona says his mind went right back to baseball after a needed year off
The new Reds manager is preparing for his 24th season as an MLB skipper
By Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press
TERRY FRANCONA got used to getting out of bed whenever he wanted during his year away from managing, and his biggest decision then was whether to have a second cup of coffee before doing the daily crossword puzzle.
While it was a bit of an adjustment when he had to start getting up again in the predawn hours to get to the Cincinnati Reds spring training complex, Francona was quickly back to where he prefers to be every day.
“My mind went right back into baseball, and it kind of feels good,” Francona said soon after starting his first camp with the Reds, who hired him in October. “I enjoy, I love coming to the ballpark. There’s no place on this Earth I’m more comfortable. ... This is my home and, like, grew up in this place.”
The three-time Manager of the Year and two-time World Series champion, who turns 66 in April, is rejuvenated and feeling better after what he knows was a much-needed break from the grind of professional baseball. When Francona stepped
“My mind went right back into baseball, and it kind of feels good.”
Terry Francona
away at the end 2023 after 11 seasons managing Cleveland, he needed a shoulder replacement and double hernia surgery. He had missed extended time in 2020 and 2021 due to health complications.
“I had a good year, man. I needed to be away from the game. And when you say that, when you know it yourself, you’re probably, probably a little late. I really needed it,” he said. “Physically, I was so beat up that it starts to become, you know, mental, and you start, it wears on you, and you become short on patience and things like that. Those are not good attributes for a manager. So I think I’m situated where I can do the job the way you’re supposed to, the way I want to.”
Cincinnati, going into its 30th season since last winning a playoff series, turned to the manager with 1,950 wins over 23 seasons. Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, an outfielder for him with the Red Sox in 2009, described Francona as
atively normal upbringing and naturally gravitated toward the baseball diamond.
The lanky 6-foot-3 Agassi has had his share of setbacks during his baseball career. He needed Tommy John elbow surgery after his first game in 2019, which caused him to miss his junior season in high school. Then in 2020, his team played just a handful of games before COVID-19 shut down sports for the year.
“It almost worked as a blessing in disguise,” Agassi said. “I got almost two years to rehab my Tommy John, came back strong and then started my college career at USC.”
His three seasons with the Trojans were a little up and down. He had a solid year as a sophomore with a 3-2 record and a 4.34 ERA, but after a coaching change, he regressed as a junior with a 9.70 ERA.
He found his footing again in MLB’s draft league last summer with a 2.96 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 271/3 innings.
Now he’s hoping to latch on to an MLB organization once the WBC qualifiers are over. His stint with Team Germany — which will likely include a bullpen role — is another chance for him to showcase his mid90s fastball.
“It felt good to find some things that work for me,” Agassi said. “Stick on a plan and get 1% better every day.”
Agassi doesn’t mind that people often ask about his parents or why he doesn’t play tennis.
While neither parent may be a baseball expert, he said they’re both supportive of his baseball career and will be in the crowd this week as he pitches for mom’s home country with Team Deutschland across his chest.
“As a kid, you’re kind of oblivious to the world,” Agassi said. “It felt completely normal to me. I got a lot of knowledge and lessons learned from them. Picked up a lot of things and it’s been a blessing.”
having a magical personality and being a spark for whoever he is managing.
“He has something that most people don’t have, maybe no one else has. It’s a very, very unique thing to him that it puts people in a great head space when they show up to the ballpark and the clubhouse every day,” Baldelli said. “He forms really, really, really nice relationships with all the people around him. He makes you feel special. He makes you feel like you can do things. He makes you feel like you’re a better player than you actually maybe even are sometimes.”
Francona agreed to a three-year contract through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028 to return to the orga-
nization to replace fired manager David Bell. Cincinnati has been to the playoffs only once since 2013, during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Now back in the daily routine of baseball, right by the spring training home of the Guardians and near the stadium they share in Arizona, Francona was asked if he had any second thoughts. He responded by relaying his message to Nick Krall, the Reds president of baseball operations, and general manager Brad Meador when they were talking about the job last fall.
