North State Journal Vol. 9, Issue 2

on charges that he joined a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol more than three years ago. Steve Baker, who has written articles about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot for Blaze News, faces four misdemeanor counts, including trespassing and disorderly conduct charges. Baker was released from custody after he made his initial court appearance in Dallas on Friday, according to defense attorney William Shipley. After the riot erupted, Baker entered the Capitol through a broken door and joined the mob at the barricaded doors to the House chamber, according to an FBI agent’s a davit. Shipley provided The Associated Press with a copy of the a davit, which wasn’t immediately unsealed. In another part of the Capitol, the a davit says, Baker “antagonized” police o cers who tried to keep him on the other side of a doorjamb, repeatedly asking, “Are you going to use that (gun) on us?” He remained inside the building for approximately 37 minutes before police led him out of the Capitol, according to the FBI. Shipley said all journalists should be concerned about the charges against Baker. The lawyer said the defense will argue that this is a case of selective prosecution and that Baker has been charged because he is a conservative writer.

Biden to give State of the Union on Thursday

Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden will give the annual State of the Union address on Thursday, allowing the incumbent to make a pitch for four more years in the White House as a showdown with former President Donald Trump looms in November. Biden will defend policies responsible for “record job creation, the strongest economy in the world, increased wages and household wealth, and lower prescription drug and energy costs,” White House communications director Ben LaBolt said in a statement. It will also be an opportunity for the 81-yearold president to prove his mental acuity at a time when voters are skeptical of both his and the 77-year-old Trump’s ability to lead the country at an advanced age. Biden is already the oldest president in U.S. history, and Trump — who will turn 78 in June — would be the oldest to be inaugurated if he were to return to the presidency.

Oversight committee questions DMV chief

Customer service and modernization were among the issues discussed

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — During a Feb. 29 meeting of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wayne Goodwin was questioned about a host of issues, including long wait times, modernization delays, budget asks and vendor contracts, as well as license plate agency franchising and car dealer licensing.

In a prehearing statement, the committee gave an example of frustrated customers — such as U.S. Army veteran Tyler Tickle, a recent arrival to the state who had to go to four DMV ofces to get a license and had appointment issues as the system showed no availability for three months. Tickle gave the NCDMV a “Zero out of 10.”

The hearing, which lasted nearly three hours, began by focusing on long wait times for

North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle (NCDMV) appointments and customer service issues like booking appointments.

Frustration with booking teen license appointments was addressed at the onset of the meeting by Sen. Michael Lazzara (R-Onslow), one of the committee’s co-chairs who served as chair for last Friday’s meeting. The Onslow lawmaker recounted a law enforcement o cer having to make “multiple trips” and “wait in line for hours” to get his teenagers their driving tests.

For the better part of a year, Lazzara has made no secret he wants to see the NCDMV privatized.

Goodwin, during his prepared remarks, said some of the issues at hand “predate” his tenure but he has tried “to learn as quickly as possible and consult experts” to reach common goals.

“(It) hasn’t always been easy,” Goodwin said. “There have been some hiccups along the way, but I believe, respectfully, we’re doing much better now than we

The former president, visiting Greensboro, also lobbed attacks at Joe Biden’s immigration record

The Associated Press GREENSBORO — Former president Donald Trump endorsed North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Robinson for governor on Saturday, several months after the former president pledged to do so. At a rally at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the former president also compared Robinson, who is black, to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the famed civil rights leader. He

referred to Robinson as “Martin Luther King on steroids.”

Trump said Robinson wasn’t sure how to respond when Trump compared him to the legendary civil rights leader, telling him: “I think you’re better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.”

“You should like it,” Trump said.

Trump listed Robinson among several candidates that people should vote for in Tuesday’s North Carolina Republican primaries, saying “they have my complete and total endorsement.” Trump is also on the primary ballot as he seeks to all but eliminate

The state superintendent wants to revamp N.C.’s current A-F system

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The way the state grades its public schools may be getting a redesign according to a presentation given by N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt to the House Select Committee on Education Reform on Feb. 26.

Almost a decade ago, lawmakers passed a law creating an A-F grading system that bases a letter grade for each school on an achievement score, weighted at 80%, and on the academic growth of students, which is weighted at 20%.

Since its inception, the A-F system has drawn criticism for relying too much on test scores and not considering other metrics that can impact a particular school and, in some cases, end up penalizing low-wealth or low-performing districts.

Truitt, along with Deputy Superintendent Michael Maher, told lawmakers the current A-F system does not provide

a full, accurate view of school performance. Truitt outlined that part of the problem was being beholden to compliance with certain federal guidelines.

“So the solution that we are going to present to you today is a multi-measure model of school performance that moves beyond compliance with federal guidelines,” said Truitt. “Because, folks, the federal government right now is driving the way we do school accountability in North Carolina, and we need to replace it with a model that represents our North Carolina educational values.

“We have to do more than simply look at test scores that occur on one day of the year at the end of the year or semester. We must absolutely be as transparent as possible about the percentage of students who are pro cient in reading and pro -

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Saturday in Greensboro ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections in North Carolina.

See DMV, page A3

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, pictured in 2019, faced questions during a Feb. 29 meeting.

This series explores the Ten Commandments through the words and admonishments of Arthur Pink.

“Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15).

The root from which theft proceeds is discontent with the portion God has allotted, and therefrom a coveting of what He has withheld from us and bestowed upon others.

“Thou shalt not steal.” The positive duty here enjoined is this: you shall by all proper means preserve and further both your own and your neighbor’s estate. Thus, we are to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). It requires honesty and uprightness in our dealings one with another, being founded upon that rst practical principle of all human conduct: “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). Thus, this commandment places a sacred enclosure around property which none can lawfully enter without the proprietor’s consent.

The solemn and striking fact deserves pointing out that the rst sin committed by the human species entailed theft: Eve took of (stole) the forbidden fruit. So, too, the rst recorded sin against Israel after they entered the land of Canaan was that of theft: Achan stole from among the spoils (Joshua 7:21). In like manner the rst sin which de led the primitive Christian church was theft: Ananias and Sapphira “kept back part of the price” (Acts 5:2). How often this is the rst sin committed outwardly by children — therefore this Divine precept should be taught to them from earliest infancy.

“Thou shalt not steal.” The highest form of this sin is where it is committed against God, which is sacrilege. Of old He charged Israel with this crime: “Will a man rob God? yet you have robbed Me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed You? In tithes and o erings. You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation” (Malachi 3:8, 9). But there are other ways in which this wickedness may be committed besides that of refusing to nancially support the maintenance of God’s cause on earth. God is robbed when we withhold from Him the glory which is His due, and we are spiritual thieves when we take credit for what God has done. “You have not chosen Me,” said Christ, “but I have chosen you” (John 15:16).

Another way in which we rob God is by an unfaithful discharge of our stewardship. This commandment then requires from us that we administer our worldly estate, be it large or small, with such industry as to provide for ourselves and those dependent upon us. Idleness is a species of theft. It is playing the part of the drone and compelling the rest of the hive to support us.

One who obtrudes himself into the Gospel ministry without being called of God in order to obtain an easy and comfortable living is “a thief and a robber” (John 10:1).

God has ordained that men should earn their bread by the sweat of their brow, and with that portion which we thus honestly obtain, we must be satis ed. But some are slothful and refuse to labor, while others are covetous and crave a larger portion. Hence many are led to resort to the use of force or fraud in order to gain possession of that to which they have no right. Theft, in general, is an unjust taking or keeping to ourselves what is lawfully another’s. He is a thief who withholds what ought to be in his neighbor’s possession just as much

as one who takes his neighbor’s property from him. This commandment can be violated by both by employer and labor. If in the past the poor have been wronged by inadequate wages, the scales have now turned in the opposite direction, when employees often demand a wage that industry cannot a ord to pay them. If on the one hand it is right that a fair day’s work should receive a fair day’s pay, it holds equally true that a fair day’s pay is entitled to a fair day’s work. But where loa ng obtains it does not receive it.

Lying advertisements are a breach of this commandment. Tradesmen are guilty when they adulterate or misrepresent their goods, and also when they deliberately give short weight or shortchange to their customers. This commandment is broken by tenants who heedlessly damage the property and furniture of the owner. Evasion in paying taxes is another form of theft; Christ has set us a better example (Matthew 17:24).

We can avoid violations of this commandment if we consider frequently the vanity of all things temporal, practice submission to Divine providence, meditate much on the Divine promises (such as Hebrews 13:5, 6), be temperate in all things, set your a ections on things above, and remind yourself daily of the earthly lot of Christ.

Arthur W. Pink, born in Nottingham, England, in 1886, pastored churches in Colorado, California, Kentucky, and South Carolina. He moved to Sydney, Australia, and then returned to England in 1934. Pink relocated to Lewis, Scotland, in 1940 and remained there until his death in 1952 at the age of 66.

NSJ committed to objectively covering ‘The Whole State’

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

I’LL ADMIT that having my rst print deadline as North State Journal’s senior editor on the same day as North Carolina’s primary election carried a bit of weight.

I’ve been a part of NSJ since its rst issue — back when the idea of someone creating a newspaper startup in 2016 turned more than a few heads — and have served as sports editor for the last 6½ years.

Those in the newspaper business call sports “the top department,” a place where the stakes usually aren’t too high — regardless of what fans think. But covering sports requires passion, commitment and the ability to build relationships

cient math, but there has to be more than that.”

Truitt’s proposal would include adding more metrics to include career preparation, student attendance, graduation rates and educator surveys on school climate. Additionally, the proposal suggests updating the school grading website rolled out under her predecessor, Mark Johnson, to make it easier to understand for parents.

Instead of one letter grade, the new “multi-measure model” for schools would receive four individual grades for Academics, Progress, Readiness and Opportunity.

The Academics grade would measure student pro ciency in math, reading and science, while the Progress grade measures school growth based on data from the Education Value-Added Assessment System, or EVAAS for short.

Readiness grades would measure student post-secondary preparedness, including high school graduation rates, and Opportunity would consider items like chronic absenteeism, school climate and intra/extra-curricular activities.

“Right now in North Carolina, only 30% of high schoolers are graduating every year and getting any kind of credential of val-

with high-pro le public gures. That translates across all spectrums of a news organization, and the goal remains the same: to provide objective coverage that supersedes personal biases, beliefs, morals and values in service of the public. Our editors, writers and photographers will approach every story with fresh eyes and a commitment to giving our readers an impartial look at the stories that make North Carolina special. The late avant-garde lmmaker Stan Brakhage said: “Imagine an eye unruled by man-made laws of perspective, an eye unprejudiced by compositional logic, an eye which does not respond to the name of everything but which must know each object encountered

in life through an adventure of perception.”

In a year with a presidential and gubernatorial campaign and election, there will be plenty of stories to tell. Our community papers will supplement our statewide race coverage with essential local election reporting. We will also highlight businesses, events and people that will make us smile, laugh and cry. We will do it all with an unprejudiced eye.

My mission for North State Journal and its seven community publications is to be a beacon for journalism across our beautiful, diverse and rapidly growing state, all while making it a ful lling adventure for our journalists. Join us for the ride.

ue, two-year degree or four-year degree, by the age of 24,” Truitt said. “This (is) despite the fact that we have data that show that our students have earned more career and technical education

credentials than at any time in state history. Yet it’s not converting to either being enlisted, employed or enrolled when they graduate from high school.”

Truitt also said low-perform-

ing schools were not receiving “meaningful accountability” under the current model and therefore were not receiving the appropriate support. The presentation given by Truitt and

Maher underscored that point, stating that the “state accountability model (80/20) and federal accountability model (ESSA) are not aligned — making it difcult to know if schools are improving.”

Overall, the shift to a more expansive school grading system would take place in phases over three years. The rst year would involve a pilot program that will examine certain selected schools that will implement both grading models. The second year would pull the rest of the state’s schools into the mix, using both models. The nal year would see all schools transfer to using the new model.

Truitt asked lawmakers to act on the model by allowing the pilot to commence during the 2024-25 school year.

The new A-F model was developed by a working group that was formed in 2022.

The working group had conversations with multiple stakeholder groups, which a Department of Public Instruction press release characterized as a “bipartisan advisory group of educators, superintendents and charter leaders, public policy experts and NCDPI sta members.

Additionally, 50 district superintendents helped hammer out the nal version that was presented to lawmakers at the committee meeting.

Cory Lavalette Senior Editor

Moore, Berger talk legislative priorities at Charlotte event

The city’s Regional Business Alliance hosted a panel last week

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH —Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Eden) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) participated in a Feb. 26 panel hosted by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, speaking about legislative priorities like the city’s transportation plans along with the state’s rapidly growing job market and housing a ordability.

Moore and Berger said they want to see the prioritizing of road infrastructure over projects like bike lanes and light rail in Charlotte’s transportation plans.

Moore said the top transportation priority “has to be roads,” with Berger adding that transportation is “one of those things a growing state has to get right.”

Charlotte city leaders are seeking a one-cent sales tax in-

crease for various transportation projects that include more light and commuter rail corridors. The lawmakers said they’d like a more detailed proposal on how the money would be spent.

“We see so many roads that are choked up, constantly,” Moore said, adding that he is spending a lot of time in Charlotte lately and had found “every tra c hot spot” in the city and county while joking those were good spots for campaign yard signs.

While Berger is staying in his Senate leader role, Moore is nishing what will be his nal term as House speaker and is currently running for the state’s 14th Congressional District. Moore is the longest-serving House speaker in state history, having taken up that role in 2015. Charlotte can expect more congestion as it continues to expand and suburban sprawl spreads into neighboring counties.

“If you talk to developers, it’s one of the big issues,” Moore said.

The 2020 Census for Charlotte put the population at 874,607, an increase of more

than 22.7% from the 2010 Census gure of 731,424. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 estimate of Charlotte’s population, 897,720, is more than a 2.6% bump over 2020’s total.

Raleigh faces similar growth and tra c congestion issues, some of which may be partially alleviated with the completion of the I-540 outer beltline.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau approved a loan of up to $417.2 million for the North Carolina Turnpike Authority for Phase 2 of the Complete 540 Project in the Raleigh area. This is the fourth such loan, bringing the total to $1.3 billion.

Transportation may see discussions during the upcoming legislative session, but Berger said at a school choice week event in January, “The short session is probably going to be just a continuation of things that we’ve already done,” and that he had received “clear signals … that nobody wants to be there for a long period of time.”

Additionally, transportation-related issues have been

the subject of multiple House Oversight and Reform Committee meetings in the past six months. In particular, lawmakers on the committee questioned N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) Commissioner Wayne Goodwin over issues arising from the agency’s driver’s license contract. Similarly, concerns about NCDMV’s service abilities, long wait times and modernization have been long-standing issues that Sen. Michael Lazzara (R-Onslow) believes could be resolved by moving the department to the private sector.

On the issue of increasingly expensive child care costs, Berg-

er highlighted the Tri-Share pilot program in the state budget, which aims to alleviate rising child care costs by splitting the nancial burden into three parts — between the government, employers and parents.

The pilot is being implemented in three regions in the state.

Tri-Share’s funding was part of the 2023 state budget and included $900,000 in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2023-25 scal biennium.

To qualify for Tri-Share, families need to be employed with a participating business and have a household income between 185% and 300% of the federal poverty level.

PAC accused of ‘deep fake’ audio in 6th District GOP race

First Freedoms Foundation deleted two social media posts after being contacted by NSJ

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A PAC that has popped up in the North Carolina 6th Congressional District GOP primary recently posted to X what appeared to be “deep fake” style audio and video of former Congressman Mark Walker.

The clips rst appeared as two stand-alone posts on X but were removed after North State Journal inquired about them.

The political action committee, First Freedoms Foundation, then blocked NSJ reporter A.P. Dillon.

The clips, however, were also posted as replies to other posts made by certain campaigns but were later deleted. Not all versions of the fake clips disappeared; Walker retained one of the fake videos and published it on his X account. The post can be viewed at tinyurl.com/WalkerNSJ.

In a press statement, the Walker camp denounced “a deepfake video posted yesterday by the pro-(Christian) Castelli PAC, First Freedoms Foundation,” which the Walker team said “depicts a false conversation with Rep. Walker and an ‘unknown friend,’” and that the video of Walker was “replaced with AI generated audio clips.”

“This is an egregious use of AI technology and sets an example of what not to do in a campaign,” said Walker campaign strategist Paul Shumaker. “The FEC has already made it clear that false AI content violates federal election law and we intend to ex-

were two years ago. But there’s still more work ahead.”

During the hearing, Goodwin referred to a 46-page presentation he had prepared that listed his primary goals such as shortening wait times and lines, modernizing internal technology and apps for customer use, lling NCDMV examiner vacancies, protecting customers from identity theft, providing more online services, and improving customer service across the board.

In terms of long lines at NCDMV o ces, Goodwin said staing shortages were an issue.

“But with the sta ng shortages and with the additional services we provide, unfortunately, there are times when things line up, the lines do develop,” said Goodwin.

Per Goodwin’s presentation, the NCDMV vacancy rate was

plore all legal options.”

According to First Freedom Foundation’s website hosting information, the site was registered by Nicky Smith, the CEO and founder of Carolina Digital Phone, a web hosting and telecom company in Greensboro.

In a phone interview, Smith repeatedly denied being involved with First Freedoms Foundation in any way, including the operation of the PAC’s website or any social media accounts.

Smith said his name probably just came up because his name was listed as the site registrant. He later said he did not remember much about the people whom he met with who bought the site but said he thought one was “from Raleigh.”

“Again, you’re stretching a 68-year-old memory of something I did a year ago, but to answer your question, no, I’m not associated with it,” Smith said.

between 25-30% in Jan. 2022. The NCDMV chief said his agency wants to get permission from the legislature to convert temporary positions to full-time permanent positions and add 40 full-time examiners to ll open spots statewide. He also said every person who comes in has a” di erent issue” and a quarter of made appointments are missed.

“And when you have throughout the day no-shows for 25% or more of your time — that created ine ciencies,” Goodwin explained. He added that as a result, morning hours had been set aside for scheduled appointments while afternoon hours were lled with walk-in customers.

Later in the hearing, Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) asked Goodwin if there had been any conversations on how to modernize driver license appointments

He told North State Journal he would “check his customer records” for the individuals associated with the PAC and its website.

Smith did admit he donated to First Freedoms Foundation “when it rst started up.” FEC records show a $2,000 donation made by James N. Smith, Jr., with an occupation listed as Carolina Digital Phone. Smith said he was unaware he had made a personal Facebook post on March 27, 2023, linking directly to the PAC’s website. He also denied knowing the name “Fredrick Macaulay,” the man listed as the point of contact on the PAC’s website.

North State Journal reached out to Macaulay through the Washington, D.C., number associated with the PAC, but the call was sent to voicemail and not returned. An email to Macauley resulted in the single-sentence reply: “Traveling today and can-

“There have been some hiccups along the way, but I believe, respectfully, we’re doing much better now than we were two years ago. But there’s still more work ahead.”

Wayne Goodwin, NCDMV commissioner

“so that families don’t have the burden of actually having to be at the DMV within three times in less than 18 months.”

Goodwin, who has a 15-yearold son with a permit, expressed concerns about scheduling driving appointments that might con ict with school hours.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, pictured in March, says he is the victim of a deep-fake video distributed by a PAC supporting his Republican primary opponent in the 6th District Congressional race.

not read or respond to emails.”

Last Friday, a volunteer with the PAC responded to a North State Journal email about the fake audio and video. The volunteer did not identify herself but said she was located in the United Kingdom.

“What I can say is that the person that created the content in question has been removed from the team as we do not want fake news posted,” the volunteer wrote in response. “Our media creates only post-veri ed content. “I don’t know any of the content creators. I was just told internally he was a kid that did not know much about politics and was told to go away,” wrote the volunteer. “We all communicate internally in groups on WhatsApp chat.”

The volunteer also referred to a lengthy statement issued by “our other team leaders” to North State Journal.

“What we have encouraged folks to do is that because our peak season is during the summer, that’s when a lot of the teen drivers and their parents and guardians decide to proceed,” said Goodwin. “That’s when we have opportunities for the Saturday morning walk-ins at the 16 locations statewide. We’re also looking at extra hours to help address this too.”

There are currently 115 driver’s license o ces across the state, up three from last year. Goodwin indicated 45 o ces open an hour early at 7 a.m. and 16 o ces have Saturday hours during the summer. Sawyer added she was hoping the NCDMV was looking at the possibility of public-private partnerships to alleviate teen driver demand.

“We’re very much interested in private partnerships as it relates to teen drivers,” said Goodwin,

“Our PAC has a large group of content creators that post to our social media,” the statement included. “Most are volunteers. The video in question, was posted during the evening hours after most of our team was not working by a new content creator and was never Sponsored by the PAC and was never used by the PAC for any advertising but was discovered organically from our Twitter account by the followers. When discovered it was removed within a few hours.”

The statement also claimed the social media post was viewed 86 times before it was taken down but had nearly 7,000 since Walker shared a copy of the video.

“Frankly, we don’t know why Mark Walker would repost this deleted video to this base of supporters unless he is trying to look like a victim, which he is clearly not,” the statement said.

The statement also referred to Walker making “fake endorsement” claims and cited a blog post on the First Freedoms Foundation website.

On Feb. 25, North State Journal reported that a 2022 endorsement video by NASCAR legend Richard Petty of Castelli had been recycled for the current primary election.

The Castelli campaign said Petty had re-upped the endorsement, however, the Petty family said Richard Petty was making no endorsements for the 2024 primary. First Freedoms Foundation was also recycling the Petty video endorsement of Castelli.

Castelli accused the Walker of causing problems in the race “because all of his endorsements have fallen through,” a claim Walker refuted.

who added his agency was looking into what kinds of tests can be performed by outside vendors, as is already the case with driver’s education classes.

Goodwin also said there were “many additional modernization initiatives” that have been undertaken that people might not realize were happening, saying the agency has made progress and is seeking to hire private consultants to assist in an agency-wide systems overhaul.

Goodwin told lawmakers that in January the NCDMV entered into an MOU with the State of Arizona to implement a “System Modernization e ort” and North Carolina would be able to use the Arizona system code at no cost. The modernization will replace multiple aging mainframe systems with a “single solution containing all customer information,” according to Goodwin’s presentation.

DMV from page A1

GARY D. ROBERTSON | AP PHOTO

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, right, and Senate leader Phil Berger — pictured in September — both took part in a panel in Charlotte in last week.

GARY D. ROBERTSON | AP PHOTO

VISUAL VOICES

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Religion-less discourse about abortion

It is a question of politics, one of the top two most di cult issues America has faced, slavery being the other.

THE RECENT Alabama Supreme Court decision allowing a couple to sue for wrongful death for the loss of frozen fertilized human ovum due to an accident in an in-vitro fertilization clinic has caused a lot of derision by many on the left.

A recent meme oating around social media shows a picture of an egg with the caption: “In Alabama this is a chicken”.

Well, that is a completely false statement. Eggs sold commercially in grocery stores are not fertilized so there is zero possibility any of them would ever develop into a mature chicken. Republicans think unfertilized eggs are good to eat in omelets and quiches, but no, they don’t think unfertilized eggs are “chickens”.

Someone on the left needs to visit the NC State campus and learn about poultry farming.

If the question is whether a fertilized chicken egg can become a chicken, the answer is simple: “Yes, it can and most likely will”. Case solved. Biology and genetic research rule supreme.

Liberals rely on “science” when they argue about climate change and global warming. When it comes to abortion, they reject “science” ― in this case, “biology” ― since it countermands their concept of personal choice. No amount of moralizing, justi cation or obfuscation can deny the fact that once an ovum is penetrated by a sperm and becomes fertilized, the biological time clock is set into motion which takes the zygote to birth unless something catastrophic happens to end the pregnancy.

The science is settled. But the political debate is not.

What about if we took religion, morals and ethics out of the abortion debate completely? Would that make the issue any easier for those on the left to handle?

Consider a world where there never were any Roman or Greek gods and goddesses to worry about invoking their wrath. The Ten

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Commandments hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles never existed. There is no Buddhist higher order of consciousness; no conception of Hindi reincarnation.

Just plain nothing other than biology and evolution.

All we would have to drive our thinking would be the basic human instincts designed for three purposes: nding food, water and shelter to ensure physical survival; protection from harm ( ght or ee mechanism in the brain); and procreation. We would not care if anyone else is happy as long as we survive well. As long as we get what we want, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does or wants.

If a woman is impregnated by a male and the sperm cell enters the ovum and starts the process of cellular mitosis which leads to the development of a zygote and then a human fetus, the woman ― with or without the consent of the male contributor of one strand of chromosomes which determines the sex of the o spring ― can decide to terminate the

Georgia murder case puts spotlight on Joe Biden’s border crisis

It would be really easy to lose our faith in mankind because of this senseless and avoidable tragedy.

ON FEB. 22, Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, 22, was found dead on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus after a friend reported her missing after she failed to return from her morning run.

Riley, whose body was found that afternoon “in a forested area behind Lake Herrick” at UGA, reportedly died of blunt force trauma, with her skull being “dis gured” per arrest a davits. Police have said her killing was a “crime of opportunity.”

A 26-year-old Venezuelan man, Jose Antonio Ibarra, who authorities say is in the country illegally, has been charged with her kidnapping and murder.

Per U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ibarra entered the United States illegally in September 2022. Though he was arrested, he was later “paroled and released for further processing.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that Ibarra “has a criminal history, but it does not include violence.”

Riley’s murder case has brought national attention to the illegal immigration issue and has pointed an un attering spotlight on Democrat-run so-called sanctuary cities and President Joe Biden’s disastrous open-border policies in a crucial presidential election year.

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, the likely nominee, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have been among many prominent Republicans to speak out on the case and criticize Biden.

On Saturday, Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, posted a statement to Facebook, saying, “It would be really easy to lose our faith in mankind because of this senseless and avoidable tragedy.”

Senseless and avoidable indeed.

Tensions boiled over during a press conference held last Wednesday by AthensClarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz (D), who sought to counter accusations of Athens being a sanctuary city but who was instead confronted by angry residents who called him a “liar” and demanded he resign immediately.

Unlike other high-pro le cases, Joe Biden has not said anything publicly about Riley’s case. Generic statements have come from various o cials in his administration, including White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

“I mean, this is a horri c, horri c loss for any family. And obviously, any … if whoever is found guilty we need to make sure that … make sure that happens. And obviously, we don’t want to, we don’t want to see anything happen like that again,” Jean-Pierre said during an interview on

pregnancy for any reason at any point along the timeline. It could be one day after fertilization; one week; one month or eight months and 29 days and no one would feel any pang of emotion whatsoever simply because, well, it doesn’t matter in terms of religion, morals or ethics from any source. If a woman wants a child, the fetus is allowed to live. If the woman decides not to carry the fetus to term, it can be disposed of as if it were nothing more biologically than a wart or, worse, a clump of cancerous cells.

Does such libertarian freedom make everyone feel better about discussing abortion?

Plutarch recorded the practice of the Spartans who abandoned deformed babies to the elements as an accepted “act of mercy.” They deemed doing so would save the less-thanperfect child from the rigors of Spartan warrior military life later. Is that a world to which Americans want to be compared?

Reducing the tough issue of abortion to a cute internet meme featuring a chicken egg may seem clever, but it demeans the seriousness of the whole issue. The issue is not solely a question of biology, or even religion, ethics or morals. It is a comprehensive question of politics, one of the top two most di cult issues America has faced, slavery being the other.

Maybe “science,” particularly advanced medical technology, will save us one day by guring out how to either prevent fertilization from happening through birth control methods 100% of the time or taking a fertilized ovum all the way to birth without implantation in any mother’s womb. Until then, we need to help the roughly 75% of pregnant women considering abortion who say they want to carry their baby to term but don’t have the loving family, spousal support or nancial resources and shelter to do so. Making up silly internet memes with unfertilized chicken eggs doesn’t help at all.

CNN while, incredibly, blaming Republicans for Biden’s border crisis.

In a Sunday “Face the Nation” interview, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by the House last month, dodged and weaved all over the place in response to questions about Riley’s case, refusing to say if Ibarra should have previously been deported.

Incredibly on Friday, the day of Riley’s funeral in Woodstock, Georgia, Biden was tweeting about … George Floyd.

“Congress must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act so we can make police reform the law of the land,” Biden wrote.

First Lady Jill Biden happened to be in Georgia on Friday, about 45 minutes from where services were held for Riley, but she had other plans.

“First Lady Jill Biden will launch a national organization in Atlanta that aims to mobilize women behind President Joe Biden’s bid for a second term,” the AJC’s Greg Bluestein tweeted.

The tone-deafness and insensitivity of the Biden administration on the Riley murder case will not be forgotten. The issues of illegal immigration and the economy could be Biden’s downfall come November, but that’s only if Republicans keep these issues — and the consequences of inaction — front and center in the minds of voters from now until Election Day.

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

Fixing Congress

I HAVE NO DOUBT that my fellow North State Journal readers believe, as I do, that the U.S. Congress fails at almost everything it attempts.

In its wake, the Congress has left a path of destruction through the southern border, across Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, through the national debt, our fiscal security, the budget process, and just about every other function of government that impacts our state, our communities and families. Congress has created problems, by action and inaction, that have grown into crises bordering on catastrophe for your system of self-government.

We blame politicians, and rightfully so, but citizens also have responsibilities to fulfill, especially when our political leaders fail. Over time, however, the American people have lost the tools needed to repair a broken system and restore their place as the preeminent focus of and influence over the first branch of government and the citizens’ first defense against failure.

“Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People,” which will be in bookstores on March 19 and now available online, was co-authored by longtime friend and colleague Mike Johnson (not the current speaker) and me. We wrote it because, with 40 years each of experience in the orbit of Congress, our alarm over the chronic dysfunction of the institution and the public disdain for it just kept growing daily since we left public service.

One problem Mike and I kept seeing below the surface was the lack of public knowledge of how Congress works; why it doesn’t; how people can access it, and how they can influence what their representatives and senators do. The lack of such knowledge knows no boundaries ― not your education, your job, your age, race, gender or what kind of car you drive. It results from neglect by our schools, civic organizations, political parties, media and even ourselves.

It is a cause of the public distrust in all things political.

We believe that without knowledge, there is no trust, and without trust, there is no governance.

“Fixing Congress” provides historical context, explains the complexities of Congress, and delves into special interests, polling, campaign financing, the media, the lack of civility and the demise of civics education. We also look at solutions that we all need to consider from reform of congressional processes and behavior to major changes in the structure and functions of our democratic institutions, such as the size and shape of political districts and campaigns.

COLUMN | KELLY JOHNSTON

We also delve into the relationship between Congress and the judicial and executive branches. Americans have, throughout history, confronted seemingly insurmountable challenges. Each time, the crises have been met and overcome, not by Washington, the media, Ivy League academicians or leaders of industry, but by the people on whom our nation and way of life have always depended ― you, me, Mike Johnson, The People who have gone to war, who have met the challenges of foreign terrorists, who have made the U.S. economy the strongest, the most productive, and the most innovative in the world and have done so while upholding the values and principles on which the new Republic was founded two centuries ago.

We are now facing a crisis of confidence in our country. People are angry at each other and must be told how to converse at the dinner table. People have lost trust in each other, no longer believe in the benefit of the doubt, and are unwilling to compromise on opinions shaped by extreme and strident views, misinformation and social media propaganda.

Politics has gotten personal and ugly.

Our social and political system is off the rails, and it can no longer be left to politicians to get it back on track to get us from where we are to where we need to be. The place to start is with Congress. They call the House of Representatives the Peoples’ House, the First Branch of Government, the place where we should go to get redress of our grievances. It’s a big job, but someone has got to do it. That someone is all of us. “Fixing Congress can help pave the road ahead.

“Fixing Congress” is available to preorder at many retailers, such as Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Walmart. We hope you’ll read it and enjoy it, but more importantly, help us spread the word about the need for an empowered and engaged citizenry for the long struggle ahead to restore power to the people.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787 to his friend William Stephens Smith, son-in-law of John Adams: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”

You can help start another revolution and reformation of our democratic republic, but this time without the manure of blood. Without a national debate and grassroots action, we can’t fix Congress and save our democracy. We all have to participate.

Jerry Climer lives in Edenton.

Do lobbyists run Congress (or Raleigh?)

“WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE when you grow up?”

“I want to be a lobbyist,” says no child ever.

Gallup tests the honesty and ethical standards of various professions. In 2017, they added lobbyists, nishing last with 58% rating their honesty and ethics as “low” or “very low,” below car salespersons.

Gallup has since dropped lobbyists o their survey.

Many claim that lobbyists “run Congress” and some state capitals. Voters think they have special access and many favors to bestow on elected o cials. When lobbying scandals happen, new “reform laws” are named after them. Voters repel such phrases as the “revolving door” where politicians, congressional sta , and bureaucrats slide back and forth between private sector agencies and the interests they regulate.

I get it.

Sadly, it doesn’t represent the work of about 12,000 registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C., or thousands more in state capitals who represent people who represent themselves, like farmers, manufacturers, law enforcement and retirees — people who don’t live near capital cities and don’t know how to navigate the halls of legislatures.

I lobbied over two decades after a dozen years working in congressional campaigns and Capitol Hill as chief of sta to a congressman, a Senate leadership aide, and a secretary of the U.S. Senate. You deserve truth and transparency.

First, lobbying is constitutionally protected. The last of ve “rights” in the First Amendment is the “redress of grievances.” That’s the right to petition government. You can do it in person or you can hire a professional.

Second, at least in Washington, it is highly regulated and transparent. After the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) was enacted in 2007, gifts to elected o cials and sta were banned — no privately paid travel involving lobbyists.

Suppose you’re paid to lobby, including spending at least 20% of your time on “lobbying activities,” broadly de ned, and make one lobby contact. You must register and le quarterly nancial reports. You’re subject to audits by the Government Accountability O ce (GAO). And you can be referred to the U.S. Attorney for prosecution if you fail to comply.

Third, the lobbying world is no di erent than sports and politics — it’s highly competitive. I was part of the “Coalition for Transportation Productivity” to allow states to increase truck weight limits on U.S. interstates with safer trucks

that included an extra axle. Lower shipping costs, better braking power, less wear and tear on roads and bridges, and fewer trucks. What’s not to like?

The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks recoiled. We had the facts, but they had the politics and the optics of collapsed bridges and truck accidents, even though we proved our proposal would reduce them.

Political optics almost always trumps truth.

Fourth, lobbyists utilize many tools of their trade, the most frequent being coalitions. How many of you have signed up to support “HandsO MyRewards.com,” a coalition of credit card companies, major retailers and banks ghting legislation by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) to curb transaction fees that retailers pay every time you use your credit card. They not only use their own Washington o ce and army of “contract lobbyists” to defend their business, they’re signing you up to help them.

And that’s a good thing, whether you agree with them or not. Smart elected o cials keep tallies of constituent communications on key issues. You want to be on the winning side of that ledger.

Do we need more lobby reform laws? The answer may be for lobbyists and their clients to shift to “employer-to-employee” (E2E) engagement. Employees trust employers more than the media, unions and political parties for information on issues that a ect their jobs. That’s how I operated my former employer. We didn’t have a Washington o ce or a lobbyist in Raleigh, but we could generate hundreds of employee communications to federal and state legislators on short notice. It works.

The key to e ective lobbying is citizen engagement. It’s not expensive, and any company of any size can do it. It doesn’t require a lobbyist, just a few dollars for the kind of online tools available from Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) in Washington, D.C., and someone on your team sharing information with your employees, with help from your trade associations and chambers.

Maybe then, our kids will start thinking about becoming lobbyists someday. At least their “honesty and ethics” rating would improve. And it might make a very positive impact on public policy in Raleigh and Washington, D.C.

Kelly Johnston was the 28th secretary of the U.S. Senate and vice president of government a airs for a Fortune 250 manufacturing company with operations in North Carolina until 2019. Read his full ve-part series on lobbying at kellyjohnston. substack.com.

Some idiosyncratic observations of the elections so far

HERE WITH SOME IDIOSYNCRATIC, perhaps eccentric, observations on the electoral contests so far in this presidential cycle.

1. Turnout is down. In the rst ve contests — the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan primaries — Republican turnout was down from 2016, the most recent cycle with serious contests. That’s based on precincts currently reporting and the ace New York Times number crunchers’ estimates of as-yet-uncounted votes.

This decline owes something to especially frigid weather on Iowa’s caucus night and the fact that Donald Trump’s only listed opponent in Nevada was Ryan Binkley. But even in South Carolina, whose population rose 10% in the eight intervening years, turnout was up only 2%. Democratic turnout, with no serious challenge to Joe Biden, was down by more than half this year.

This is signi cant because, although you wouldn’t know it from continual laments about low voter participation, we live in an era of surging and almost record-high voter turnout. Between 2000 and 2020, total presidential year turnout increased more than 50%, from 104 million to 158 million. That’s approximately double the 22% increase from 1980 to 2000 or the 26% increase from 1960 to 1980.

Total turnout declined in years Democratic presidents were seeking reelection — 2% in 2012, 7% in 1996. In contrast, it surged 16% in 2020 and in 2004, years when Republican presidents were seeking reelection.

A turnout decline could be a problem this fall for Democrats, who historically have depended on high turnout from blacks for their margins in target states. But the party’s increasingly upscale base has turned out in numbers that have enabled it to do better than polls suggested in special elections, as the Times’ Nate Cohn has pointed out.

So turnout could be a problem for Trump, whose campaign looks to be heavily outspent and only desultorily organized. Turnout was up 26,738 in the three South Carolina counties he lost to Nikki Haley. It was down 8,478 in the 43 counties he carried.

2. The Republican tilt of the Electoral College may have vanished. Trump won a majority of electoral votes in 2016 despite losing the popular vote, and he came within 42,918 popular votes of doing so again in 2020. That’s because Democrats piled up huge margins in California and New York (7,096,710 in 2020), which had 85 electoral votes then and will have 82 this year. Trump’s much smaller (1,002,907) margins in Texas and Florida netted him 67 in 2020 and would give him 70 in 2024.

But increasing support for Trump outside major metropolitan areas and the signi cant increases in support for him among blacks and Hispanics that I described recently point to reduced Biden margins in safe Democratic states and higher Trump margins in safe Republican states.

That shouldn’t be surprising. Within recent memory the Electoral College tilted Democratic, as Barack Obama’s 51% reelection percentage won him 332 electoral votes in 2012 while George W. Bush’s 51% won him only 286 in 2004.

Of course, if Trump leads the popular vote nationally and in every target state, as he does in most polls, he’ll surely have more than the required 270 electoral votes.

3. Biden may have a problem on his left. In Michigan, 13% of primary voters chose “Uncommitted,” including 17% in Wayne County (with 56% Uncommitted in heavily Arab-American Dearborn) and Washtenaw County (left-wing university town Ann Arbor). In eight metropolitan and university counties, 71,000 Democrats voted Uncommitted — almost half of Biden’s 154,000-vote November 2020 margin in the state. And that’s among a primary electorate less than half the size of the 2020 Democratic primary turnout.

