North State Journal Vol. 5, Issue 51 by North State Journal

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 51

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

NC COVID-19 vaccination rates slowly climb upward Raleigh The state’s COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to trend upward following a sluggish rollout compared to almost every other state. As of Feb. 8, CDC data shows the state with the 27th-highest rate of doses administered per 100,000 residents. That puts the state around the middle following two months spent at or near the bottom of other state’s rates. For residents with two doses, the state fares slight worse among other states, behind 28 others per 100,000. NSJ STAFF

Biden says ‘erratic’ Trump shouldn’t get intel briefings Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden said that Donald Trump’s “erratic behavior” should prevent him from receiving classified intelligence briefings, a courtesy that historically has been granted to outgoing presidents. Asked in an interview with CBS News what he feared if Trump continued to receive the briefings, Biden said he did not want to “speculate out loud” but made clear he did not want Trump to continue getting them. “I just think that there is no need for him to have the intelligence briefings,” Biden said. “What value is giving him an intelligence briefing? What impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might slip and say something?” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this week that the issue of granting Trump intelligence briefings was “something that is under review.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

UN kicks off selection of next secretarygeneral United Nations The United Nations kicked off the selection of its next secretary-general, asking the 193 U.N. member states to submit candidates to be the world organization’s chief diplomat and operating officer. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose current term expires on Dec. 31, announced last month that he is seeking a second five-year term. Honduras’ U.N. Ambassador Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake also sent a letter to all U.N. member nations saying there has never been a female secretary-general and asking them to “present women candidates.” The current election is the first under the 2015 resolution where an incumbent is seeking reelection. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

UK says new study vindicates delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot London Britain’s health chief has hailed a new study suggesting that a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine provides a high level of protection for 12 weeks, saying it supports the government’s contentious strategy of delaying the second shot so it can protect more people quickly with a first dose. Britain’s decision has been criticized as risky by other European countries, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the study “backs the strategy that we’ve taken and it shows the world that the Oxford vaccine works effectively.” The study did not address dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Pfizer recommends that its shots be given 21 days apart and has not endorsed the U.K. government’s decision to lengthen the time between doses. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SENATE TELEVISION VIA AP

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., prepares to speak during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

NORTH

Trump’s historic 2nd impeachment trial opens

JOURNaL

The Associated Press

STATE ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

NC cities pass LGBTQ antidiscrimination ordinances Biden advances cause with executive orders By David Larson North State Journal DURHAM — In early 2021, local governments in most urban centers across North Carolina are either discussing, or have already passed, LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinances after the sunsetting of a bill late last year appeared to open the door to the option. Mecklenburg County, which is home to Charlotte and its major suburbs; Orange County, as well as its three major municipalities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough; Durham; and Greensboro have all passed a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, or SOGI, ordinance. Boone, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Harrisburg and other municipalities are considering similar measures. On Dec. 1, 2020, a portion of House Bill 142, a compromise bill to end the HB-2 “Bathroom Bill” fight, expired. The portion had prohibited local governments from passing any ordinance “regulating private employment practices or regulating public accommodations,” a reference to SOGI ordinances like the 2016 one passed by Charlotte. Once that prohibition on local ordinances regulating discrimination in employment and accommodations was removed, LGBTQ-rights groups, that same day, held an “HB-142 Sunset Townhall,” where they discussed their intentions of pushing for SOGI ordinances across the state. A website, ncisready. org, was also rolled out, encouraging visitors to click on their city’s name in order to contact all their local officials and tell them to advance the proLGBTQ ordinances. The campaign is also active on social media with an “NCisready” hashtag. Despite the aggressive push from one side, Republican leadership at the General Assembly does not appear to want a repeat of the 2016 battle. On Jan. 12, after the passage of the first or-