“I said if I come, I’m all in. That’s the only way I know how to do it,” Francona said. “When the season’s over, I’ll turn my motor off and collapse. But until then, let’s go.”
CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona walks from the field during spring training workout at the team’s training facility in Goodyear, Arizona.
KYUSUNG GONG / AP PHOTO
Southern California starting pitcher Jaden Agassi (45) delivers a pitch during a 2022 game against Santa Clara. The son of two tennis greats is now pitching for Team Germany.
Bell makes late charge, holds off Byron for win
A late pass on Kyle Busch produced his second straight NASCAR victory
By Jim Vertuno The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Christopher Bell is making the most of his late-race chances to seize victories.
Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road course race of the season Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas.
The late-race drama produced Bell’s second consecutive victory after his overtime win in Atlanta a week earlier.
Once Bell cleared Busch, the Oklahoma driver had to make
a desperate bid to keep his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in front of the hard-charging Byron in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, and the Toyota of 2023 race winner Tyler Reddick of 23X1 Racing.
Bell raced to his 11th career victory and is a multiple race winner for the fourth consecutive season. Busch, who led 43 of 95 laps in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, faded to fifth as his winless streak stretched to 60 races dating to 2023.
“These road courses races are just so much fun,” Bell said.
“(Busch) was doing such a good job running his race. He bobbled and allowed me to get out front. When he did, I just said, ‘Don’t beat yourself.’”
The furious nip-and-tuck finish could have ended in a crash that ruined someone’s race and
“Amazing to have such respectful clean, hard racing. It was a beautiful way to end a race.”
Christopher Bell
jumbled the field with a late caution flag. Busch and Bell have a heated history of collisions in Austin, notably last year when Busch confronted the younger driver over contact in a race where Bell finished second.
This time, everyone kept it clean all the way to the end.
“Amazing to have such respectful clean, hard racing. It was a beautiful way to end a race,” Bell said.
That didn’t mean Byron wasn’t pushing him hard. And Byron had his own battle with Reddick,
who was looking for an opening to attack the front.
“I couldn’t never get beside (Bell). We’ve always raced well together, I didn’t want to move him blatantly,” Byron said.
Even Busch complimented Bell’s driving.
“I’ll give Christopher credit,” Busch said. “He ran me really hard.”
Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, said the consecutive wins on a superspeedway oval and a road course show the team can fight for wins every week, starting with the next two
races in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
“We don’t think there’s a track that we go to that we don’t have a chance to win,” Stevens said. “We have everything we need to win every single weekend.”
Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott started third and quickly dropped to the back when he spun by Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in the first turn, but he fought his way back through the field to fourth.
Connor Zilisch had a wild day in his Cup Series debut for Trackhouse. The 18-year-old started 14th and dropped back with contact in the first lap. He recovered to get back within in the top 15 by the start of the third stage.
That’s when his day ended. Zilisch couldn’t avoid a spin by teammate Daniel Suarez in lap 50, smashed into the wall.
STEPHEN SPILLMAN / AP PHOTO
Christopher Bell pulls into Turn 19 on his way to a NASCAR Cup Series win at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Culkin wins best supporting actor Oscar, completing sweep
The “Succession” star took home a slew of awards in February
By Elise Ryan The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Kieran
Culkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards, completing a sweep of the category that followed his dominance in television awards last season.
The award, for portraying the chaotic but endearing Benji in Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain,” marked his first win and nomination.
Culkin thanked his manager, his mom, Eisenberg and his wife, Jazz Charton — taking the moment to remind his wife that he wants more kids.
“About a year ago, I was on a stage like this, and I very stupidly, publicly, said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award, I would, she would give me the kid,” he said, recalling his speech at the Emmys last January. After the show, “She goes, ‘Oh, God, I did say that. I guess I owe you a third kid.’ And I turned to her
and I said, ‘Really? I want four.’” Culkin triumphed over nominees Guy Pearce for “The Brutalist,” Edward Norton for “A Complete Unknown,” Yura Borisov for “Anora” and his fellow “Succession” alum Jeremy Strong for “The Apprentice.” The category was one of few with a clear favorite ahead of this year’s ceremony, after Culkin picked up the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Independent Spirit Award, SAG Award and a slew of critics’ awards earlier this month.