Some have argued that the Undecided percentage is not much higher than in 2012, when Obama was unopposed and 10.7% voted Undecided. But that was not a response to an articulated campaign on a speci c issue, and in a year of much lower turnout.

On all three points, there’s an implication that both parties’ superannuated nominees could face di culties in turning out favorable voters. Trump’s contemptuous dismissal of Haley may cost him some of her supporters’ votes. Biden’s stance on Israel and Gaza may antagonize the leftish folks he’s done so much to cultivate on other issues.

But on one point, neither is vulnerable. Whoever is elected will be serving a second term and, as clearly and undisputedly worded in the 22nd Amendment, will be ineligible for a third. There won’t be another Jan. 6 mob in 2029.

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

Birthplaces of NC’s post-WWII governors

Tuesday’s primary elections whittled down the candidates to be the next governor of North Carolina.

Since the end of World War II on Sept. 2, 1945, the state has had 14 governors — Jim Hunt served two eight-year stints in o ce, sandwiching James G. Martin’s 1985-93 term.

Eleven of the people who held the position since late 1945 were Democrats, with nine of the 14 born in North Carolina from eight Old North State cities and seven counties. Some, like Dan K. Moore (Asheville to Jackson County) and Jim Hunt (Greensboro to Wilson) were born in one North Carolina city but raised in another. This year’s gubernatorial front-runners, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Attorney General Josh Stein, were born in Greensboro and Washington, D.C., respectively. Stein’s family moved to N.C. and he went to high school in Chapel Hill.

James Holshouser (R) 1973-77

Boone (Watauga)

Dan K. Moore (D) 1965-69 Asheville (Buncombe)

BUNCOMBE

Five were born out of state: R. Gregg Cherry (South Carolina) grew up in Gastonia; Luther H. Hodge (Virginia) was raised in what is now Eden; James G. Martin (Georgia) was raised in South Carolina and went to college at Davidson before settling in Charlotte; Bev Perdue (Virginia) moved to North Carolina in the 1970s; Pat McCrory (Ohio) moved to Guilford County as a child.

Here’s a look at the birthplaces of N.C.’s post-WWII governors.

R. Gregg Cherry (D) 1945-49 South Carolina

James Holshouser (R) 1973-77

Boone (Watauga)

Jim Hunt (D) 1977-85, 1993-2001 Greensboro (Guilford)

Jim Hunt (D) 1977-85, 1993-2001 Greensboro (Guilford)

William B. Umstead (D) 1953-54 Mangum Township (Durham)

William B. Umstead (D) 1953-54 Mangum Township (Durham)

BUNCOMBE

Dan K. Moore (D) 1965-69 Asheville (Buncombe)

Robert W. Scott (D) 1969-73

Haw River (Alamance)

Robert W. Scott (D) 1969-73 Haw River (Alamance)

Terry Sanford (D) 1961-65

R. Gregg Cherry (D) 1945-49 South Carolina

Luther H. Hodge (D) 1954-1961 Virginia

WEST PIEDMONT

Community grieves as mom is charged in twin sons’ drowning deaths

Cherokee County

A Cherokee County woman has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her twin 4-year-old sons. Genevieve Springer appeared in court Monday in Murphy, according to local reports. O cials say the deaths were discovered Saturday by Springer’s former husband, who found the boys deceased after going to their home to pick them up for a custody visit. Cherokee County Sheri Dustin Smith said it appeared the boys had drowned. Springer, 44, was charged with two counts of rst-degree murder and has been extradited to North Carolina. She is being held at a Haywood County jail without bond, according to local o cials.

NSJ

Luther H. Hodges (D) 1954-1961 Virginia

Laurinburg (Scotland)

James G. Martin (R) 1985-93 Georgia

Terry Sanford (D) 1961-65 Laurinburg (Scotland)

James G. Martin (R) 1985-93 Georgia

Bev Perdue (D) 2009-13 Virginia

EAST

Inaugural Bar-B-Q Hall of Fame inductees represent family, food legacies

Alamance County

Two famed BBQ restaurants and the family that started them have been inducted into the inaugural class of the North Carolina Bar-B-Q Hall of Fame. Sam Jones BBQ, Skylight Inn BBQ and the Jones family were honored March 1, in Burlington. According to a press release, more than 300 people attended the Hall of Fame event where Sam Jones, his father Bruce Jones and uncle Je Jones were honored alongside other North Carolina barbecue legends. The other inductees included: Kent Bridges of Alston Bridges Barbecue in Shelby; Steve and Gerri Grady of Grady’s BBQ in Dudley; Charles Hursey of Hursey’s BarB-Q in Burlington, Mebane and Graham; Wayne Monk of Lexington Barbecue in Lexington; and Charles Stamey of Stamey’s Barbecue in Greensboro.

NSJ

Migrant facility nears operational status, according to mayor

Guilford County Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan announced on X last week that the long-planned Greensboro In ux Care Facility for migrant children facility “will be operational on March 15.” She added that, while the facility will be ready, “no children will be placed at the facility at this time.” On Monday, after getting clari cation from the O ce of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, Vaughan’s o ce released more information, saying “operational” means the facility will be ready to receive children, but the capacity is not yet needed.

NSJ

Mike Easley (D) 2001-09 Rocky Mount (Nash)

Roy Cooper (D) 2017Nashville (Nash)

Bev Perdue (D) 2009-13 Virginia

Pat McCrory (R) 2013-17 Ohio

Well-known boater found dead after Oregon Inlet accident

Dare County A boater has been found dead and the Coast Guard continues to search for a second person after a boat heading to the Outer Banks was overdue. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement that the boat believed to be piloted by Capt. Charlie Gri n was going from Virginia Beach to Wanchese for repairs when it was reported overdue around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Along with the man found dead, the Coast Guard says it recovered a deceased dog as well as the boat. Gri n was a xture within the local boating community and is known for his appearances on the Outer Banks shing show “Wicked Tuna.”

NSJ

Mike Easley (D) 2001-09 Rocky Mount (Nash)

Roy Cooper (D) 2017-present Nashville (Nash)

Pat McCrory (R) 2013-17 Ohio

Man found with $750K of cocaine during tra c stop

Halifax County Agents of the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force conducted a tra c stop at a gas station in the Scotland Neck area Monday, and one man is facing several drug charges after deputies found seven kilos of cocaine inside his car, the Halifax County Sheri ’s O ce told local outlets. After searching the vehicle, agents discovered a “fabricated hidden compartment” commonly used by narco-tra ckers to conceal drugs while transporting them, locating nearly $750,000 worth of cocaine, the sheri ’s o ce said. The driver of the vehicle, identi ed as Luis Flores, is being held without bond.

NC rivers test positive for possibly dangerous bacteria

Temporary dog quarantine in place for local shelters

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced $1.3 million in grants to 42 public school districts and charter schools in North Carolina to help 51,000 students access a healthy school breakfast.

“Our public schools not only provide safe places for children to learn, but also healthy meals for students who sometimes face food insecurity at home,” Cooper said in a statement.

“These grants will help more public schools provide breakfast for children in the classroom so they can start their day ready to learn and be successful.”

The grants, called NC Innovative School Breakfast Grants, were made possible through federal funds allocated by the governor in October 2023.

The grants aim to address food insecurity among students, with Cooper’s statement citing “nearly 60%” of North Carolina public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and “approximately 1 in 6 children” in the state lack consistent access to food at home.

Recipients of the grants utilize the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to o er free meals to all students without charge to their families.

The selection of districts and charter schools for the grants was conducted through a competitive process managed

by the Carolina Hunger Initiative and the North Carolina Alliance for Health. Districts and schools included per the governor’s statement include Alexander County Schools, Arapahoe Charter School, Asheboro City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Cherokee County Schools, Cleveland County Schools, Craven County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Edgecombe County Public Schools, Graham County Schools, Greene County Public Schools, Guilford County Schools, Guilford Preparatory Academy Charter School, Halifax County Schools, Henderson Collegiate, Henderson County Public Schools, IredellStatesville Schools, Johnston County Public Schools, Madison County Schools, Mitchell County Schools, New Hanover County Schools, North East Carolina Prep School, Pamlico County Schools, Pender County Schools, Polk County Schools,

County explores $1M grant to address growing substance abuse

Buncombe County Buncombe County leaders are looking into applying for funds for a housing program that would provide shelter for those in the community recovering from substance abuse. O cials say the grant is provided through the North Carolina Department of Commerce and o ers up to $1 million for local governments to put toward the Recovery Housing Program. A Buncombe County o cial told local outlets that the Department of Commerce had put out funds to the Appalachian region to support recovery housing, which provides stable and safe housing for individuals who are in recovery from substance use.

PRESS

WLOS

Local bakers featured on Food Network

Forsyth County

Two local bakers will be featured on Food Network’s “Spring Baking Championships.” Anna Simeonides owns To Your Health Bakery in WinstonSalem and pastry chef Michael Bass, who recently moved to N.C. from Colorado, will be two of 12 contestants competing for the $25,000 prize and title of Spring Baking Champion. Their competitors are pastry chefs from around the world. Each week, the bakers will be given a timed challenge, and at the end of each episode, the least successful baker will be eliminated.

WXII

Principal

installs book vending machine to inspire good deeds

Randolph County

The principal at Farmer Elementary School in Randolph County has installed a book vending machine in the building’s main hall. “We are PBIS school. Which is a ‘positive behavior intervention supports’ school. So we try to do things positively and it helps build our social, emotional plus helps with behavior and academics,” Judi Cagle told local outlets. The machineoperates by inserting gold coins students are given when they are caught doing good things. Teachers, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other sta can pass on a coin whenever they see a child performing a kind act.

WGHP

Wake County A new swim guide report says ve river sites in North Carolina have tested positive for bacteria and failed the Swim Guide Test for February. Researchers monitor freshwater sites for E. coli bacteria and brackish or salt water for enterococci bacteria, which can cause an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections in both humans and their pets. According to the results, the following river sites failed the February Swim Guide Test: The Neuse River site on Poole Road in Raleigh, Clayton River Walk in Clayton, Boat access in Seven Springs, Busco Beach in Goldsboro, and The Tar-Pamlico River site at Havens Gardens in Washington.

NSJ

Cumberland County A quarantine is in place for dogs at the Cumberland County Animal Services shelter after several of them were infected with a virus, the county announced last Friday. According to local reports, the shelter said a limited number of young dogs or puppies have been infected with Canine Parvovirus (CPV), a common and widespread virus that can cause severe illness and death, particularly in young puppies or unvaccinated dogs. Shelter o cials said they are halting all non-emergency dog intake and are restricting dogs to their current housing area until the quarantine is complete. During this time, anyone who nds a stray dog is asked to post the dog on social media sites like PawBoost, Facebook and NextDoor to locate an owner.

KAITLIN MCKEOWN THE NEWS & OBSERVER VIA AP Gov. Roy Cooper, pictured in 2022 with a student at Bethesda Elementary School in Durham, announced $1.3 million in school lunch grants last week.

NATION & WORLD

Haley wins DC primary, beating Trump for rst time

It’s the rst time a woman has won a Republican presidential primary

By Meg Kinnard and Will Weissert

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nikki Haley won the Republican primary Sunday in the District of Columbia, notching her rst victory of the 2024 campaign.

Her victory at least temporarily halts Donald Trump’s sweep of the GOP voting contests, although the former president is likely to pick up several hundred more delegates in this week’s Super Tuesday races.

Despite her early losses, Haley has said she would remain in the race at least through those contests, although she has declined to name any primary she felt con dent she would win. Following her loss in her home state of South Carolina, Haley remained adamant that voters in the places that followed deserved an alternative to Trump despite his dominance thus far in the campaign.

The Associated Press declared Haley the winner Sunday night after D.C. Republican Party o cials released the results. She won all 19 delegates at stake.

“It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos,”

his last remaining rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, from mathematical contention for the GOP nomination.

“We’re going to keep going and we’re going to keep pushing,” Haley said in an event of her own in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon.

Trump called Robinson, who also spoke at Saturday’s rally, an “incredible gentleman” and “great, natural speaker.”

Trump recalled, with some imprecision, how Robinson rose to fame following a 2018 speech to the Greensboro City Council in support of gun rights and police that went viral.

That led Robinson to a National Ri e Association board position and being elected as the state’s rst black lieutenant governor in 2020 in his rst bid for public o ce.

Robinson, a Greensboro native, said in a news release that he was “humbled” to have Trump’s endorsement and looked forward to working with Trump to “lead our united Republican ticket to victory in November, and get our state and country back on track.”

State Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said the endorsement wasn’t a surprise. “Our state needs a leader who will bring people together and do the hard work of governing, not prioritize job-killing culture wars that take our state backward.”

Trump also used the rally to attack President Joe Biden — his likely competition in the general election — on his border policies, charging that “every day Joe Biden is giving aid and comfort to foreign enemies of the United States.”

“Biden’s conduct on our border is by any de nition a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America,” he said. “Biden and his accomplices want to collapse the American system, nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations.”

“Once again Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people from the fact he killed the fairest and toughest border security bill in decades because he believed it would help his campaign. Sad,” Biden campaign spokesman

Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement, noting that Haley became the rst woman to win a Republican primary in history.

Washington is one of the most heavily Democratic jurisdictions in the nation, with only about 23,000 registered Republicans in the city. Democrat Joe Biden won the district in the

2020 general election with 92% of the vote.

Trump’s campaign issued a statement shortly after Haley’s victory sarcastically congratulating her on being named “Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders that want to protect the failed status quo.”

Haley held a rally in the nation’s capital on Friday before

heading back to North Carolina and a series of states holding Super Tuesday primaries. She joked with more than 100 supporters inside a hotel ballroom, “Who says there’s no Republicans in D.C., come on.”

“We’re trying to make sure that we touch every hand that we can and speak to every person,” Haley said.

As she gave her standard campaign speech, criticizing Trump for running up federal de cit, one rallygoer bellowed, “He cannot win a general election. It’s madness.” That prompted agreement from Haley, who argues that she can deny Biden a second term but Trump can’t.

While campaigning as an avowed conservative, Haley has tended to perform better among more moderate and independent-leaning voters.

Four in 10 Haley supporters in South Carolina’s GOP primary were self-described moderates, compared with 15% for Trump, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 2,400 voters taking part in the Republican primary in South Carolina, conducted for AP by NORC at the University of Chicago. On the other hand, 8 in 10 Trump supporters identi ed as conservatives, compared to about half of Haley’s backers.

Trump won an uncontested D.C. primary during his 2020 reelection bid but placed a distant third four years earlier behind Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Rubio’s win was one of only three in his unsuccessful 2016 bid. Other more centrist Republicans, including Mitt Romney and John McCain, won the city’s primaries in 2012 and 2008 on their way to winning the GOP nomination.

Ammar Moussa said in a statement.

Much of Trump’s speech in Greensboro focused on the slew of criminal charges he faces. While the former president has successfully harnessed his legal woes into a powerful rallying cry in the primaries, it is unclear how his message of grievance will resonate with the more

moderate voters who will likely decide the general election.

“I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident and a public enemy of a rogue regime,” Trump said, railing against what he called an “anti-Democratic machine.” As he focuses on the general

Supreme Court unanimously restores Trump to ballot

Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously restored Donald Trump to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to hold the Republican former president accountable for the Capitol riot. The justices ruled that states cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots. That power resides with Congress, the court wrote in an unsigned opinion. The outcome ends e orts in Colorado, Illinois, Maine and elsewhere to kick Trump o the ballot because of his attempts to undo his loss in the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Small plane crashes in Tenn, killing those aboard

Nashville, Tenn. Police in Nashville, Tennessee, say that multiple people have died after a small plane crashed Monday night near an interstate highway, shutting down multiple lanes. The Metro Nashville Police Department says the single-engine plane crashed just o Interstate 40 in the western part of the city and multiple people onboard are dead. Police posted a photo of the charred wreckage of the small plane in the grass along Interstate 40, which saw eastbound lanes closed due to the crash. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority says the crash happened 3 miles south of John C. Tune Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

UN envoy: ‘Reasonable’ evidence of Hamas sexual violence

United Nations

election, Trump has painted an apocalyptic vision of the country under Biden, particularly on the topic of immigration, which was the animating issue of his 2016 campaign and which he has once again seized on as the U.S. has experienced a record in ux of migrants at the border.

On Saturday, Trump conjured images of Biden turning “public schools into migrant camps” and “the USA into a crime-ridden, disease-ridden dumping ground, which is what they’re doing.”

Trump won North Carolina twice but watched his margin of victory shrink. Biden’s reelection campaign already has sta on the ground hoping to ip the state for the rst time since 2008.

In North Carolina, a festive atmosphere surrounded the Greensboro Coliseum Complex ahead of Trump’s rally. Supporters stood in a line that snaked through a web of metal barricades and extended hundreds of yards from the arena.

“We just love Trump,” said, Mary Welborn, who lives in nearby Thomasville and expressed that she was frustrated by the criminal prosecutions and civil judgments against the former president. “The way he’s being treated is insane. No other president has been treated this way,” she said.

The U.N. envoy focusing on sexual violence in con ict says there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas committed rape, “sexualized torture,” and other cruel treatment of women during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7 that left about 1,200 people dead and some 250 others taken hostage. There are also “reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing,” said Pramila Patten, who visited Israel and the West Bank from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14 with a nine-member team.

France makes abortion constitutional right

Paris French lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill to enshrine abortion rights in France’s constitution, making it the only country to explicitly guarantee a woman’s right to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy. Women’s rights activists hailed the measure adopted in a historic joint parliament session convened at the Palace of Versailles on Monday evening. The measure was promised by President Emmanuel Macron following a rollback of abortion rights in court rulings in the United States. Both houses of French parliament — the National Assembly and the Senate — approved the measure by an overwhelming 780 votes to 72. It says a woman’s right to an abortion is guaranteed.

MICHAEL DWYER | AP PHOTO

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, pictured campaigning last Friday in Washington, D.C., became the rst woman to win a GOP presidential primary with her victory in the District of Columbia.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Adam Radogna of the Outer Banks, foreground, and Charles Hibbs of White River, South Dakota, wave large Trump 2024 ags outside of Saturday’s rally at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s rally in Greensboro on Saturday. Robinson, who is running for governor of North Carolina, received Trump’s endorsement at the event.

TRUMP from page A1

The 3 big questions nobody

normal

China lied about the origin of the tried to tell the world there were only worldwide panic, economic collapse and being thrown out of work.

shelter-in-place or stay-at-home majority of Americans normal.” end of this month.

taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in added Reserve backup liquidity to the the U.S. dollar were not the reserve fund any of these emergency of rampant in ation and currency aberrant ways and decisions through Diplomacy has obviously not worked world of 21st century health, hygiene communist regimes never take the blame remorse, because that is not what take advantage of every weakness pushing until they win or the event happens such as the Chernobyl believe that event, not the Star Wars the dissolution of the Soviet Union Chernobyl.

fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus and the need to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to normal are treated in some circles with contempt.

WALTER E. WILLIAMS

ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this catastrophe one way or another.

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”

business & economy

Cooper stated during know yet” if the asked as to the vague ones like “we of this state who undetermined thousands of cases asked and then questions about asked, there is to treat those start getting back are people who sick. levels become a bad society were supposed course, is my family. I’m worried I will. After 2009 pandemic, of this brings up prefer not to repeat. most everyone has

They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept without question what the government tells us about when it’s safe to begin the process of returning back to normalcy.

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

Fixing college corruption

n.c. FAST FACTS

AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with corruption. The nancial squeeze resulting from COVID-19 o ers opportunities for a bit of remediation. Let’s rst examine what might be the root of academic corruption, suggested by the title of a recent study, “Academic Grievance Studies and the Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was done by Areo, an opinion and analysis digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by John Milton in defense of free speech.

Since when did questioning government at all levels

No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, the more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about when they can get back to providing for their families, will demand answers.

Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but answer with details that give their statements believability.

already talking about the possibility debt we owe them as one way to get they have caused the US. Don’t hold your “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected accountable in tangible nancial ways for expected to operate as responsible citizens of nation.

State grants will fund bioenergy,

new crop research

Not one little bit.

Projects aiming to boost bioenergy opportunities and crop production in the state were awarded $1 million in grants last week from two state-funded programs.

Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say that something has gone drastically wrong in academia, especially within certain elds within the humanities. They call these elds “grievance studies,” where scholarship is not so much based upon nding truth but upon attending to social grievances. Grievance scholars bully students, administrators and other departments into adhering to their worldview. The worldview they promote is neither scienti c nor rigorous. Grievance studies consist of disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, gender studies, queer studies, sexuality and critical race studies.

In order to put the crisis caused by China in perspective, zero worldwide pandemics can trace their source to the United States over our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian u,” 1968 “Hong Kong u,” 1977 “Russian u” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the massive 1918 “Spanish u” pandemic also had its origins in China.

We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, ourselves, and our communities safe. But we should also still continue to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration date.

This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new normal.”

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

According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture, 13 research projects received grants from the N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative and the New and Emerging Crops Program.

seriousness of the virus and the need uneasy with how people who simply ask when things can start getting back to with contempt.

a society simply must accept without tells us about when it’s safe to begin the normalcy. us, and we have the right to ask those stay-at-home orders are in place all over the them get in states, such as Michigan, feeling isolated and/or anxious about providing for their families, will demand levels should be as forthcoming as they again, not vague answers, but answer statements believability.

Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

“These grants are smart investments, and this research is forward focused on expanding opportunities for N.C. farmers and agribusinesses,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Agriculture and agribusiness remain North Carolina’s largest industry, and agricultural research has been the foundation of the new advances, improved plant varieties and the latest production techniques that have increased the e ciency, yields and competitiveness of the industry.”

In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, Lindsay and Boghossian started submitting bogus academic papers to academic journals in cultural, queer, race, gender, fat and sexuality studies to determine if they would pass peer review and be accepted for publication. Acceptance of dubious research that journal editors found sympathetic to their intersectional or postmodern leftist vision of the world would prove the problem of low academic standards.

The Bioenergy Research Initiative began in 2013, with the allocation of funds by the North Carolina General Assembly. The initiative’s grants total $500,000 to support the development of energy production from agricultural and forest-based products.

what we can to keep our families, safe. But we should also still continue because while reasonable stay-at-home they should also have an expiration date. and it is not normal. Not in any way, should remain vigilant and stay safe, at comfortable with this so-called “new

The New and Emerging Crops Program began with General Assembly approval in 2018. The program’s mission is to identify new crops and industries and deliver grants to support the marketing and education necessary to make crops commercially viable and pro table for farmers.

under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

The Bioenergy Research Initiative awarded ve grants focused on bioenergy. NC State University’s departments of biological and agricultural engineering, forestry and environmental resources, and horticultural science received $414,000 in grants to fund various projects related to energy production from animal waste, trees and plants.

The cavalier manner in virus, covered up its spread 3,341 related deaths has millions of Americans needlessly

“THIS IS in it”

(Psalm

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month.

THIS WEEK, according to members of and state and local governments, Americans the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak. muted — after all, trends can easily reverse have abided by recommendations and orders. to stay at home; they’ve practiced social distancing; they’ve donned masks.

There is 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 originated in Wuhan Province probably from the completely unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came out of a

Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during a recent coronavirus press brie ng that “we just don’t know yet” if state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May.

We need transparency and honesty from our

Lenten and Easter seasons provide a message of

The crisis has cost the debt plus trillions more in markets and nancial outlets. currency, we would not be measures without immediate depreciation.

Several of the fake research papers were accepted for publication. The Fat Studies journal published a hoax paper that argued the term bodybuilding was exclusionary and should be replaced with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive politicized performance.” One reviewer said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article and believe it has an important contribution to make to the eld and this journal.”

If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the justi cation for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we must do this out of an abundance of caution.”

The result: a reduction in expected hospitalization According to the University of Washington Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited Trump administration, the expected need peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the number

I know that working from be glad” as the and dad, the have to be thankful pandemic. For me, my making. As Corinthians a iction, so a iction, with God.”

It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases

China has to pay for their economic and nancial means. to bring China into the civilized and fair trade. Totalitarian or express sincere regret totalitarian governments they nd in adversaries and adversaries push back.

If you are re ect on this God’s example this di cult con dent we

To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know questions that will allow the economy to reopen.

That is, unless an exogenous meltdown in 1986. Some program of Reagan, led directly

First, what is the true coronavirus fatality important because it determines whether be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue more liberalized society that presumes wide

Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who

In this same neighbors helping

Appalachian State University received $86,000 for a twoyear project seeking to convert nonmarketable organic waste into nutrients for crop soils.

The company is, however, implementing technology to allow for faster price changes and is testing arti cial intelligence in its drive-thru

“Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity Feminism as an Intersectional Reply to Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was accepted for publication by A lia, a feminist journal for social workers. The paper consisted in part of a rewritten passage from Mein Kampf. Two other hoax papers were published, including “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape paper eventually forced Boghossian, Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer had gured out what they were doing.

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing?

By Anne D’Innocenzio and David Hamilton The Associated Press

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed to do, last I checked.

CONSUMERS WILL PAY

more for a ight to Florida or for a hotel room during peak vacation times. They fork out more for a rush-hour Uber ride, and rely on apps like ParkWhiz or ParkMobile to book spots for their cars at premium prices. But a social media backlash last week to media reports that said fast-food chain Wendy’s had plans to increase menu prices

Some papers accepted for publication in academic journals advocated training men like dogs and punishing white male college students for historical slavery by asking them to sit in silence on the oor in chains during class and to be expected to learn from the discomfort. Other papers celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life choice and advocated treating privately conducted masturbation as a form of sexual violence against women. Typically, academic journal editors send submitted papers out to referees for review. In recommending acceptance for publication, many reviewers gave these papers glowing praise.

The New and Emerging Crops Program awarded eight separate grants with NCSU and N.C. A&T receiving $500,000 in grants for multiyear projects on new crops which include Bambara groundnuts, sesame, medicinal crops, heirloom rice, canary melons, teas, and disease-resistant redbuds and r Christmas trees.

The new crops could allow North Carolina farmers to convert to higher-priced crops or rotate higher-yielding alternatives with existing crops.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the Bambara groundnut is a grain legume originating in West Sub-Saharan Africa that has an underground growth habit similar to a peanut. The nuts are rich in carbohydrates, proteins and oils, and have been sourced by companies as an ingredient for alternative protein products.

North Carolina lawmakers are examining ways to lure Hollywood back to the Old North State

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often they appeared in our press over the years. He found huge increases in the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.”

By Je Amy The Associated Press

All of this is being taught to college students, many of whom become primary and secondary school teachers who then indoctrinate our young people.

I doubt whether the coronaviruscaused nancial crunch will give college and university administrators, who are a crossbreed between a parrot and jelly sh, the guts and backbone to restore academic respectability. Far too often, they get much of their political support from campus grievance people who are members of the faculty and diversity and multicultural administrative o ces.

Sesame production is already under development in N.C. with 5,000 acres of sesame contracted in 2023. A new study at NC State seeks to evaluate the feasibility of sesame production in a double-cropping system, identify herbicide options and conduct a statewide variety trial.

ATLANTA — Georgia House members are moving to tighten Georgia’s lucrative lm tax credit, limiting the value of credits moviemakers can cash in by selling them to others and requiring them to spend more in the state. The Peach State’s move comes as North Carolina legislators are considering options to bring more lm production back to a state that ended its lucrative lm incentive program in 2014.

The Georgia House voted 131-34 on Thursday to approve House Bill 1180, sending it to the state Senate for more debate.

The best hope lies with boards of trustees, though many serve as yes-men for the university president. I think that a good start would be to nd 1950s or 1960s catalogs. Look at the course o erings at a time when college graduates knew how to read, write and compute, and make them today’s curricula. Another helpful tool would be to give careful consideration to eliminating all classes/majors/minors containing the word “studies,” such as women, Asian, black or queer studies. I’d bet that by restoring the traditional academic mission to colleges, they would put a serious dent into the COVID-19 budget shortfall.

Thanks in large part to tax breaks, productions including “The Hunger Games,” the Marvel movies, the Fast & Furious installment “Furious 7” and many others shot in Georgia have made the Peach State a hub for movies and television shows that might otherwise have been shot in Hollywood.

The program has supported thousands of Georgia jobs and the creation of several thriving studios. But it’s hugely expensive — the state is projected to give out $1.35 billion in credits this year alone. Supporters of the measure say they want to preserve Georgia’s lm industry but protect the state against a limitless liability.

“We feel like today we have a

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed

In Concord, money to buy health care workers

We’ve seen case fatality rates — the number the number of identi ed COVID-19 cases and the denominator are likely wrong. We people have actually died of coronavirus. number has been overestimated, given that of death, particularly among elderly patients, sources suggest the number is dramatically

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Senators in Washington of China forgiving $1.2 trillion China to “pay” for the damage breath waiting for a Chinese representatives to hold China

My rst concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After su ering from the H1N1 virus (swine u) during the 2009 pandemic, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat.

It is about time they are the world like any other modern

Even more importantly, we have no clue actually have coronavirus. Some scientists of identi ed cases could be an order of magnitude number of people who have had coronavirus

Sponsored by pr il 15, 2 l, senior

But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has

okay to ask questions about when we begin to get back to normal

PHOTO

The comfort and hope

There’s the beef! Wendy’s won’t use ‘surge’ pricing

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”

during its busiest hours showed a limit to where, when and for what U.S. consumers will trade more cash for convenience. It looks like a Dave’s Double Combo or a Frosty won’t make the cut.

already part of the chain’s strategy, and Tanner reinforced the company’s commitment to its “Wendy’s FreshAI” system.

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during a recent coronavirus press brie ng that “we just don’t know yet” if the state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May.

Wendy’s clari ed its intentions Wednesday, drawing a distinction between the company’s “dynamic pricing” strategy and “surge pricing” practices that charge more during times of peak demand. The company said any uctuations it decides to test in the future “would be designed to bene t our customers and restaurant crew members.”

“THIS IS THE DAY the lord has made, in it” (Psalm 118:24).

fallen into place. I understand to take precautions, but I’m questions about the data, normal are treated in some

They’re treated as though question what the government process of returning back

I know that during this challenging time working from home or losing a job, it may be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. However, and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded have to be thankful and hopeful for, even pandemic.

If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the justi cation for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we must do this out of an abundance of caution.”

It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases are reliable.

“But if one minute a burger is $5 and the next minute it’s $6, and then it goes up and down again, (customers) will simply get annoyed.”

Neil Saunders, GlobalData retail analyst

“Beginning as early as 2025, we will begin testing more enhanced features like dynamic pricing and day-part o erings along with AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling,” said Wendy’s CEO Kirk

Lenten and Easter seasons provide a message of hope that we will once again enjoy sporting events, concerts, family gatherings, church services and many more after our own temporary sacri ces are over.

No. The government works questions. And the longer country, and the stricter the more people, sitting at when they can get back to answers.

For me, my faith is an important part of making. As I celebrated Easter with my family, Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our Lord a iction, so that we may be able to comfort a iction, with the comfort which we ourselves God.”

To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about the data. State Republican leaders have, too.

Wendy’s announced Wendy’s FreshAI in 2023 with the aim of creating more automated drive-thru experiences. The company has a multiyear strategic partnership with Google Cloud. With 75-80% of Wendy’s fans choosing the drive-thru, the restaurant chain said it was piloting an “automated drive-thru ordering system (that) is intended to feel as natural as interacting with a crew member, providing quick answers to customer questions and taking accurate food orders, even if items are not phrased exactly as they appear on the menu.”

Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick.

If you are celebrating the Easter season, re ect on this message and be comforted, God’s example and comfort all those in need this di cult time. Through faith and by helping con dent we will emerge out of this pandemic

In this same spirit, I continue to be inspired neighbors helping neighbors.

Tanner during a Feb. 15 earnings call. Tanner took over as CEO on Feb. 5. The company’s digital menuboards could allow pricing adjustments and o er di erent menu items throughout the day. Arti cial intelligence was

Leaders at the local and can be with those answers with details that give their We should all continue ourselves, and our communities to ask questions about the measures are understandable, This is all new to Americans, shape, or form. So while the same time we shouldn’t normal.”

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed to do, last I checked.

Dynamic pricing and surge pricing are both models that continuously adjust prices based on a range of factors. Dynamic pricing can involve both increasing and decreasing prices, based on market conditions, the season and supply changes. Surge pricing is a subset of dynamic pricing and only involves

In Concord, a high school senior named money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to health care workers out of his own home.

Not one little bit.

My rst concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After su ering from the H1N1 virus (swine u) during the 2009 pandemic, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat.

But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has

Georgia looks to tighten lm

incentives

FOX SEARCHLIGHT

Frances McDormand won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

bill in front of you that is going to make sure the taxpayers of Georgia get the best bang for their buck while ensuring that lm continues to thrive in the state of Georgia,” said the bill’s sponsor, Republican Kasey Carpenter of Dalton. Opponents warn that the cap on credit transfers could cause companies to leave Georgia, in the same way that companies came to Georgia from other states with caps.

North Carolina ended most of its lm incentives in 2014 and saw declines in lm production in the years following as Georgia saw signi cant increases. In January, a bipartisan group announced a committee to reexamine the lm industry in North Carolina.

“If it’s not broke, don’t try to

x it,” said Rep. Long Tran, a Dunwoody, Georgia Democrat who has produced short lms. “We’re not just competing with other states, we’re competing globally, and this industry is rapidly changing.” Georgia grants state income tax credits for up to 30% of the cost of a television or lm production in the state once a company spends at least $500,000. But most production companies don’t have enough income tax liability to use all the credits and they can’t be redeemed for cash. Production companies can sell the credits to other people who owe taxes in Georgia, usually at a slight discount. But lawmakers have grown concerned that billions of dollars in tax credits are outstanding, fearing they could all be cashed

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

in at once. In 2022, the state auditor estimated $1.4 billion in such taxes were outstanding.

The measure says that unlimited credits can still be given out to production companies, and they can still cash in any amount to cover their own taxes. But it would say that only amount of credits equal to 2.5% of the state budget could be transferred in any year. That’s about $900 million this year.

“As the industry has ourished, so have the associated costs to our state revenues,” said Rep. Clint Crowe, a Republican from Jackson. “It is imperative that we implement measures to safeguard our scal stability while preserving the attractiveness of our incentive program.”

The lm tax credit has spurred a big increase in movies and TV shows made in Georgia, but state-sponsored evaluations show the credit’s cost outweighs its economic bene t. A study last year by Georgia State University suggested the state saw a return of less than 20 cents on the dollar.

Credits start at 20% of production spending but currently rise to 30% if a movie or television show displays Georgia’s peach logo. The bill would require companies to do more to earn the 30% credit rate.

Productions would have to meet four of nine requirements, such as hiring a crew that is at least half Georgia residents, having half of all vendors be Georgia-based companies, spending at least $30 million in the state, or spending at least half the days shooting in counties where few movies have been lmed.

North State Journal sta contributed to this article.

Minn. helium discovery could alleviate supply concerns

The U.S. government sold strategic reserves to a German company in January

North State Journal

RALEIGH — A recent discovery in Minnesota of a deposit of the element helium could help ease concerns about the stability of the market for the nonrenewable resource which is critical to various sectors, including health care.

Last week Pulsar Helium announced the identi cation of substantial helium concentrations in Minnesota. The ndings at the Jetstream #1 appraisal well in the company’s Topaz helium project revealed concentrations of up to 12.4%, a development that not only heralds a major advance in domestic helium exploration but also arrives at a critical time for the industry. This discovery could potentially stabilize the U.S. helium supply, which has been fraught with uncertainty following the Biden administration’s decision to privatize the Federal Helium Reserve (FHR) in January.

The FHR, located in Amarillo, Texas, has been a pivotal source of helium, supplying up to 20% of the nation’s needs. In January, the U.S. government sold the asset to Messer, an industrial gas rm, for $374 mil-

resource, the element is used in various industries, most notably health care. Its unique cooling properties are indispensable for MRI machines, which rely on helium to maintain the superconductive magnets at necessary temperatures. The U.S. health care system depends on helium for approximately 40 million MRI scans annually, and any disruption in its supply could have signi cant repercussions on medical diagnostics and treatment.

resents a timely and potentially transformative development for the U.S. helium industry. By adding a new domestic source of helium, this nd could mitigate some of the supply risks posed by the privatization of the Federal Helium Reserve and reliance on international sources.

Pulsar’s con rmation of helium at su cient commercial concentrations was heralded by the company’s CEO, Thomas Abraham-James, who called the rst tests “an outstanding result.”

“It is a big day for helium exploration, con rming the original discovery in the new jurisdiction of Minnesota,” said Abraham-James. “I look forward to keeping the market updated with further results as they are received.”

lion. This sale included not just the helium but also the extensive infrastructure supporting its distribution — approximately 425 miles of pipelines across Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The helium is stored in a natural geologic formation called the Bush Dome Reservoir. The reserve was established by the Helium Act of 1925 to supply the noble gas for airships and later coolant during the Cold War. The auction, resulting from initiatives set forth by the He -

lium Stewardship Act of 2013, highlighted the government’s intent to reduce its footprint in the helium market. The transaction, which saw limited competition with only one other signi cantly lower bid from Lazarus Energy Holdings, has sparked discussions regarding the future of helium availability and pricing in the U.S.

Helium’s importance transcends its well-known applications in balloons and blimps. As a nite and nonrenewable

The privatization of the FHR raised concerns about the security and stability of the U.S. helium supply. With the world’s largest helium reserves outside the U.S. located in Algeria, Qatar and Russia, the sale introduces more uncertainties in a market already constrained by a nite supply. Messer, a German company that operates globally in the broad industrial gas sector, will take over ownership of a system it has operated under contract with the U.S. government since 2022. According to a release from Messer, the company achieved 99% reliability in its operation of the Crude Helium Enrichment Unit and delivered 1 billion standard cubic feet of helium during its contract with the Federal Bureau of Land Management which has operational oversight of the federal helium reserves. Against this backdrop, the discovery in Minnesota rep -

The Minnesota helium deposit was accidentally found in the Iron Range, a region with signi cant iron ore deposits and mining activity, in 2011 when a company was drilling for other minerals.

Despite being a ubiquitous element throughout the universe, helium is a relatively scarce element on Earth. Because gaseous helium quickly escapes the atmosphere, exploration is focused on “trapped” deposits underground. Trapped deposits of helium can be comingled with natural gas. In natural gas reservoirs, helium at concentrations above 0.3% is considered commercially viable. The Pulsar discovery’s 12.4% concentration means the helium should be commercially viable if the total volume makes it worth mining. The company has told local news outlets that a feasibility study could be completed by the end of 2024 and extraction could begin within 18 months.

Chinese retailers exploit import rule to sell cheap clothing

By Didi Tang The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a substitute teacher in her mid20s, Lindsey Puls was delighted to discover the fashion world of Shein more than 10 years ago, lured in by its super-low prices — with tops selling for a few dollars, dresses under $10, and free shipping on orders over $29.

Puls, who has a blog called “Have Clothes, Will Travel,” joined other in uencers in modeling her low-priced but trendy purchases on social media like Instagram and TikTok, contributing to a surge in popularity for Shein. The company, which was founded in China and sells clothing manufactured there, is now the top fast fashion retailer in the U.S.