Written and directed by Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” follows cousins — played by Culkin and Eisenberg — on a trip through Poland for a Holocaust tour to honor their late grandmother. Culkin’s Benji is introduced as unfiltered but quick to connect. Eisenberg’s David is his rule-following, guarded foil. Oscillating between serious reflections on Jewish identity, generational trauma and mourning, and the inherent comedy of mismatched relatives, Eisenberg’s script deftly navigates heavy themes with humor that lands because of Culkin’s ability to deliver it earnestly.
“Jesse Eisenberg, thank you for this movie. You’re a genius,”
Culkin said on stage. “I would never say that to your face. I’m never saying it again. So, soak it up.”
It wasn’t a sure bet that Culkin’s Benji would make it to screens. When production on the final season of “Succession” ran long, Culkin considered dropping out of the film to spend time with his family. Emma Stone, last year’s best actress Oscar winner whose company Fruit Tree produced the project, convinced him to stay on — by reassuring him that they could make it work without him, knowing that wasn’t necessarily true.
“She let me off the hook completely,” Culkin said of his ex-girlfriend. “And I think it was the moment I got off the phone that I was like ‘Oh (expletive), I’m doing this movie.’”
Culkin’s film debut came at age 7 in “Home Alone,” where he played the soda-slurping younger cousin of his older brother Macaulay’s Kevin McCallister. His first major award nomination was a Golden Globe nod for the 2002 film “Igby Goes Down.” But it was his turn as Roman Roy on “Succession” nearly two decades later that brought Culkin widespread acclaim.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s latest novel marks vibrant return
“Dream Count” is Adichie’s way of dignifying her story
By Helen Wieffering
The Associated Press
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI
Adichie’s “Dream Count” feels like a homecoming. The Nigerian author’s first work of longform fiction in more than a decade reminds us of the sharp wisdom and sturdy empathy that have made her one of the most celebrated voices in fiction.
At its face, “Dream Count” is about the emotional lives of four women living between Nigeria and Washington, D.C., each grappling with a search for purpose, stability and love. Deep into its pages, the book turns to darker questions of justice and exploitation when one character’s life is irrevocably changed.
The novel begins with the perspective of Chiamaka, or Chia, a Nigerian-born woman who has spent her adulthood and career in America. Living alone amid lockdown in the pandemic, she begins to reflect on a cast of former romances — each one part of her “dream count,” a loose tally she keeps of her efforts to find a complete, all-knowing love. Her voice and memories connect the many
KNOPF VIA AP
“Dream Count” was written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the best-selling author of” Americanah.”
threads of “Dream Count” that follow.
In turns, the book shifts its focus to three other women and their dreams. There is Chia’s friend Zikora, an ambitious lawyer who is desperate to be a mother, and Chia’s brazen cousin Omelogor, a banker in Nigeria who has a crisis of confidence upon coming to America.
The novel starts to crackle with urgency and outrage when we meet Kadiatou, Chia’s cook and housekeeper who also
works as a maid in an upscale hotel. Far from the Guinean village of her youth, Kadiatou has finally found steady work and contentment in America when she is suddenly, horrifically assaulted by one of the hotel’s prominent guests.
Adichie renders the moment of her assault in quick, shuddering details. Though Kadiatou is surprised to find her bosses believe her account, she soon learns that the rest of the world wants a say, as well. Reporters and photographers stake out her apartment within hours of the assault. Her body and life history are dissected as evidence in the lead-up to an international trial. Kadiatou’s tale isn’t born completely of imagination. Nearly 15 years ago, a New York hotel housekeeper named Nafissatou Diallo came forward to accuse the then-leader of the International Monetary Fund of sexually assaulting her when she arrived to clean his room. Adichie explains in the novel’s endnote how she was hooked and gutted by Diallo’s testimony. “Dream Count” is Adichie’s way, she writes, of dignifying her story. “Imaginative retellings matter,” she says. “Literature keeps the faith and tells the story as reminder, as witness, as testament.”
this week in history
The Alamo fell, Bloody Sunday in Selma, Charlie “Bird” Parker died, Madoff pleaded guilty
The Associated Press
MARCH 6
1820: President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise, which allowed Missouri to join the Union as a slave state and Maine to join as a free state.
1836: The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, fell as Mexican forces led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna stormed the fortress after a 13-day siege; the battle claimed the lives of all the Texian defenders, including Davy Crockett.
1857: The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, ruled that Scott, an enslaved person, was not an American citizen and therefore could not sue for his freedom in federal court.
MARCH 7
1876: Alexander Graham Bell received a U.S. patent for his telephone.
1965: A march by more than 500 civil rights demonstrators
Drake settles legal action against iHeartMedia in dispute over ‘Not Like Us’
The feud between him and Kendrick Lamar is one the biggest in hip-hop
By Juan A. Lozano
The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Drake has reached a settlement with Texas-based iHeartMedia in his ongoing legal dispute over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” according to court records.
In November, Drake filed a legal petition in Bexar County, Texas, where San Antonio is located, alleging that iHeartMedia had received illegal payments from Universal Music Group to boost radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” UMG is the parent record label for both Drake and Lamar.
In a court document filed last Thursday, attorneys for Drake said the rapper and iHeartMedia had “reached an amicable resolution of the dispute” but did not offer any other information.
“We are pleased that the parties were able to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides, and have no further comment on this matter,” Drake’s le -
gal team said in a statement.
In an email, iHeartMedia declined to comment on the settlement.
Drake has alleged UMG engaged in “irregular and inappropriate business practices” to get radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” The petition also alleges that UMG knew “the song itself, as well as its accompanying album art and music video, attacked the character of another one of UMG’s most prominent artists, Drake, by falsely accusing him of being a sex offender, engaging in pedophilic acts, harboring sex offenders, and committing other criminal sexual acts.”
An email to a UMG representative seeking comment was not immediately answered.
In January, Drake filed a defamation lawsuit in federal court in New York City against UMG over what he alleges are false allegations of pedophilia made in “Not Like Us.” Lamar is not named in the lawsuit.
was violently broken up at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in what became known as “Bloody Sunday.”
MARCH 8
1917: Protests against food rationing broke out in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), triggering eight days of rioting that resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the end of the Russian monarchy.
1948: The Supreme Court, in McCollum v. Board of Education, struck down religious education classes during school hours in Champaign, Illinois, public schools, saying the program violated separation of church and state.
MARCH 9
1841: The U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. The Amistad, ruled 7-1 in favor of a group of illegally enslaved Africans who were captured off the U.S. coast after seizing control of a Spanish schooner, La Amistad.
1916: More than 400 Mexican raiders led by Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico.
1997: Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was killed in a still-un-
1969: James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
MARCH 11
1918: What were believed to be the first confirmed U.S. cases of a deadly global flu pandemic were reported among U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
solved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; he was 24.
MARCH 10
1496: Christopher Columbus concluded his second visit to the Western Hemisphere as he left Hispaniola for Spain.
1864: President Abraham Lincoln assigned Ulysses S. Grant, who had just received his commission as lieutenant general, to the command of the Armies of the United States.
1913: Former slave, abolitionist and Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman died. She was in her 90s.
1942: As Japanese forces continued to advance in the Pacific during World War II, U.S. Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines for Australia, where he vowed on March 20, “I shall return” — a promise he kept more than 21/2 years later.
MARCH 12
1864: Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assumed command as General-in-Chief of the Union armies in the Civil War.
1955: Legendary jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker died in New York at age 34.
1987: The musical play “Les Miserables” opened on Broadway.
2009: Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty in New York to pulling off perhaps the biggest swindle in Wall Street history.
The feud between Drake, a 38-year-old Canadian rapper, singer and five-time Grammy winner, and Lamar, a 37-yearold Pulitzer Prize winner who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 9, is among the biggest in hip-hop in recent years. The Federal Communications Commission sent a letter last Monday to iHeartMedia’s CEO and chairman, Robert Pittman, saying the commission is looking into whether the audio company is forcing musicians to perform at its May country music festival in Austin for reduced pay in exchange for fa-
solutions
vorable airplay of their songs on iHeart radio stations.