“From my experience, they have pretty good designs for the price and extensive varieties,” said Puls, who lives in Shiocton, Wisconsin. “The U.S. is in this phase where ‘more is better.’ Many people want to get as much clothing as money can buy.”

How can stylish imports from the other side of the Paci c be so cheap? The answer has much to do with a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which allows parcels valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free per person per day.

With the explosion of global online shopping, that rule is now coming under scrutiny. While shoppers celebrate online bargains, lawmakers from both

increasing prices based on supply and demand, experts say.

Dynamic pricing has been part of some industries almost as long as they’ve had technology capable of adjusting prices quickly.

Airlines, for instance, regularly raise and lower fares depending on the time of year, expected customer surges, and projections of how many seats they can ll at various times.

Hotels do much the same with room reservations. Other places where dynamic pricing shows up include concerts, sporting events,

parties are questioning whether the rule allows manufacturers to avoid tari s aimed at protecting American companies and bypass laws barring the imports of products made by forced labor, illicit drugs or unsafe materials.

On Thursday, a group of 40 lawmakers asked the Biden administration to crack down on the de minimis trade, which they said also facilitates the ow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into the U.S.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) has introduced legislation to exclude non-market economies like China from the rule.

parking facilities and street meters. Utilities use dynamic pricing to limit usage at times of high demand that could threaten blackouts, notes Daniel Freund, a business professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Neil Saunders, with research rm GlobalData, said though dynamic pricing is already ubiquitous, the grief Wendy’s got shows how sensitive consumers are to price variations. “Dynamic pricing is common in travel and accommodations. There’s a xed level of supply,” Saunders said. “But if one minute a burger is $5 and the next minute it’s $6, and then it goes up and

A bill introduced in the Senate would make the practice reciprocal. China, for example, sets the de minimis threshold at about $7. “The de minimis loophole is a threat to American competitiveness, consumer safety and basic human rights,” Blumenauer said in December.

But the de minimis rule also has defenders. The National Foreign Trade Council, whose members include major shippers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL as well as online retailers like Amazon and eBay, argue that restricting its use would make purchases

down again, they will simply get annoyed.” Experts say dynamic pricing is not common in restaurants, but a growing number are charging more for items that patrons order using third-party apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Debbie Roxarzade, founder and CEO of Las Vegas-based Rachel’s Kitchen restaurants, uses technology from a startup called Sauce Pricing to help adjust prices for users of third-party apps based on algorithms and the in-person tra c at the chain’s nine restaurants. For example, a sandwich that would cost $12 on the regular

more expensive for American consumers and small businesses. The cost of a $50 package would double, according to the council. Shein, now based in Singapore, said in a statement it has made it a priority to comply with the customs and import laws of the countries where it operates, including the U.S. requirements for de minimis packages. Introduced in 1938, the de minimis exception was intended to facilitate the ow of small packages valued at no more than $5, the equivalent of about $106 today. The threshold increased to $200 in 1994 and $800 in 2016.

menu might rise to $12.60 for a delivery customer during peak hours but fall to $11.05 during slow times such as after lunch, Roxarzade said. “It’s helpful to streamline operations and keep things fresh and clean and more consistent instead of having a huge peak in demand and then just very little sales in other hours,” she said.

Roxarzade emphasized that her physical locations do not employ such dynamic pricing methods. Experts say it’s going to be hard to change public attitudes toward dynamic pricing, especially in fast-food restaurants.

In 2023, for the rst time, more than 1 billion de minimis packages came through U.S. customs, up from 134 million packages in 2015. China is the biggest source of retail packages entering the U.S., accounting for the bulk of the nearly 3 million small parcels that come through every day under the de minimis rule, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

“That’s approximately a 646% increase over just eight years,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of eld operations for Custom and Border Protection’s Chicago eld o ce, which oversees one of the nation’s busiest ports for de minimis parcels.

A June 2023 report by the House Select Committee on China’s Communist Party found that Shein and Temu, a low-cost online retailer of clothing and household goods, alone accounted for more than 30% of all packages shipped to the U.S. daily under the de minimis exemption.

A repeal of the provision could add $20 to $30 to each transaction, which would make it nancially impossible for businesses such as Shein and Temu to sell to American consumers at the low prices they are o ering now, Benoit said.

Law enforcement agencies also complain about the de minimis provision, which they say has helped fuel the drug crisis. The National Association of Police Organizations testi ed in December before the House Ways and Means trade subcommittee that much of the fentanyl seized last year came into the country in de minimis packages. It is unclear how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs may be slipping undetected into the country in the small packages.

At the same time, charging customers to choose a seat or check a suitcase for a ight hasn’t always been the routine it is now.

It’s also possible to approach dynamic pricing in a way that defuses consumer resentment, MIT’s Freund said.

“Rather than saying we’re going to use surge pricing at peak demand periods, they could say we’re going to explore giving discounts during o -peak periods,” he noted. “And of course, those two statements are equivalent.”

Michelle Chapman from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

PULSAR HELIUM

Topaz is located in Minnesota north of Duluth, a regional center supporting the vast iron ore mines of North America.

WENDY’S from page A9

Sites like Temu and Shein avoid tari s with direct shipping strategy

RICHARD DREW | AP PHOTO

Temu is among the low-priced clothing sites using direct shipping to avoid tari s.

Century-old Raleigh clothier to close

Nowell’s Clothing opened in 1921

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

RALEIGH — A Raleigh institution announced it will close its doors after 103 years.

Nowell’s Clothing, a family-owned clothier o ering high-fashion men’s clothing and attire for all occasions, an-

nounced the upcoming closure last Wedneday. Since its establishment in 1921 by Arthur Nowell, the store has ourished under three generations, remaining a household name in Raleigh and around the state. A rm closing date was not announced, but the company said spring would be the store’s nal season.

“This decision has not been made lightly, and we want to

take a moment to express our deep gratitude to each one of you who has been a part of our journey,” said the company through a joint statement from Schooner, Matt and LuBet Nowell.

“Since our founding in 1921 by our Grandparents, Nowell’s Clothing has been dedicated to providing quality clothing and exceptional service to our loyal customers. Over the years, we have witnessed generations of families coming through our

doors, and we’ve been honored to be a part of your lives, helping you celebrate special occasions, nding the perfect out t, and simply being a trusted destination for all your clothing needs.”

The group called the decision to close “heart-wrenching” and said they would also be retiring.

The company also announced a “retirement sale.” The store will maintain its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

“This decision has not been made lightly, and we want to take a moment to express our deep gratitude to each one of you who has been a part of our journey.”

Company statement

PHOTO

Consumer Reports identi es security aws in doorbell cameras

EKEN and Tuck are among the Chinese-made brands that were found to have major vulnerabilities

By Haleluya Hadero

The Associated Press

SOME DOORBELL cameras sold by Amazon and other online retailers have security aws that could allow bad actors to view footage from the devices or control them completely, according to an investigation published Thursday by Consumer Reports. Researchers from the product-review organization said they found major vulnerabilities in cameras manufactured by the Chinese company Eken Group Ltd., which produces video doorbells under the brand names EKEN and Tuck, among others.

The devices have been sold online by Walmart, Shein, Sears and Temu, which said it removed Eken-made doorbells from its platform after Consumer Reports reached out to the company.

A Walmart spokesperson said the doorbell cameras Consumer Reports brought to its attention were listed on its marketplace by third-party sellers. The spokesperson said Walmart has removed those items and was o ering refunds under its return policy.

Amazon, which has given the EKEN and Tuck doorbells its coveted “Amazon’s Choice” badge, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But the doorbell cameras appeared to be available on its site on Thursday. Sears and Shein also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Researchers said the doorbell cameras made by Eken Group can be controlled by a company-operated app called Aiwit. They said bad actors can create

an account on the app and gain access to a nearby doorbell camera by pairing it with another device. That gives them the ability to view footage — or access still images — and lock out the owner from the device, Consumer Reports said.

The group’s researchers also found that some of the doorbell cameras don’t have a registra-

tion code required by the Federal Communications Commission.

“Major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Walmart need to do a better job of vetting sellers and products sold on their platforms, so consumers are not put at risk,” Justin Brookman, director of tech policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The electric Charger sports 670 HP, while gas options include a 550-HP twin-turbo inline-6

By Tom Krisher

The

Associated Press

DETROIT — America’s muscle car culture will live on as the country transitions to electric vehicles, but the gas-powered performance car will last for at least a few more years.

Dodge on Tuesday unveiled two battery-powered versions of the Charger muscle car that will still roar like a big V8 engine without pollution from the tailpipe.

However the Stellantis brand, which has carved out a market niche of selling high performance vehicles, will keep selling a gas-powered Charger as well, sans the big Hemi V8. Both will be built on Stellantis’ global large vehicle underpinnings, and the Windsor, Ontario, factory that will manufacture them will be able to ex between gasoline and electric depending on consumer demand. The exibility will

let Stellantis hedge its bets if electric vehicle sales take o or slow.

Last year Stellantis stopped making the gas powered Chargers and Challengers, and many thought that would be the beginning of the end for the thundering sedans.

But Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said there were hints that a gas version would live on. “It was always there. It was always in the plan. It was always coming,” he said.

The company, however, downplayed the gas version as it showed o two-door and fourdoor electric models that look a little like Chargers of the 1960s with aerodynamic lines and hatchbacks instead of trunks.

The electric versions, named Charger Daytona after the NASCAR raceway in Florida, will come with two powertrains, one delivering up to 670 horsepower with the ability to go from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) in 3.3 seconds. The other is no slouch with 496 horses and a zero to 60 time of 4.7 seconds.

Dodge claims the high-performance electric version is

world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car. An even higher performance version is coming next year.

The 496-horsepower Daytona is expected to have a range of 317 miles (510 kilometers) per charge, while the high-performance version can go 260 miles 418 kilometers).

Both will have the company’s Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust that sends air through chamber to simulate the roar of a V8.

Both are heavy due to the big batteries, each with gross vehicle weights of more than three tons.

The new gas-powered Charger Sixpack will look similar to the electric versions and be powered by a new 3-liter six-cylinder engine with two turbochargers. Standard versions will put out 420 horsepower while a high-output engine will have 550.

The company says the new engine will make more horsepower and produce more torque than the outgoing 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s. Company o cials said they haven’t completed fuel economy tests on the new engine in the Charger yet.

Ozone season is underway

March 1 marks the beginning of the 2024 ozone season across North Carolina. From now through Oct. 31, the daily air quality forecasts from the N.C. Division of Air Quality will include ozone in addition to the forecasts for ne particle matter pollution, which are o ered year-round.

High levels of ozone have been linked to heart and lung conditions, including asthma, particularly in young children, older adults and other sensitive groups. Ozone levels on N.C.’s highest ozone days have decline due to steady reductions in emissions. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designated N.C. as attaining the 2015 ozone standard statewide. Since then, the state has maintained compliance with the standard.

The state air quality forecast gives users up-todate localized forecasting for 91 counties and two Ridge Top zones. The Forsyth County O ce of Environmental Assistance and Protection forecasts the air quality for the greater Triad region, including the cities of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Air quality forecasts for the entire state are available through the Air Quality Portal at airquality. climate.ncsu.edu.

State accepting rural downtown revitalization grant applications

The N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority is now accepting applications from local governments for the Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant program. Grants will be awarded by the authority beginning with its April 2024 board meeting and the initial application period for these grants closes Monday, April 1.

The new Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants will fund improvements in rural downtown areas that will help businesses retain and attract customers. Funding from the program can be used to for public streets, publicly owned building improvements, or other properties that are publicly owned and controlled. Eligible activities can include improvements to public infrastructure, parks, recreation centers, theaters or libraries. Publicly owned property zoned and developed for a mix of uses, such as retail or restaurants also quali es. The maximum grant amount per awardee is $850,000 and may not exceed $12,500 per projected job created or retained. The program also requires local governments to match 5% of the grant amount.

All versions have all-wheeldrive but can be switched to rear-drive so owners can still do burnouts and drifting. There will be options that set the cars up for the racetrack.

Production of the two-door coupe Daytona versions is expected to start this summer, while the electric four-door and gas-powered versions will start early next year. Kuniskis said he’s not sure which versions will sell better, electric or gas. With federal tax incentives on electric vehicles, there likely will be very attractive lease payments that could sway some buyers, he said.

The company almost certainly will be criticized by environmental groups for coming out with EVs that emphasize performance e ciency and for keeping the gas powered muscle car. But Kuniskis said under normal circumstances, about 17 million new vehicles are sold in the U.S. each year. “It’s a 17 million unit industry,” he said. “And you know what? People need choices,” he said, adding that the company could be criticized if it didn’t build electric versions.

Trader

Joe’s dumplings recalled for possible contamination

More than 61,000 pounds of steamed chicken soup dumplings sold at Trader Joe’s are being recalled for possibly containing hard plastic, according to U.S. regulators. The Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service noted that the nowrecalled dumplings, which are produced by CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corp., may be contaminated with foreign materials — speci cally hard plastic from a permanent marker pen. The 6-ounce Trader Joe’s Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings under recall can be identi ed by their side box labels with lot codes 03.07.25.C1-1 and 03.07.25. C1-2. To date, no related illnesses or injures have been reported yet.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN | AP PHOTO

A Consumer Reports investigation found that EKEN doorbell cameras, along with other brands, are a security risk

The 2024 Charger includes a red “ring of re” LED taillamp on the rear, with a matching white ring around the front grille.

PHOTO COURTESY DODGE

NFL hopefuls show skills at Combine, B4

Who wants it more

The

those ticket prices remaining at. Club seats and suites will increase based on the terms in their contracts. The team did not release the new actual cost of a season ticket by section, except to say the most a ordable season ticket package is $510.

Broncos releasing Russell Wilson

The Denver Broncos will release quarterback Russell Wilson after two seasons with the team. Wilson, who won a Super Bowl and was a nine-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, was informed by Denver that he would be cut to save more than $35 million in salary cap money. The team released a statement con rming that Wilson, who played for NC State from 2007 to 2010, would be released when the new NFL year begins on March 13. Wilson posted a farewell message to the city of Denver.

NHL Hurricanes acquire 6th-round pick in trade

Raleigh

The Hurricanes served as a third-party facilitator for the Toronto Maple Leafs acquisition of defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from the Arizona Coyotes, receiving a sixth-round pick in this summer’s draft in exchange for retaining 25% of Lyubushkin’s salary for the rest of the season. Carolina, which took on a $687,500 cap charge for retaining the salary, still has nearly $6 million in salary it can take on before the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday at 3 p.m.

UNC’s RJ Davis (4) collides with Jared McCain in the rst Duke-Carolina game of this season. Davis and McCain are the frontrunners for ACC Player and Rookie of the Year respectively as their two teams play a rematch for the ACC regular season title.

Injury to ACC’s top player scrambles women’s tournament

Action tips o in Greensboro, with NC State one of the favorites

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

The ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament took on a very di erent look on the last day of the regular season. With the seeds set and the teams ready to head for Greensboro, the top-seeded Virginia Tech Hokies suddenly saw their title hopes take a big hit as their

best player went down with a knee injury. Elizabeth Kitley, the likely ACC Player of the Year, went down in the third quarter of the Hokies’ regular season nale against Virginia. Kitley had won four straight ACC Player of the Week awards and led the league in rebounding. She also nished second in scoring, blocks and shooting percentage.

The injury left the Hokies in shock and head coach Kenny Brooks in tears after Sunday’s

See ACC, page B3

Duke, UNC set for rematch with ACC title on line

Final game of regular season will determine champion for rst time since 2012

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

NORTH CAROLINA and Duke have a chance to end the longest drought in the history of their legendary rivalry on Saturday.

At press time, the Tar Heels still had a game to play against Notre Dame on Tuesday, which could shu e things a bit, but Carolina and Duke were on pace to play their season ending game with a share of the ACC regular season title at stake. Depending on how things break this week, UNC and Duke could enter in a at-footed tie, with the winner taking the crowd, or with Duke a game back, playing for a share of a rst-place tie and preventing Carolina from having sole claim to the top spot. That used to be almost as common in a Carolina-Duke game as ESPN hype and com-

plaints about o ciating. At the end of the 2012 season, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels met in Cameron Indoor with twin 13-2 records. UNC won by 18 to win the title. It was the second straight year and fourth in the last ve that the nal game determined the ACC regular season champion. It was the 15th such game in the 58 years of ACC play that had been held up until that point. Ten times, the two teams have been tied. Five times, a game separated them. It hasn’t happened since. That’s 11 straight years without the ACC sitting down to watch Duke-Carolina to see who gets the regular season trophy. The longest previous drought was the 10 years from 1968 to 1977. We didn’t seem to be headed for these stakes when the teams met for the rst time this season. UNC won by nine at the Smith Center to improve to 10-1 in the ACC, while Duke fell to 7-3. The Tar Heels appeared to be the class of the conference, with a sti ing defense and an e cient o ense.

See UNC DUKE , page B4

UNC’s Armando Bacot (left) and Duke’s Kyle Filipowski jump for the opening tip when the Tar Heels and Blue Devils met for the rst time this season, in early February. UNC won the rst matchup, but the stakes are higher in the rematch with the ACC title at stake.

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

MIKE KROPF | AP

PHOTO

Elizabeth Kitley puts up a shot for Virginia Tech in Sunday’s season nale. Kitley, the likely ACC Player of the Year, was injured later in the game.

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

TRENDING

Trei Oliver:

The North Carolina Central coach apologized for a social media post, although he remains angry at coaches in the HBCU Legacy Bowl. In his post, Oliver used coarse language to insult the intelligence of the game’s coaches after Eagles quarterback Davius Richard injured his right leg on a rst-quarter touchdown run and was carted o the eld.

Marquez

Valdes-Scantling:

The former NC State wide receiver is about to be released by the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, according to reports. The move frees up $12 million in salary cap space for Kansas City.

Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $30 million deal two years ago but struggled to live up to the contract. He had only 42 catches for 687 yards and two scores in 2022 and 21 catches for 315 yards and a touchdown this past season.

Tiger Woods:

The golf legend is the latest winner of the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor.

It recognizes Woods for his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf traditions. Woods has won 82 PGA Tour tournaments and 15 majors. Woods will be honored June 12 during the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES WRESTLING

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

“Real embarrassing. ... It was ugly.”

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal after Carolina squandered a 3-0 lead entering the third period and lost 5-3 to the Jets on Saturday in Raleigh.

“I was trying to audition for the next ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ movie.”

Duke 7-footer Kyle Filipowski after throwing down a windmill dunk against Virginia

PRIME NUMBER

4.21

The time, in seconds, of Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the fastest in Combine history. Worthy broke the record set by former Bengals’ receiver John Ross in 2017 by .01 seconds.

Sting ended his 39-year pro-wrestling career with a win in the main event of Sunday’s AEW Revolution at the Greensboro Coliseum. It was the 64-year-old’s 40th match at the Coliseum, including 16 title ghts. According to CageMatch.net, he had a record of 27-7-5 in Greensboro. Among his opponents in the Coliseum were Ric Flair, Abdullah the Butcher, Lex Luger and Mean Mark, better known as the Undertaker.

Former Panthers and NC State receiver Jerricho Cotchery was named head coach at Division II Limestone. Cotchery was the team’s assistant head coach and receivers coach the past two years. He replaces Mike Furrey, who was named receivers coach at South Carolina. Furrey was Panthers receivers coach from 2017-19.

The Los Angeles Lakers signed center Harry Giles III to a two-way contract. Giles, 25, averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16 games for Brooklyn before being waived Feb. 8. A one-and-done at Duke and rst-round pick in the 2017 draft, Giles has also played for Sacramento and Portland.

Kyle Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday to keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Hendrick Motorsports its second victory in the rst three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season. Larson held o Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. Chevrolet also has wins this year by William Byron and Daniel Suarez.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NBA

MIKE MCCARN | AP PHOTO

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

BEN

JORDAN

New faces but promise of great things as NC State opens spring practice

Wolfpack roster could be one of the most talented in recent memory

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

AS SPRING PRACTICE kicks o for the NC State Wolfpack, the 2024 team is looking to be one that could make some noise this upcoming season.

Last season, the Wolfpack fell just short of that elusive 10-win season, falling 28-19 to Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, with a roster that struggled heavily to move the ball, but with perhaps one of the most talented rosters (on paper) that they’ve had in a while, this may be the one that does it for Dave Doeren in his 12th season with NC State.

The Pack kicked o its spring season last Tuesday with 32 new faces on the eld after an extremely fruitful venture into the transfer portal saw NC State poach multiple players from topend programs.

While the Wolfpack have plenty of new faces with high expectations, all eyes will be on new quarterback Grayson McCall.

The 6-foot-3, Indian Trail native spent four years with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, throwing for over 10,000 yards, 88 touchdowns and three Sun Belt Player

of the Year honors, before electing to transfer to NC State for his nal year of eligibility and with MJ Morris transferring to Maryland, the job is his and his alone. “The rst thing you see is condence,” Doeren said of McCall. “You can tell that he’s won a lot of games. He’s very comfortable as a leader, has no problem being vocal, and learns quickly. I also like how he handles adversity. If he has a bad play it’s just ‘snap,’ next play. You could tell there was no body language issues. I like that about him. But he’s just

a natural leader. That’s the rst thing. He’s just very con dent, he knows who he is and the guys around him can feel that. It just oozes out of him.”

Outside of McCall, the Wolfpack are also welcoming in a plethora of new faces at skill positions.

A big area that NC State hopes to see a big turnaround in is with its receiving corps. Last season, true freshman KC Concepcion was the Pack’s only consistent option through the air, so Doeren made it a priority to get his

new QB some better targets.

In comes Wesley Grimes from Wake Forest, Noah Rogers from Ohio State and tight end Justin Joly from UConn. The trio will give McCall plenty of options and allow Concepcion to not be run into the ground.

NC State also looks to nally have a threatening ground game again with running back Jordan Waters transferring in from Duke.

Defensively, the Pack are looking for redshirt junior Sean Brown and Auburn transfer Cam Riley to step up big at the linebacker position after losing standout Payton Wilson and for one of Maryland transfer Corey Coley or sophomore Brandon Cisse to win the opposite corner to senior Ayden White.

NC State has a deep group defensively, which bodes well for a team that has dealt with their fair share of defensive injuries over the years.. While the roster may have undergone some turnover, NC State actually saw tremendous stability with its sta , something very unusual in college football, as Dave Doeren returned all of his assistant coaches.

“I’m very thankful that we have this kind of continuity,” Doeren said. “It helps you in a lot more ways than just Xs and Os. When you get into the recruit-

ing world, these guys have been in the same areas talking to the same coaches now for ve, six years some of them and that’s really helpful in recruiting. When you’re turning over a coach year after year after year, you’re losing that longevity in an area of recruiting, the relationships that you’ve built. So it helps there, it helps in your player development, it helps in your install because coaches are all on the same page and it helps me. I’m not having to coach coaches as much.

“These guys have gotten opportunities. It’s not like nobody calls them. They like working here, they like working for me, they like the players, they like Raleigh. They love our opportunity here with what we have with home games. We have a true home eld advantage. We can recruit here. And they know that we have an opportunity this season.”

That opportunity: a spot in the College Football Playo s. With the expansion of the playo s to 12 teams, NC State knows they have a chance to do something special.

“With the college football landscape changing to 12 teams, teams like us that have been in the top-20 over and over, can knock on the door di erently than how we used to,” Doeren said.

Hornets to hire Nets’ Je Peterson as top executive

Peterson is set to become the NBA’s youngest front o ce leader

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — After a rapid search for the Charlotte Hornets’ next president of basketball operations, it appears that new franchise owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin have found the man for the job.

The Hornets are set to hire Brooklyn Nets executive Je Peterson, according to league sources that reported he was among 11 other candidates that interviewed for the job.

Both the Hornets and Peterson are expected to reach a formal contractual agreement soon.

Peterson, 35, will o cially leave his assistant manager position with the Brooklyn Nets to become the NBA’s youngest top executive, where he will be tasked with revitalizing a Charlotte team that hasn’t made the playo s since 2016.

Sitting at 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Hornets currently have a 15-46 record with 21 games remaining in the 2023-24 season.

On Feb. 12, former Hornets president of basketball operations/general manager Mitch Kupchak announced that he was stepping down from his position after six years in that role to

ACC from page B1 game. A day later, the team still wasn’t sure how serious the injury would be.

“We don’t know anything yet,” Brooks said on the coaches’ teleconference. “We’re just waiting and praying for good results.”

The Hokies still enter the ACC Tournament as the regular season champions and top seed, but, with ve ranked teams and a projected nine tournament teams in the 15-team eld, Kitley’s injury makes an already crowded eld wide open as teams vie for the automatic bid and one last chance to impress the NCAA selection committee before the eld and seeds are announced.

Clearly, the stakes are high, and the ACC teams from North Carolina are right in the thick of things. Three of the four instate teams are projected to make the NCAA eld.

transition into an advisory role with the franchise.

“After signing my extension two years ago, the plan has always been for me to move to an advisory role after this season when my contract ends in June. Now feels like the appropriate time to begin the search for the next leader of our basketball operations,” said Kupchak, 69, who committed to serving in a dayto-day executive role until his successor was hired.

There is some familiarity between the Hornets and their new head of operations.

While Schnall was a minority owner with the Atlanta Hawks, Peterson worked with the team as an intern in 2013 before being promoted to an assistant general manager role in 2016. He then retained that position for three years before taking on that same role in Brooklyn, where he worked under Nets general manager Sean Marks since 2019.

Additionally, Peterson has an existing connection with Hornets coach Steve Cli ord, who served as the Nets’ coaching consultant back during the 2021-22 season.

Prior to his professional career working in NBA front o ces, the Spring eld, MO, native played high school basketball in Maryland before playing college basketball at Iowa, Arkansas and Florida State.

While Peterson’s role as the head of the Hornets’ front ofce nalizes, other names have

Here’s a look at the top contenders and the local teams as the action heads to Greensboro starting Wednesday.

Visiting contenders

The cupboard is far from bare at Virginia Tech, even if Kitley is out. Georgia Amoore is the ACC’s sixth-leading scorer and second-biggest threat from three. She also led the league in assists. Matilda Ekh and Cayla King give the Hokies three of the top six three-point shooters in the league. Olivia Summiel provides rebounding and will need to be a force inside to help keep defenses honest and open things up for the outside shooters. No. 14 Notre Dame knows something about losing a top contributor. Olivia Miles went down in February of 2023. The team held out hope that she would be able to make a return to the court this season but nally pulled the plug on that last month. Hannah

begun to emerge as potential co-workers for Peterson in the Queen City, such as Sacramento Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox and Brooklyn Nets sta er Matt Tellem.

Charlotte’s new hire has a formidable road ahead for xing a team that has the fourth-longest playo drought (eight years) among the country’s top four professional sports leagues.

In a recent Voice of the Nets podcast appearance, Peterson laid out his benchmarks for the types of players he envisions

Hidalgo led the ACC in scoring and will likely win Rookie of the Year honors.

No. 20 Syracuse and No. 24 Louisville are also teams to watch.

Wake Forest hoping for miracle

With contenders as far as the eye can see, Wake Forest is the longest of shots in Greensboro this week. The Deacs nished tied for last with a 2-16 record, 6-24 overall. The Deacs take on 11-seed Virginia on Wednesday. Wake has won at least one game in each of the last four tourneys and advanced to the quarter nals in three of the last four. The Deacs will need to be on their game to keep those streaks going. UVA won the only matchup between the two this season.

Rivals look for separation

Duke and North Carolina n-

when building up a team.

“There’s a bit of a sliding scale depending on what positions we’re scouting and trying to add to the team, but there are a few things that are non-negotiable: competitive makeup, someone who has some level of toughness, and of course we’re always looking for the guys who play the game the right way,” he said. “Unsel sh. That was always my mentality when I stepped on the oor. The game is much more fun when you play that way and you’re getting guys the ball.”

ished with identical 11-7 conference marks and are one loss apart in overall record—Duke is 19-10, Carolina 19-11. The two split their regular season series with each team winning a close game at home. The 8-seed Tar Heels open with 9-seed Miami, while 7-seeded Duke opens with the winner of Pitt-Georgia Tech.

UNC will be led by Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski. Duke will rely on defense. The Blue Devils led the ACC in lowest scoring average allowed and blocked shots. Despite being so close, record-wise, the two teams are in separate halves of the bracket and can’t meet until the championship game.

The new favorite? NC State looks to capitalize

With Kitley’s injury, NC State may be ready to step forward as the favorites to cut down the nets this week. The Pack is

When Schnall and Plotkin purchased a majority interest in the Hornets from Michael Jordan for $3 billion back in August, they immediately found themselves in a situation where they had to prioritize selected personnel in order to solidify the Hornets’ infrastructure.

As the Hornets’ new lead executive, Peterson will be asked to build up a new basketball identity for the team, with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and — assuming a contract is agreed upon — Miles Bridges serving as the main pillars of the Hornets’ future.

However, the franchise has already laid some groundwork for a rebuild process that began when Charlotte dealt veterans Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward and P.J. Washington at this season’s trade deadline.

Charlotte is now 5-5 since Feb. 10 after acquiring Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic and Davis Bertans from Oklahoma City and bringing in Charlotte natives Grant Williams and Seth Curry from Dallas.

“Right now, everybody’s trying,” Cli ord said on Feb. 26. “If they try hard and have a feel for the game, you can be OK.”

Cli ord’s own future in Charlotte is up in the air, signifying the level of mystery that surrounds the future of the Hornets. But for now, fans of the franchise can hold onto the hope that a drastic course correction is now underway.

ranked one spot ahead of the Hokies in the top 25. State nished a game back in the standings but had a better overall record at 25-5. State led the ACC in rebounding and are ranked in the top 4 in the ACC in o ense (4) and defense (3).

The Pack have a pair of players in the top 8 in rebounding in Madison Hayes and River Baldwin. Saniya Rivers ranks third in the league in steals, and Aziaha James (15.6 ppg) provides a scoring punch.

State seems to be in the ideal position to bene t from Virginia Tech’s misfortune, but the Hokies, the defending ACC Tournament champions, won’t go away without a battle, Kitley or not.

“We can sit here and, if the case is that she’s not going to be able to play, then we can feel sorry for ourselves and we can get our butts beat,” Brooks said “or we can go out there and we can continue to play and ght.”

MIKE STEWART | AP PHOTO

Grayson McCall played four years for Coastal Carolina and will have all eyes on him in NC State spring practice after transferring.

CRAIG MITCHELLDYER | AP PHOTO

Hornets coach Steve Cli ord (pictured) worked with the team’s choice as new top executive, Je Peterson, for one season with the Nets.

North Carolina athletes impress, some struggle in 2024 NFL Combine

See how in-state talent fared amongst the top NFL prospects

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

THE 2024 NFL Combine welcomed 16 athletes from North Carolina’s colleges and high schools, and despite the biggest name in Drake Maye not participating in drills, plenty of the state’s prospects hit the eld to get evaluated on their chances of becoming a pro.

From Thursday to Sunday, former N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson was one of the most impressive North Carolina prospects at the combine. Wilson, who is projected to be a second or third round pick, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds, the fastest time out of all participating linebackers.

He didn’t top the charts in the jumping tests like he did for speed, but Wilson’s 34.5inch vertical jump and 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump were both top 10 performances in his position group.

Wilson’s 6.16 prospect grade indicates that he’s projected to be good backup with the potential to be a starter, according to the NFL’s grading system. His grade ranks fourth amongst linebackers who participated at the combine, and with his performance over the weekend, he may have put himself in better position to be drafted earlier on day two.

Other standouts included former UNC receiver Devontez Walker, who ran the fourth fastest 40 time out of the participating wide-outs (4.36). His 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump also ranked second in his position group, and he was a top ve vertical jumper (40.5 inches)

amongst receivers. Walker has a prospect grade of 6.19 (potential to become a starter).

Malik Mustapha, former Wake Forest safety, achieved 22 reps on the bench press, the most in his position group.

Former Southern Durham standout and Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright ran the second best 40 time for all participating running backs (4.38). His 6.28 prospect grade is the second highest for his position, which projects he will eventually become a starter.

As for former UNC linebacker Cedric Gray, his combine performance had its ups and downs. Although he only ran the 11th fastest 40 time for linebackers (4.64), Gray made up for it with his leaping ability.

Gray’s 35.5-inch vertical jump tied for fth in his position group, and he was one of six linebackers to hit 10 feet in the broad jump. However, his 17 bench press reps were the third-lowest for linebackers.

With a 6.00 prospect grade, Gray is projected to be a day two guy with the traits to be an above-average backup.

On the defensive line, former Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter didn’t have the best numbers at the combine considering his 6.17 prospect grade (good backup with potential to be a starter). Carter ran the seventh-fastest 40 time out of the participating defensive tackles (4.99), and he nished top three in his position for the vertical jump with a height of 32 inches.

Defensive tackle Myles Murphy out of UNC struggled in the combine, running the third slowest 40 time in his position group (5.20). He also found himself in the middle or near the bottom of the vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard

shuttle, which didn’t help his pro le with a prospect grade of 5.80 (average backup or special teamer). For the o ensive linemen, N.C. State’s Dylan McMahon didn’t impress with his 5.10 40 time, but he recorded a top 10 vertical jump (33 inches) and a top ve broad jump (9 feet, 7 inches) in his position group. He has one of the lowest prospect grades for his position (5.67).

Former Duke center Jacob Monk didn’t do too bad in his 40, running a time of 5.09. He was average in the jumping tests, recording 29.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9 feet in the broad jump. With a prospect grade of 5.89, he’s expected to be an average backup or special teamer.

Charlotte native and West Mecklenburg graduate Delmar Glaze threw up 29 bench press reps which was the seventh-most in his position group. The former Maryland tackle didn’t do as well in the 40 or jump tests, though, nishing in the middle or near the bottom in the results for his position. With a prospect grade of 6.00, NFL scouts see that he has traits to be an above-average backup.

Sam Hartman, former Wake Forest quarterback who spent last season at Notre Dame, was one of the few quarterbacks to run the 40 (4.80), vertical jump (28.5 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 1 inch), three-cone drill (7.19 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.34 seconds).

Other players from North Carolina that participated in the combine but did not do the testing events included Graham Barton (Duke), Will Shipley (Weddington High School, Clemson) and Joshua Karty (Western Alamance High School, Stanford).

UNC DUKE from page B1

The Tar Heels, who were upset at Georgia Tech in the game leading up to the rst Duke game, went on to lose two of their three post-Blue Devil games, at home to Clemson and on the road at Syracuse, leading to concerns (among fans on social media anyway) that they had “peaked too early”.

Carolina has quelled that outcry somewhat with a fourgame winning streak heading into the Notre Dame game. The defense, however, still hasn’t recovered its midseason form.

Heading into the last weekend of January—and Duke week—UNC had held six of seven opponents to 21% or less from 3-point range. Only one of their rst 19 opponents had shot 44% from three-point range.

Since then, UNC has struggled to defend the perimeter. Five of 10 opponents have topped 45% from three, only one has shot 21% or less, and as a group, opponents have hit 80 of 219 three-point shots over those 10 games for a .365 suc -

cess rate. After holding eight of the rst 20 opponents to 0.9 points per possession or less, the Heels have done it just once in the last 10 games.

Duke, meanwhile, appears to be peaking. The Blue Devils have lost just once since the rst UNC game, going 8-1 over that span to get back into contention for the regular season crown. Duke has strung together 11 straight games of at least 1.15 points per possession, and they’ve topped 1.20 in six straight. Going into Monday’s win at NC State, the Blue Devils had hit double-digit three pointers in four of the last ve games (they hit “only” nine against the Pack), hitting at a .459 clip over that span.

The Blue Devils have also turned it up on defense. After holding 10 of their rst 21 opponents to less than 1.00 points per possession, the Blue Devils have done it six times in the last nine outings. Duke has also shut down the perimeter, allowing the last eight opponents prior to State to shoot just .266 from three.

The game will feature the likely major award winners in

What you need to know about betting on sports in NC

State is about to allow legal gambling on sporting events

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THE ACC MEN’S basketball tournament tips o on Tuesday, March 12. In North Carolina, however, March Madness gets its start a day earlier.

At noon on Monday, March 11, the state will allow residents to bet legally on sporting events. As you may have seen from the commercials for online sportsbooks that have saturated the airwaves and internet, plenty of companies are lining up to provide this service for North Carolinians once the light turns green.

Here’s what you need to know as the state moves into a new era: What is happening? For most of the last century-plus, most forms of gambling have been illegal in most of the United States, including North Carolina. There has been a gradual loosening of these regulations, however. First, state lotteries became widespread, with North Carolina adopting a lottery in 2005. Sports gambling has also spread throughout the country. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law outlawing sports gambling everywhere but Nevada was struck down, meaning the decision on whether to allow residents to bet on sports was in the hands of each individual state.

the ACC. RJ Davis, who scored 42 points against Miami last week, is the frontrunner to win Player of the Year. He leads the league in scoring by a nearly 3 ppg margin. On the other side, Jared McCain, who scored 35 against Florida State last month, is the likely Rookie of the Year. His 23-point outing against UNC in the rst game began McCain’s coming-out party. He’s hiked his scoring average by more than 3 ppg since then and lifted his 3-point shooting percentage by two dozen points.

McCain has helped Duke overcome the loss of fellow freshman Caleb Foster, who appears out for the foreseeable future with an unspecied injury. The development of freshman Sean Stewart, who has seen his production and playing time increase in recent games, should help Duke overcome Foster’s absence from a depth standpoint. The momentum appears to be on Duke’s side, but the Blue Devils still need to catch UNC as the regular season hits the nish line. The stakes haven’t been this high in a dozen years.

In the half dozen years since, more than 30 states have legalized sports gambling in some form, with even more in the process of moving toward legalization. North Carolina joined that group last year, when the legislature passed a law, signed by Governor Roy Cooper, putting the state on the path to rolling out legal sports gaming. On Monday, it becomes the 35th state that will allow people to bet on sports. What can I do? Up until now, sports gambling in the state was only legal at Native American casinos in Murphy and Kings Mountain. A 2019 state law permitted those casinos to open sports books. Now, starting Monday, residents will be able to bet on sports using online betting sites. Later this year, eight new sportsbooks will open allowing for in-person betting on sports. Many are located near sporting venues, including ones in or near PNC Arena, the Spectrum Center and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and several racing speedways.

What can I bet on? While many states have put restrictions on which sports are eligible for wagering—often excluding college sports involving local teams—there are no such limits in North Carolina. Bettors can put money on UNC, NC State,

Duke or any of the other college teams across the state, as well as betting on the full range of professional sports, from the NBA to MLB to boxing or UFC.

Where do I go? If your television is currently on, there’s a good chance an ad for one of the online sportsbooks about to go live is running at the moment. If not, here’s a quick rundown of which online sites will be available for North Carolina bettors.

The North Carolina State Lottery Commission, which has been tasked with regulating sports gambling in the state, can approve up to 12 licenses to online books. Late last month, eight of them were approved: FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, bet365, ESPN BET, Underdog Sports and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The biggest name that appears to be missing from that list is Caesars, but that leading online gambling company is working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee and has had exclusive rights for online wagering at the Native American casinos in the state.

Bettors are already able to register with the online sportsbooks—that process started on March 1. They will go live and begin taking bets at noon on March 11

How do I bet? If you’re brand new to sports betting, here are the main types of sports bets: Point-spread—People betting on the team expected to win (the favorite) need to give up a certain number of points, while bets on the team not expected to win (the underdog) are given points So, if Duke is favored by 3.5 points against Virginia Tech, then bets on Tech will pay o if the team loses by 1, 2 or 3 points (since Virginia Tech is being “given” 3 points), while Duke needs to win by 4 or more in order for bets on the Blue Devils to win.

Moneyline—Instead of adjusting the point totals, the di erence between favorites and underdogs requires wager amounts and payouts to be adjusted. So, if Duke is -125 moneyline, then you need to risk $125 in order to win $100 when you bet on Duke. If Virginia Tech is +125, then a $100 bet on the Hokies will pay o at $125. Bets on individual sport matches (boxing, tennis) are usually moneyline.

Props—Instead of betting on the result of a game, you are betting on certain events happening. You can bet on whether NC State will win the ACC Tournament, whether UNC will make the Final Four, whether Lebron will score 20 or more points in his next game, or whether the national anthem at the Super Bowl will be longer than two minutes.

Live betting—Instead of placing a bet pregame and waiting until it ends to see if you can win, online betting allows gamblers to place bets during the game, with odds constantly changing as play continues.

MICHAEL

NC

entertainment

‘Dune: Part Two’ brings spice power to box o ce with $81.5M weekend debut

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic gures will be released Monday

By Lindsey Bahr

The Associated Press

MOVIE THEATERS were looking for a savior and “ Dune:

Part Two ” is delivering on the promise. Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timothée Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve ’s science ction epic stormed the North American box o ce this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Internationally, it earned $97 million, bringing its global debut to $178.5 million.

“Denis made a really extraordinary and special lm and its been really exciting to see people respond,” said Mary Parent, a producer on both “Dune” lms and chairman of worldwide production at Legendary. “It was made for the big screen and it feels like it’s being received as a cinematic event.”

It’s the rst major hit of 2024, and one that was sorely needed by exhibitors. Although there have been holdovers from December that have continued to earn, like Warner Bros.’ “ Wonka ” (also starring Chalamet) and Sony’s romantic comedy “Anyone

But You,” the box o ce is in a bit of a drought. In the rst two months of 2024, no lms have crossed $100 million domestically. The highest earning movies have been “The Beekeeper,” “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Mean Girls.”

“Dune 2” rode a wave of great reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) into a marketplace that was essentially free of competition. Warner Bros. released it in 4,071 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences across the board gave it the highest PostTrak marks and an A CinemaScore. According to exit data, men accounted for 59% of opening weekend ticket buyers and 64% were over the age of 25. The sequel was primarily nanced by Legendary and its production budget, previously reported to be in the $122 million range, is closer to $190 million.

Premium large format screens like IMAX and 70mm accounted

for 48% of the opening weekend business. It marked a March record for IMAX, which made up $18.5 million of the overall take. Villeneuve lmed the movie using IMAX cameras. Unlike “ Oppenheimer,” it was shot on digital, but with the extra time with the strike delay they were able to make lm prints as well and the lm format is proving a popular draw for audiences.

“Our most iconic lm locations are virtually sold out for weeks,” said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond.

The $81.5 million debut is also a record for its director Villeneuve, and stars Chalamet, Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson.

Originally planned for an October 2023 release, Warner Bros. bumped the movie to March amid the Hollywood strikes that would have prevented its starry cast from doing the promotional circuit. The global promo tour has been on hyperdrive for about a month, driving conversations with buzzy interviews, the viral sandworm-inspired popcorn bucket and eye-popping fashion moments from the stylish young cast – peaking with Zendaya’s silver cyborg showstopper (vintage Mugler) in London. Zendaya stunned at the world premiere when she hit the sandstrewn carpet in a silver robot suit straight from the archive of Mugler. It’s from the French fashion house’s fall/winter 1995 “Cirque d’hiver” 20th anniversary collection, according to a company statement. That translates to “Winter Circus,” not unlike the fanfare surrounding the March 1 release of Denis Villeneuve’s sec-

ond half of his sci- epic.

They’ve made stops in Mexico City, South Korea, Abu Dhabi and New York City.

Je Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution said there was “a lot of debate” over whether or not to release it during the strikes but they knew that they needed the cast to “fully realize the movie.”

“You don’t make movie stars any place other than theaters,” Goldstein said. “Cinemas, on the big screen with the big sound and that shared experience makes a big star, or show the talent of a big star anyway.”

The rst “ Dune ” opened under complicated conditions in October 2021. It was one of the last lms of Warner Bros.’ divisive plan to simultaneously debut its major movies in theaters and on its streaming platform. And yet it still earned over $40 million in its rst weekend and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide.

Going into the weekend the box o ce was down about 20% from the same point last year (when “Avatar: The Way of Water,” a 2022 release, was lifting everything). The closest equivalent this year is “Wonka,” still a hit, but not as big as “Avatar 2.” After the “Dune” weekend, the de cit will be closer to 13%.

Warner Bros. is one of those studios that will be back in short order with another big lm, in “Godzilla x Kong” at the end of March, followed by “Furiosa” in May, the “Beetlejuice” sequel in September and the “Joker” sequel in October.

“Dune: Part Two,” $81.5 million

“Bob Marley: One Love,” $7.4 million

“Ordinary Angels,” $3.9 million

“Madame Web,” $3.2 million

“The Chosen: Season 4, Episodes 7-8,” $3.2 million

“Migration,” $2.5 million

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — To the Hashi,” $2.1 million

“Wonka,” $1.7 million

“Argylle,” $1.4 million

“The Beekeeper,” $1.1 million

NFL insider Chris Mortensen, pictured at ESPN’s Connecticut studios in 2019, died Sunday at age 72.

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press

CHRIS MORTENSEN, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning. He was 72.

ESPN con rmed Mortensen’s death on Sunday. There was no immediate word on the cause or place of death.

“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hardworking teammate,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his eld for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”

Mortensen announced in 2016 he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, he was the rst to con rm the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

“We lost a true legend,” Man-

ning said in a social media post. “Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship. I trusted him with my announcement to sign with the Broncos and with the news of my retirement. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with Micki & his family. Rest in peace, Mort.” Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.”

Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991, and for years helped shape the network’s coverage as the NFL exploded into year-round coverage. Besides appearing on a myriad of network shows, he also wrote for ESPN.com.

“Chris will forever be part of the NFL family. Loved by so many, he was a brilliant voice for the game and as passionate and talented as there has ever been,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “My appreciation and respect came quickly for Chris as I visited with him often in Austin during my early years. We bonded greatly there.”

Singer who win Grammy award sentenced to prison in Iran

An Iranian singer who won a Grammy presented by U.S. rst lady Jill Biden has been sentenced to more than three years in prison over his anthem supporting the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. Shervin Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday what appeared to be part of the judgment against him.

The post said Hajipour received a three-year, eightmonth sentence on charges of “propaganda against the system” and “encouraging people to protest.” The post came on the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election. The court issued its sentence in part because it found he hadn’t properly expressed regret over publishing the song.

The ruling also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered him to create a song about “U.S. crimes,” as well as make posts about those crimes online. Hajipour already had served some prison time, but was out on bail pending the court’s decision.

Prince Harry scores court victory against British tabloids

Prince Harry has scored a tactical victory in his battles with British tabloids. Government ministers on Friday said he could use con dential documents that show payments by the publisher of the Daily Mail to private investigators who allegedly snooped on him and several celebrities.

The Duke of Sussex, Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and others claim that Associated Newspapers Ltd. hacked their phones or used other unlawful means, such as bugging and other electronic surveillance to spy on them. The publisher, which denies the allegations, refused to turn over the documents and opposed the government’s release of them. The use of the documents will give the claimants evidence in court supporting their claims.

The development comes as Harry’s urry of litigation is winding down with trials due in the case against ANL and another case alongside Hugh Grant that makes similar allegations against the publisher of The Sun.

Harry won a big victory in December after a judge found phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers was “widespread and habitual.” After winning a judgment in court, he recently settled remaining allegations for all his legal fees. The total sum wasn’t announced, but he was due to receive an interim payment of 400,000 pounds ($505,000).

He received the Dick McCann Award from the Professional Football Writers of America in 2016. It was renamed to the Bill Nunn Jr. Award in 2021 and is presented yearly during the Pro Football

Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.”

nies to the reporter, who has made a long and distinguished contribution through their coverage of the game. “I admired how hard Chris worked to become one of the most in uential and revered reporters in sports. He earned our respect and that of many others with his relentless pursuit of news but also with the kindness he extended to everyone he met,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by many of us in the league who were fortunate to know him well beyond the stories he broke each Sunday.” Mortensen also worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983-89. He covered

the Atlanta Falcons from 198586 and the league from 1985-89. He left for The National in 1989 and worked there for nearly two years. He was an NFL columnist for The Sporting News and a contributing writer for Sport magazine. He was also a consultant for CBS’ “The NFL Today” in 1990. “I considered Chris a personal hero of my mine and it is truly hard to imagine sports journalism without him. His ability to take on life’s obstacles with grit and determination was always truly inspiring and his enormous impact on so many, me included, will live on through this work and unwavering friendships,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement.

A native of Torrance, California, Mortensen attended El Camino College. He served two years in the Army before he began his journalism career at the South Bay (Calif.) Daily Breeze in 1969.

“An absolutely devastating day. Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history, and an even better man,” said ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter on social media. “Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered.”

He is survived by his wife, Micki, and son, Alex.

Hall of Fame ceremo-

PHOTO BY SCOTT GARFITT/INVISION/AP

Zendaya poses for photographers upon arrival at the World premiere of the lm ‘Dune: Part Two’.

ESPN VIA AP

NFL insider Chris Mortensen, pictured at ESPN’s Connecticut studios in 2019, died Sunday at age 72.

at the movies

How Oscars went global, found its footing again

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

FOR A FEW YEARS, the Oscars looked to be hanging on by a thread. Viewership was plummeting. The pandemic didn’t help. And the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind Hollywood’s biggest night, kept nding itself on the wrong side of the conversation, whether it be #OscarsSoWhite, envelope-gate, the blip that was the popular Oscar, the untelevised awards or the slap.

Then a funny thing happened: Interest started increasing both in and outside the academy. It seemed people were excited about the movies and, they hope, the Oscars again.

“It’s been an amazing year for lm in general,” lm academy CEO Bill Kramer said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “Our art form has never been more relevant.”

The scope, and wide public embrace, of the 10 lms nominated for the best picture prize this year are proof. There is big studio fare, small intimate indies, two international lms and two bilingual ones. And whether or not you think “Barbie” was snubbed in a few other categories, it still has people talking and debating what will happen at the 96th Oscars on March 10.

“There’s a lot of great energy around the movies of 2023 and the show this year. So we’re extremely hopeful and excited,” Kramer said. “The show is shaping up to be remarkable.”

Academy President Janet Yang chimed in that the “Barbie”-themed Jimmy Kimmel promo spot has over 35 million views, and the telecast is riding several years of ratings increases.

A unifying moment

After some rough patches, the Oscars may have nally met the moment. But that comes as no surprise to the academy’s leaders, who have been working behind the scenes to foster this kind of evolution as they approach their 100th year. Both Kramer and Yang, who assumed their positions in 2022, are looking at the organization as a global entity. They’re not on the defensive anymore, instead pushing toward the future.

“We’re very unique in the sense that we represent all the

disciplines of the industry. No other organization can say that,” said Yang. “We feel like we are in a potentially strong leadership position to unify. … We hear from members all the time ‘How can we have more inter-branch meetings?’ They just want to gather, and we can bring this.”

Nearly a century ago, unication wasn’t part of the plan.

In fact, Louis B. Mayer got the idea to start the academy in part to counteract unionization efforts, under the pretense that it would help set standards. In reality, he envisioned the studio heads setting these standards with only their own interests in mind. Mayer’s dream evaporated quickly, however, and by the 1930s, writers, actors and directors were all forming unions.

As proof of how far they’ve come, last year during the strikes, the academy took the initiative to host two member conversations about pressing topics: one about arti cial intelligence and another about how the strikes were impacting members from traditionally marginalized communities.

“We felt that it was our responsibility,” Kramer said. “And we are in a position to actually do this, to create a space for our members to have honest, safe conversations around these topics.” “It gave us a lot of food for thought,” he added. “And eventu-

ally these conversations will inform perhaps policies and procedures at the academy or inspire others in the industry to think di erently.”

A more diverse academy

The academy as a catalyst for change is not new: They have longstanding programs for helping emerging artists (Academy Gold, the Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting and the Student Academy Awards among them). And its aggressive move to diversify its membership was in place before Yang and Kramer started, in response to #OscarsSoWhite and public exposes about its own ranks being largely older white men.

They’ve also taken more proactive steps in recent years to impact the industry they give awards to, including implementing the best picture inclusion standards that went into e ect this year.

Now there are more than 10,500 members in the academy, representing more than 75 countries and territories. While parity is still a work in progress, 20% of members are from outside the U.S., 34% of members identify as women and 18% are from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities.

“We represent executives, editors, visual e ects artists, technologists, and artisans and pro-

fessionals across disciplines. … Not everybody is singing the same notes and not everybody feels the same way. But we can bring everybody together,” Kramer said. “Given the past couple of years with the pandemic, and the strikes, and to all of the topics associated with the strikes, the academy needs to remain a neutral ground for these conversations.”

Engaging more with the public

There has also been substantial focus on engaging the public through social media, often drawing on the academy’s vast archival material — whether that be vintage acceptance speeches or just memorable moments from Oscars past.

Their Instagram account is close to 4 million followers and their YouTube channel is a treasure trove of fun clips: Leonardo DiCaprio’s best actor win (54 million views), Hugh Jackman’s 2009 opening number (23 million views), Chris Rock’s opening monologue (16 million views), Jack Black and Will Ferrell singing “Get O the Stage” (15 million views), and Fred Astaire dancing at the 1970 Oscars (13 million views).

The interest in movie history has also driven enthusiasm around the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles,

which houses more than 23 million items of memorabilia, and has hosted exhibitions on everything from Hayao Miyazaki and the history of Black Cinema to “The Godfather” and the lms of John Waters. Kramer noted that about half of the ticket buyers are under the age of 40.

But it’s not just about relics: Short videos they’ve made spotlighting below-the-line categories in the lead-up to the Oscars have also taken o . One about visual e ects from last year has over 4 million views. They’re rolling out similar shorts for this year’s nominees soon too.

The academy’s future

All of this plays into a di erent way of looking at the Oscars and the academy’s place in the culture.

“It’s important that we think about: How do we change our metric of success? We want millions and millions of people around the world to watch the show the night of, but we also want people watching it for many days after the initial run and on social in perpetuity,” Kramer said. “This is evergreen programming. And people overseas, outside of the U.S., engage with the show in a lot of di erent ways.”

All of these conversations will continue about the future of the industry, the academy, its membership, and, Yang said, even “weaning” the Oscars from ABC in a few years (the current contract runs through 2028). For both, one of the most satisfying experiences was the overwhelmingly positive response to the addition of an award for casting directors — something that had been discussed for decades — but was nally voted in this year.

“I think people feel grati ed knowing that we can change. The reputation of the past was, you know, it was a little stodgy,” Yang said. “It’s been an entrepreneurial experience while maintaining the legacy of this very, very revered institution.”

And they hope the academy will stay at the center of it all.

“Business models are changing. The way people are engaging with movies and arts is changing. And the academy is really at the center of that conversation for the lm community,” Kramer added. “We have a great responsibility to think this through and to ensure that the academy has a successful second 100 years.”

CHRIS PIZZELLO | AP PHOTO

President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Janet Yang, left, and CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Bill Kramer pose for a portrait during the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon Feb. 12 in Beverly Hills, California.

PHOTO BY MATT SAYLES/INVISION/AP

Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 28, 2016.

LAST WEEK

Getting out the vote

Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro over the weekend, stumping for Republican gubernatorial candidate and Greensboro native Mark Robinson and others on Saturday. Trump was also campaigning in his own presidential primary against his former U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, who held an event in Raleigh the same day.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

UNC holds in-state tuition steady for 8th year

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has announced that in-state undergraduate tuition will remain unchanged for the eighth consecutive year, the decision was rati ed by the UNC Board of Governors for the 2024-25 academic year.

Students are seeing delays in FAFSA processing to determine nancial aide, something especially crucial for students eligible for the new Next NC Scholarship, which promises a minimum of $5,000 for students from households with an annual income of $80,000 or less. This amount could cover up to half, or in some cases, all of the tuition and fees at UNC System institutions.

Approximately 55% of North Carolina households could qualify for this scholarship.

‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign sees statewide expansion

North Carolina is expanding a pilot program aiming to reduce impaired driving, after seeing success in a seven-county test in the western part of the state.

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is seeing its rst major update in decades, incorporating new strategies and tools to combat impaired driving more e ectively.

In 2023, the pilot region reported a 7% decrease in alcohol-related crashes, with 277 incidents compared to 298 the previous year.

One of the more signi cant additions to the project is the expanded use of Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) ankle bracelets for select o enders. The bracelets monitor alcohol consumption and report any violations directly to court o cials.

During a 90-day trial, only one of the 55 participants was agged for alcohol use.

Stanly County eyes Parks and Rec budget cuts

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — A grant program to help Stanly cities and towns pay for parks and recreation projects faced challenges from Stanly Commissioners at the board’s March 4 meeting.

First launched as a trial in the 2021-2022 budget, and continued on a year-to-year basis, the grant program provides a maximum of $10,000 per cycle to successful applicants on a matching basis, with projects of less than $20,000 funded at a 50% level. Items funded by the program last year include pickleball courts, new playground equipment, and upgraded park bathrooms.

The board discussed the ongoing funding of the grant program, which amounts to around $55,000 of the $80 million

county budget, after it was made into a permanent budget item last year. Grant applications for the 2024-2025 cycle opened on Feb. 15, and budgets for each year must be approved by June 30. Commissioner Peter Asciutto addressed comments made by fellow Commissioner Brandon King at last week’s budget workshop.

“I was surprised that we have an application process open, and all of a sudden a commissioner wants to stop funding it,” Asciutto said. “I’m concerned that we have all these municipalities lling out and planning, and then not giving them the money. So I just want to get some assurance that we’re going to fund this program from the other commissioners.”

King responded by noting that the county budget is tight

“I was surprised that we have an application process open and all of a sudden a commissioner wants to stop funding it.”

Stanly Commissioner

Peter Asciutto

and cuts would have to be made somewhere, otherwise taxes would need to be raised.

“That’s just one of the projects that I think that we can a ord to cut if necessary to cut something and there’ll be others. It can’t just be one,” King remarked. “It’s going to be a multitude of things. So that was the whole context to the question. It wasn’t ‘let’s stop

funding the parks and rec grant because we don’t want to.’”

Looking to get assurances that the program would continue and honor current applicants, Asciutto made a motion to lock in funding of the grant program out of the budget for next year, but it was not seconded. Other commissioners echoed King’s budget concerns.

“I don’t think anybody’s against this program, Peter,” Commissioner Trent Hatley said. “But I just think we want to do the right thing at the right time, and right now is not the right time.”

“Even though we have a grant program, that does not mean that we have a funded grant program each and every year. It’s just like any other program; we have to review our revenues and expenses that determine what we can do,” said board Chairman Bill Lawhon. “I don’t think we can justify putting any money in any buckets until we know what our total budget is going to be.”

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is set to hold its next meeting on March 18 in the Gene McIntyre Room at Stanly Commons.

Commissioners hear debate on water uoridation

But they have no control, with Albemarle and Norwood in charge of the county water supply

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — In a scene reminiscent of “Dr. Strangelove,” the Stanly County Board of Commissioners held a contentious debate on the uoridation of the county’s drinking water at its meeting on Monday, March 4. Weeks after Union County leaders declared “medical freedom” in voting 3-2 to stop adding the mineral to its Yadkin River Water Treatment Plant, Stanly commissioners heard a presentation on water uoridation led by Union County resident Harold Schmoecker, as well as local experts on the subject. The hearing was more in-

formational than practical, as Stanly County began purchasing drinking water from Albemarle and Norwood in 2016, meaning those entities control adding uoride to their respective water systems.

Adding uoride to water has been a near-universal practice in communities across the country for generations, with three out of four Americans drinking uoridated water from their community water systems.

The Centers for Disease and Control says uoride in water can help reduce cavities by 25% and also reverse tooth decay, naming uoridation of the public water supply one of the ten greatest health achievements of the 20th century.

While experts say too much of the chemical can be neurotoxic and cause other health issues like uorosis, uoride detractors say even the current levels in the tap water can be

harmful to pregnant women and young children, con icting with CDC recommendations.

“What more and more counties are doing is they’re asking for information on both sides of the issue, not just the CDC’s talking points,” Schmoecker said. “About 274 communities have ended water uoridation since 2010.”

Among similar studies, he cited a 2012 birth cohort study funded by the National Institutes of Health that indicated an association between levels of uoride ingested by pregnant women with lower IQ and a higher rate of ADHD in their children.

Commissioner Peter Asciutto said he still sides with the CDC, which advocates for uoride’s safety, which has countless studies showing the benets of ouride.

“So, why has that not come down from the CDC to the local public health departments

and everything else? Show me a public health department that has approved getting rid of this,” Asciutto said.

Schmoecker said a lawsuit has been led under the Toxic Substance Control Act with an extended process that has gone on for six years.

“I think it’s good to have open minds and open ears and to hear all sides of an issue,” said Commissioner Patty Crump, who invited Schmoecker to give the presentation. “It obviously was something that the

See WATER , page 2

PJ WARD-BROWN | STANLY COUNTY JOURNAL

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline. com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

Suspect in Albemarle homicide turns himself in to police

Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — The suspect in the Friday morning murder of an Albemarle man turned himself in to law enforcement over the weekend.

Otis Eugene Burns, 49, faces charges including rst degree murder, possession of rearm

by felon, and discharging a rearm into occupied dwelling following the March 1 shooting.

At 1 a.m., APD o cers responded for a well-being check when they found a male who had succumbed to gunshot wounds.

The victim, 47-year-old Albemarle resident Duane Lamont Perry, was visiting the

residence on the 500-block of Elizabeth Avenue in Albemarle where the incident occurred, police said in a statement.

Police revealed the victim’s name and issued a warrant for Burns, who soon surrendered to police and was detained in the Stanly County Jail.

It’s the rst murder in Albemarle since September 2023.

Both the department’s Criminal Investigation Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are involved in the investigation. APD asks anyone with information regarding the shooting to call 704-984-9500 or contact the anonymous tip line at 704-984-9511.

COURTESY

More than 5,000 cast early votes across Stanly

11.3%

Stanly County early voter turnout percentage, well above the 9.3 percent seen statewide.

CRIME LOG

Following Schmoecker’s presentation, the commissioners held a public comment session where various medical experts gave their input on the uoride topic.

Retired local dentist Dr. Tom Norwood of Norwood said he has seen rsthand the positive bene ts of uoride.

“If you lived when I did back in the 1950s when we didn’t have this, I got quite a few cavities. As a practicing dentist, I’ve seen what happened when people that are on well water — and don’t get public water — what they look like,” Norwood said. “There’s a lot more decay, a lot more trauma of having the restorations done and of course the expense.”

A pair of chemists and professors — Dr. Jim Beard of Albemarle and Dr. John Risley of Rich eld — also spoke in favor of keeping uoride in the water supply, echoing the American Dental Association’s claim that uoridation of community water supplies “the single most e ective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.”

Local turnout outpaces statewide numbers

Stanly County Journal

5,030 VOTERS cast ballots in early voting in Stanly County for this week’s primary, according to numbers from the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Early voting began Feb. 15

Michael Shawn Runyan, 45, was arrested on March 2, 2024, on charges of simple possession of a schedule-II controlled substance, simple possession schedule-IV controlled substance, fleeing/ eluding arrest with motor vehicle, aggressive driving, reckless drivingwanton disregard, failure to heed light or siren, speeding, and driving left of center.

Sechler, Timothy Dale, 53, was arrested on March 1, 2024, on charges of probation violation.

Carl Wingate Mcpherson, 54, was arrested on March 1, 2024, on charges of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a schedule-I controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver schedule-II controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver marijuana, possession

and nished last Saturday, March 2. The primary was held Tuesday, when voters are required to report to their designated precinct in order to cast a ballot. A photo ID was also required for all voting in the primary.

Stanly County has 44,489 registered voters according to the state, re ecting a 11.3 percent early turnout — above the

with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver schedule-III controlled substance, maintaining vehicle/ dwelling/place for controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Peter Anthony Steele, 22, was arrested on February 29, 2024, on two charges of felony probation violation,

Vichian Philaphone, 42, was arrested on February 29, 2024, on charges of larceny by employee.

Dackoda Leashay Shrewsburry, 24, was arrested on February 29, 2024, on charges of failure to appear on a criminal summons or citation.

Brittany Ellis Rushen, 33, was arrested on February 29, 2024, on charges of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and simple assault.

9.3 percent turnout seen statewide, with 694,591 ballots cast out of 7,468,149 eligible voters. Of the approximately 45,000 voters in Stanly County, some 8,400 are registered Democrat, 21,000 are registered Republican plus 14,600 unafliated. In North Carolina, una liated voters can choose to receive a primary ballot from either party.

Brittany Ellis Rushen, 33, was arrested on February 29, 2024, on charges of simple assault.

Shasta Leeanne Ledford, 30, was arrested on February 27, 2024, on charges of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and harassing phone calls (no threat made).

Teryn Martisa Oliver, 38, was arrested on February 27, 2024, on charges of school attendance law violation.

Treshun Trik Sellers, 22, was arrested on February 27, 2024, on charges of failure to appear after a release order.

Demetris Dejuan Watkins, 39, was arrested on February 26, 2024, on charges of breaking or entering a motor vehicle, attempting to break/enter motor vehicle, and misdemeanor larceny.

Otis Eugene Burns

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Michael Whatley is the right choice to lead the RNC

Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby.

CHAIRMAN MICHAEL WHATLEY

is the right guy at the right time to lead the Republican National Committee. I have spent a decade working in Republican politics, mainly in opposition research. I had the privilege of serving as the NCGOP Communications Director in 2020, where I directly witnessed why Whatley would make a great RNC Chairman.

To win in 2024, the Republican National Committee needs to rebuild trust with the base. That is precisely what Whatley did in North Carolina.

Whatley secured his narrow victory in 2019 to lead the NCGOP. At the time, he faced substantial scrutiny from the grassroots base. Over time, Whatley gained the trust of the grassroots base needed to win in 2024.

Between stops on the campaign trail, Whatley would utilize the drive time — what he referred to as “windshield” time — to call stakeholders across the state to build deeper connections. He visited local Republican groups across North Carolina and built the relationships necessary for true statewide campaigns. Whenever the NCGOP needed someone anywhere in the state, Whatley already had a working relationship with people on the ground because he put in the e ort to build those relationships. The next leader needs to be able to work across a diverse and sometimes divided Republican Party. Whatley is such a leader.

I witnessed Whatley masterfully manage this daily in 2020. Arguably, the most crucial election in North Carolina during the 2020 campaign cycle was the United States Senate race with Thom Tillis as the Republican nominee and Cal Cunningham as the Democrat

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

opponent. It should not come as a surprise that the activists who voted to censure Tillis in 2023 were not huge fans of Tillis in 2020. But every day, Whatley worked to keep North Carolina Republicans united and focused on defeating the Democrats.

Another crystal-clear example of Whatley’s leadership in uniting Republicans is the success of the Judicial Victory Fund. In his chairman’s race, Whatley campaigned hard on creating a Judicial Victory Fund to support Republicans running statewide for the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Democrats controlled the Court six-to-one. Through Whatley’s leadership, Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby. Republicans completed their judicial race dominance under Whately’s chairmanship by sweeping every race and securing a majority. In 2024, thanks in part of Whatley’s e orts, Republicans are on track to win another Supreme Court seat — cementing a six-to-one Republican majority.

Finally, the next RNC Chair must have the right instincts during this unprecedented election.

Republicans have never faced a presidential election where the opposition has led multiple felony charges against our likely nominee. What will happen in the legal proceedings against the eventual nominee is far from clear. But it is clear we need a leader with the right instincts.

I saw Whatley display the right instincts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The playbook in April 2020 looked entirely di erent than it did in February 2020. As the political landscape shifted throughout the pandemic,

Whatley’s instincts played a crucial role in shaping the party’s message. Getting it right during the COVID pandemic was challenging, but Whatley provided exemplary leadership at the right time by being a voice of reason while our Democrat governor was making every e ort to keep our state in a perpetual lockdown.

Another shining example of Whatley’s leadership was in the N.C. Supreme Court recount of 2020. On election night, Republican Paul Newby was up by 405 votes over Democrat Cheri Beasley. The Democrats tried every trick to convince the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections to ignore the voters’ will in favor of a partisan trick. Whatley had already laid the groundwork for this possibility.

In the months before the election, Whatley led e orts to recruit lawyers to protect the ballot box in 2020.Republicans were ready for a statewide recount requiring lawyers in all 100 counties if needed. Turned out that preparation was needed when it came to the Newby/Beasley race. Without his strong leadership, at least from my perspective in the trenches working this issue, Beasley would be the Chief Justice, not Newby, if not for Whatley’s leadership.

Every day I worked with Whatley behind closed doors. I saw that Whatley was up to the task of fundraising, leading the team, and driving a compelling message.

From what I have witnessed in the thick of the action in 2020, Mike Whatley is just the right guy to lead Republicans to victory in 2024.

Tim Wigginton is former communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party (2020) and is a public a airs professional in Raleigh.

If this is ‘Christian nationalism,’ sign me up!

I don’t believe my rights were handed down by a superbeing, I act like they are.

THE OTHER DAY, Politico writer Heidi Przybyla appeared on MSNBC’s “All In With Chris Hayes” to talk about the hysteria de jour, “Christian nationalism.”

Donald Trump, she explained, has surrounded himself with an “extremist element of conservative Christians,” who were misrepresenting “so-called natural law” in their attempt to roll back abortion “rights” and other leftist policy preferences. What makes “Christian nationalists” di erent, she went on, was that they believe “our rights as Americans, as all human beings, don’t come from any earthly authority.”

As numerous critics have already pointed out, “Christian nationalism” sounds identical to the case for American liberty o ered in the Declaration of Independence. Then again, the idea that man has inalienable, universal rights goes back to ancient Greece, at least. The entire American project is contingent on accepting the notion that the state can’t give or take our Godgiven freedoms. It is the best kind of “extremism.”

None of this is to say there aren’t Christians out there who engage in an unhealthy con ation of politics and faith or harbor theocratic ideas. It is to say that the de nition of “Christian nationalism” o ered by the people at Politico and MSNBC comports awlessly with the mindset that makes the United States possible. Conservatives often chalk up this kind of ignorance about civics to a declining education system. It’s not an accident. But even if progressives were uent in the philosophy of natural rights, one strongly suspects she, like

most progressives (and other statists), would be uninterested. It’s a political imperative to be uninterested. If natural rights are truly inalienable, how can the government create a slew of new (positive) “rights” — the right to housing or abortion or health care or free birth control? And how can we limit those who “abuse” free expression, self-defense and due process if they are up to no good? You know, as President Joe Biden likes to say — when speaking about the Second Amendment, never abortion — no right “is absolute.”

The most telling part of Przybyla’s explanation, for example, was to concede that “natural law” had on occasion actually been used for good. When natural law is used to further “social justice,” it is legitimate, but when applied to ideas the Left nds objectionable (such as protecting unborn life), it becomes “Christian nationalism.”

It’s almost as if she doesn’t comprehend the idea of a neutral principle. It’s the kind of thinking that impels the media to put skeptical quotation marks around terms like “religious liberty,” but never around “LGBT rights” or “social justice” and so on.

It’s also true that the “Christian nationalism” scare is a ginned-up partisan e ort to spook non-Christian voters. And, clearly, to some secular Americans, the idea that a non-”earthly authority” can bestow rights on humans sounds nuts. As a nonbeliever myself, I’ve been asked by Christians many times how I can square my skepticism of the Almighty with a belief in natural rights. My answer is simple: I choose to.

“This is the bind post-Christian America nds itself in,” tweeted historian Tom Holland.

“It can no longer appeal to a Creator as the author of its citizens’ rights, so [he] has to pretend that these rights somehow have an inherent existence: a notion requiring no less of a leap of faith than does belief in God.” No less but no more. Just as an atheist or agnostic or irreligious secular American accepts that it’s wrong to steal and murder and cheat, they can accept that man has an inherent right to speak freely and the right to defend himself, his family and his property. History, experience and an innate sense of the world tell me that such rights bene t individuals as well as mankind. It is rational.

The liberties borne out of thousands of years of tradition are more vital than the vagaries of democracy or the diktats of the state. That’s clear to me. We still debate the extent of rights, obviously. I don’t need a Ph.D. in philosophy, however, to understand that preserving life or expression are self-evident universal rights in a way that compelling taxpayers to pay for your “reproductive justice” is not.

John Locke, as far as I understand it, argued as much, though he believed that the decree of God made all of it binding. Which is why, even though I don’t believe my rights were handed down by a superbeing, I act like they are. It’s really the only way for the Constitution to work.

David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of ve books — the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”

COLUMN | TIM WIGGINTON

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT

MLS Raposo, Vancouver earn 1-1 draw with Charlotte Vancouver, B.C. Ryan Raposo scored ve minutes into stoppage time at the end of the rst half to pull Vancouver even and the Whitecaps earned a 1-1 draw with Charlotte at BC Place in front of 29,624 — the biggest crowd to watch a season opener in franchise history. Charlotte, playing in Vancouver for the rst time, took a 1-0 lead at the halfhour mark of the rst half when Brecht Dejaegere sent a cross through the middle of the penalty area toward Enzo Copetti, who intentionally allowed the ball to bounce between his legs and onto the right foot of an open Iuri Tavares, who red a shot into the top right corner.

MLB Ronald Acuña Jr. bothered by knee irritation

North Port, Fla. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around the meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee. The reigning NL MVP had an MRI on Friday. He was evaluated on Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired the out elder’s torn right ACL in July 2021. The 26-year-old Acuña is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but that timeline could change after he sees ElAttrache in California. Acuña led Atlanta to its sixth consecutive NL East title in 2023. The out elder hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 steals in 159 games.

NCAA FOOTBALL

NCAA committee recommends allowing electronic communication, a change that could end sign stealing

The NCAA is considering allowing football head coaches to have in-game communication with one player on o ense and one on defense as part of a series of proposed rule changes. Coaches and athletic directors have long advocated for the NCAA to allow electronic communication from the sideline, as in the NFL, instead of forcing coaches to use hand signals or poster boards to call plays. If implemented, Friday’s recommendation by the NCAA Football Rules Committee could potentially prevent teams from stealing opponents’ signs. A Michigan football sta er was accused last season of scouting opponents in advance and stealing their signs, which is banned by the NCAA.

NBA

Hornets pledge ‘full funding’ for downtown practice facility above city’s $30M investment

Charlotte

The Charlotte Hornets say they are committed to “fully funding” a new practice facility in downtown Charlotte above the $30 million to be provided by the city under a revised proposal. The Hornets have teamed with longtime partner Novant Health to o er a destination for what it called leadingedge sports medicine and orthopedic care as part of the mixed-use practice facility development. The practice facility would be built near the Spectrum Center. City leaders are expected to vote

Kyle Larson wins at Las Vegas, keeps Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — There’s a tradition at Hendrick Motorsports to ring the winning bell throughout the North Carolina shop after every NASCAR victory. As motivation to have the best year of his career, Kyle Larson’s team decided to bring a bell on the road to avoid having to wait to return to Charlotte to celebrate every achievement he plans for this season. The bell got its rst ring Sunday when Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Rick Hendrick his second victory in the rst three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season. Hendrick Motorsports is cel-

ebrating its 40th anniversary this season and opened the year with William Byron winning the Daytona 500.

“That bell will travel with us every week and we’ll be ringing it loud and proud,” Larson said.

Larson won for the third time in his career at Las Vegas, where in 2021 he got his rst win driving for Hendrick. Larson also won in the No. 5 Chevy at Las Vegas last October in the playo s.

Larson held o Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. In a Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick chased Larson for the nal several laps but could never nd enough room to make a move for the pass. Larson’s margin of victory was 0.441 seconds.

“I knew Tyler was going to be the guy to beat from the rst

stage. He was really fast there,” Larson said. “Cool to get a win here at Vegas again. Back-toback, swept all the stages again. Can’t ask for more than that.” Reddick was extremely frustrated after nishing second and believed Larson as the leader controlled the race because of the rules of NASCAR’s new car.

“Kyle did a really good job there taking away pretty much every option I had there to close the gap,” Reddick said. “Second sucks, that is for sure. You have to run up front all day long, and when asked about what we need to do to get better, that’s the very thing, and we didn’t do it. We were pretty evenly matched, so I don’t know if there was anything that I really could’ve done to get around him. Chevrolet also has wins this year by Byron in the Dayto -

na 500 and Daniel Suarez last week at Atlanta for Trackhouse Racing. Chevrolet has won eight of nine national series races to open the year.

Reigning NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney was third for Team Penske in a Ford, followed by Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Las Vegas native Noah Gragson was sixth in his best nish since joining Stewart-Haas Racing. Martin Truex Jr. for JGR was seventh, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin, Penske driver and pole-sitter Joey Logano and Byron. Suarez, last week’s winner, was 11th. Larson swept all three stages and led 181 of the 267 laps. The win made Larson the Cup Series points leader with an eightpoint cushion over Blaney.

Cam Newton apologizes for letting emotions get the best of him at youth football tournament ght

By Steve Reed The Associated Press

CAM NEWTON said he’s disappointed in himself for losing control of his emotions over the weekend at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta, resulting in a brief ght involving several men from competing teams.

A 22-second video showed the 34-year-old Newton involved in an altercation with at least three other men outside of a school at the tournament. Newton did not throw any punches, and appeared to try to fend o some attackers.

The incident was quickly broken up by a policeman and security.

“I’m disappointed in myself for letting it escalate to what it did and that’s what I’m apologetic to,” Newton said Friday on his 4th and 1 podcast. “The truth of the matter is this: Me, being in my position, I should’ve never put myself in that position. That’s just the truth. That could’ve got ugly, for real.”

The 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and longtime Carolina Panthers signal caller also apologized to the kids who look up to him.

“I feel like I let them down,” Newton said. “Because I can’t sit up here and say, ‘Hey bro, you have to be bigger than that,’ and then all of a sudden I do that.

That just shows that you have to always stay in control of your emotions.”

Newton, who is from Atlanta, heads up the C1N football organization, which was founded in 2021 and focuses on developing young athletes’ skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events.