“We look forward to demonstrating to the Commission how performing at the iHeartCountry Festival — or declining to do so — has no bearing on our stations’ airplay,” iHeart Media said in a statement. “We do not make any overt or covert agreements about airplay with artists performing at our events.”
“We are pleased that the parties were able to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides and have no further comment on this matter.”
Attorneys for Drake
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, left, was not named in the lawsuit filed against UMG by Canadian rapper Drake alleging false allegations of pedophilia in the song, “Not Like Us.”
WILLIAM P. GOTTLIEB VIA WIKIPEDIA Jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker, pictured in 1947, died on March 12, 1955. He was 34.
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famous birthdays this week
Liza Minnelli, pictured performing in 2013, turns 79 on Wednesday.
Chuck Norris turns 85, James Taylor hits 77, Rob Reiner is 78, Shaq celebrates 53
The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week:
MARCH 6
Rock musician David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) is 79. Filmmaker-actor Rob Reiner is 78. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is 53.
MARCH 7
Entertainment executive Michael Eisner is 83. R&B musician Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 73. Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl is 65. Author Bret Easton Ellis is 61.
MARCH 8
Actor-musician Micky Dolenz (The Monkees) is 80. Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice is 72. TV journalist Lester Holt is 66.
MARCH 9
Actor Joyce Van Patten is 91. Actor Trish Van Devere is 84. Singer Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders) is 83. Country musician Jimmie Fadden (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 77.
MARCH 10
Actor Chuck Norris is 85. Actor Katharine Houghton (Film: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”) is 80. Actor Sharon Stone is 67. Music producer Rick Rubin is 62. Actor Jon Hamm is 54.
MARCH 11
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is 94. Movie director Jerry Zucker is 75. Actor Susan Richardson is 73. Singer Lisa Loeb is 57. Actor Terrence Howard is 56. Actor Johnny Knoxville is 54.
MARCH 12
Actor-singer Liza Minnelli is 79. Former Sen. Mitt Romney is 78. Singer-songwriter James Taylor is 77. Former MLB All- Star Darryl Strawberry is 63.
JONATHAN
MARTON
Lady Gaga drops ‘Mayhem,’ Duchess of Sussex on Netflix, evil Hugh Grant
The Wiggles have gone country
The Associated Press
LADY GAGA’S seventh studio album “Mayhem” and a new lifestyle series on Netflix from the Duchess of Sussex called “With Love, Meghan” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Carrie Underwood ascends to a judge on “American Idol “and a new series launches featuring the Marvel hero Daredevil.
MOVIES TO STREAM
Hugh Grant is deliciously deranged in “Heretic,” in which two young, unsuspecting missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) have the misfortune of knocking on the door of his Mr. Reed one day. In his review, critic Mark Kennedy writes, “So beautifully constructed and acted in the first half is ‘Heretic’ that you won’t really notice when it turns into a horror movie. You might be a step ahead of the missionaries, but not by much. Mr. Reed alternates between creepy and funny, well versed in Spider-Man and Voltaire, Radiohead and the Hollies, Wendy’s and Taco Bell. Grant has gloriously weaponized his natural charm.” The A24 film begins streaming on Max on Friday.
There’s no shortage of media projects about the Manson murders, but when a filmmaker like Errol Morris (“The Thin Blue Line,” “The Fog of War”) decides to delve into the killing spree you pay attention. “Chaos: The Manson Murders,” debuting on Netflix on Friday promises new links between the CIA, LSD and Charles Manson. In speaking to the Netflix publication Tudum, Morris said: “You could encapsulate the mystery in just one question: How is it that Manson managed to convince the people around him that killing was OK?”
Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance and Alicia Vikander star in “Rumours,” an absurdist satire and genre-hopping apocalypse film about world leaders gathered at the G7 who get lost in the woods. Guy Maddin (“My Winnipeg”) co-directed the film with Evan and Galen Johnson, now streaming on Paramount+.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Meghan
She hath returned. Lady Gaga — whose theatrical pop once recalled Madonna and now serves as a reminder that big belts are cinema, whisper singers be damned — will release her seventh studio album on Friday. Titled “Mayhem,” and following 2024’s “Joker: Folie à Deux” soundtrack record and 2020’s colorful “Chromatica,” the album suggests a kind of revitalization of big pop. Seven years ago, global pop phenomenon Jennie became the first member of the K-pop
group Blackpink to go “SOLO.” Her debut single was a product of its time — nostalgic EDMpop with pitched up whistle effects and simple, declarative lyrics: “I’m goin’ solo-lo-lo-lolo-lo-lo.” She wasn’t leaving her band, but a lackluster relationship. And she still isn’t: On Friday, Jennie will release her first solo full-length album, “Ruby.” It’s stacked with ambitious col-
“‘With Love, Meghan,’ is not about a quest for perfection but more about finding joy in the little things.”
Netflix
laborations — Doechii, Childish Gambino, Dua Lipa and Kali Uchis among them — but at the core is Jennie and her message of self-empowerment. The Wiggles have gone country. On their latest album, “Wiggle Up, Giddy Up — with Friends!” the Australian children’s entertainers have collaborated with Dolly Parton, Orville Peck, Lainey Wilson, Dasha and more for a twang-y good time.
SHOWS TO STREAM
Actor Charlie Cox says that “Daredevil: Born Again,” available on Disney+, pretty much picks up where the third season on Netflix left off.
“You don’t have to have seen all the back catalog to understand it, but essentially it is a continuation,” Cox told the AP at the show’s premiere. Cox plays blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who by night fights for justice as Daredevil. Vincent D’Onofrio reprises his role as Wilson Fisk. Jon Bernthal also returns as the Punisher.
“With Love, Meghan,” the lifestyle series starring the
Duchess of Sussex, was originally scheduled to premiere on Netflix in January but was delayed due to the Los Angeles-area wildfires. It’s now streaming, and we’ve recently learned that the Netflix has teamed up with Meghan on her new company, As Ever. She made the announcement recently in a video posted to her new Instagram account. “With Love, Meghan,” says Netflix, is not about a quest for perfection but more about finding joy in the little things. When Carrie Underwood won the fourth season of “American Idol” in 2005, she had no idea that 20 years later she would be a judge on that very same show. Underwood will sit alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan at the judges’ table, replacing Katy Perry, who departed to focus on her own music career. It will be interesting to see how Underwood interacts with the contestants because she’s been in their shoes. “Idol” premieres Sunday on ABC and also streams on Hulu. The fourth and final season of “Righteous Gemstones” debuts Sunday on HBO and Max. Created by and starring Danny McBride, the show follows a family of televangelists who run a successful megachurch. Their private lives are nothing like their public image. John Goodman and Adam DeVine also star. Season three of the critically acclaimed noir drama “Dark Winds” returns to AMC on Sunday. Set in the 1970s, the series follows three Navajo Tribal Police officers who patrol the Four Corners region of the Southwest (where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.) George R. R. Martin and Robert Redford are executive producers. “Dark Winds” is 100% fresh on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and a fourth season has already been ordered. It also streams on AMC+.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Like many gamers, I tend to bounce between fantasy and science fiction when I need to escape. Split Fiction, the latest adventure from Sweden’s Hazelight Studios, asks: Why not have both? It’s the story of two writers, Mio and Zoe, who are drawn into each other’s imaginary creations. In Zoe’s world, you get to cast spells and ride dragons, while Mio’s world has laser swords and flying cars. Like Hazelight’s previous game, the award-winning It Takes Two, Split Fiction is strictly two-player co-op. Get ready to snuggle up Thursday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
“Heretic,” “The Righteous Gemstones” and “Dark Wind” are streaming this week on a device near you.
JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP PHOTO Lady Gaga drops “Mayhem” on Friday.
REBECCA BLACKWELL / AP PHOTO
Markle, Duchess of Sussex, returns to Netflix with her new lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan.”