Newton said trash talk during a game between him and former members of his C1N organization carried over o the football eld leading to the altercation.

“There was a lot of talking on both sides — on all sides, let’s just put it like that,” Newton said. “I don’t want to point the nger and say this person said that or that person said that. Am I saying this is the rst time it happened or the last time it happened? It’s something that starts with words and should’ve ended with words.”

Newton said he’s glad the incident didn’t take a turn for the worse.

“There’s no excuse really,” Newton said. “It could have been a melee. More violence could have stemmed from that. It’s just not called for.”

Newton said he also regrets the incident because be believes it perpetuates a stereotype that he doesn’t like.

“It’s echoing something that

has been permeating for years — Black people,” Newton said. “Why do I got to be at a Black event, you know what I’m saying? And I could easily play the victim, and I’m not going to do that. I’m going to hold myself to that same standard.”

Newton said he hopes the incident serves as a teaching moment for young athletes and

those who look up to him.

“This is what I really want the narrative to be,” Newton said. “To every high school player, to every single person I’ve in uenced and to every single athlete, use my situation as a way to understand that in one moment and one decision, your life can change just like that. I let my emotions get the best of me.”

IAN MAULE | AP

Kyle Larson (5) celebrates with his son, Owen, after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Former NFL and Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, throws a pass during Auburn Pro Day, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala.

North Stanly girls defeat West Stanly 59-49 in second round state playo game

The two local teams met in the rst round of the tournament

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

FACING A FAMILIAR opponent in West Stanly, the North Stanly girls’ basketball team defeated the Colts for the third time this season as it won in the second round of 2A state playo s on Friday.

The seventh-seeded Comets (21-5, 6-5 Yadkin Valley) used a 59-49 nish at home to slide past the tenth-seeded Colts (14-13, 10-2 Rocky River), who had won their conference regular-season title this season but struggled in non-conference play.

The Comets had previously knocked o the No. 26 Mount

Pleasant Tigers (11-15, 4-7 Yadkin Valley) 44-30 in the rst round of the tournament, while the Colts had gotten past the No. 23 McMichael Phoenix (13-10, 10-2 Mid-State) in a 57-39 nish. Situated as a road underdog in the third round of the NCHSAA tournament, North squared o with the No. 2 East Rutherford Cavaliers (26-2, 12-0 Mountain Foothills) on Tuesday night; the Cavaliers are winners of 12 games in a row.

The victor of that game is set to play against the winner of No. 3 East Burke (28-0, 15-0 Catawba Valley) and No. 6 Salisbury (20-7, 10-2 Central Carolina) in Friday’s fourth-round action.

Albemarle 70, Union Academy 55

The fourth-seeded Albemar-

South Stanly boys stumble in second round of state playo s

The Bulls nished their season with 23 total wins

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

RIDING A SIX-GAME winning streak with both the Yadkin Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles in tow, the South Stanly Bulls boys’ basketball team came up short in the second round of 1A state playo s on Friday.

Playing in front of their home crowd, the seventh-seeded Bulls (23-5, 9-1 Yadkin Valley) went down in a 55-52 loss to the No. 23 Mountain Island Charter Raptors (12-13, 2-12 Catawba Shores).

South’s 52-point o ensive effort marked their fth-lowest tally of the season and the lowest in nearly a month.

As the only Stanly County boys’ team to advance past the rst round, the Bulls had defeated the No. 26 East Wilkes Cardinals (10-15, 4-8 Northwest) three days earlier in a 6650 home nish and looked to be making a run through the tournament.

Finishing the season with 23 wins after a 7-17 record the year before, the total marks the highest that the Bulls have achieved since winning 19 games during the 2019-20 campaign.

Bandys 58, North Stanly 56

In the 2A bracket of the state tournament, the No. 10 North Stanly Comets (19-8, 9-2 Yadkin Valley) slipped up in a twopoint home loss to the No. 23

Bandys Trojans (15-10, 7-7 Ca-

le Bulldogs (24-3, 12-0 Yadkin Valley) won their seventh-consecutive game over the weekend as they notched a 15-point road win over No. 13 Union Academy (20-5, 9-3 Yadkin Valley) in the second round of the 1A bracket.

For the third-round matchup, the surging Bulldogs were set to host the No. 5 East Wilkes Cardinals (23-4, 13-0 Northwest) on Tuesday night.

In rst-round play on Feb. 27, Albemarle bested the No. 29 Mountain Island Charter Raptors (8-15, 5-9 Catawba Shores) in a 73-19 home nish.

Bishop McGuinness 71, Gray Stone 17

While the Gray Stone Knights (8-16, 2-8 Yadkin Valley) managed to latch onto a No. 31 seed in the 1A bracket, they soon endured a 54-point road loss to the No. 2 Bishop McGuinness Villains (24-4, 12-0 Northwest Piedmont) on Feb. 27.

Landing in fth place in the Yadkin Valley Conference, the Knights ultimately lost eight of their nal nine matchups including postseason play.

tawba Valley) in the rst round of the 2A bracket on Feb. 27.

As second-place nishers in their conference standings, the Comets were coming o a 6344 loss to South Stanly in the YVC Tournament championship game on Feb. 23 but had won six of seven prior to that.

North’s overall 19-win tally marks a six-win improvement over the 2022-23 season and is equal to its 19-win mark for the 2021-22 season.

Newton-Conover 80, West Stanly 58

With their fth-consecutive loss, the No. 30 West Stanly Colts (12-14, 5-7 Rocky River) were knocked out of the 2A bracket on Feb. 27 with a rstround road loss to the No. 3 Newton-Conover Red Devils (22-7, 12-2 Catawba Valley).

The Colts had previously lost on the road to the Anson Bearcats (14-13, 5-7 Rocky River) a week earlier in the rst round of the Rocky River Conference Tournament.

West posted 13 wins in the previous season, where it also got knocked out of the state playo s in the rst round.

Kai Spencer

Kai Spencer is a senior forward for the Albemarle girls basketball team.

Heading into Tuesday’s Sweet 16 game, which was played after press time, the Bulldogs were one of just two local basketball teams—boys or girls—still playing this season. The North Stanly girls in 3A are the other.

Albemarle stormed through the rst two rounds of the NCHSAA 1A playo s, beating Mountain Island Charter, 73-19, and Union Academy, 70-66.

Spencer has been a force inside for the Bulldogs, scoring 22 points against Union Academy in the last game. She also had a pair of blocked shots in the state playo opening game. For the year, she leads Albemarle in blocks and is among the leaders in rebounds, assists and steals.

2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson says he’s retiring from baseball

The Associated Press

JOSH DONALDSON says he’s retiring after a 13-year career in which he was voted the 2015 AL MVP and was selected to three All-Star Games.

The 38-year-old announced his plans Monday during an appearance on “The Mayor’s O ce,” a podcast hosted by former major league rst baseman Sean Casey. Donaldson is a free agent after splitting last season between the New York Yankees and Milwaukee.

“It’s sad because I’ll be not able to go out there and play the game

that I love anymore, but it’s also a very happy time that I get to be around the family and kind of take that next chapter in life,” said Donaldson, who noted that he got married during the o season. Donaldson was among the top third basemen from 2013-17 with Oakland and Toronto. He nished fourth in the AL MVP balloting with Oakland in 2013 and won the award with Toronto two years later. During that 2015 season, Donaldson hit .297 with 41 homers and an AL-leading 123 RBIs. Donaldson also led the AL in total bases (352) and

topped the majors in runs (122) that season while helping the Blue Jays reach the AL Championship Series, where they lost to Kansas City. Donaldson earned three straight All-Star appearances from 2014-16 and was fourth in the AL MVP balloting in 2016. After injuries limited him to 113 games in 2017 and 52 games in 2018, Donaldson signed a $23 million, one-year contract with Atlanta and was 11th in the NL MVP voting after batting .259 with a .379 on-base percentage, 37 homers and 94 RBIs. He signed a $92 million, four-

year contract with Minnesota at age 34 but his play tailed o . Donaldson hit .222 with 60 homers, 171 RBIs, a .748 OPS and a 24.3% strikeout rate over that deal. Minnesota dealt Donaldson to the Yankees ahead of the 2022 season. Donaldson hit .142 with 10 homers and 15 RBIs in 33 games with the Yankees last year, then was released last Aug. 29. He signed a minor league deal with the Brewers two days later, was called up Sept. 11 and hit .169 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 17 games. “As things kind of kept transpiring, I just really felt it had to

be a perfect situation for me to go back and play,” Donaldson said. “There were a couple of opportunities out there, but at the end of the day, things weren’t really clicking and meshing for myself to be ready and go into a season mentally and physically ready to play.”

Donaldson nishes with a .261 batting average, .358 on-base percentage, 279 homers and 816 RBIs in 1,383 regular-season games with Oakland (2010, 201214), Toronto (2015-18), Cleveland (2018), Atlanta (2019), Minnesota (2020-21), New York (2022-23) and Milwaukee (2023).

CREDIT SPENCER’S TWITTER/X ACCOUNT

Pentagon leaker Teixeira pleads guilty

The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman’s deal calls for at least 11 years in prison

By Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press BOSTON —

Massachusetts

Air National Guard member

Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty on Monday to leaking highly classi ed military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets under a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison.

Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act nearly a year after he was arrested in the most consequential national security leak in years.

The 22-year-old admitted illegally collecting some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets and sharing them with other users on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for September in Boston’s federal court and said she would decide then whether to formally accept the agreement, which calls for a prison sentence between 11 and nearly 17 years. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the high end of that range.

“Mr. Teixeira callously disregarded the national security

of the United States and he betrayed his solemn oath to defend the country and the trust of the American people he swore to protect,” Matt Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security, told reporters after the hearing. The stunning security breach raised alarm over America’s ability to protect its most closely guarded secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to try to contain diplo -

matic and military fallout. The leaks embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to safeguard classi ed information and disciplined members found to have intentionally failed to take required action about Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.

Teixeira smiled at his father before being led out of the courtroom with his hands and legs shackled, wearing or-

ange jail garb and black rosary beads around his neck. He stood anked by defense attorneys through much of the hearing and occasionally leaned down to speak into the microphone to answer questions from the judge.

Michael Bachrach, an attorney for Teixeira, told reporters they will push for a sentence of 11 years. Bachrach described Teixeira as a “kid,” adding that

the defense will show at sentencing that his youth played a signi cant role in his conduct.

“He is signi cantly remorseful for his conduct. He has accepted full responsibility for his conduct,” Bachrach said.

In an emailed statement, Teixeira’s family said: “It is unfathomable to think your child would ever be involved in something so serious, but he has taken responsibility for his part in this, and here we are.”

“Our focus now remains on Jack — his protection, health, and well-being, and taking care of whatever is in his best interest,” they said.

Teixeira, who was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He remains in the Air National Guard in an unpaid status, an Air Force ofcial said.

Authorities said he rst typed out classi ed documents he accessed and then began sharing photographs of les that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings. Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest, and authorities found a smashed tablet, laptop and Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his house.

The leak exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information about troop movements in Ukraine and the provision of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian troops. Teixeira also admitted posting information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. forces serving overseas.

4 new astronauts head to the International Space Station

Three Americans and a Russian will stay for 6 months

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. —

Four astronauts headed to the International Space Station on Sunday where they will oversee the arrivals of two new rocket ships during their half-year stint.

SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted o from Kennedy Space Center, carrying NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps and Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin.

The astronauts were expected to each the orbiting lab on Tuesday. They will replace a crew from the U.S., Denmark, Japan and Russia, who have been there since August.

“When are you getting here already?” space station commander Andreas Mogensen asked via X, formerly Twitter, after three days of delay due to high wind. SpaceX Launch Control termed it “fashionably late.” There was almost another postponement Sunday night. A small crack in the seal of the SpaceX capsule’s hatch prompted a last-minute urry of reviews, but it was deemed safe for the whole mission.

The new crew’s six-month stay includes the arrival of two rocket ships ordered by NASA. Boeing’s new Starliner capsule with test pilots is due in late April. A month or two later, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, a

mini shuttle, should arrive. It is for delivering cargo to the station but not passengers yet. Epps was originally assigned to y Boeing’s Starliner, which got bogged down with problems and stalled. NASA nally

switched her to SpaceX. “I am in a New York state of mind right now, it is amazing,” she said upon reaching orbit, referring to the Billy Joel song.

Epps, who is from Syracuse, New York, is the second black

woman assigned to a long station mission. She said before the ight that she is especially proud to be a role model for black girls, demonstrating that space ight “is an option for them, that this is not just for other people.”

An engineer, she worked for Ford Motor Co. and the CIA before becoming an astronaut in 2009. Epps should have launched to the space station on a Russian rocket in 2018 but was replaced for reasons never publicly disclosed.

Also new to space are Dominick, a Navy pilot, and Grebenkin, a former Russian military o cer.

Barratt, a doctor on his third mission, is the oldest full-time astronaut to y in space. He turns 65 in April.

“It’s kind of like a roller coaster ride with a bunch of really excited teenagers,” Barratt said after reaching orbit. As for his age, he said before the ight, “As long as we stay healthy and t and engaged, we’re good to y.”

Flight controllers are monitoring a growing cabin leak on Russia’s side of the space station. The leak has doubled in size in the past few weeks and the area has been sealed o , NASA program manager Joel Montalbano said. He stressed there is no impact to station operations or crew safety.

STEVEN SENNE | AP PHOTO

Jack Michael Teixeira, center, father of Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, departs federal court Monday in Boston.

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

Astronauts, from left, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps pose for a photo as they leave prepare for their trip to the International Space Station on Sunday.

(Taylor) Drye

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

Coleman

Walter Woodrow Shue, Jr.

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

December 29, 1939 — March 1, 2024

Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.

Walter Woodrow Shue, Jr., 84, of Concord, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital in Concord. Mr. Shue was born December 29, 1939, in Concord, North Carolina to the late Walter Woodrow

Shue Sr. and Ruby Greene Shue. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Dianne E. Shue; daughter, Jatana Shue; and grandson, Joseph Shue. Survivors include wife, Dianna Shue of Concord, NC; sons, Marty (Stephanie) Shue, Eric Kee and Anthony (Amber) Shue; daughters, Angela Shue and Melissa (Je ) Beasley; Step-sons, Tim and Bo; grandchildren, Avery Hester, Spencer Hester, Ashley Long, Stephen Shue, Caleb Shue, Emma Shue, Rhiannon Mueller, James Shue, Alyza Shue, Hunter Shue, Mitchell Gaither and Amber Gaither. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Rylie and Lyncoln Long, Donnovan, Keaton and Carter Gaither, Jakhi and Aliyaana Gaither; sister, Terry Lynn (Larry) Easley and their children

Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld. Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

Jason and Allen Easley; brother, Keith A. (Teresa) Shue.

Kitty Jane Rideout

July 8, 1928 — February 24, 2024

Kitty Jane Morton Rideout, 95, of Albemarle, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Trinity Place in Albemarle. Kitty was born July 8, 1928, in Albemarle, North Carolina to the late Garrett Hobart Morton and the late Katie White Richardson Morton. Survivors include daughter, Vicki (Murray) Dick of Liberty Lake, WA; son, James Morton Cranford of Spokane, WA; granddaughter, Angie (Mark) Kegley; great-grandsons, Sean Kegley and Rylan Kegley - all of Liberty Lake, WA. Kitty loved gardening, watching Westerns, and greatly appreciated art. Memorials may be made to Tillery Compassionate Care.

Donna Smith

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

Helton

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

October 19, 1934 — February 27, 2024

Gayle Lynn Lockhart

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

Naumann

Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.

Donna Smith Helton (89) of Concord, NC passed away peacefully on February 27, 2024, at Five Oaks Nursing Home. Donna was born on October 19, 1934, in Lexington, NC to the late Harvey Dermont Smith and Mary Alice Byerly Smith. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Jac Williams; brother-in-law, Ralph Milam; nephew, Greg Milam; niece, Byerlyn Milam; and her dog, Maggie. Surviving family include her sister, Toby Milam, her daughter, Dede Wishon and husband Dennis; grandchildren, Bryan Folds and wife Katie, Sarah Wishon, Chase Bryant and girlfriend Kelly, Josh Williams and wife Krista; great-grandchildren, Sutton Folds, Levi and Kolten Bryant, Bryleigh and Walt Williams; nephews, Je

He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.

July 22, 1944 — February 26, 2024

Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.

David Larry Brewer

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

August 28, 1946 — February 24, 2024

Charlie Webster Barbee

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

August 25, 1932 — February 24, 2024

David Larry Brewer, 77, of Albemarle, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Brewer was born August 28, 1946, in North Carolina to the late Benjamin Franklin Brewer and the late Gather Shaver. He was also preceded in death by wife, Linda Darnette Holdaway Brewer.

John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.

Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long ght in ICU.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

Milam, Eric Milam and wife Sam; niece, Angie Holt and husband Carlyle; great-niece, Emma Holt. After retiring a nal time, she moved to Surfside Beach and later to Murrells Inlet, SC, until deciding to move to Concord, NC to be near her daughter, Dede, and her family. Donna loved the beach, playing bridge and reading, and her occasional glass of wine. She also loved traveling and spending time with her friends, and her dog, Maggie.

Ross G. Arthur

December 10, 1944 — February 26, 2024

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Ross G. Arthur, 82, of Concord, passed away Monday, February 26, 2024, at Transitional Health Services of Kannapolis. Butch was born December 10, 1944, in Ohio to the late Charles Arthur and the late Martha Arthur. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Mary Joan Studstill and nephew, Chase Ferguson. Survivors include niece, Vicki Buchanan of Concord, NC; great nieces, Amy Nelson and Annette Moore; great-great nieces & nephews, Matthew and Nathan Ferguson, Gregory and Alahna Moore, as well as John Henry and Abigail Stephens.

He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.

Gayle Lynn Naumann, 79, of Charlotte, passed away Monday, February 26, 2024, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville. Gayle was born July 22, 1944, in Illinois to the late Burnette Lockhart and the late Violette Mae Lockhart. She was also preceded in death by husband, Douglas Wayne Naumann. She met the love of her life, Doug Naumann and they were happily married for 47 years. She owned her own beauty salon, Gayle’s Hen House in New Port News Virginia and enjoyed sailing with her husband. She also enjoyed baking and decorating cakes and loved to sing. She had a way of making each person feel loved and cherished. She was a devout Christian and an active member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include daughter, Je rica Garcia of Dallas, NC; son, Douglas W Naumann of Charlotte, NC; multiple grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

James Michael Hamrick

Robert June Shipman

February 21, 1952 — February 23, 2024

Robert June Shipman, 72, of Midland, passed away Friday, February 23, 2024, at his residence in Midland. Mr. Shipman was born February 21, 1952, in Newport News, Virginia to the late Robert Leysane Shipman and the late Dorcus Mae Shipman. Survivors include wife, Brenda Beatty Shipman of Midland, NC; daughter, Nicole (Chris) Stover; grandsons, Knox Stover and Reid Stover; sisters, Pat Riley of Dunedin, Florida and Sandy Massie of Newport News, Virginia.

November 7, 1962 — February 26, 2024

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.

He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.

He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.

James Michael Hamrick, 61, of Harrisburg, passed away after a 5-month battle from oral cancer on Monday, February 26, 2024, at Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital in Concord. Mike was born November 7, 1962, in Los Angeles, California to the late James Anthony Hamrick and Elizabeth Jane Hamrick. He spent the last 20+ years living in North Carolina running a screen printing business called Xceptional Images. He loved music, he played the bass guitar and was a member of several bands over the years. He loved his cats and was an expert bowler. Survivors include his mother, Elizabeth Jane Hamrick of Harrisburg, NC; sister, Lynda Hamrick Van Heerden; and 2 brothers, Bret and Mark Hamrick.

He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

When John purchased his rst community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the At age 50, after years as a Detroit decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well. John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level. This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.

Charlie Webster Barbee, 91, of Locust, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Charlie was born August 25, 1932, in Stanly County to the late James Carlo Barbee and the late Lula Belle Eudy Barbee. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Janice Hill Barbee; siblings, Myrtle Tucker, Roy Barbee, Pete Barbee, Tommy Barbee, and Margie Thomas. Charlie was a hard worker and retired from Speizman Industries, Charlotte. In his spare time, Charlie loved working with his hands or watching Gunsmoke. He also enjoyed woodworking and tinkering with small engines. He was mechanically-inclined and had a kind heart for animals. Survivors include sisters-in-law, Virginia Barbee and Linda Hill, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away ghting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.

Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was sel ess, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.

She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, out ts for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.

Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

STATE & NATION

6 in 10 US adults doubt mental capability of Biden, Trump

The AP-NORC poll comes just ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union

By Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A poll nds that a signi cant share of U.S. adults doubt the mental capabilities of 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican front-runner in what could be a rematch of the 2020 election.

More than 6 in 10 (63%) say they’re not very or not at all condent in Biden’s mental capability to serve e ectively as president, turning his coming State of the Union address into something of a real-time audition for a second term. A similar but slightly smaller share (57%) say that Trump lacks the memory and acuity for the job.

The ndings from a new survey by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public A airs Research point to a tough presidential election in which issues

such as age and mental competence could be more prevalent than in any other political contest in modern times.

People’s views of Biden’s memory and acuity have soured since January 2022, when about half of those polled expressed similar concerns. (That survey didn’t ask a similar question about Trump.)

In a major risk for Biden, independents are much more likely to say that they lack condence in his mental abilities (80%) compared with Trump’s (56%). And Democrats are generally more concerned about Biden’s mental capabilities than Republicans are with Trump’s, raising the stakes of Biden’s upcoming speech to a joint session

Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas law that allows police to arrest migrants

Gov. Greg Abbott has made it a priority to attempt to curb illegal immigration

By Acacia Coronado and Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Justice Samuel Alito on Monday issued an order that temporarily halts Texas’ immigration law from going into e ect until next week so the full court can decide what steps to take next. The law was set to take e ect Saturday under a lower court’s decision. Alito’s order putting it on hold until March 13 came just hours after the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go to keep migrants from entering the country.

The law would allow state

o cers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. People who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who don’t leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.

The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter “the status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.” It went on to argue that the law would have “signi cant and immediate adverse e ects” on the country’s relationship with Mexico and “create chaos” in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas.

The federal government cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling on an Arizona law that would have allowed police to arrest people for federal immigration violations, often referred to by opponents as the “show me your papers” bill. The divided high court found that the impasse in Washington over immigration reform did not justify state intrusion.

The Supreme Court gave Texas until March 11 to respond.

In a statement Monday, the Texas Attorney General’s Ofce said the state’s law mirrored federal law and “was adopted to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which hurts Texans more than anyone else.”

The federal government’s emergency request to the Supreme Court came after a federal appeals court over the weekend stayed U.S. District Judge David Ezra’s sweeping rejection of the law.

In a 114-page ruling Thursday, Ezra rebuked Texas’ immigration enforcement and brushed o claims by Republicans about an ongoing “invasion” along the southern border due to record-high illegal crossings.

Ezra added that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, con icts with federal immigration law and could get in the way of U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

According to Ezra’s ruling, allowing Texas to supersede federal law due to an “invasion” would “amount to nulli cation of federal law and authority — a notion that is antithetical to the Constitution and has been unequivocally rejected by federal courts since the Civil War.”

The battle over the Texas im-

of Congress on Thursday. Going into the big event, just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove. Democrats (74%) are much likelier than independents (20%) and Republicans (6%) to favor his performance. But there’s broad discontent on the way Biden is handling a variety of issues, including the economy, immigration and foreign policy. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way Biden is handling each of these issues: health care, climate change, abortion policy and the con ict between Russia and Ukraine. But people are less satis ed by Biden’s handling of immigration (29%), the con ict between the Israelis and the Palestinians (31%) and the economy (34%) — all of which are likely to come up in the speech before a joint session of Congress.

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) Americans think the national economy is somewhat or much worse o than before Biden took o ce in 2021. Only 3 in 10 adults say it’s better under his leadership. Still, people are more optimis-

tic about the state of their own bank accounts: 54% say their personal nances are good.

Many respondents to the survey were deeply pessimistic about their likely choices in November because of age and the risk of cognitive decline.

Paul Miller, himself 84, said Biden is just too old — and so is Trump.

“He doesn’t seem to have the mental whatever to be a president,” Miller said of Biden. He added that Trump is “too old, too, and half crazy.”

The retiree from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he voted for Trump in 2020 but he wouldn’t do so again.

“I don’t think I’m going to vote for either one of them,” he said. “I hope somebody else is available.”

About one-third of Democrats said they’re not very or not at all con dent in Biden’s mental capability in the new survey, up from 14% in January 2022. Only 40% of Democrats said they’re extremely or very condent in Biden’s mental abilities, with approximately 3 in 10 saying they’re “somewhat” condent.

Republicans are generally more comfortable with Trump’s mental capabilities than Democrats are with Biden’s. In the survey, 59% of Republicans are extremely or very con dent that Trump has the mental abilities to be president. An additional 20% are somewhat con dent, and 20% are not very or not at all con dent.

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a Texas immigration law on Monday.

migration law, known as Senate Bill 4, is one of multiple legal disputes between Texas o cials and the Biden administration over how far the state can go to patrol the Texas-Mexico border and prevent illegal border crossings. Several Republican governors have backed Abbott’s efforts, saying the federal government is not doing enough to enforce existing immigration laws.

Some of Abbott’s attempts to impede illegal border crossings have included a oating barrier in the Rio Grande — which Ezra previously blocked and is part of an ongoing legal battle — and placing razor wire along the state’s boundary with Mexico. State guard o cers have also blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing a riverfront park in Eagle Pass that federal agents previously used to process migrants.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address could be something of a real-time audition as he bids for a second term.

Randolph record

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Get out the vote

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, center, poses with Lois Welborn, left, vice chair of the Randolph Republican party, and former Randolph County commissioner Arnold Lanier during Super Tuesday voting at Hopewell Elementary School in Trinity. Robinson is running for North Carolina governor. For local election results, visit RandolphRecord.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING

UNC holds in-state tuition steady for 8th year

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has announced that in-state undergraduate tuition will remain unchanged for the eighth consecutive year, the decision was rati ed by the UNC Board of Governors for the 2024-25 academic year.

Students are seeing delays in FAFSA processing to determine nancial aide, something especially crucial for students eligible for the new Next NC Scholarship, which promises a minimum of $5,000 for students from households with an annual income of $80,000 or less. This amount could cover up to half, or in some cases, all of the tuition and fees at UNC System institutions. Approximately 55% of North Carolina households could qualify for this scholarship.

‘Booze It & Lose

It’ campaign sees statewide expansion North Carolina is expanding a pilot program aiming to reduce impaired driving, after seeing success in a seven-county test in the western part of the state.

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is seeing its rst major update in decades, incorporating new strategies and tools to combat impaired driving more e ectively. In 2023, the pilot region reported a 7% decrease in alcoholrelated crashes, with 277 incidents compared to 298 the previous year.

New EV component plant to create 133 jobs in Liberty

By Jordan Golson Randolph Record

LIBERTY — Fujihatsu & Toyotsu Battery Components (FTBC) has shared plans to establish a new EV battery component manufacturing facility in Liberty.

A collaborative venture between Fujihatsu Tech America and Toyota Tsusho America, the new operation is said to generate 133 jobs with $60 million invested to produce prismatic aluminum cell cases and cell covers with discharge valves — all components needed to make batteries for electric cars. It will be a supplier for Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina.

Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), highlighted the state’s appealing environment for the clean energy and EV sectors, attributing the attraction of leading companies and their suppliers to North Carolina’s renowned education system, workforce development programs, and the Southeast’s largest manufacturing workforce. He expressed enthusiasm for FTBC’s future contributions to the state’s clean energy economy.

The announcement comes on the heels of Toyota’s 2021 declaration to establish its inaugural North American battery manufacturing plant in Liberty,

The plant will produce prismatic aluminum cell cases and cell covers, components needed to make batteries for electric cars.

promising a $1.29 billion investment and 1,750 jobs. With subsequent expansions, Toyota’s total investment has surged to $13.9 billion, promising 5,000 new jobs. FTBC’s production, starting in 2025, will initially pro-

duce 2.7 million units monthly, escalating to 3.6 million by January 2026.

This move is part of a broader trend of Japanese investment in North Carolina, exceeding $6.6 billion and creating over 5,166 jobs between 2018 and 2022. Over 30,500 North Carolinians are employed by Japanese rms, including Toyota, FUJIFILM Diosynth, and HondaJet. FTBC’s positions o er an average salary of $58,935, surpassing Randolph County’s average annual wage. Established in July 2023, FTBC is 60% owned by Fujihatsu Tech America, bringing technical prowess to the partnership, and 40% by Toyota Tsusho America, providing administrative and operational support.

EDPNC, North Carolina’s statewide economic development organization, thanked Randolph Community College for its role in facilitating this project and much of the workforce that will man it.

High schoolers explore automotive careers at RCC

College hosts Automotive Day spotlighting collision repair, tech jobs

By Jordan Golson Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Randolph Community College (RCC) hosted Automotive Day earlier this month, engaging some 180 10th graders from Randolph County, Asheboro City, and Uwharrie Charter Academy. The event, designed to spotlight careers in the automotive industry, o ered students a practical look into various automotive disciplines through hands-on stations at the Richard Petty Education Center.

Automotive Day aimed to merge classroom theory with real-world applications, providing a glimpse into RCC’s Automotive Systems Technology and Collision Repair and Re nishing Technology programs. Participants explored numerous aspects of automotive careers, from collision repair and painting to electrical wiring and electric vehicle technology.

“Automotive Day was a testament to our commitment to providing hands-on, real-world education,” stated RCC President Shah Ardalan in a press release.

He praised the dedication of faculty and students in showcasing the college’s advanced facilities and innovative curriculum, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

The event also served as a platform for RCC to inform students about the Career and College Promise (CCP) program, which o ers high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors the opportunity to take college courses tuition-free.

Automotive

Systems Technology instructor Don Ashley tells Randolph County high schoolers about electric

Automotive Day aimed to merge classroom theory with real-world applications, providing a glimpse into RCC’s Automotive Systems Technology and Collision Repair and Re nishing Technology programs.

$2.00

PJ

Man charged with murder after Franklinville shooting

Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — A Randolph County man faces murder charges after a shooting on Tuesday, Feb. 27, on Clark Avenue in Franklinville.

Randolph County Sheri ’s Deputies arrested Roy Clay Williams, 54, for murder after responding to a report of gunshots and nding a woman dead at the residence on

New man in charge

Clark Avenue in Franklinville. The victim was identied by police as Chatel Melissa Aikens. Williams is being held without bond at Randolph County Jail after his arraignment in Randolph County District Court. Jail records show Williams with a home address identical to the one police were dispatched to, but law enforcement remains tightlipped as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information to share should contact the Randolph Sheri ’s Criminal Investigations Division at 336-318-6658.

More than 9,000 turn out for early voting

Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — There were 9,245 voters casting ballots in early voting in Randolph County for this week’s primary. That was the nal tally reported by the Randolph County Board of Elections.

Saturday, which was the last day, marked the heaviest turnout for early voting with 1,294 voters. That was slightly higher than Friday’s 1,241.

Early voting began Feb. 15.

The primary was held Tuesday, when voters were required to report to their designated precinct in order to cast

a ballot. A photo ID was also required for all voting in the primary. Of the four locations for early voting, the Randolph County Board of Elections o ce in Asheboro had the highest turnout for each of the days. More than 500 voters went to that site on both Friday and Saturday. The second-busiest location across the early voting period was Braxton Craven School in Trinity, followed by Randleman Civic Center and Franklinville United Methodist Church.

Randolph Guide

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

March 9

Petty’s Grage March Cruise-in

9 a.m. — 1 p.m.

Free Cruise-in. All Makes and Model Cars

Welcome. Free admission to Petty Museum. Food Trucks and Vendors on site. Held at Petty’s Garage - 311 Branson Mill Rd, Randleman

Caraway Speedway 59th Season Opener Race 2 – 6:30 p.m.

9th Season Opener Warriors Weekend - Challengers-Mod 4’s-UCAR-BootleggersCarolina Pro Late Models

March 10

Spring Into Action –Slip Rock Mountain Hike

1:30 – 2 p.m.

Healthy Communities

Randolph invites you to the Spring into Action hike to Slip Rock Mountain from Mundo Vista at Camp Caraway. Participants will meet at the Asheboro Downtown Farmer‘s Market at 1:30 p.m. to carpool to the site or meet at the trailhead at 2 p.m. For more info contact Mary Joan Pugh MaryJoan.Pugh@ randolphcountync.gov / 336-963-2715

Randleman Wedding Expo

2 p.m.

Come check out all of Randolph County’s top Caterers, Florists, Photographers, O ciants, Planners, Insurance, and wedding professionals at Randleman High School. Door Prizes, Grand Prize, Fashion Show, Vendors, and more! Entry is FREE, online registration is recommended. More info at randlemanchamber. com/wedding-expo

March 13

One-On-One Resumé Building’ Workshop

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Gain the fundamental skills needed to create an e ective resume in One-On-One Resume Building held at the Archdale Public Library. Individual, one-hour coaching sessions with Randolph County Public Libraries Digital Services Librarian Harris Mason. The sessions are free and all ages are welcome. To sign up for a session or for further information, call 336-431-3811 or visit the library.

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Defending freedom and unleashing American nuclear energy

The last thing folks in the Sandhills want is another oppressive Biden Administration mandate.

HARDWORKING AMERICANS like you are repeatedly paying the price for President Biden’s anti-energy policies, with costly mandates and red tape upending our way of life.

You should have the freedom to choose the best car or truck for your family, business, and farm at an a ordable price. Yet, just last year, the Biden Administration announced a new rule to impose an EV mandate onto families. Families are already struggling from higher prices across the board, yet this misguided decision would force them to give up their gas and diesel-powered cars for more expensive alternatives.

The last thing folks in the Sandhills, and America, want is another oppressive Biden Administration mandate that puts a radical environmental agenda and FarLeft special interests above their individual

freedoms. I recently joined my colleagues in a letter demanding President Biden reverse this overreaching policy and stop imposing his failed Green New Deal agenda on you.

We have a great energy source right here in North Carolina that is a ordable and reliable — nuclear energy. Our nuclear industry supports good-paying jobs and is key to strengthening America’s competitiveness in the global energy sector. We must cut red tape that continues to hamstring the industry’s ability to thrive.

That’s why I was so pleased to see my bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Deployment Act (H.R. 6526) pass in the House last week as part of a larger nuclear energy package. This important legislation will expand the availability of a ordable, clean, safe nuclear energy by reducing burdensome regulations around

Michael Whatley is the right

choice

production.

I will continue ghting to get Big Government out of the way and will always stand up for our rights. That’s why recently, I also continued my e orts to defend our Second Amendment.

I introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act to prohibit gun grabbing politicians from tracking lawful gun purchases and surveilling the private nancial information of law-abiding citizens. No entity should be able to violate and infringe on Constitutionally-protected rights of Americans.

Whether it’s the Second Amendment, consumer choice, or a ordable energy — know I will never stop ghting for what matters most to you and your family.

Richard Hudson is a member of Congress representing NC-9.

to lead the RNC

Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby.

CHAIRMAN MICHAEL WHATLEY is

the right guy at the right time to lead the Republican National Committee. I have spent a decade working in Republican politics, mainly in opposition research. I had the privilege of serving as the NCGOP Communications Director in 2020, where I directly witnessed why Whatley would make a great RNC Chairman.

To win in 2024, the Republican National Committee needs to rebuild trust with the base. That is precisely what Whatley did in North Carolina. Whatley secured his narrow victory in 2019 to lead the NCGOP. At the time, he faced substantial scrutiny from the grassroots base. Over time, Whatley gained the trust of the grassroots base needed to win in 2024.

Between stops on the campaign trail, Whatley would utilize the drive time — what he referred to as “windshield” time — to call stakeholders across the state to build deeper connections. He visited local Republican groups across North Carolina and built the relationships necessary for true statewide campaigns. Whenever the NCGOP needed someone anywhere in the state, Whatley already had a working relationship with people on the ground because he put in the e ort to build those relationships.

The next leader needs to be able to work across a diverse and sometimes divided Republican Party. Whatley is such a leader.

I witnessed Whatley masterfully manage this daily in 2020. Arguably, the most crucial election in North Carolina during the 2020 campaign cycle was the United States Senate race with Thom Tillis as the Republican nominee and Cal Cunningham as the Democrat opponent.

It should not come as a surprise that the activists who voted to censure Tillis in 2023 were not huge fans of Tillis in 2020. But every day, Whatley worked to keep North Carolina Republicans united and focused on defeating the Democrats.

Another crystal-clear example of Whatley’s leadership in uniting Republicans is the success of the Judicial Victory Fund. In his chairman’s race, Whatley campaigned hard on creating a Judicial Victory Fund to support Republicans running statewide for the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Democrats controlled the Court six-to-one. Through Whatley’s leadership, Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby. Republicans completed their judicial race dominance under Whately’s chairmanship by sweeping every race and securing a majority. In 2024, thanks in part of Whatley’s e orts, Republicans are on track to win another Supreme Court seat — cementing a six-to-one Republican majority.

Finally, the next RNC Chair must have the right instincts during this unprecedented election. Republicans have never faced a presidential election where the opposition has led multiple felony charges against our likely nominee. What will happen in the legal proceedings against the eventual nominee is far from clear. But it is clear we need a leader with the right instincts.

I saw Whatley display the right instincts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The playbook in April 2020 looked entirely di erent than it did in February 2020. As the political landscape shifted throughout the pandemic, Whatley’s instincts played a crucial role in

shaping the party’s message. Getting it right during the COVID pandemic was challenging, but Whatley provided exemplary leadership at the right time by being a voice of reason while our Democrat governor was making every e ort to keep our state in a perpetual lockdown.

Another shining example of Whatley’s leadership was in the N.C. Supreme Court recount of 2020. On election night, Republican Paul Newby was up by 405 votes over Democrat Cheri Beasley. The Democrats tried every trick to convince the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections to ignore the voters’ will in favor of a partisan trick. Whatley had already laid the groundwork for this possibility.

In the months before the election, Whatley led e orts to recruit lawyers to protect the ballot box in 2020. Republicans were ready for a statewide recount requiring lawyers in all 100 counties if needed. Turned out that preparation was needed when it came to the Newby/Beasley race. Without his strong leadership, at least from my perspective in the trenches working this issue, Beasley would be the Chief Justice, not Newby, if not for Whatley’s leadership.

Every day I worked with Whatley behind closed doors. I saw that Whatley was up to the task of fundraising, leading the team, and driving a compelling message.

From what I have witnessed in the thick of the action in 2020, Mike Whatley is just the right guy to lead Republicans to victory in 2024.

Tim Wigginton is former communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party (2020) and is a public a airs professional in Raleigh.

COLUMN | TIM WIGGINTON

COLUMN | RICHARD HUDSON

SPORTS

SIDELINE REPORT

MLS Raposo, Vancouver earn 1-1 draw with Charlotte Vancouver, B.C. Ryan Raposo scored ve minutes into stoppage time at the end of the rst half to pull Vancouver even and the Whitecaps earned a 1-1 draw with Charlotte at BC Place in front of 29,624 — the biggest crowd to watch a season opener in franchise history.

Charlotte, playing in Vancouver for the rst time, took a 1-0 lead at the half-hour mark of the rst half when Brecht Dejaegere sent a cross through the middle of the penalty area toward Enzo Copetti, who intentionally allowed the ball to bounce between his legs and onto the right foot of an open Iuri Tavares, who red a shot into the top right corner.

MLB Ronald Acuña Jr. bothered by knee irritation

North Port, Fla. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around the meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee. The reigning NL MVP had an MRI on Friday. He will be evaluated on Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired the out elder’s torn right ACL in July 2021. The 26-year-old Acuña is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but that timeline could change after he sees ElAttrache in California. Acuña led Atlanta to its sixth consecutive NL East title in 2023. The out elder hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 steals in 159 games.

NCAA FOOTBALL

NCAA committee recommends allowing electronic communication, a change that could end sign stealing

The NCAA is considering allowing football head coaches to have in-game communication with one player on o ense and one on defense as part of a series of proposed rule changes. Coaches and athletic directors have long advocated for the NCAA to allow electronic communication from the sideline, as in the NFL, instead of forcing coaches to use hand signals or poster boards to call plays. If implemented, Friday’s recommendation by the NCAA Football Rules Committee could potentially prevent teams from stealing opponents’ signs. A Michigan football sta er was accused last season of scouting opponents in advance and stealing their signs, which is banned by the NCAA.

2024 IS THE YEAR TO eat mor chikin

Kyle Larson wins at Las Vegas, keeps Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — There’s a tradition at Hendrick Motorsports to ring the winning bell throughout the North Carolina shop after every NASCAR victory.

As motivation to have the best year of his career, Kyle Larson’s team decided to bring a bell on the road to avoid having to wait to return to Charlotte to celebrate every achievement he plans for this season.

The bell got its rst ring Sunday when Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Rick Hendrick his second victory in the rst three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season. Hendrick Motorsports is cel-

ebrating its 40th anniversary this season and opened the year with William Byron winning the Daytona 500.

“That bell will travel with us every week and we’ll be ringing it loud and proud,” Larson said.

Larson won for the third time in his career at Las Vegas, where in 2021 he got his rst win driving for Hendrick. Larson also won in the No. 5 Chevy at Las Vegas last October in the playo s.

Larson held o Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. In a Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick chased Larson for the nal several laps but could never nd enough room to make a move for the pass. Larson’s margin of victory was 0.441 seconds.

“I knew Tyler was going to be the guy to beat from the rst

stage. He was really fast there,” Larson said. “Cool to get a win here at Vegas again. Back-toback, swept all the stages again. Can’t ask for more than that.”

Reddick was extremely frustrated after nishing second and believed Larson as the leader controlled the race because of the rules of NASCAR’s new car.

“Kyle did a really good job there taking away pretty much every option I had there to close the gap,” Reddick said. “Second sucks, that is for sure. You have to run up front all day long, and when asked about what we need to do to get better, that’s the very thing, and we didn’t do it. We were pretty evenly matched, so I don’t know if there was anything that I really could’ve done to get around him. Chevrolet also has wins this year by Byron in the Dayto -

na 500 and Daniel Suarez last week at Atlanta for Trackhouse Racing. Chevrolet has won eight of nine national series races to open the year.

Reigning NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney was third for Team Penske in a Ford, followed by Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Las Vegas native Noah Gragson was sixth in his best nish since joining Stewart-Haas Racing. Martin Truex Jr. for JGR was seventh, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin, Penske driver and pole-sitter Joey Logano and Byron. Suarez, last week’s winner, was 11th.

Larson swept all three stages and led 181 of the 267 laps. The win made Larson the Cup Series points leader with an eightpoint cushion over Blaney.

Cam Newton apologizes for letting emotions get the best of him at youth football tournament ght

By Steve Reed The Associated Press

CAM NEWTON said he’s disappointed in himself for losing control of his emotions over the weekend at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta, resulting in a brief ght involving several men from competing teams.

A 22-second video showed the 34-year-old Newton involved in an altercation with at least three other men outside of a school at the tournament. Newton did not throw any punches, and appeared to try to fend o some attackers.

The incident was quickly broken up by a policeman and security.

“I’m disappointed in myself for letting it escalate to what it did and that’s what I’m apologetic to,” Newton said Friday on his 4th and 1 podcast. “The truth of the matter is this: Me, being in my position, I should’ve never put myself in that position. That’s just the truth. That could’ve got ugly, for real.”

The 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and longtime Carolina Panthers signal caller also apologized to the kids who look up to him.

“I feel like I let them down,” Newton said. “Because I can’t sit up here and say, ‘Hey bro, you have to be bigger than that,’ and then all of a sudden I do that. That just shows that you have to always stay in control of your emotions.”

Newton, who is from Atlanta, heads up the C1N football organization, which was founded in 2021 and focuses on developing young athletes’ skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events.

Newton said trash talk during a game between him and former members of his C1N organization carried over o the football eld leading to the altercation.

“There was a lot of talking on both sides — on all sides, let’s just put it like that,” Newton said. “I don’t want to point the nger and say this person said that or that person said that. Am I saying this is the rst time it happened or the last time it happened? It’s something that starts with words and should’ve ended with words.”

Newton said he’s glad the incident didn’t take a turn for the worse.

“There’s no excuse really,” Newton said. “It could have been a melee. More violence could have stemmed from that. It’s just not called for.”

Newton said he also regrets the incident because be believes it perpetuates a stereotype that he doesn’t like.

“It’s echoing something that has been permeating for years — Black people,” Newton said. “Why do I got to be at a Black event, you know what I’m saying? And I could easily play the victim, and I’m not going to do that. I’m going to hold myself to that same standard.”

Newton said he hopes the incident serves as a teaching moment for young athletes and those who look up to him.

“This is what I really want the narrative to be,” Newton said. “To every high school player, to

every single person I’ve in uenced and to every single athlete, use my situation as a way to understand that in one moment and one decision, your life can change just like that. I let my emotions get the best of me.”

IAN MAULE | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson (5) celebrates with his son, Owen, after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Trinity alum selected for Wheatmore football job

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

TRINITY — Jacob Shef-

eld is the new football coach at Wheatmore, but his ties to the school extend more than a decade.

Most recently, She eld has been an assistant coach at rival Trinity, his alma mater.

He said he has “fallen on both sides of the tracks” when it comes to the neighboring schools.

He takes the vacancy left when Philip Yarbrough resigned after seven seasons as Wheatmore’s football coach.

The Warriors were 2-8 last year.

She eld, who’ll turn 37 in May, said it appears a foundation has been established at Wheatmore. When he met with players last week, he was asked if the Warriors were in a rebuilding mode.

“I’ve been through a rebuild,” he said he told the group. “You have already worked through

as a sta member for football at Greensboro Page, where he also was wrestling coach.

“I was really happy with Trinity,” he said. She eld’s said Trinity football coach Bear Bradley, who’s a past Wheatmore coach, was supportive during the process regarding the coaching opening with the Warriors.

She eld said when he was an Appalachian State student in 2009, he wanted a taste of high school coaching and that initiation came at Wheatmore. He would arrive for Friday’s game and stay through Sunday meetings with the coaching sta before returning to Boone.

Julian Brooks

those stages.” She eld, a 2005 Trinity graduate, spent the past season with the Bulldogs following three seasons as coach at High Point Central, where his teams were a combined 7-20. His coaching stops included time

He later coached track and eld at Wheatmore and combined with Yarbrough on the wrestling team’s sta .

She eld was an exceptional children’s teacher during his previous time at Wheatmore. Since then at his other stops, he has taught physical education and weight training.

Randleman, Eastern Randolph boys win in second round

Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — Two boys’ basketball teams from the Piedmont Athletic Conference moved on in the state playo s after the rst week.

Randleman and Eastern Randolph won Friday night in the West Region’s second round.

** In Class 2-A, Randleman defeated No. 22 seed East Gaston 63-46 behind Greg Price’s 21 points and Tyshaun Goldston’s 18 points. The sixth-seeded Tigers (225) next were to go to third-seeded Newton-Conover for Tuesday night’s third round.

Earlier last week, Randleman wiped out visiting Burns 93-69 with Connor Cassidy pouring in 28 points, Goldston racking up 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Price adding 18 points.

Also, No. 19 seed Trinity received 40 points from senior guard Dominic Payne, but those weren’t enough in an 85-71 loss to Newton Conover.

Brandon Campbell added 13 points for the Bulldogs (19-10).

Trinity began the state playo s by knocking o No. 14 seed Hendersonville 69-53 behind Payne’s 25 points.

** In Class 1-A, Nicah Taylor rolled up 38 points as Eastern Randolph blasted No. 24 seed Mountain Heritage 81-36 in the second round.

Timothy Brower had 14 points for the eighth-seeded Wildcats (18-10), who visited top-seeded South Stokes (27-1) on Tuesday night.

In the rst round, Eastern Randolph blew out visiting Hayesville 83-50 with Brower scoring 23 points and Taylor adding 22 points.

** In Class 3-A, No. 10 seed Asheboro dropped an 87-53 decision at seventh-seeded Ashe-

ville Reynolds. The Blue Comets (23-4) were without standout Jerquarius Stanback, who was injured three nights earlier when he took a hard crash to the oor in a rstround victory. In the rst round, Asheboro pulled out a 72-70 victory against visiting Carson on Camden Walker’s two free throws in the nal second. This nal stretch came without Stanback, the team’s leading scorer who left with an injury after racking up 25 points. Walker nished with 18 points.

Girls’ basketball

Randleman’s 15-game winning streak ended with a 53-38 home loss to 12th-seeded Lincoln Charter in Class 2-A.

The fth-seeded Tigers (207) were led by Audra Petty’s 15 points.

Randleman handled visiting Madison for a 46-31 victory in the rst round.

Also in Class 2-A, third-seeded East Burke blew past No. 14 seed Southeastern Randolph 72-39. The Cougars ended with a 24-5 record, with the only three losses since November coming against Randleman until the states.

Southwestern Randolph beat Hendersonville 39-33 in the playo opener with Jordin George scoring 17 points and Gracie Hodgin pulling in 13 rebounds.

Other teams from the Piedmont Athletic Conference weren’t as fortunate in the rst round.

No. 18 seed Providence Grove lost 77-41 at 15th-seeded Forbush. Wheatmore, the No. 22 seed, lost 58-47 at No. 11 seed North Surry.

** In Class 1-A, No. 11 seed Uwharrie Charter Academy was on the wrong end of a 63-35 result at sixth-seeded Thomas Jefferson Classic. The Eagles ended the season with a 16-12 record. In the rst round, UCA pulled out a 46-43 home victory against Bessemer City.

Eastern Randolph, boys’ basketball

Julian Brooks goes up for a shot against Mountain Heritage in the state playo s last week.

Brooks has been a key contributor for the Wildcats, who advance to this week’s third round of the Class 1-A state playo s.

The junior forward rates third in scoring (8.8 points per game) for an Eastern Randolph team that has made playo runs in consecutive seasons. He’s the leading rebounder for the Wildcats with nearly eight boards per game.

Eastern Randolph has reached at least the 18-win mark in back-to-back seasons after going six straight seasons with losing records.

Brooks also has been a member of Eastern Randolph’s Piedmont Athletic Conference championship football team.

RACING

Caraway Speedway set for opening weekend

Randolph Record

SOPHIA — Facility updates at Caraway Speedway will be evident to many fans when the track opens for the 59th season of racing this weekend. Part of the venue renovations include aluminum seating on the grandstands on the front stretch, replacing wooden bleachers, track o cials said. The track’s “Warrior Weekend” is slated with events Saturday and Sunday.

Carolina Pro Late Models will be the headline class for Saturday’s racing, while the track’s support divisions also will be in action. Carolina Pro Late Models are Late Models with certain engine restrictions.

Challengers will be on the track for a 35lap race, while there also will be racing for Mini Stocks, UCARs and Bootleggers. Saturday’s racing begins at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, Caraway Speedway’s top division will hold its season-opening competition with Late Models taking part in a 100-lap feature. There will be a 40-lap race for Modi eds with a $1,000 winning prize. Carolina USAC Midgets, a traveling tour, will hold its season opener at the track as part of Sunday’s card.

Yet the main attraction for Sunday, with racing beginning at 2 p.m., might be the SMART Modi ed Tour. A total of at least 25 cars are expected to be entered, including Carson Loftin, who’s coming o Saturday’s victory at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway. The 15-year-old won the Peanut Patch 99. He was the 2022 track champion for Modi eds at Caraway Speedway.

The entries also are expected to include former NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman, North-South Shootout champion Matt Hirschman and Winston-Salem brothers Burt Myers and Jason Myers. Burt Myers was runner-up Saturday at Florence.

Future renovations touted by speedway ofcials will include updated lighting, new asphalt and a new spotters’ stand in addition to completing a VIP booth on the fourth turn.

Two days of racing will involve drivers from several divisions.

Ryan

Newman, previously in NASCAR’s top circuit, is scheduled to be behind the wheel for one of the features.

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

Randleman’s Bella Byman drives against Lincoln Charter in the second round of the Class 2-A state playo s.

Connor Cassidy of Randleman shoots against East Gaston during the Tigers’ secondround victory in the Class 2-A state playo s.

First-round success

Many area gyms were busy with games in the basketball state playo s. Here are some scenes from last week’s rst-round games.

Left, Randleman’s Connor Cassidy drives to the basket against

game. Right, Camden Walker, with

raised, and the Asheboro boys’ basketball team celebrate a victory against Carson

Left, Jordin George of

JaLiyah Williams looks

Wanda Kay Davis Tesch

October 1, 1947 — February 27, 2024

Wanda Kay Davis Tesch, 76, of Randleman passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones on February 27, 2024. She was born October 1, 1947 in Guilford County, NC to Dewey Franklin Davis and Ruby Heath Davis. Wanda was a loving and caring wife, mother, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was a fun-loving sports fanatic who loved traveling, taking cruises, horseback riding, diving, and being adventurous. Wanda was a beloved cosmetologist in Greensboro who enjoyed working with animals, especially her own cats and bird, and loved her time at the ice cream shop. She was a remarkable woman who truly lived life to its fullest. Wanda is survived by her nephew, Chip Davis; cousins, Ann Beane, Tony Eldieth, Darlene Moore, Sherry Heath, Patricia Covington, Debbie Pegram. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Gri n, Jr.; brother, Franklin Davis; and cousin, Les Brown.

George Hatley

Saunders

September 27, 1952 - February 27, 2024

George Hatley Saunders, age 71 of Asheboro, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was born September 27, 1952 in Randolph County, North Carolina the son of the late Anderson Saunders and Anna Cardwell Saunders. He is also preceded in death by his brother, Willie Saunders; sisters, Marie Saunders, Joyce Freeman, Viola Parrish, Mary and Penny Saunders. He graduated from Eastern Randolph High School and furthered his education at Randolph Community College where he received his Electrical License.

Family was important to George and he enjoyed spending time in their company. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye.

Forever wearing a smile, he enjoyed traveling, bike riding, spending time at the lake, boat riding, shing, and never turned down an opportunity for ice cream or milkshakes.

George had a passion for classic cars and restoring them in his spare time. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Rhonda Saunders; daughters, Lynn Saunders and Carla Lamb (Joe); son, Christian Saunders of the home; grandchildren, Carson, Gavin, Owen and Adalyn Lamb; brother, David Saunders; sisters, Margaret Parrish (Lawson) and Rosa Stamey (Roy), numerous nieces, nephews, and other beloved family and friends.

Marie Small

Freeman

March 21, 1932 — February 28, 2024 Marie Small Freeman, 91, of Randleman passed away at home on February 28, 2024.

A native of Randolph County, raised in the Jackson Creek community, one of 12 siblings born to Reamy H & Eunice Pierce Small. She worked most of her life in textiles and later for her son at Freeman’s Florist & Gifts. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Randleman but attended Shady Grove Christian Church in Star, NC. She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Talmadge Freeman; sisters, Ester Davidson, Ocia McDowell, Kate Skeen, Annie Mae Robbins, Kathleen Yow; brothers, Clay Small, Lloyd Small, Lindsay Small, and Hoyle Small. She is survived by her son Je (Angie) Freeman and daughter, Cynthia (Richard) Ivey of Randleman. Grandchildren, Kim (Cash) Bowman of Climax. Wendy (Jeremy) Maness, Courtney (Brandon) McLeod & Jordan Freeman and Emma Motsinger of Randleman. Great grandchildren, Tyler Bowman, Jacob Bowman, Harrison Maness, Luke Maness, Levi Maness, and Cayla (DJ)

Laxton. Sister, Alene Gallimore of Lexington, NC; brother, Everett “Buck” (Evelean) Small of Asheboro, NC.

Sandra Rush Knight

September 28, 1956 - February 25, 2024

Sandra Rush Knight, 67, of Ramseur, died Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Randolph Health in Asheboro. Born in Randolph County, NC on September 28, 1956, Sandra was the daughter of the late Carl Stanton Rush and Berlene Dunn Rush Knight. She attended Farmer School and graduated from Southwestern Randolph High School. She had worked at Pinehurst Textiles, Caraway Furniture, and most recently she was a homemaker. She also took pride in her job as a med tech and supervisor at an assisted living facilitiy. Sandra enjoyed working in her ower garden, going to the beach, and watching scary movies. She loved being "Nanny" to her grandchildren and her animals, especially, her dog Chewy. In addition to her parents, Sandra was preceded in death by her sister, Ruby Lavone Henson and her brother, Ricky Rush. Surviving are her husband, Jessie Edward Knight of the home; children, Alisha Knight (Frank) of Asheboro, Tyler Rush (Jessica) of Greensboro, Bryan Henson (Candace) of Sophia; sister, Teresa Parrish (Roger) of Trinity; six grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Virginia Ann Davis Craven

January 17, 1938 — February 29, 2024

Virginia Ann Davis Craven, age 86, of Asheboro passed away on February 29, 2024 at her home. Mrs. Craven was born in Eden, NC on January 17, 1938 to Fred and Virginia Burroughs Davis. Virginia was a graduate of Stoneville High School and received her BS degree in Education from UNC-G. Virginia was a career educator with an emphasis on Special Education. She was a member of First E&R United Church of Christ for over 50 years. In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, B. Doyle Craven and grandsons, Ethan Craven and Chase Owens. She loved to make pottery and was an integral part of making costumes for the Drama Department at Asheboro High School. She, along with her husband, loved travelling, camping, and shing. Virginia loved to plant and care for her owers. She is survived by her sons, Burit Craven of Seagrove, Fred Smith and wife Susan of Asheboro, and Mark Craven of Seagrove; daughter, Tina Owens and husband Kirby of Seagrove; grandchildren, Bradley Smith and wife Kelly of Texas, Jennifer Greene and husband Ted of Greensboro, Buranda Craven of Asheboro, Burit Craven III and wife Kayla of Troy, Allen Howard of Asheboro, Brett Howard of Asheboro, Mason Owens of Seagrove, and Taran Owens of Asheboro; 8 great grandchildren; and brother, Charles Davis and wife Betsy of Stoneville.

Brenda Jarrell

June 25, 1945 - February 25, 2024

Brenda Kay Dorsett Jarrell, 78, of Randleman, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2024 at Randolph Health in Asheboro. Born in Randolph County on June 25, 1945, Mrs. Jarrell was the daughter of the late Earl and Elizabeth Harris Dorsett. She operated her own beauty shop and enjoyed doing hair for over 20 years. Brenda was a strong woman, enjoyed painting, and loved her animals. Mrs. Jarrell was preceded in death by her daughter Christine Jarrell, and sisters, Patsy Lynn Parrington and Pamela Ann Biggs. She is survived by her husband of 60 years Kenneth Jarrell of the home; daughter, Breanna Christine Apperson (Matthew) of Asheboro; sisters, Melinda Eunice, Cherie Davis and her spouse, Annette Hinson and her spouse, Bonnie Dunn; great granddaughters, Kenley Rae Apperson and Madelyn Claire Apperson.

Billy “Bill”

Thomas McDaniel

August 21, 1943 - February 23, 2024

Billy “Bill” Thomas McDaniel, age 80, of Randleman passed away peacefully February 23, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 21, 1943 in Moore County, North Carolina the son of the late Willie Eugene McDaniel and Reesie Green Cockman McDaniel. He is also preceded in death by his brothers, Jerry McDaniel, Ronald McDaniel and James “Jimmy” McDaniel. Bill, a beloved member of the community, has left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. His unwavering faith and dedication to Central Falls Baptist Church, where he served as a devoted deacon and was a cherished member of his church family. Bill’s sel ess spirit shone brightly through his volunteer work, especially through his contributions to the Randolph Shrine Club. As a Master Mason with Hanks Masonic Lodge #128 A.F., Bill exempli ed the principles of brotherhood and service, earning the esteemed title of Shriner of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. His commitment to excellence extended to his professional life, where Billy blazed trails as the rst building inspector for Randolph County. Above all, Bill cherished his role as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather and will be deeply missed by all. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Linda Beck McDaniel; daughters, Krista Lowe and husband Anthony “Tony”, Teri Bennett and husband Steve, and Kim Heinzer and husband Warren; grandchildren, Shannon Burns (Russell), Steven Lowe (Lindsay), Mackenzie Heinzer and Savannah Heinzer; great grandchildren, Shane Burns and Skylar Burns; sister, Edwina Britt (Bobby); and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other beloved family and friends.

David Charles Paterson

October 1, 1955 - February 26, 2024

David Charles Paterson, age 68, of New London passed away February 26, 2024 surrounded by his family. He was born October 1, 1955 in Elizabeth, New Jersey the son of Patricia Ann Newman Paterson and the late Charles David Paterson. David was a talented craftsman and fourth generation custom ooring specialist and owner of Paterson Custom Flooring. David’s craftsmanship and expertise shone through in his work. As a man of integrity and skill, he poured his heart into every project, leaving behind a lasting impression of his talent and dedication. He found true joy in being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, relishing every moment spent with his loved ones. His passion for being present in the lives of those he cherished was unmatched. Whether coaching his children, cheering them on at games, or sharing in their activities, David’s commitment to his family was his life’s purpose. His infectious sense of humor brought laughter to those around him, always striving to bring joy and smiles wherever he went. His kindness, warmth, and unwavering love will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 43 years, Kathleen “Kathi” Ross Paterson; children, Chris Paterson and ancé Mary Kelly, Ashely Busch and husband Tom Busch, and Erik Paterson; grandchildren, Hunter Paterson, Michael Busch and Scarlett Busch; mother, Patricia Paterson; brother, Daniel Paterson and wife Debbie Paterson; sister, Faith Benavitch and husband Richie Benavitch; brothers-in-Law, Bob Ross Jr. and Ken Ross and wife Bren Ross; sister-in-law, Mary Anne Egidio and husband Joe Egidio; and numerous nieces, nephews and other beloved family and friends.

STATE & NATION

6 in 10 US adults doubt mental capability of Biden, Trump

The AP-NORC poll comes just ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union

By Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A poll nds that a signi cant share of U.S. adults doubt the mental capabilities of 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican front-runner in what could be a rematch of the 2020 election.

More than 6 in 10 (63%) say they’re not very or not at all condent in Biden’s mental capability to serve e ectively as president, turning his coming State of the Union address into something of a real-time audition for a second term. A similar but slightly smaller share (57%) say that Trump lacks the memory and acuity for the job.

The ndings from a new survey by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public A airs Research point to a tough presidential election in which issues

such as age and mental competence could be more prevalent than in any other political contest in modern times.

People’s views of Biden’s memory and acuity have soured since January 2022, when about half of those polled expressed similar concerns. (That survey didn’t ask a similar question about Trump.)

In a major risk for Biden, independents are much more likely to say that they lack condence in his mental abilities (80%) compared with Trump’s (56%). And Democrats are generally more concerned about Biden’s mental capabilities than Republicans are with Trump’s, raising the stakes of Biden’s upcoming speech to a joint session

Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas law that allows police to arrest migrants

Gov. Greg Abbott has made it a priority to attempt to curb illegal immigration

By Acacia Coronado and Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Justice Samuel Alito on Monday issued an order that temporarily halts Texas’ immigration law from going into e ect until next week so the full court can decide what steps to take next.

The law was set to take e ect Saturday under a lower court’s decision. Alito’s order putting it on hold until March 13 came just hours after the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go to keep migrants from entering the country.

The law would allow state

o cers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. People who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who don’t leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.

The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter “the status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.” It went on to argue that the law would have “signi cant and immediate adverse e ects” on the country’s relationship with Mexico and “create chaos” in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas.

The federal government cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling on an Arizona law that would have allowed police to arrest people for federal immigration violations, often referred to by opponents as the “show me your papers” bill. The divided high court found that the impasse in Washington over immigration reform did not justify state intrusion.

The Supreme Court gave Texas until March 11 to respond.

In a statement Monday, the Texas Attorney General’s Ofce said the state’s law mirrored federal law and “was adopted to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which hurts Texans more than anyone else.”

The federal government’s emergency request to the Supreme Court came after a federal appeals court over the weekend stayed U.S. District Judge David Ezra’s sweeping rejection of the law.

In a 114-page ruling Thursday, Ezra rebuked Texas’ immigration enforcement and brushed o claims by Republicans about an ongoing “invasion” along the southern border due to record-high illegal crossings.

Ezra added that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, con icts with federal immigration law and could get in the way of U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

According to Ezra’s ruling, allowing Texas to supersede federal law due to an “invasion” would “amount to nulli cation of federal law and authority — a notion that is antithetical to the Constitution and has been unequivocally rejected by federal courts since the Civil War.”

The battle over the Texas im-

of Congress on Thursday. Going into the big event, just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove. Democrats (74%) are much likelier than independents (20%) and Republicans (6%) to favor his performance. But there’s broad discontent on the way Biden is handling a variety of issues, including the economy, immigration and foreign policy. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way Biden is handling each of these issues: health care, climate change, abortion policy and the con ict between Russia and Ukraine. But people are less satis ed by Biden’s handling of immigration (29%), the con ict between the Israelis and the Palestinians (31%) and the economy (34%) — all of which are likely to come up in the speech before a joint session of Congress.

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) Americans think the national economy is somewhat or much worse o than before Biden took o ce in 2021. Only 3 in 10 adults say it’s better under his leadership. Still, people are more optimis-

tic about the state of their own bank accounts: 54% say their personal nances are good.

Many respondents to the survey were deeply pessimistic about their likely choices in November because of age and the risk of cognitive decline.

Paul Miller, himself 84, said Biden is just too old — and so is Trump.

“He doesn’t seem to have the mental whatever to be a president,” Miller said of Biden. He added that Trump is “too old, too, and half crazy.”

The retiree from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he voted for Trump in 2020 but he wouldn’t do so again.

“I don’t think I’m going to vote for either one of them,” he said. “I hope somebody else is available.”

About one-third of Democrats said they’re not very or not at all con dent in Biden’s mental capability in the new survey, up from 14% in January 2022. Only 40% of Democrats said they’re extremely or very condent in Biden’s mental abilities, with approximately 3 in 10 saying they’re “somewhat” condent.

Republicans are generally more comfortable with Trump’s mental capabilities than Democrats are with Biden’s. In the survey, 59% of Republicans are extremely or very con dent that Trump has the mental abilities to be president. An additional 20% are somewhat con dent, and 20% are not very or not at all con dent.

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a Texas immigration law on Monday.

migration law, known as Senate Bill 4, is one of multiple legal disputes between Texas o cials and the Biden administration over how far the state can go to patrol the Texas-Mexico border and prevent illegal border crossings. Several Republican governors have backed Abbott’s efforts, saying the federal government is not doing enough to enforce existing immigration laws.

Some of Abbott’s attempts to impede illegal border crossings have included a oating barrier in the Rio Grande — which Ezra previously blocked and is part of an ongoing legal battle — and placing razor wire along the state’s boundary with Mexico. State guard o cers have also blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing a riverfront park in Eagle Pass that federal agents previously used to process migrants.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address could be something of a real-time audition as he bids for a second term.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

Churchill coins term ‘Iron Curtain’ and Cronkite signs o

Lincoln inaugurated, Johnson impeached but Oreos launched

‘THIS WEEK’ LOOKS BACK at the key events from this week in history

MARCH 4

1789: The Constitution of the United States went into e ect as the rst Federal Congress met in New York. (The lawmakers then adjourned for lack of a quorum.)

1865: President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for a second term of ofce; with the end of the Civil War in sight, Lincoln declared: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with rmness in the ght as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to nish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan (tilde) to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

cused of “high crimes and misdemeanors” stemming from his attempt to re Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton; the trial ended on May 26 with Johnson’s acquittal.

1946: Winston Churchill delivered his “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he said: “From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe.”

1979: NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe ew past Jupiter, sending back photographs of the planet and its moons.

1982: Comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose in a rented bungalow in Hollywood; he was 33.

MARCH 6

1857: The U.S. Supreme Court, in Dred Scott v. Sandford, ruled 7-2 that Scott, a slave, was not an American citizen and therefore could not sue for his freedom in federal court.

1966: John Lennon of The Beatles was quoted in the London Evening Standard as saying, “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” a comment that caused an angry backlash in the United States.

2017: President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of tapping his telephones during the 2016 election; an Obama spokesman declared that the assertion was “simply false.”

MARCH 5

1770: The Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who’d been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened re, killing ve people.

1868: The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. Johnson, the rst U.S. president to be impeached, was ac-

1836: The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, fell as Mexican forces led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna stormed the fortress after a 13-day siege; the battle claimed the lives of all the Texan defenders, nearly 200 strong, including William Travis, James Bowie and Davy Crockett.

1912: Oreo sandwich cookies were rst introduced by the National Biscuit Co.

1944: U.S. heavy bombers staged the rst full-scale American raid on Berlin during World War II.

1981: Walter Cronkite signed o for the last time as principal anchorman of “The CBS Evening News.”

2002: Independent Counsel Robert Ray issued his nal report in which he wrote that former President Bill Clinton could have been indicted and probably would have been convicted in the scandal involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

‘The Hunter’ is a dark tale of revenge, friendship and loyalty

By Bruce DeSilva The Associated Press

CAL HOOPER ed a failing marriage, quit his exhausting job with the Chicago Police Department, and settled down in Ardnakelty, a ctional village nestled in the mountains of western Ireland, hoping to nd some peace. But in Tana French’s “The Searcher” (2020), he discovered that Ardnakelty isn’t a welcoming place. It’s a rural community that’s suspicious of outsiders. Its residents are contemptuous of government authority and live by their own rules.

Cal knows he will never be one of them, but now, in “The Hunter,” we nd that he’s at least tolerated, made a couple of friends, and even found love with a local woman. However, the new life he’s built for himself is threatened when Johnny Reddy suddenly returns to town.

Johnny, who’d abandoned

The characters are welldrawn, the dialogue is superb, the settings are vivid, and the tight prose is often lyrical.

his family years ago, is a con man whose gifts, the author tells us, includes “taking every word out of his own mouth as gospel.” Cal feels “the urge to pat him down,” but Cal’s life in Ardnakelty depends on minding his own business. So he tries to stay out of it, even when Johnny lures some of the villagers into a scheme to mine non-existent gold that supposedly washed down from the mountains.

Trey Reddy, a young girl Cal befriended in “The Searcher,” is Johnny’s daughter. She’s a teenager now, but still too

young, Cal says, to be trusted with something as momentous as her future. Trey despises her father and wishes he’d never come back. She also hates the people of Ardnakelty, who she blames for the unsolved murder of her older brother in the earlier book. So she hatches her own scheme — one that will wreak havoc on both the villagers and her father.

When Cal gets wind of what she’s up to, he knows she is putting her life, and probably his, in danger. He also knows he probably can’t talk her out of it.

The result is a suspenseful tale of revenge, justice, friendship and loyalty in collision, and of a young girl who must decide which con icting values matter most. The mood is dark, the tension is thick, and the stakes are high. And as usual, in a Tana French novel, the characters are well-drawn, the dialogue is superb, the settings are vivid, and the tight prose is often lyrical.

VIKING VIA AP

Cover of “The Hunter” by Tana French.

famous birthdays this week

The Associated Press

March 3: Radio personality Ira Glass is 65. Olympic track and eld gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 62. Former NFL player and College Football Hall of Famer Herschel Walker is 62. Rapper-actor Tone Loc is 58. Actor Jessica Biel is 42.

March 4: Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is 74. Actor Patricia Heaton is 66.

March 5: Magician Penn Jillette is 69. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is 58. Actor Eva Mendes is 50. Model Niki Taylor is 49.

March 6: Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is 98. Actor-director Rob Reiner is 77. TV consumer reporter John Stossel is 77. Actor Tom Arnold is 65. Actor D.L. Hughley is 61. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is 52. Rapper Bubba Sparxxx is 47.

March 7: Entertainment executive Michael Eisner is 82. Rock musician Chris White (The Zombies) is 81. Rock musician Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum) is 78. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann is 72. R&B singer-musician Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 72. Golfer Tom Lehman is 65. International Tennis Hall of Famer Ivan Lendl is 64. Singer-actor Taylor Dayne is 62. Actor Rachel Weisz is 54. Actor Peter Sarsgaard is 53. Actor Laura Prepon is 44. March 8: NBC News anchor Lester Holt is 65. Actor

Freddie Prinze Jr. is 48. Ac-

tor James Van Der Beek is 47.

March 9: Singer-musician

John Cale (The Velvet Underground) is 82. Singer Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders) is 82. Country musician Jimmie Fadden (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 76. Country musician Rusty Hendrix (Confederate Railroad) is 64. Rock musician Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five) is 56. Actor Oscar Isaac is 45. Rapper Bow Wow is 37.

Shaquille O’Neal

AP

the stream

Garth Brooks takes you to ‘low places’ and ‘Wonka’ streams

new album

The Associated Press

A NEW ALBUM from Ariana Grande arrives this week and country legend Garth Brooks will take viewers behind the scenes to the opening of his new bar in Nashville. These are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Among the streaming offerings worth your time: John Cena starring in the lm comedy “Ricky Stanicky,” the debut of the admired Atlus’ video game Unicorn Overlord, and Emma Stone’s “Poor Things” lands on Hulu.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

Just in time for the Academy Awards, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” is landing on Hulu on Thursday. At the Oscars, it’s nominated for 11 awards, including best picture, best actress for Emma Stone and numerous nods for its fantastical craft. In the Victorian-set lm, adapted from Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel, Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman brought to life by a mad scientist (Willem Dafoe) with a childlike brain and an adult body. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called “Poor Things” “among the year’s most sumptuous visual delights.”

While he’s o wrestling sand worms in “Dune: Part 2,” in theaters, Timothée Chalamet’s last box-o ce hit, “Wonka,” is arriving Friday, March 8, on Max. Fashioned as a musical prequel to the Roald Dahl-scripted 1971 original, Paul King’s lm stars Chalamet as a young, wide-eyed Wonka setting out to establish his candy empire. Though the lm bene ts greatly from Chalamet’s charisma and King’s “Paddington”-like designs, in my review I wrote that the lm “is lively but too neutered to do Dahl justice.”

In “Ricky Stanicky,” a trio of friends have long relied on a made-up pal named Ricky Stanicky for excuses to keep them out of trouble with their spouses. When their families get suspicious, the three friends (Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino) hire a struggling actor known as “Rock Hard” Rod (John Cena) to impersonate the ctional Stanicky. The lm, directed by Peter Farrelly, debuts Thursday on Prime Video.

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

Four years ago, Ariana Grande was switching up “Positions.” Five years ago, she changed the language around breakups with “Thank U, Next.” Then there were the earlier albums: “Sweetener,” “Dangerous Woman,” “My Everything,” and “Yours Truly.” And now, there is “eternal sunshine.” Grande has returned to her right-

ful place atop pop music’s throne with a new full-length release. Of course, absence makes the heart grow fonder: her lead single “Yes, And?” brought her into new sonic territory — house-informed pop music — and immediately shot up to No. 1. The only thing that could make it better? A Mariah Carey remix, which quickly followed. When he is not producing with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde,

Florence and the Machine, Clairo and many, many others, Jack Antono fronts the New Jersey band Bleachers. The group’s self-titled fourth studio album is a continuation of their previous work: ascendant pop-rock, deeply indebted to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band (the saxophones that kicko the single “Modern Girl” alone are evidence enough.) It’s good time live band music for those aching to hear another side of Antono ’s work.

Kim Gordon, known for her work in the pioneering noise rock band Sonic Youth, is preparing to release her second solo album, “The Collective” — an exercise in no wave modernity. The album is stacked with spoken-word vocals (known as sprechgesang to those with their pinkies extended), placed atop explosive and asymmetrical production — like the hip-hop beats and glass shattering sounds of the near-nu metal “Bye Bye,” or on the album’s best track, “I’m A Man,” a gothic assault on traditional images of masculinity under late capitalism. Decades later, and forever, Gordon’s art is not for the faint of heart.

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM

“Friends in Low Places” is arguably Garth Brooks’ best song, as it never fails to get people to smile, sing along and have a great time. That’s the vibe Brooks is hoping for when he opens the Friends in

Low Places Bar and Honky-Tonk on Thursday in Nashville. That same day, a “Friends in Low Places” docuseries about the making of the bar premieres on Prime Video. Cameras rolled as Brooks, his wife, Tricia Yearwood (who has hosted a popular Food Network show and knows a thing or two about hospitality), and their team created this new business. A new docuseries on National Geographic follows female leaders of the animal kingdom. Narrated by Oscar-winner Angela Bassett, the seven-episode series was lmed over four years in 12 countries by a female-led production team. Animal queendoms lmed include insects, orcas, hyenas and lions. “Queens” premieres Monday on National Geographic and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

Theo James stars in Guy Ritchie’s new TV series “The Gentlemen,” a spin-o of the 2019 lm of the same name. James plays Eddie, whose late father has bequeathed him the title of Duke, along with a run-down country estate that he views as a money pit and a major burden. Eddie is thrown for a loop when he discovers his homestead has also operated a marijuana-growing business for years, and he’s inherited that, too. “The Gentlemen” drops Thursday on Net ix.

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Who is The Thaumaturge? Basically a miracle worker, according to the dictionary. In this particular case, he’s Wiktor Szulski, and he has the power to detect “salutors” — supernatural creatures that prowl the streets of 1905 Warsaw. Wiktor can help some of the locals by exorcising their demons, but he can also summon salutors to help him ght the imperial Russian soldiers who control the city. Polish studio Fool’s Theory, led by veterans of the beloved Witcher series, describes The Thaumaturge as a role-playing game with “morally ambiguous choices,” and its blend of alternate history and metaphysical mystery looks intriguing. It arrives Monday on PC.

Atlus’ Unicorn Overlord is the early front-runner for title of the year. The protagonist is an exiled prince named Alain who’s ghting to reclaim his empire from the backstabbing General Valmore. Alain may have lost his throne, but he does have a magical ring that helps him recruit allies — humans and elves, angels and beasts — across a sprawling fantasy world called Fevrith. Unicorn Overload comes from Japan’s Vanillaware, the developer of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and fans of that cult favorite will recognize the studio’s blend of colorful storytelling and real-time tactical battles. Saddle up Friday, March 8 on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S or Nintendo Switch.

Ariana Grande aims to shine with

JAAP BUITTENDIJK/WARNER BROS. PICTURES VIA AP

Timothee Chalamet, center, as Willy Wonka in a scene from “Wonka.”

“Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande.

PHOTO BY AMY HARRIS/INVISION/AP

Ronnie Dunn, left and Garth Brooks perform during Country Radio Seminar on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.

Getting out the vote

Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro over the weekend, stumping for Republican gubernatorial candidate and Greensboro native Mark Robinson and others on Saturday. Trump was also campaigning in his own presidential primary against his former U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, who held an event in Raleigh the same day.

Almost 3,000 cast early votes across Hoke County 8.8%

and nished last Saturday, March 2.

North State Journal

2,977 VOTERS cast ballots in early voting in Hoke County for this week’s primary, according to numbers from the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Early voting began Feb. 15

of North Carolina households could qualify for this scholarship.

‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign sees statewide expansion

North Carolina is expanding a pilot program aiming to reduce impaired driving, after seeing success in a seven-county test in the western part of the state.

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is seeing its rst major update in decades, incorporating new strategies and tools to combat impaired driving more e ectively. In 2023, the pilot region reported a 7% decrease in alcoholrelated crashes, with 277 incidents compared to 298 the previous year.

The pilot included the use of Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) ankle bracelets which monitor alcohol consumption and report any violations directly to court o cials. During a 90-day trial, only one of 55 participants was agged for alcohol use.

Hoke County’s early voter turnout rate, just below the 9.3 percent seen statewide.

The primary was held Tuesday, when voters are required to report to their designated precinct in order to cast a ballot. A photo ID was also required for all voting in the primary.

Hoke County has 33,729 registered voters according to the state, re ecting a 8.8 percent early turnout — just behind the

Hoke sheri launches ALS deputy medics program

Initiative aims to improve public safety and medical response in rural areas

North State Journal

RAEFORD — In an attempt to address the challenges of timely emergency medical response in rural areas, the Hoke County Sheri O ce has launched a Deputy Medics program that will see deputies cross-trained as emergency medical technicians (EMT).

The Sheri , himself a ight paramedic, worked with county and state o cials, as well as Cape Fear Valley hospital administrators to develop an advanced life support training program for deputies.

Set to go live on April 1, the program is the rst of its kind in the region. Deputies will operate as EMTs, and the department is currently awaiting licensing for Advance Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) capabilities from the North Carolina O ce Of Emergency Medical Services.

AEMT certi cation will enable Deputy Medics to perform critical medical intervention before EMS arrival, including starting IVs, administering some medications, placing advanced airway “breathing tubes”, 12-lead ECG cardiac monitoring prior to EMS arrival, saving signi cant time and, potentially, saving lives.

9.3 percent turnout seen statewide, with 694,591 ballots cast out of 7,468,149 eligible voters.

Of the approximately 34,000 voters in Hoke County, some 13,800 are registered Democrat, 7,400 are registered Republican plus 12,000 unafliated. In North Carolina, una liated voters can choose to receive a primary ballot from either party.

One dead, another injured in Raeford shooting

Deputies arrest two juveniles after vehicle smash-and-grab

North State Journal

RAEFORD — A shooting late Monday night in Raeford left one person dead and another injured, according to a release from the Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce. Deputies responded to the 300 block of John Brown Road around 10:15 p.m. on March 4, 2024. Upon arrival, they found one victim unresponsive on the oor. Deputies attempted to provide medical care until EMS’s took over, but the victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. A second victim also received medical attention from deputies and EMS, before being transported to the hospital. Jerome Johnson, 70, was identi ed as the suspect at the scene and was detained by deputies without incident. He was charged with felony rst-degree murder and felony assault with a deadly weapon in icting serious injury. The investigation is ongoing.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Catlett at 910-875-5111.

The Sheri ’s o ce also issued a March 1 statement about a series of auto break-ins on Ivy Stone Drive from mid-February after multiple reports were made about juveniles breaking into vehicles in the Westgate area.

Investigators identi ed several juvenile suspects in the Feb. 16 break-ins, making arrests on consecutive days last week. The two unnamed suspects are being held at the Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor larceny, and misdemeanor conspiracy.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact Detective Hoskins at 910-4793832.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

30, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a true bill of indictment. Bond was denied.

Malcom Junior Cates, 58, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of driving while impaired. Bond was denied.

March 1

Victor Manuel Velarde, 20, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of maintaining a vehicle/ dwelling/place for controlled substance. A secure bond of $60,000 was set.

Richard Dean Mullis, 54, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of driving while impaired. Bond was denied.

Bobby Dean Sweatt, 44, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of communicating threats. Bond was denied.

Allen Hankins, 37, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of assault with a deadly weapon.

Bryan Deshon Davis, 35, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of assault on a female and four counts of probation violation. Bond was denied.

March 2

Tydriek Rashied Quanmere, 24, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of first-degree burglary, second-degree kidnapping, assault inflicting serious injury, and conspiracy to commit a felony. Bond was denied.

Octavius Gerrard Purcell, 19, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of attempted murder and firstdegree burglary. Bond was denied.

Aaron Steven Locklear, 22, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge(s) of assault on a female. Bond was denied.

March 3

Scotty Deon Sturdivant, 41, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge of driving while impaired, for which bond was denied. He was also served a warrant for failure to appear for which bond was set at $1,500.

Anthony Bordeaux, 33, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on a charge of failure to return rental property for which he received at $400 bond. He was also served a warrant for failure to appear for which bond was set at $100.

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Defending freedom and unleashing American nuclear energy

The last thing folks in the Sandhills want is another oppressive Biden Administration mandate.

HARDWORKING AMERICANS like you are repeatedly paying the price for President Biden’s anti-energy policies, with costly mandates and red tape upending our way of life.

You should have the freedom to choose the best car or truck for your family, business, and farm at an a ordable price. Yet, just last year, the Biden Administration announced a new rule to impose an EV mandate onto families. Families are already struggling from higher prices across the board, yet this misguided decision would force them to give up their gas and diesel-powered cars for more expensive alternatives.

The last thing folks in the Sandhills, and America, want is another oppressive Biden Administration mandate that puts a radical environmental agenda and FarLeft special interests above their individual

freedoms. I recently joined my colleagues in a letter demanding President Biden reverse this overreaching policy and stop imposing his failed Green New Deal agenda on you.

We have a great energy source right here in North Carolina that is a ordable and reliable — nuclear energy. Our nuclear industry supports good-paying jobs and is key to strengthening America’s competitiveness in the global energy sector. We must cut red tape that continues to hamstring the industry’s ability to thrive.

That’s why I was so pleased to see my bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Deployment Act (H.R. 6526) pass in the House last week as part of a larger nuclear energy package. This important legislation will expand the availability of a ordable, clean, safe nuclear energy by reducing burdensome regulations around

Michael Whatley is the right

choice

production.

I will continue ghting to get Big Government out of the way and will always stand up for our rights. That’s why recently, I also continued my e orts to defend our Second Amendment.

I introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act to prohibit gun grabbing politicians from tracking lawful gun purchases and surveilling the private nancial information of law-abiding citizens. No entity should be able to violate and infringe on Constitutionally-protected rights of Americans.

Whether it’s the Second Amendment, consumer choice, or a ordable energy — know I will never stop ghting for what matters most to you and your family.

Richard Hudson is a member of Congress representing NC-9.

to lead the RNC

Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby.

CHAIRMAN MICHAEL WHATLEY is

the right guy at the right time to lead the Republican National Committee. I have spent a decade working in Republican politics, mainly in opposition research. I had the privilege of serving as the NCGOP Communications Director in 2020, where I directly witnessed why Whatley would make a great RNC Chairman.

To win in 2024, the Republican National Committee needs to rebuild trust with the base. That is precisely what Whatley did in North Carolina. Whatley secured his narrow victory in 2019 to lead the NCGOP. At the time, he faced substantial scrutiny from the grassroots base. Over time, Whatley gained the trust of the grassroots base needed to win in 2024.

Between stops on the campaign trail, Whatley would utilize the drive time — what he referred to as “windshield” time — to call stakeholders across the state to build deeper connections. He visited local Republican groups across North Carolina and built the relationships necessary for true statewide campaigns. Whenever the NCGOP needed someone anywhere in the state, Whatley already had a working relationship with people on the ground because he put in the e ort to build those relationships.

The next leader needs to be able to work across a diverse and sometimes divided Republican Party. Whatley is such a leader.

I witnessed Whatley masterfully manage this daily in 2020. Arguably, the most crucial election in North Carolina during the 2020 campaign cycle was the United States Senate race with Thom Tillis as the Republican nominee and Cal Cunningham as the Democrat opponent.

It should not come as a surprise that the activists who voted to censure Tillis in 2023 were not huge fans of Tillis in 2020. But every day, Whatley worked to keep North Carolina Republicans united and focused on defeating the Democrats.

Another crystal-clear example of Whatley’s leadership in uniting Republicans is the success of the Judicial Victory Fund. In his chairman’s race, Whatley campaigned hard on creating a Judicial Victory Fund to support Republicans running statewide for the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Democrats controlled the Court six-to-one. Through Whatley’s leadership, Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby. Republicans completed their judicial race dominance under Whately’s chairmanship by sweeping every race and securing a majority. In 2024, thanks in part of Whatley’s e orts, Republicans are on track to win another Supreme Court seat — cementing a six-to-one Republican majority.

Finally, the next RNC Chair must have the right instincts during this unprecedented election. Republicans have never faced a presidential election where the opposition has led multiple felony charges against our likely nominee. What will happen in the legal proceedings against the eventual nominee is far from clear. But it is clear we need a leader with the right instincts.

I saw Whatley display the right instincts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The playbook in April 2020 looked entirely di erent than it did in February 2020. As the political landscape shifted throughout the pandemic, Whatley’s instincts played a crucial role in

shaping the party’s message. Getting it right during the COVID pandemic was challenging, but Whatley provided exemplary leadership at the right time by being a voice of reason while our Democrat governor was making every e ort to keep our state in a perpetual lockdown.

Another shining example of Whatley’s leadership was in the N.C. Supreme Court recount of 2020. On election night, Republican Paul Newby was up by 405 votes over Democrat Cheri Beasley. The Democrats tried every trick to convince the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections to ignore the voters’ will in favor of a partisan trick. Whatley had already laid the groundwork for this possibility.

In the months before the election, Whatley led e orts to recruit lawyers to protect the ballot box in 2020. Republicans were ready for a statewide recount requiring lawyers in all 100 counties if needed. Turned out that preparation was needed when it came to the Newby/Beasley race. Without his strong leadership, at least from my perspective in the trenches working this issue, Beasley would be the Chief Justice, not Newby, if not for Whatley’s leadership.

Every day I worked with Whatley behind closed doors. I saw that Whatley was up to the task of fundraising, leading the team, and driving a compelling message.

From what I have witnessed in the thick of the action in 2020, Mike Whatley is just the right guy to lead Republicans to victory in 2024.

Tim Wigginton is former communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party (2020) and is a public a airs professional in Raleigh.

COLUMN | TIM WIGGINTON

COLUMN | RICHARD HUDSON

who red a shot into the top right corner.

MLB

Ronald Acuña Jr. bothered by knee irritation

North Port, Fla. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around the meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee. The reigning NL MVP had an MRI on Friday. He was evaluated on Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired the out elder’s torn right ACL in July 2021. The 26-year-old Acuña is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but that timeline could change after he sees ElAttrache in California.

Acuña led Atlanta to its sixth consecutive NL East title in 2023. The out elder hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 steals in 159 games.

NBA

Hornets pledge ‘full funding’ for downtown practice facility above city’s $30M investment

Charlotte

The Charlotte Hornets say they are committed to “fully funding” a new practice facility in downtown Charlotte above the $30 million to be provided by the city under a revised proposal. The Hornets have teamed with longtime partner Novant Health to o er a destination for what it called leadingedge sports medicine and orthopedic care as part of the mixed-use practice facility development. The practice facility would be built near the Spectrum Center.

Kyle Larson wins at Las Vegas, keeps Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — There’s a tradition at Hendrick Motorsports to ring the winning bell throughout the North Carolina shop after every NASCAR victory. As motivation to have the best year of his career, Kyle Larson’s team decided to bring a bell on the road to avoid having to wait to return to Charlotte to celebrate every achievement he plans for this season. The bell got its rst ring Sunday when Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Rick Hendrick his second victory in the rst three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.

Hendrick Motorsports is cel-

ebrating its 40th anniversary this season and opened the year with William Byron winning the Daytona 500.

“That bell will travel with us every week and we’ll be ringing it loud and proud,” Larson said.

Larson won for the third time in his career at Las Vegas, where in 2021 he got his rst win driving for Hendrick. Larson also won in the No. 5 Chevy at Las Vegas last October in the playo s.

Larson held o Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. In a Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick chased Larson for the nal several laps but could never nd enough room to make a move for the pass. Larson’s margin of victory was 0.441 seconds.

“I knew Tyler was going to be the guy to beat from the rst

stage. He was really fast there,” Larson said. “Cool to get a win here at Vegas again. Back-toback, swept all the stages again. Can’t ask for more than that.” Reddick was extremely frustrated after nishing second and believed Larson as the leader controlled the race because of the rules of NASCAR’s new car.

“Kyle did a really good job there taking away pretty much every option I had there to close the gap,” Reddick said. “Second sucks, that is for sure. You have to run up front all day long, and when asked about what we need to do to get better, that’s the very thing, and we didn’t do it. We were pretty evenly matched, so I don’t know if there was anything that I really could’ve done to get around him. Chevrolet also has wins this year by Byron in the Dayto -

na 500 and Daniel Suarez last week at Atlanta for Trackhouse Racing. Chevrolet has won eight of nine national series races to open the year.

Reigning NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney was third for Team Penske in a Ford, followed by Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Las Vegas native Noah Gragson was sixth in his best nish since joining Stewart-Haas Racing.

Martin Truex Jr. for JGR was seventh, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin, Penske driver and pole-sitter Joey Logano and Byron. Suarez, last week’s winner, was 11th. Larson swept all three stages and led 181 of the 267 laps. The win made Larson the Cup Series points leader with an eightpoint cushion over Blaney.

IAN MAULE | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson (5) celebrates with his son, Owen, after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Las Vegas.

Hoke County High ips calendar to spring

BASKETBALL SEASON came to an end as the Bucks went down in their NCHSAA opening game. That turns the focus of Hoke County to spring sports.

Boys’ basketball

The Hoke County boys’ team drew a No. 23 seed in the 4A NCHSAA state playo s. That put them on a collision course with No. 10 Overhills. An upset was not in the cards for the Bucks, however, as Overhills pulled out a tight 59-56 win to end Hoke’s

season at 16-10. Four Bucks’ seniors played in their nal high school game. Braydon McKoy pulled down a rebound and had a steal. Brandon Graham scored 2 points with 6 rebounds and a steal. Tavero Wilson got into the game and put up a shot.

Jaylen Sturdivant scored 12 points with 2 steals, while Salah Sutton led all scorers with 23 points, adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Spring sports

The Bucks softball team

got off to a fast start, winning their first two games of the season. Hoke beat St. Paul’s, 9-4, and blew out Overhills, 14-4.

Two other spring teams are still looking for their first wins. Girls’ soccer is 0-1-1 after two road games. The Bucks lost to Purnell Swett, 2-1, in the opener, then played Lumberton to a scoreless tie.

The Bucks baseball team has gotten off to an 0-2 start. Hoke lost at South View, 7-2, in the opener, then dropped its home opener to Lumberton, 16-4.

Brianna Harrell

Hoke County, softball

Brianna Harrell is a junior for the Hoke County softball team.

The Bucks won their rst two games of the season, and Harrell helped supply the speed and power to lead the charge. In a 14-4 win over Overhills, Harrell doubled and scored three runs while stealing two bases.

In a 9-4 win over St. Pauls, Harrell went 2-for-3, scored another run and doubled again. She also hit a sacri ce y and stole three bases. She also went deep twice in two scrimmages leading up to the season, for her rst two career home runs.

2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson says he’s retiring from baseball

The Associated Press

JOSH DONALDSON says he’s retiring after a 13-year career in which he was voted the 2015 AL MVP and was selected to three All-Star Games.

The 38-year-old announced his plans Monday during an appearance on “The Mayor’s Ofce,” a podcast hosted by former major league rst baseman Sean Casey. Donaldson is a free agent after splitting last season between the New York Yankees and Milwaukee.

“It’s sad because I’ll be not able to go out there and play the game that I love anymore, but it’s also a very happy time that I get to be around the family and kind of take that next chapter in life,” said Donaldson, who noted that he got married during the o season.

Donaldson was among the top third basemen from 2013-17 with

Oakland and Toronto. He nished fourth in the AL MVP balloting with Oakland in 2013 and won the award with Toronto two years later. During that 2015 season, Donaldson hit .297 with 41 homers and an AL-leading 123 RBIs. Donaldson also led the AL in total bases (352) and topped the majors in runs (122) that season while helping the Blue Jays reach the AL Championship Series, where they lost to Kansas City. Donaldson earned three straight All-Star appearances from 2014-16 and was fourth in the AL MVP balloting in 2016. After injuries limited him to 113 games in 2017 and 52 games in 2018, Donaldson signed a $23 million, one-year contract with Atlanta and was 11th in the NL MVP voting after batting .259 with a .379 on-base percentage, 37 homers and 94 RBIs. He signed a $92 million, four-

year contract with Minnesota at age 34 but his play tailed o . Donaldson hit .222 with 60 homers, 171 RBIs, a .748 OPS and a 24.3% strikeout rate over

Atlanta Braves’ Josh Donaldson hits a home run during the fourth inning of Game 5 of their National League Division Series baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 in Atlanta.

that deal. Minnesota dealt Donaldson to the Yankees ahead of the 2022 season. Donaldson hit .142 with 10 homers and 15 RBIs in 33

games with the Yankees last year, then was released last Aug. 29. He signed a minor league deal with the Brewers two days later, was called up Sept. 11 and hit .169 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 17 games.

“As things kind of kept transpiring, I just really felt it had to be a perfect situation for me to go back and play,” Donaldson said. “There were a couple of opportunities out there, but at the end of the day, things weren’t really clicking and meshing for myself to be ready and go into a season mentally and physically ready to play.”

Donaldson nishes with a .261 batting average, .358 on-base percentage, 279 homers and 816 RBIs in 1,383 regular-season games with Oakland (2010, 201214), Toronto (2015-18), Cleveland (2018), Atlanta (2019), Minnesota (2020-21), New York (202223) and Milwaukee (2023).

PHOTO COURTESY HCHS BUCKS SOFTBALL SOCIAL MEDIA

HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Jaylen Sturdivant, shown here in a game from earlier this season, played in his nal high school game in the state playo s.

JOHN AMIS | AP PHOTO

North State Journal

Pentagon leaker Teixeira pleads guilty

The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman’s deal calls for at least 11 years in prison

By Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press

BOSTON — Massachusetts

Air National Guard member

Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty on Monday to leaking highly classi ed military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets under a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison.

Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act nearly a year after he was arrested in the most consequential national security leak in years.

The 22-year-old admitted illegally collecting some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets and sharing them with other users on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games.

U.S. District Judge Indira Tal-

wani scheduled sentencing for September in Boston’s federal court and said she would decide then whether to formally accept the agreement, which calls for a prison sentence between 11 and nearly 17 years. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the high end of that range.

“Mr. Teixeira callously disregarded the national security

of the United States and he betrayed his solemn oath to defend the country and the trust of the American people he swore to protect,” Matt Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security, told reporters after the hearing.

The stunning security breach raised alarm over America’s ability to protect its most closely

guarded secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to try to contain diplomatic and military fallout. The leaks embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to safeguard classi ed information and disciplined members found to have intentionally failed to take required action about Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.

Teixeira smiled at his father before being led out of the courtroom with his hands and legs shackled, wearing orange jail garb and black rosary beads around his neck. He stood anked by defense attorneys through much of the hearing and occasionally leaned down to speak into the microphone to answer questions from the judge.

Michael Bachrach, an attorney for Teixeira, told reporters they will push for a sentence of 11 years. Bachrach described Teixeira as a “kid,” adding that the defense will show at sentencing that his youth played a signicant role in his conduct.

“He is signi cantly remorseful for his conduct. He has accepted full responsibility for his conduct,” Bachrach said.

In an emailed statement, Teixeira’s family said: “It is unfathomable to think your child

would ever be involved in something so serious, but he has taken responsibility for his part in this, and here we are.”

“Our focus now remains on Jack — his protection, health, and well-being, and taking care of whatever is in his best interest,” they said.

Teixeira, who was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He remains in the Air National Guard in an unpaid status, an Air Force o cial said.

Authorities said he rst typed out classi ed documents he accessed and then began sharing photographs of les that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings. Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest, and authorities found a smashed tablet, laptop and Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his house.

The leak exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information about troop movements in Ukraine and the provision of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian troops. Teixeira also admitted posting information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. forces serving overseas.

4 new astronauts head to the International Space Station

Three Americans and a Russian will stay for 6 months

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. —

Four astronauts headed to the International Space Station on Sunday where they will oversee the arrivals of two new rocket ships during their half-year stint.

SpaceX’s Falcon rocket blasted o from Kennedy Space Center, carrying NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps and Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin.

The astronauts were expected to each the orbiting lab on Tuesday. They will replace a crew from the U.S., Denmark, Japan and Russia, who have been there since August.

“When are you getting here already?” space station commander Andreas Mogensen asked via X, formerly Twitter, after three days of delay due to high wind. SpaceX Launch Control termed it “fashionably late.”

There was almost another postponement Sunday night. A small crack in the seal of the SpaceX capsule’s hatch prompted a last-minute urry of reviews, but it was deemed safe for the whole mission.

The new crew’s six-month stay includes the arrival of two rocket ships ordered by NASA. Boeing’s new Starliner capsule with test pilots is due in late

April. A month or two later, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, a mini shuttle, should arrive. It is for delivering cargo to the sta-

tion but not passengers yet.

Epps was originally assigned to y Boeing’s Starliner, which got bogged down with prob -

lems and stalled. NASA nally switched her to SpaceX.

“I am in a New York state of mind right now, it is amazing,”

she said upon reaching orbit, referring to the Billy Joel song.

Epps, who is from Syracuse, New York, is the second black woman assigned to a long station mission. She said before the ight that she is especially proud to be a role model for black girls, demonstrating that space ight “is an option for them, that this is not just for other people.”

An engineer, she worked for Ford Motor Co. and the CIA before becoming an astronaut in 2009. Epps should have launched to the space station on a Russian rocket in 2018 but was replaced for reasons never publicly disclosed.

Also new to space are Dominick, a Navy pilot, and Grebenkin, a former Russian military o cer.

Barratt, a doctor on his third mission, is the oldest full-time astronaut to y in space. He turns 65 in April.

“It’s kind of like a roller coaster ride with a bunch of really excited teenagers,” Barratt said after reaching orbit. As for his age, he said before the ight, “As long as we stay healthy and t and engaged, we’re good to y.”

Flight controllers are monitoring a growing cabin leak on Russia’s side of the space station. The leak has doubled in size in the past few weeks and the area has been sealed o , NASA program manager Joel Montalbano said. He stressed there is no impact to station operations or crew safety.

STEVEN SENNE | AP PHOTO

Jack Michael Teixeira, center, father of Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, departs federal court Monday in Boston.

JOHN

Astronauts, from left, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps pose for a photo as they leave prepare for their trip to the International Space Station on Sunday.

Rachel (Stephens) Jones

July 19, 1949 - March 2, 2024

Ms. Rachel Stephens Jones of Raeford passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Ms. Jones was born in Robeson County on July 19, 1949, to the late Horace Johnson Stephens and Annie Clara McLeod Stephens. Rachel was a Case Worker with the Hoke County Department of Social Services before she retired and was a member of the Raeford Evangelical Methodist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Stacey Smith (David) of Louisville, GA. and Mary Chase Fields of Raeford, NC., six grandchildren, Luke, Lilly, Nina, Catherine, Sam and Dakota, two great grandchildren Nyla and Aiden; a brother Hugh Stephens (Diane) of Jacksonville, FL and a sister Carolyn Wensil of Wabash, IN.

Brenda Sue (Hendrix) Jimmerson

March 26, 1960 - March 2, 2024

Mrs. Brenda Jimmerson, of Raeford, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in her home at the age of 63. Brenda was born in Scotland Co. on March 26, 1960 to the late Noah and Audrey Hendrix. Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her husband Keltys M. Jimmerson Sr., son Keltys M. Jimmerson Jr., daughter, Audrey Nichole Jimmerson,

brother Noah A Hendrix Jr., grandson Austin Curtis Jimmerson, and brother-in-law Keith Grantham Sr. Brenda worked at David’s Convenience Store in Management for over 10 years. She then started her career journey with Lumbee Guaranty Bank where she was currently working and had been for over 20 years. Brenda loved to craft, she spent many weekends crafting with her children and grandchildren, making new wonderful things to display around the house. She loved to shop, and spend money buying things for her grandchildren. She loved spending time with family listening to music, dancing and singing, and watching movies! She is survived by sister Debra Grantham, daughter Denise Lee (John), son Noah Jimmerson (Kasey), and daughter Ashley Jimmerson (Andrew), son Mario Williams (Amanda), and grandchildren Jamie (Josh), Emma (Brandon), Joe Horne, Nicholas, Ethan, Gavin, Makenzie, Chloe, Jocelyn, Kaydence, Raelynn, Adalynn, Grayson, Gabe, Josiah, and Nehemiah.

Earnest Carroll Murchison

July 12, 1941 - February 29, 2024

Mr. Earnest C. Murchison age, 82 went home to rest with his heavenly father on February 29, 2024. He leaves to cherish his loving memories his wife Gladys Murchison; children: Linda Butler, Wiley Murchison, Terry McFayden, Darryl McRae; nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Earnest will be greatly missed.

Humorously morose comedian Richard Lewis dies at 76

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Richard Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” has died. He was 76. Lewis, who revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after su ering a heart attack, according to his publicist Je Abraham.

A regular performer in clubs and on late-night TV for decades, Lewis also played Marty Gold, the romantic co-lead opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, in the ABC series “Anything But Love” and the reliably neurotic Prince John in “Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men In Tights.” He re-introduced himself to a new generation opposite Larry David in HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” kvetching regularly.

“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me,” David said in a statement. “He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.”

Comedy Central named Lewis one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time and he earned a berth in GQ magazine’s list of the “20th Century’s Most In uential Humorists.” He lent his humor for charity causes, including Comic Relief and Comedy Gives Back.

“Watching his stand-up is like sitting in on a very funny and often dark therapy session,” the Los Angeles Times said in 2014.

The Philadelphia’s City Paper called him “the Jimi Hendrix of monologists.” Mel Brooks once said he “may just be the Franz Kafka of modern-day comedy.”

Comedians took to social media Wednesday to share their thoughts, including Albert Books who called Lewis “a brilliantly funny man who will missed by all. The world needed him now more than ever” on X, formerly Twitter. Other tributes came from Bette Midler, Michael McKean and Paul Feig, who called Lewis “one of the funniest people on the planet.”

Following his graduation

from The Ohio State University in 1969, the New York-born Lewis began a stand-up career, honing his craft on the circuit with other contemporaries also just starting out like Jay Leno, Freddie Prinze and Billy Crystal.

He recalled Rodney Dangereld hiring him for $75 to ll in at his New York club, Danger eld’s. “I had a lot of great friends early on who believed in me, and I met pretty iconic people who really helped me, told me to keep working on my material. And I never looked back,” he told The Gazette of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2010.

Unlike contemporary Robin Williams, Lewis allowed audiences into his world and melancholy, pouring his torment and pain onto the stage. Fans favorably compared him to the ground-breaking comedian Lenny Bruce.

“I take great pains not to be mean-spirited,” Lewis told The Palm Beach Post in 2007. “I don’t like to take real handicaps that people have to overcome with no hope in sight. I steer clear of that. That’s not funny to me. Tragedy is funny to other humorists, but it’s not to me, unless you can make a point that’s helpful.”

Lewis told GQ his signature look came incidentally, saying his obsession with dressing in black came from watching the television Western “Have Gun – Will Travel,” with a cowboy in all-black, when he was a kid. He also popularized the term “from hell” — as in “the date from hell” or “the job from hell.”

“That just came out of my brain one day and I kept repeating it a lot for some reason. Same thing with the black clothes. I just felt really comfortable from the early ’80s on and I

never wore anything else. I never looked back.”

“Looking back on it now, as a full-blown, middle-aged, functioning anxiety collector, I can admit without cringing that my parents had their fair share of tremendous qualities, yet, being human much of the day, had more than just a handful of aws as well,” he wrote in his memoir. Lewis’ recurring role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” can be credited directly to his friendship with fellow comedian, producer and series star Larry David. Both native Brooklynites — born in the same Brooklyn hospital — they rst met and became friends as rivals while attending the same summer camp at age 13. He was cast from the beginning, bickering with David on unpaid bills and common courtesies. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Lapinsky.

“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me.”

Comedian Larry David

ALEX GALLARDO | AP PHOTO

Richard Lewis attends a 2012 NBA game.

STATE & NATION

6 in 10 US adults doubt mental capability of Biden, Trump

The AP-NORC poll comes just ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union

By Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A poll nds that a signi cant share of U.S. adults doubt the mental capabilities of 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican front-runner in what could be a rematch of the 2020 election.

More than 6 in 10 (63%) say they’re not very or not at all condent in Biden’s mental capability to serve e ectively as president, turning his coming State of the Union address into something of a real-time audition for a second term. A similar but slightly smaller share (57%) say that Trump lacks the memory and acuity for the job.

The ndings from a new survey by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public A airs Research point to a tough presidential election in which issues such as age and mental competence could be more prevalent than in any other political contest in modern times.

People’s views of Biden’s memory and acuity have soured since January 2022, when about half of those polled expressed similar concerns. (That survey didn’t ask a similar question about Trump.)

In a major risk for Biden, in-

dependents are much more likely to say that they lack condence in his mental abilities (80%) compared with Trump’s (56%). And Democrats are generally more concerned about Biden’s mental capabilities than Republicans are with Trump’s, raising the stakes of Biden’s upcoming speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday.

Going into the big event, just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove. Democrats (74%) are much likelier than independents (20%) and Republicans (6%) to favor his performance. But there’s broad discontent on the way Biden is handling a variety of issues, including the

economy, immigration and foreign policy.

About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way Biden is handling each of these issues: health care, climate change, abortion policy and the con ict between Russia and Ukraine. But people are less satis ed by Biden’s handling of immigration (29%), the con ict between

Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas law that allows police to arrest migrants

Gov. Greg Abbott has made it a priority to attempt to curb illegal immigration

By Acacia Coronado and Lindsay Whitehurst

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Justice Samuel Alito on Monday issued an order that temporarily halts Texas’ immigration law from going into e ect until next week so the full court can decide what steps to take next. The law was set to take e ect Saturday under a lower court’s decision. Alito’s order putting it on hold until March 13 came just hours after the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go to keep migrants from entering the country.

The law would allow state o cers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. People who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who don’t leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.

The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter “the status quo that has exist-

ed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.” It went on to argue that the law would have “signi cant and immediate adverse e ects” on the country’s relationship with Mexico and “create chaos” in enforcing federal immigra-

tion laws in Texas.

The federal government cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling on an Arizona law that would have allowed police to arrest people for federal immigration violations, often referred to by opponents as the “show me your papers” bill. The divided high

the Israelis and the Palestinians (31%) and the economy (34%) — all of which are likely to come up in the speech before a joint session of Congress.

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) Americans think the national economy is somewhat or much worse o than before Biden took o ce in 2021. Only 3 in 10 adults say it’s better under his leadership. Still, people are more optimistic about the state of their own bank accounts: 54% say their personal nances are good.

Many respondents to the survey were deeply pessimistic about their likely choices in November because of age and the risk of cognitive decline.

Paul Miller, himself 84, said Biden is just too old — and so is Trump.

“He doesn’t seem to have the mental whatever to be a president,” Miller said of Biden. He added that Trump is “too old, too, and half crazy.”

The retiree from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he voted for Trump in 2020 but he wouldn’t do so again.

“I don’t think I’m going to vote for either one of them,” he said. “I hope somebody else is available.”

About one-third of Democrats said they’re not very or not at all con dent in Biden’s mental capability in the new survey, up from 14% in January 2022. Only 40% of Democrats said they’re extremely or very condent in Biden’s mental abilities, with approximately 3 in 10 saying they’re “somewhat” condent.

Republicans are generally more comfortable with Trump’s mental capabilities than Democrats are with Biden’s. In the survey, 59% of Republicans are extremely or very con dent that Trump has the mental abilities to be president. An additional 20% are somewhat con dent, and 20% are not very or not at all con dent.

rored federal law and “was adopted to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which hurts Texans more than anyone else.”

The federal government’s emergency request to the Supreme Court came after a federal appeals court over the weekend stayed U.S. District Judge David Ezra’s sweeping rejection of the law.

In a 114-page ruling Thursday, Ezra rebuked Texas’ immigration enforcement and brushed o claims by Republicans about an ongoing “invasion” along the southern border due to record-high illegal crossings.

Ezra added that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, con icts with federal immigration law and could get in the way of U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

According to Ezra’s ruling, allowing Texas to supersede federal law due to an “invasion” would “amount to nulli cation of federal law and authority — a notion that is antithetical to the Constitution and has been unequivocally rejected by federal courts since the Civil War.”

The battle over the Texas immigration law, known as Senate Bill 4, is one of multiple legal disputes between Texas o cials and the Biden administration over how far the state can go to patrol the Texas-Mexico border and prevent illegal border crossings.

Several Republican governors have backed Abbott’s efforts, saying the federal government is not doing enough to enforce existing immigration laws.

court found that the impasse in Washington over immigration reform did not justify state intrusion.

The Supreme Court gave Texas until March 11 to respond.

In a statement Monday, the Texas Attorney General’s Of-

ce said the state’s law mir -

Some of Abbott’s attempts to impede illegal border crossings have included a oating barrier in the Rio Grande — which Ezra previously blocked and is part of an ongoing legal battle — and placing razor wire along the state’s boundary with Mexico. State guard o cers have also blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing a riverfront park in Eagle Pass that federal agents previously used to process migrants.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address could be something of a real-time audition as he bids for a second term.

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a Texas immigration law on Monday.

Getting out the vote

Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro over the weekend, stumping for Republican gubernatorial candidate and Greensboro native Mark Robinson and others on Saturday. Trump was also campaigning in his own presidential primary against his former U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, who held an event in Raleigh the same day.

of Governors for the 2024-25 academic year.

Students

‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign sees statewide expansion North Carolina is expanding a pilot program aiming to reduce impaired driving, after seeing success in a seven-county test in the western part of the state.

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is seeing its rst major update in decades, incorporating new strategies and tools to combat impaired driving more e ectively. In 2023, the pilot region reported a 7% decrease in alcoholrelated crashes, with 277 incidents compared to 298 the previous year.

One of the more signi cant additions to the project is the expanded use of Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) ankle bracelets for select o enders. The bracelets monitor alcohol consumption and report any violations directly to court o cials. During a 90-day trial, only one of the 55 participants was agged for alcohol use.

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education met Tuesday, Feb. 27, approving a pair of contracts to help the children learn.

The rst is a deal with learning.com, an online platform that assists in the teaching of digital skills like keyboarding, online safety, coding, and computational thinking

“The Child Internet Protection Agency requires us to teach digital safety every year to our kids,” said director of digital teaching and learning

Marty Creech. “Currently, we have curated resources for each grade level and media coordinators pick and choose, so this will be another resource they can utilize and be able to ensure that digital safety is being taught to our kids throughout the school district.”

According to Creech, the district will also utilize the keyboarding aspect at the elementary and middle school levels.

“It’s funded through the North Carolina Digital Learning Initiative,” Creech said. “Four years ago, they started with Tier 1 counties and they just opened it up to Tier 2 counties. This grant will refund

North State Journal

26,575 VOTERS cast ballots in early voting in Forsyth County for this week’s primary, according to numbers from the North Carolina Board of Elections.

Early voting began Feb. 15 and nished last Saturday, March 2.

The primary was held Tuesday, when voters are required to report to their designated precinct in order to cast a ballot. A photo ID was also required for all voting in the primary.

Forsyth County has 264,699 registered voters according to the state, re ecting a 10 percent early turnout — above the 9.3 percent turnout seen statewide, with 694,591 ballots cast out of 7,468,149 eligible voters.

Of the approximately 265,000 voters in Forsyth County, some 97,000 are registered Democrat, 71,000 are registered Republican plus 94,000 una liated. In North Carolina, una liated voters can choose to receive a primary ballot from either party.

the CTE department for what they’ve already spent.” The second contract is for Summer 2024 Winston-Salem Freedom Schools, a summer school program that aims to boost student motivations to read, generate more positive attitudes towards learning, increase self esteem and connect the needs of students to resources in the community. The contract totals $371,750. “Freedom Schools is a sixweek program,” said chief academic o cer Paula Wilkins. “There’s a total of 10 sites including Cook Model Literacy School coming on as a new Freedom School site. Several of

them are Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools sites and some are community sites. The goal is to serve up to 50 students at each site and the program will run from June 17 through July 26.”

According to Wilkins, district support will cover summer meal access, transportation, per-site licensure fee and operational support costs, and will be covered by ESSER funding.

A number of service providers were approved Summer 2024, as well.

“We came last year to talk about summer programming

See SCHOOLS , page 2

North State Journal

WINSTON-SALEM businessman Joseph (Joe) R. Budd has been appointed to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission. Budd was sworn in on Jan 30. He previously served as NCWRC’s District 7 commissioner from 2014 to 2020. In his second term on the commission, Budd was appointed as an At-Large member by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and will serve through June 2025. “It’s an honor to be reappointed to the WRC,” said Budd. “I look forward to serving the citizens of North Carolina and protecting the resources of our great state.”

Budd is the Chairman of The Budd Group, a facility services company that operates across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. He is a graduate of both High Point and Wake Forest Universities, and a member of

Hope Presbyterian Church. He enjoys spending time with family, is an active pilot, and enjoys bird hunting, boating and shing.

“On behalf of the NCWRC, it is my pleasure to welcome Joe Budd back to the Commission,” said Chairman Monty Crump. “Joe has previously served on the Commission and was a valuable member. As an avid sportsman and successful businessman Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will greatly bene t the mission of the Wildlife Commission.”

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

“Join

Michael Whatley is the right choice to lead the RNC

Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby.

Get in touch

CHAIRMAN MICHAEL WHATLEY

is the right guy at the right time to lead the Republican National Committee. I have spent a decade working in Republican politics, mainly in opposition research. I had the privilege of serving as the NCGOP Communications Director in 2020, where I directly witnessed why Whatley would make a great RNC Chairman.

To win in 2024, the Republican National Committee needs to rebuild trust with the base. That is precisely what Whatley did in North Carolina.

Whatley secured his narrow victory in 2019 to lead the NCGOP. At the time, he faced substantial scrutiny from the grassroots base. Over time, Whatley gained the trust of the grassroots base needed to win in 2024.

Between stops on the campaign trail, Whatley would utilize the drive time — what he referred to as “windshield” time — to call stakeholders across the state to build deeper connections. He visited local Republican groups across North Carolina and built the relationships necessary for true statewide campaigns. Whenever the NCGOP needed someone anywhere in the state, Whatley already had a working relationship with people on the ground because he put in the e ort to build those relationships.

The next leader needs to be able to work across a diverse and sometimes divided Republican Party. Whatley is such a leader.

I witnessed Whatley masterfully manage this daily in 2020. Arguably, the most crucial election in North Carolina during the 2020 campaign cycle was the United States Senate race with Thom Tillis as the Republican nominee and Cal Cunningham as the Democrat opponent. It should not come as a surprise that the activists who voted to censure Tillis in 2023 were not huge fans of Tillis in 2020. But every day, Whatley worked to keep North Carolina Republicans united and focused on defeating the Democrats.

Another crystal-clear example of Whatley’s leadership in uniting Republicans is the success of the Judicial Victory Fund. In his chairman’s race, Whatley campaigned hard on creating a Judicial Victory Fund to support Republicans running statewide for the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Democrats controlled the Court six-to-one. Through Whatley’s leadership, Republicans swept every statewide judicial race in 2020 including the win of Chief Justice Paul Newby.

Republicans completed their judicial race dominance under Whately’s chairmanship by sweeping every race and

SCHOOLS from page 1

and goals and we’re looking to extend some of those goals as we continue to think about the students that need to be served for summer,” Wilkins said. “We want to create an experience that continues the joy for learning, helps students explore their passions, provides targeted intervention to prevent summer learning loss and just continues to restructure what summer school looks like.”

The approved providers include Living Rhythms, Alphabest, Imprints Cares, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and Crossnore.

WSFCS Summer Program will last from June 24 through July 15.

An appropriation of the Ed-

ucational and Competitive After-School Robotics Grant Funding for the First Robotics Competition Rookie Team at Reynolds High School was approved.

“On this particular grant, there’s $40,139,” said chiefnancial o cer Thomas Kranz. “We’ve worked with the department on doing a budget and it’s going to be primarily for the sta and the competition, transportation, membership fees and supplies. All very legitimate ties to the purpose of the grant.”

The board authorized the continuation of Cook Literacy Model as a Restart School and approved the applications of Philo-Hill Middle and Mineral Springs Elementary and Middle to become Restart Schools.

securing a majority. In 2024, thanks in part of Whatley’s e orts, Republicans are on track to win another Supreme Court seat — cementing a six-to-one Republican majority.

Finally, the next RNC Chair must have the right instincts during this unprecedented election.

Republicans have never faced a presidential election where the opposition has led multiple felony charges against our likely nominee. What will happen in the legal proceedings against the eventual nominee is far from clear. But it is clear we need a leader with the right instincts.

I saw Whatley display the right instincts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The playbook in April 2020 looked entirely di erent than it did in February 2020. As the political landscape shifted throughout the pandemic, Whatley’s instincts played a crucial role in shaping the party’s message. Getting it right during the COVID pandemic was challenging, but Whatley provided exemplary leadership at the right time by being a voice of reason while our Democrat governor was making every e ort to keep our state in a perpetual lockdown.

Another shining example of Whatley’s leadership was in the N.C. Supreme Court recount of 2020. On election night, Republican Paul Newby was up by 405 votes over Democrat Cheri Beasley. The Democrats tried every trick to convince the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections to ignore the voters’ will in favor of a partisan trick. Whatley had already laid the groundwork for this possibility.

In the months before the election, Whatley led e orts to recruit lawyers to protect the ballot box in 2020. Republicans were ready for a statewide recount requiring lawyers in all 100 counties if needed. Turned out that preparation was needed when it came to the Newby/Beasley race. Without his strong leadership, at least from my perspective in the trenches working this issue, Beasley would be the Chief Justice, not Newby, if not for Whatley’s leadership.

Every day I worked with Whatley behind closed doors. I saw that Whatley was up to the task of fundraising, leading the team, and driving a compelling message. From what I have witnessed in the thick of the action in 2020, Mike Whatley is just the right guy to lead Republicans to victory in 2024.

Tim Wigginton is former communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party (2020) and is a public a airs professional in Raleigh.

“We want to create an experience that continues the joy for learning.”

WSFCS Chief Academic O cer Paula Wilkins

“Restart is one of four school reform models that are available for recurring low-performing schools in North Carolina,” said assistant superintendent of talent development and school transformation Timisha BarnesJones. “It is basically a traditional school that is able to leverage charter-like exibilities to operate with the goal being to use those charter-like exibilities to overcome any

barriers to school improvement.”

According to Barnes-Jones, those exibilities include hiring, where schools can hire teachers who are not fully certi ed, lessened budgetary requirements to allow for funding of stipends, professional development, instructional material as well as changes to the calendar.

The WSFCS board also approved the purchase and installation of in-building digital signage from Newline Visual Communications with $545,000 of the 2016 Bond Funds. The funding source within the bond package is speci cally earmarked for technology purchases.

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet March 12.

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT

MLS Raposo, Vancouver earn 1-1 draw with Charlotte Vancouver, B.C. Ryan Raposo scored ve minutes into stoppage time at the end of the rst half to pull Vancouver even and the Whitecaps earned a 1-1 draw with Charlotte at BC Place in front of 29,624 — the biggest crowd to watch a season opener in franchise history. Charlotte, playing in Vancouver for the rst time, took a 1-0 lead at the halfhour mark of the rst half when Brecht Dejaegere sent a cross through the middle of the penalty area toward Enzo Copetti, who intentionally allowed the ball to bounce between his legs and onto the right foot of an open Iuri Tavares, who red a shot into the top right corner.

MLB Ronald Acuña Jr. bothered by knee irritation

North Port, Fla. Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around the meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee. The reigning NL MVP had an MRI on Friday. He was evaluated on Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired the out elder’s torn right ACL in July 2021. The 26-year-old Acuña is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, but that timeline could change after he sees ElAttrache in California. Acuña led Atlanta to its sixth consecutive NL East title in 2023. The out elder hit a career-best .337 with 41 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 steals in 159 games.

NCAA FOOTBALL

NCAA committee recommends allowing electronic communication, a change that could end sign stealing

The NCAA is considering allowing football head coaches to have in-game communication with one player on o ense and one on defense as part of a series of proposed rule changes. Coaches and athletic directors have long advocated for the NCAA to allow electronic communication from the sideline, as in the NFL, instead of forcing coaches to use hand signals or poster boards to call plays. If implemented, Friday’s recommendation by the NCAA Football Rules Committee could potentially prevent teams from stealing opponents’ signs. A Michigan football sta er was accused last season of scouting opponents in advance and stealing their signs, which is banned by the NCAA.

NBA

Hornets pledge ‘full funding’ for downtown practice facility above city’s $30M investment

Charlotte

The Charlotte Hornets say they are committed to “fully funding” a new practice facility in downtown Charlotte above the $30 million to be provided by the city under a revised proposal. The Hornets have teamed with longtime partner Novant Health to o er a destination for what it called leading-edge sports medicine and orthopedic care as part of the mixed-use practice facility development. The practice facility would be built near the Spectrum Center.

Kyle Larson wins at Las Vegas, keeps Chevrolet undefeated on NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — There’s a tradition at Hendrick Motorsports to ring the winning bell throughout the North Carolina shop after every NASCAR victory.

As motivation to have the best year of his career, Kyle Larson’s team decided to bring a bell on the road to avoid having to wait to return to Charlotte to celebrate every achievement he plans for this season.

The bell got its rst ring Sunday when Larson won his second consecutive race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to keep Chevrolet undefeated and give Rick Hendrick his second victory in the rst three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.

Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season and opened the year with William Byron winning the Daytona 500.

“That bell will travel with us every week and we’ll be ringing it loud and proud,” Larson said. Larson won for the third time in his career at Las Vegas, where in 2021 he got his rst win driving for Hendrick. Larson also won in the No. 5 Chevy at Las Vegas last October in the playo s. Larson held o Tyler Reddick for his 24th career Cup victory. In a Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick chased Larson for the nal several laps but could never nd enough room to make a move for the pass. Larson’s margin of victory was 0.441 seconds.

“I knew Tyler was going to be the guy to beat from the rst stage. He was real-

Kyle Larson (5) celebrates with his son, Owen, after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Las Vegas.

ly fast there,” Larson said. “Cool to get a win here at Vegas again. Back-to-back, swept all the stages again. Can’t ask for more than that.”

Reddick was extremely frustrated after nishing second and believed Larson as the leader controlled the race because of the rules of NASCAR’s new car.

“Kyle did a really good job there taking away pretty much every option I had there to close the gap,” Reddick said. “Second sucks, that is for sure. You have to run up front all day long, and when asked about what we need to do to get better, that’s the very thing, and we didn’t do it. We were pretty evenly matched, so I don’t know if there was anything that I really could’ve done to get around him. Chevrolet also has wins this year by Byron in the Daytona 500 and Daniel Suarez last week at Atlanta for Trackhouse Racing. Chevrolet has won eight of nine national series races to open the year.

Reigning NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney was third for Team Penske in a Ford, followed by Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Las Vegas native Noah Gragson was sixth in his best nish since joining Stewart-Haas Racing. Martin Truex Jr. for JGR was seventh, followed by teammate Denny Hamlin, Penske driver and pole-sitter Joey Logano and Byron. Suarez, last week’s winner, was 11th.

Larson swept all three stages and led 181 of the 267 laps. The win made Larson the Cup Series points leader with an eight-point cushion over Blaney.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

KJ Ford

Reagan, boys’ basketball

KJ Ford is a junior for the Reagan boys’ basketball team.

The Raiders saw their season come to an end with a 73-64 loss to 8-seed Watauga in the rst round of the NCHSAA 4A state playo s. Reagan nished with a 14-12 record on the year.

Ford led the way in the nal game, scoring 26 points to lead Reagan. He hit 6-of-9 from the eld and knocked down all 11 of his free throw attempts, adding 2 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist.

For the year, Ford led the Raiders in scoring and three-point shooting and was among team leaders in steals and assists.

Cam Newton apologizes for letting emotions get the best of him at youth football tournament ght

By Steve Reed The Associated Press

CAM NEWTON said he’s disappointed in himself for losing control of his emotions over the weekend at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta, resulting in a brief ght involving several men from competing teams. A 22-second video showed the 34-year-old Newton involved in an altercation with at least three other men outside of a school at the tournament. Newton did not throw any punches, and appeared to try to fend o some attackers.

The incident was quickly broken up by a policeman and security.

“I’m disappointed in myself for letting it escalate to what it did and that’s what I’m apologetic to,” Newton said Friday on his 4th and 1 podcast. “The truth of the matter is this: Me, being in my position, I should’ve never put myself in that position. That’s just the truth. That could’ve got ugly, for real.”

The 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and longtime Carolina Panthers signal caller also apologized to the kids who look up to him.

“I feel like I let them down,” Newton said. “Because I can’t sit up here and say, ‘Hey bro, you have to be bigger than that,’ and then all of a sudden I do that.

That just shows that you have to always stay in control of your emotions.”

Newton, who is from Atlanta, heads up the C1N football organization, which was founded in 2021 and focuses on developing young athletes’ skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events.

Newton said trash talk during a game between him and former members of his C1N organization carried over o the football eld leading to the altercation.

“There was a lot of talking on both sides — on all sides, let’s just put it like that,” Newton said. “I don’t want to point the nger and say this person said that or that person said that. Am I saying this is the rst time it happened or the last time it happened? It’s something that starts with words and should’ve ended with words.”

Newton said he’s glad the incident didn’t take a turn for the worse.

“There’s no excuse really,” Newton said. “It could have been a melee. More violence could have stemmed from that. It’s just not called for.”

Newton said he also regrets the incident because be believes it perpetuates a stereotype that he doesn’t like.

“It’s echoing something that

has been permeating for years — Black people,” Newton said. “Why do I got to be at a Black event, you know what I’m saying? And I could easily play the victim, and I’m not going to do that. I’m going to hold myself to that same standard.”

Newton said he hopes the incident serves as a teaching moment for young athletes and

those who look up to him.

“This is what I really want the narrative to be,” Newton said. “To every high school player, to every single person I’ve in uenced and to every single athlete, use my situation as a way to understand that in one moment and one decision, your life can change just like that. I let my emotions get the best of me.”

CREDIT REAGAN MEN’S BASKETBALL TWITTER/X ACCOUNT

IAN MAULE | AP PHOTO

BUTCH

Former NFL and Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, throws a pass during Auburn Pro Day, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala.

STATE & NATION

6 in 10 US adults doubt mental capability of Biden, Trump

The AP-NORC poll comes just ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union

By Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A poll nds that a signi cant share of U.S. adults doubt the mental capabilities of 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican front-runner in what could be a rematch of the 2020 election.

More than 6 in 10 (63%) say they’re not very or not at all condent in Biden’s mental capability to serve e ectively as president, turning his coming State of the Union address into something of a real-time audition for a second term. A similar but slightly smaller share (57%) say that Trump lacks the memory and acuity for the job.

The ndings from a new survey by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public A airs Research point to a tough presidential election in which issues

such as age and mental competence could be more prevalent than in any other political contest in modern times.

People’s views of Biden’s memory and acuity have soured since January 2022, when about half of those polled expressed similar concerns. (That survey didn’t ask a similar question about Trump.)

In a major risk for Biden, independents are much more likely to say that they lack condence in his mental abilities (80%) compared with Trump’s (56%). And Democrats are generally more concerned about Biden’s mental capabilities than Republicans are with Trump’s, raising the stakes of Biden’s upcoming speech to a joint session

Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas law that allows police to arrest migrants

Gov. Greg Abbott has made it a priority to attempt to curb illegal immigration

By Acacia Coronado and Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ plan to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. illegally is headed to the Supreme Court in a legal showdown over the federal government’s authority over immigration.

Justice Samuel Alito on Monday issued an order that temporarily halts Texas’ immigration law from going into e ect until next week so the full court can decide what steps to take next.

The law was set to take e ect Saturday under a lower court’s decision. Alito’s order putting it on hold until March 13 came just hours after the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law in December and for months has unveiled a series of escalating measures on the border that have tested the boundaries of how far a state can go to keep migrants from entering the country.

The law would allow state

o cers to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally. People who are arrested could then agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the country or face a misdemeanor charge for entering the U.S. illegally. Migrants who don’t leave after being ordered to do so could be arrested again and charged with a more serious felony.

The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the law would profoundly alter “the status quo that has existed between the United States and the States in the context of immigration for almost 150 years.” It went on to argue that the law would have “signi cant and immediate adverse e ects” on the country’s relationship with Mexico and “create chaos” in enforcing federal immigration laws in Texas.

The federal government cited a 2012 Supreme Court ruling on an Arizona law that would have allowed police to arrest people for federal immigration violations, often referred to by opponents as the “show me your papers” bill. The divided high court found that the impasse in Washington over immigration reform did not justify state intrusion.

The Supreme Court gave Texas until March 11 to respond.

In a statement Monday, the Texas Attorney General’s Ofce said the state’s law mirrored federal law and “was adopted to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border, which hurts Texans more than anyone else.”

The federal government’s emergency request to the Supreme Court came after a federal appeals court over the weekend stayed U.S. District Judge David Ezra’s sweeping rejection of the law.

In a 114-page ruling Thursday, Ezra rebuked Texas’ immigration enforcement and brushed o claims by Republicans about an ongoing “invasion” along the southern border due to record-high illegal crossings.

Ezra added that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, con icts with federal immigration law and could get in the way of U.S. foreign relations and treaty obligations.

According to Ezra’s ruling, allowing Texas to supersede federal law due to an “invasion” would “amount to nulli cation of federal law and authority — a notion that is antithetical to the Constitution and has been unequivocally rejected by federal courts since the Civil War.”

The battle over the Texas im-

of Congress on Thursday. Going into the big event, just 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling his job as president, while 61% disapprove. Democrats (74%) are much likelier than independents (20%) and Republicans (6%) to favor his performance. But there’s broad discontent on the way Biden is handling a variety of issues, including the economy, immigration and foreign policy. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way Biden is handling each of these issues: health care, climate change, abortion policy and the con ict between Russia and Ukraine. But people are less satis ed by Biden’s handling of immigration (29%), the con ict between the Israelis and the Palestinians (31%) and the economy (34%) — all of which are likely to come up in the speech before a joint session of Congress.

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) Americans think the national economy is somewhat or much worse o than before Biden took o ce in 2021. Only 3 in 10 adults say it’s better under his leadership. Still, people are more optimis-

tic about the state of their own bank accounts: 54% say their personal nances are good.

Many respondents to the survey were deeply pessimistic about their likely choices in November because of age and the risk of cognitive decline.

Paul Miller, himself 84, said Biden is just too old — and so is Trump.

“He doesn’t seem to have the mental whatever to be a president,” Miller said of Biden. He added that Trump is “too old, too, and half crazy.”

The retiree from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, said he voted for Trump in 2020 but he wouldn’t do so again.

“I don’t think I’m going to vote for either one of them,” he said. “I hope somebody else is available.”

About one-third of Democrats said they’re not very or not at all con dent in Biden’s mental capability in the new survey, up from 14% in January 2022. Only 40% of Democrats said they’re extremely or very condent in Biden’s mental abilities, with approximately 3 in 10 saying they’re “somewhat” condent.

Republicans are generally more comfortable with Trump’s mental capabilities than Democrats are with Biden’s. In the survey, 59% of Republicans are extremely or very con dent that Trump has the mental abilities to be president. An additional 20% are somewhat con dent, and 20% are not very or not at all con dent.

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a Texas immigration law on Monday.

migration law, known as Senate Bill 4, is one of multiple legal disputes between Texas o cials and the Biden administration over how far the state can go to patrol the Texas-Mexico border and prevent illegal border crossings. Several Republican governors have backed Abbott’s efforts, saying the federal government is not doing enough to enforce existing immigration laws.

Some of Abbott’s attempts to impede illegal border crossings have included a oating barrier in the Rio Grande — which Ezra previously blocked and is part of an ongoing legal battle — and placing razor wire along the state’s boundary with Mexico. State guard o cers have also blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing a riverfront park in Eagle Pass that federal agents previously used to process migrants.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address could be something of a real-time audition as he bids for a second term.

Getting out the vote

Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro over the weekend, stumping for Republican gubernatorial candidate and Greensboro native Mark Robinson and others on Saturday. Trump was also campaigning in his own presidential primary against his former U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, who held an event in Raleigh the same day.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

UNC holds in-state tuition steady for 8th year

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has announced that in-state undergraduate tuition will remain unchanged for the eighth straight year.

For students applying for the Next NC Scholarship, which promises a minimum of $5,000 for students from households with an annual income of $80,000 or less, the cost for tuition and fees at UNC System institutions can be cut in half or more. Approximately 55% of North Carolina households could qualify for this scholarship.

‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign sees statewide expansion North Carolina is expanding a pilot program aiming to reduce impaired driving, after seeing success in a seven-county test in the western part of the state.

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is seeing its rst major update in decades, incorporating new strategies and tools to combat impaired driving more e ectively.

In 2023, the pilot region reported a 7% decrease in alcohol-related crashes, with 277 incidents compared to 298 the previous year.

The pilot included the use of Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) ankle bracelets which monitor alcohol consumption and report any violations directly to court o cials. During a 90-day trial, only one of 55 participants was agged for alcohol use.

Pinehurst

budget overspending lower than originally expected

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Feb. 27, approving a scal 2024 mid-year budget amendment to the general fund.

“I met with the managers and department heads to come up with our revenue and expenditure projections for the remainder of this scal year, FY24,” Financial Services Director Dana Van Nostrand told the board. “We’re estimating that our expenditures will exceed the revenues by approximately $541,000. If that is the year end result, we would be drawing down from fund balance, but our original budget for FY24 anticipated us having to draw $600,000 from fund balance, so we have had some improvement compared to that original

budget.”

According to Nostrand, the expenditures are being primarily driven by a $1.9 million reappropriation related to projects that were incomplete as of the end of last scal year.

These reappropriations were already covered by fund balance when they were approved and the Village will have projected savings of $914,000 for salaries and bene ts and $410,000 from other operating expenditures that will help to o set the reappropriation costs.

“In total, the ordinance is increasing revenues by about $750,000, reducing expenditures by $210,000 and reducing our fund balance appropriated by $960,000,” Van Nostrand said.

The council also passed three resolutions honoring former mayor, John Strickland, and

“We have had some improvement compared to that original budget.”

Pinehurst Financial Services

Director Dana Van Nostrand

former council members Jane Hogeman and Tom Hennie, for their service to Pinehurst.

“It was a great honor and a privilege to be the mayor of Pinehurst from 2019 to 2023 and for about a decade before that, to be involved in other Village government committees and commissions,” Strickland said. “I certainly look forward to following the work of the sta , Village council and the mayor into the future and I wish every-

USGA bringing men’s, women’s Opens to Shinnecock in consecutive weeks

The Associated Press

FAR HILLS, N.J. — The USGA is planning another doubleheader for its biggest championships, this time at storied Shinnecock Hills. The New York club will host the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens in consecutive weeks in 2036. The USGA first played the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, with Martin Kaymer winning the first week and Michelle Wie winning her lone

major the following week. It plans to do the same at Pinehurst in 2029. This will be the first time for back-to-back Opens at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, one of the five founding golf clubs of the USGA. It hosted the second U.S Open in 1895 and remains the only course to hold the U.S. Open in three centuries.

Shinnecock Hills hosted the U.S. Open for the fifth time in 2018 when Brooks Koepka won to become the first back-

to-back winner since Curtis Strange in 1988-89. It will host the U.S. Open again in 2026, and then hold the doubleheader in 2036. That will be the first time the U.S. Women’s Open is held at Shinnecock. The Pinehurst doubleheader in 2014 was one of the USGA’s finest moments. The No. 2 course played at 7,562 yards for the men and 6,649 yards for the women. The USGA managed to set it up in a way that similar clubs were used by players both weeks.

thing in good success.”

“It was a privilege to serve this Village where the issues are so important and our passion runs so deep,” Hennie said.

“I had the privilege of working with Jane for four years until her untimely death last July and the privilege of working with some of her family since that time in helping them through the process and remembering Jane at the same time,” Strickland said.

Village Manager Je Morgan also reported the retirement of Assistant Village Manager Je Batton e ective May 31.

“He’s wrapping up 36 years of experience in local government. 29 of those years have been here with the Village of Pinehurst. 20 of those 29 years have been as the Assistant Village Manager. I think more than any other person, he is the face of our Village sta . Je ’s really going to be missed but I can tell you we are uniformly excited and happy for him and we’re also grateful for the leadership and teamwork that he has provided to us over the years.”

The Village of Pinehurst Council will next meet March 12.

Shinnecock Hills is one of the ve founding golf clubs of the USGA.

PJ

Do

More than 7,000 cast early votes across Moore

Carolina Board of Elections.

Early voting began Feb. 15 and nished last Saturday, March 2.

7,093 VOTERS cast ballots in early voting in Moore County for this week’s primary, according to numbers from the North

The primary was held Tuesday, when voters are required to report to their designated precinct in order to cast a ballot. A photo ID was also required for all voting in the primary.

COLUMN | RICHARD HUDSON

Moore County has 75,437 registered voters according to the state, re ecting a 9.4 percent early turnout — almost matching the 9.3 percent turnout seen statewide, with 694,591 ballots cast out of 7,468,149 eligible voters. Of the approximately 75,000 voters in Moore County, some 15,000 are registered Democrat, 31,000 are registered Republican plus 28,500 unafliated. In North Carolina, una liated voters can choose to receive a primary ballot from either party.

Defending freedom and unleashing American nuclear energy

HARDWORKING AMERICANS like you are repeatedly paying the price for President Biden’s anti-energy policies, with costly mandates and red tape upending our way of life.

You should have the freedom to choose the best car or truck for your family, business, and farm at an a ordable price. Yet, just last year, the Biden Administration announced a new rule to impose an EV mandate onto families. Families are already struggling from higher prices across the board, yet this misguided decision would force them to give up their gas and diesel-powered cars for more expensive alternatives.

The last thing folks in the Sandhills, and America, want is another oppressive Biden Administration mandate that puts a radical environmental agenda and Far-Left special interests above their individual freedoms. I recently joined my colleagues in a letter demanding President Biden reverse this overreaching policy and stop imposing his failed Green New Deal agenda on you.

We have a great energy source right here in North Carolina that is a ordable and reliable — nuclear energy. Our nuclear industry supports good-paying jobs and is key to strengthening America’s competitiveness in the global energy sector.

We must cut red tape that continues to hamstring the industry’s ability to thrive.

That’s why I was so pleased to see my bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Deployment Act (H.R. 6526) pass in the House last week as part of a larger nuclear energy package. This important legislation will expand the availability of a ordable, clean, safe nuclear energy by reducing burdensome regulations around production.

I will continue ghting to get Big Government out of the way and will always stand up for our rights. That’s why recently, I also continued my e orts to defend our Second Amendment.

I introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act to prohibit gun grabbing politicians from tracking lawful gun purchases and surveilling the private nancial information of law-abiding citizens. No entity should be able to violate and infringe on Constitutionally-protected rights of Americans.

Whether it’s the Second Amendment, consumer choice, or a ordable energy — know I will never stop ghting for what matters most to you and your family.

Richard Hudson is a member of Congress representing NC-9.

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

Dana Rosario Fierro, 43 years old, was arrested on March 3, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of simple assault.

Kendrick Dezron Little, 31 years old, was arrested on March 3, 2024, by the Carthage Police Department on a charge of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Mack Allen Collins, 60 years old, was arrested on March 2, 2024, by the Robbins Police Department on a charge of possession with intent to manufacture/sell/ deliver Schedule II controlled substance.

James Edward Parker, 50 years old, was arrested on March 2, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of delivering cocaine.

Juan Montreiz Nasir Hernandez, 21 years old, was arrested on March 1, 2024, by the Robbins Police Department on a charge of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Corrina Jo Evers, 46 years old, was arrested on February 29, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

March 8

Moore County Library: Pre-School Storytime 10 a.m.

The Moore County Library in Carthage hosts a Free PreSchool Storytime each Friday at 10:00am. Join the fun! For additional information, call 910-947-5335.

Carthage Farmers Market

1 – 5 p.m.

Local farmers at the farmers market in Carthage featuring fresh seasonal produce, meats, eggs and handmade goods! Located in the parking lot across from the post o ce. Interested in becoming a vendor? E-mail carthagencfarmersmarket@ gmail.com. The market is held 1:00om-5:00pm each Friday year-round.

March 9

Moore Philharmonic Orchestra: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

8 – 10 a.m.

Join the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra for their Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at Kickback Jacks, 10745 S US Highway 15 501 in Southern Pines. Enjoy pancakes, a side, and a drink for $10. Tickets can be purchased from a MPO member or at the door.

Vass Lions Club Pancake Breakfast

8 – 11 a.m.

Enjoy a wonderful pancake breakfast with sausage, juice, bottled water, or co ee as part of the Annual Vass Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. Breakfast is all you can eat for just $8 with a take-out option available as well. There will also be a ra e, baked goods, photography prints and crafts for sale. Proceeds collected bene t the Vass Lions Club Community Projects. The breakfast is held at Vass Lakeview Elementary School.

Weymouth Woods: Be a Junior Ranger 10 a.m.

James Patrick Britt, 33 years old, was arrested on February 28, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possessing methamphetamine.

Crystal Anne Medlin, 48 years old, was arrested on February 28, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possessing methamphetamine.

Steven James Smith, 43 years old, was arrested on February 28, 2024, by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possessing methamphetamine.

Children ages 6-12 are invited to Weymouth Woods to learn how to become a Junior Ranger with NC State Parks! Activities to get started on earning a Junior Ranger patch. Decorate your own adventure vest before heading out on the trail to start booklets and completing the rst few challenges! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the visitor center at 1024 Fort Bragg Rd in Southern Pines, NC.

March 11

CPR/First Aid Training

8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

CPR/First Aid Training at the Moore County Chamber of Commerce located at 160 West New York Avenue in Southern Pines, NC. The class is for new certi cations as well as renewals. The cost is $10. For additional information and online registration visit moorecountychamber.com

SPORTS

County high schools ip the calendar to spring

(18) and Zion Kiser (13) also scored in double gures for Union Pines, while Donaldson also had 10 rebounds.

North State Journal

BASKETBALL SEASON came to an end as the four teams representing the county all dropped their NCHSAA opening games. That turns the focus of Moore County to spring sports.

Boys’ Basketball

Union Pines and Pinecrest both lost their NCHSAA playo openers, ending boys’ basketball season in Moore County for the 2023-24 season. Union Pines entered as a 32-seed in class 3A, giving them top-seeded Swansboro. The Vikings lost, 99-77, ending their season at 10-15. Senior Trent Hilburn scored 19 points with 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in the game.

Junior Jaylen Kyle also scored 19, adding 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Kinsgley Donaldson

Pinecrest drew a 22-seed and opened in 4A against No. 11 Wilmington Laney. The Patriots nearly pulled o the upset, falling, 55-53 to nish the season at 13-11.

Girls’ Basketball

North Moore entered the playo s seeded No. 30 in the 1A bracket, giving them 3-seed East Columbus in the opening game. The Mustangs fell in a season-ending 64-22 decision, nishing the year at 8-17.

Union Pines was a 28-seed in the 3A class, drawing 5-seed Franklinton. The Vikings fell, 65-33, nishing the year at 1412.

Spring sports

Union Pines lost to Clayton, 8-7, in boys’ lacrosse, falling to 1-1 on the year. The girls’ team beat Fayetteville Academy in

a road opener by a 23-5 score. Girls’ soccer also got o to a 1-0 start with a 3-0 win over Clinton. Girls’ softball won at home over Harnett Central, 142, then got a 7-6 win at Cape Fear. Baseball is 1-0 after beating Gray’s Creek, 3-2.

Pinecrest baseball posted a 9-0 win over Harnett Central to get the season o on the right foot. Girls’ lacrosse beat Northwood, 18-6 to even its record after a 19-7 loss to Apex Friendship in the opener. Boys’ lacrosse opened the year with a 7-5 home loss to Apex, then won at Fuquay-Varina, 12-6. Girls’ soccer dropped its rst two games, 2-0 against Wakeeld and 2-1 to Wake Forest. Softball is also 0-2 after losing 11-1 to Purnell Swett and 20-2 against Apex Friendship. North Moore’s baseball and softball teams both opened their seasons with wins. The baseball team beat Northwood, 7-1, while Mustangs’ softball topped Northwood, 9-0. The girls’ soccer team opens play this week.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

RJ Sales

Pinecrest baseball

RJ Sales is an alum of the Pinecrest baseball team who is currently pitching for UNC Wilmington. Sales led Pinecrest to a Sandhills Conference title in his senior season of 2021, winning conference player of the year honors.

Now a redshirt sophomore with the Seahawks, Sales is o to a dominating start to the season, posting a 3-0 record. In his most recent start, he struck out six in seven one-hit innings to win on the road at South Alabama. Sales has a 0.92 ERA and is has a WHIP (walks and hits per innin) of 0.56. Opponents have managed to get just three hits o of him this season, one for extra bases, for a .048 batting average. Sales won the Colonial Athletic Association’s Pitcher of the Week Award for the rst week of the season.

CREDIT UNCW

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Pinecrest senior Anjali Williams beats the throw to slide into second during a loss to Apex Friendship in the home opener for the Patriots’ softball team.

Dr. John Wendell (Jack) Lynn

March 23, 1925 - February 24, 2024

Dr. John Wendell (Jack)

Lynn was born on March 23, 1925, as the second son of Karyl Van Braadt Lynn and Hazel Wendell Lynn. Jack spent most of his grade school years in Woodhaven and Queens, NY and high school at Greenwich HS in CT, Richmond Hill HS in Queens, NY and Hershey HS in PA, graduating with the Class of 1942. His college years were spread between Hershey Junior College, Franklin and Marshall College and Yale University from which he received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1948 and a PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1951. Having enlisted in the Navy V-12 o cer training program in 1942 and moved to an accelerated NROTC program at Yale, he was commissioned as an Ensign in 1944 and went directly to the light cruiser USS Denver as a gunnery o cer serving in the Paci c area. On completing his graduate studies, he joined the research department of Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company in South Charleston, WV as a research scientist.

The triumph of his life was his marriage on July 13, 1946 to Dodie Weist, with whom he spent the next 77 loving years. Their three children Patti born in New Haven, and Je , and Brian were born and raised during his 19 years in West Virginia. His work then took him to NYC for three years and 16 years in West eld, NJ, before retiring in 1986.

Jack considered himself a caring secular humanist with a high regard for all religions and organizations that cared for people in need; especially St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Seven Lakes. He was a lifelong Democrat, starting with FDR, and always felt that the party cared for the people. The most important part of his life was his love and devotion to Dodie and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is joining his wife of 77 years, Dodie, who passed in October. Surviving are their 3 children, Patti Wagner, Je rey Lynn and Sarah-Kate Hawkins, and Brian Lynn; his grandchildren, Brian Wagner and Tabitha Collins, Ashley Lynn Trepp and Ethan, Cameron Vanore and Greg, Heather Long and David, and Kirsten Lynn; and 9 greatgrandchildren, Jaden, Caleb, Dylan Wagner; Kenzie Collins, Leah, Freddy, Wol e Trepp; Huxton and Riggs Long.

Paul Victor DiSantis

July 15, 1946 - February 22,

2024

Paul Victor DiSantis, 77 of Pinehurst, NC passed away on Thursday, February 22, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital with his wife and daughter at his side. Paul was born on July 15, 1946 in Erie, Pennsylvania. His family later moved to Winston Salem, NC and Paul graduated in 1964 from North Forsyth High School. After serving four years in the US Air Force, Paul graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Business in Winston Salem, NC. He began his career in insurance sales and went on to work as a Financial Advisor at the business he established, Delta Financial Advisors. His career spanned 46 years in Winston Salem, Durham, and Pinehurst, NC. Outside of his career, Paul really loved the game of golf and was a member of his high school golf team and Air Force golf team. His love of golf factored highly into his family’s move to Pinehurst in 1991. Paul was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was a very sweet and caring man. He leaves behind family and friends who will miss him greatly. Paul was preceded in death by his parents Victor and Laura DiSantis, and his daughter Beth Matthews. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Vicki Cooke DiSantis; daughter, Jennifer Burris; grandchildren, Cole Matthews, Chrstian Matthews, and Katelyn Prosser (Ethan); sisters, Varma Childs, Mary Cain (Jim), and brother, Tom DiSantis.

Janis Speaks Bitting

December 18, 1939 - February 24, 2024

Janis Speaks Bitting, age 84, of Southern Pines, NC, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2024. She was born in Athens, AL on December 18, 1939. Janis was preceded in death by her mother, Eva Lamon Speaks, her father, Robert Louis Speaks and by her sister, Gloria Speaks Hay. Janis leaves behind her husband, John Bitting, daughter Angie, son Jay (Mercedes), grandsons Slate (Allie), Gray (Meri Elizabeth) and Cade, and nieces and nephews. Janis was a graduate of Athens High School in Alabama and received her Bachelor Degree from the University of Alabama. She spent her early career as an education administrator, serving in various capacities in multiple school systems in New Jersey, Kentucky and North Carolina. She later enjoyed her time working with Southern Pines Weight Watchers. She loved to be silly with family and friends. She never met a stranger and her loving, caring spirit was an inspiration. She loved to shop and to talk on the phone. She was such a generous and giving person, loving nothing better than to spoil her family with gifts, love and attention. We will cherish our memories of Janis’s enthusiasm for the Alabama Crimson Tide. A bigger fan of college football there has never been.

Catherine Lee Grady

January 31, 1943 - February 23, 2024

Catherine Lee Grady, age 81, of Southern Pines, NC peacefully passed away at FirstHealth Hospice House on February 23, 2024. Cathy was born in Columbia, SC January 31, 1943 to David Dowdey and Mary Richardson Dowdey. Cathy’s nursing career of 30 years included several years in Public Health and then in the private sector, retiring as the o ce manager for a two doctor OB-GYN clinic in Columbia. She was a long-time member and past president of the St Monica Chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King. As an active member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, she served on the Altar Guild, the Welcome Committee, chaired the Evensong Receptions and ushered with her husband for both Sunday and occasional services. She loved entertaining with a joyful spirit of hospitality for all welcomed in their homes and the church. She was an avid SC Gamecock fan though adopted her husband’s allegiance to the Tar Heels, unless they were playing South Carolina! Cathy is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 30 years, William Durward P. Grady; her son, Mark Hood (Crysti); grandson, Warren Hood (Raleigh); two greatgrandchildren Emma and Wren Hood; niece, Ginny Harley (David) and nephew, Alex Steele (Tanya); three step-daughters, Beth Jordan (Chris); Diane Tate; Christy McKinney(Brian “Skinny”) and two step-grandchildren, Tyler Jordan , and Mireille “Mimi” Bordeaux; and her beloved Yorkie, Mr. Buttons. Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dorothy Smith (Frank) and granddaughter, Halle Hood.

obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

Anne Howell

July 7, 1936 - February 24, 2024

Anne Howell, age 88, of Pinehurst, NC passed away at home on February 24, 2024. Anne was born in Jackson, MI, July 7, 1936 to Gerald and Eileen Vogelsang, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Dominican High School and Michigan State University. She later earned a Master’s Degree from Fair eld University in Connecticut, and a Certi cation in Administration from Sacred Heart University. Anne was an accomplished and exemplary educator, respected and beloved by students and sta in both Norwalk and Wilton school districts, where she taught subjects such as AP History, Russian Studies and Humanities. She was also an instructional leader in the Social Studies Department. Anne was committed to promoting critical thinking, earning high praise among her students as she served as Class Advisor, and Honor Society Advisor. As a teacher, Anne wasn’t always serious. She was playful and her students loved her quick wit. After retiring and moving to Pinehurst, Anne pursued her passions: reading, learning, gardening, the Arts, travel and most important, friendships. Anne was always up for a good time and lively conversation. She will be dearly, missed by those fortunate enough to know her through book clubs, garden clubs, friends at Weymouth, as well as neighbors at Bretton Woods. And she kept close those many friends she met through teaching and living in Connecticut. Anne is survived by her sons Gerald Pazar, Tim Pazar, sister Susan (Lee) Steigmeyer, grandchildren Cole, T J, and Kara Pazar, and nephew Michael (Lisa) Niece Amy (Jeremiah) Holden, and their children Annie, Calvin, Ella and Elliot. Anne was preceded in death by son, Patrick, her parents Jerry and Eileen, and sister, Jeanne.