dinance, Loretta Boniti of Spectrum News asked Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) what legislative Republicans’ response will be. “I have not had a chance to read those ordinances, and I can also tell you, I’ve not had a member of the General Assembly come up to me and say, ‘We need to do something,’ or ‘We need not to do something,’” Berger said. “I think it is something that there will be some conversations about, but my thought is that the more likely next step for folks who have concerns about what may be taking place would be those people who would be directly impacted in a way on maybe their religious liberty or their businesses or something, I think the courts are probably the appropriate forum for us to look at.” In Winston-Salem, one of the cities considering passing an ordinance, a couple weeks after the sunsetting of HB142, a Christian wedding-venue owner declined to host a lesbian wedding, prompting a backlash. The couple, Brianna May and Kasey Mayfield, wrote to The Warehouse on Ivy to express their interest in using the venue and later received a response saying, “As we would love to have you at our venue, unfortunately we do not host same sex marriage ceremonies. We do appreciate you considering us. Thanks.” May wrote a Facebook post, which subsequently went viral, saying, “thanks so much to the warehouse on ivy for letting us know we’re not welcome.” Supporters of the couple then flooded Warehouse on Ivy’s online presence with one-star reviews and negative comments. A representative of the venue provided a short statement to multiple media outlets, saying, “We allow anyone of any color, race, religion or belief to use our venue at any given time. Although we love and respect everyone in our community, [their] own decision making and beliefs, we also strongly believe in our Christian values.” It is unclear how situations like this would be resolved in See ORDINANCES, page A2

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial opened Tuesday in the Senate with House prosecutors telling senators the case would present “cold, hard facts” against Trump. The former president is charged with inciting the siege of the Capitol to overturn the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. “If that’s not an impeachable offense, then there’s no such thing as a high crime and misdemeanor,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in opening remarks. Trump is the first president to

face impeachment charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. Acquittal is likely, but the trial will test the nation’s attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats’ resolve in pursuing him, and the loyalty of Trump’s Republican allies defending him. Trump’s lawyers are insisting that he is not guilty of the sole charge of “incitement of insurrection,” his fiery words just a figure of speech as he encouraged a rally crowd to “fight like hell” for his presidency. See IMPEACHMENT, page A2

Senate vote shows partisan divide on inperson instruction 16 of 23 Democrats vote no on bill that would return K-12 students to school full time By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The divide on getting K-12 students back into the classroom revealed a clear partisan divide last week. During a vote on Senate Bill 37, a bill to get kids back in classrooms for in-person instruction, 16 out of the 23 Senate Democrats voted no. Four Democrats had excused absences, but only two Democrats, Sens. Ben Clark and Kirk deViere, both from Cumberland County, voted yes. Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) was the only Republican excused from the vote and the remaining 27 Republicans all voted yes. “Senate Bill 37 balances the needs of our students with the necessary public health protocols,” Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) told North State Journal. “There’s no denying that schools will need to take precautions, that’s why we included specific language about the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit, which was developed by NCDHHS. I believe it’s time to stop making excuses. Schools across the state and the nation have been operating safely for months. This bill is a workable, safe path forward for all students.” Multiple Democrats tried to amend the bill, such as Sen. Wiley Nickel (D-Wake), who wanted to amend the title to “To Provide at Least One School Nurse in Every School,” and added matching language in the bill text. Some of the debate on the bill included Democratic claims the measure had no funding, yet the day prior, a bill containing $1.6 bil-

lion in COVID-19 relief funding was unanimously passed and sent to the Gov. Roy Cooper. “My Democratic colleagues continue to say they want students back in classrooms for in-person instruction, but it seems as though despite the science and data that See SCHOOLS, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: FOCUSED ENERGY

2.10.21

God’s creation does not follow a path based in human understanding. He created light, then atmospheric divisions, then land, sea and vegetation. Then, on the fourth day, he sets the cosmos in motion with the sun, moon and stars. The vegetation that was on the land was created before the sun and the other heavenly bodies. According to human logic, the plants of the earth need the energy from the sun to sustain themselves. The light — expressed on the first day — was focused and formed on the fourth day but was present since the beginning. The creation story exists before physics, before human understanding and before the timeline of the world was set in motion. Revelation 21:23 tells us of a time and place where there will be no need for a sun or moon. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The light was there at the beginning and will be there forever.

#269

“Esse quam videri”

GENESIS 1:14-18 Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 14

FILE PHOTO

Illustration of the night sky with images from NASA.

Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

Published each Wednesday by North State Media, LLC 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $25.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609

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ORDINANCES from page A1 cities with SOGI ordinances versus ones without an ordinance, and the legal landscape on the issue federally is shifting quickly. President Joe Biden, on his first day in office, expanded, by executive order, sexual orientation and gender identity protections, asserting that his administration is only implementing what’s required by the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. This decision re-interpreted Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on sex, to now cover sexual orientation and gender identity under the word

“sex.” The court argued that discriminating based on these factors would require considering “[M]y thought is that the more likely next step for folks their sex. who have concerns about what may be taking place would While Biden and LGBTQ groups say this decision means be those people who would be directly impacted in a way sex should be interpreted in this on maybe their religious liberty or their businesses or broader way in all parts of the Civil Rights Act, Justice Neil something, I think the courts are probably the appropriate Gorsuch, who wrote the deci- forum for us to look at.” sion, said, “They say sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and dress codes will prove unsustainable after our decision today but none of these other laws are before us; we have not had Preventing and Combating Dis- schools in the same way Bostock the benefit of adversarial test- crimination on the Basis of Gen- does, saying, “Children should be ing about the meaning of their der Identity or Sexual Orien- able to learn without worrying terms, and we do not prejudge tation” also directs federally about whether they will be defunded schools to interpret Title nied access to the restroom, the any such question today.” Biden’s “Executive Order on IX on sex-discrimination in the locker room, or school sports.”

IMPEACHMENT from page A1 Security remained extremely tight at the Capitol, a changed place after the attack, fenced off with razor wire and armed National Guard troops on patrol. The nine House managers walked across the shuttered building to prosecute the case before the Senate. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that Biden would not be watching the trial of his predecessor. “Joe Biden is the president, he’s not a pundit, he’s not going to opine on back and forth arguments,” she said. With senators gathered as the court of impeachment, sworn to deliver “impartial justice,” the trial was starting with debate and a vote over whether it’s constitutionally permissible to prosecute Trump after he is no longer in the White House. Trump’s defense team has focused on the question of constitutionality, which could resonate with Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior. “President Trump was not impeached for run of the mill corruption, misconduct. He was impeached for inciting a violent insurrection — an insurrection where people died, in this building,” Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo. said. “If Congress stands by, it would invite future presidents to use their power

SCHOOLS from page A1 shows we can reopen schools safely, they’re making excuses to continue to hold our children back,” said Ballard. “Just days before the Senate voted to reopen schools, we unanimously passed $1.6 billion in federal funds to help our schools reopen. That’s money that can be used at the discretion of school principals to address the needs of their individual schools, sanitation supplies, and other activities necessary to continue operating.” In an email response to a constituent obtained by North State Journal, Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg) claims that one of the “biggest problems” with the bill is that “it creates an insurmountable, unfunded mandate to bring all students with IEPs or 504 plans back under Plan A.” Marcus did not explain why she believes this is an “unfunded mandate” but last year lawmakers passed HB 1105: Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, which contained $115 million for education and a “hold harmless” budget provision. The provision allows districts to receive the same level of funding de-

without any fear of accountability.” It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, in part because the senators were witnesses themselves. At his Mar-aLago club in Florida, Trump has declined a request to testify. Trump’s defense team has said it plans to counter with its own cache of videos of Democratic politicians making fiery speeches. “We have some videos up our sleeve,” senior

Trump adviser Jason Miller said on a podcast Monday. Presidential impeachment trials have been conducted only three times before, leading to acquittals for Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and then Trump last year. Typically senators sit at their desks for such occasions, but the COVID-19 crisis has upended even this tradition. Instead, senators will be allowed to spread out, in

the “marble room” just off the Senate floor, where proceedings will be shown on TV, and in the public galleries above the chamber, to accommodate social distancing, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Presiding is not the chief justice of the Supreme Court, as has been tradition for the nation’s few presidential impeachment trials, but the chamber’s senior-most member of

the majority party, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments would begin at noon Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend. In filings, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as “political theater” on the same Senate floor invaded by the mob. Trump’s defenders suggest he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Trump now that he has left office. House impeachment managers, in their own filings, assert that Trump “betrayed the American people” and has no valid excuse or defense. Trump’s second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was acquitted from charges he privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency. This time, the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.

spite drops in their average daily membership enrollment. Last September, parents in Marcus’ own district filed a lawsuit over the lack of in-person instruction while other parents across the state reported their special needs children were suffering because districts were not delivering on IEPs and 504 plans. Parents told North State Journal remote instruction did not work for their students. A growing number of lawsuits have been filed over the denial of IEPs and special needs services, including a federal suit filed in the Southern District of New York last fall. That suit, which includes all 100 counties in North Carolina, accuses school districts of violating federal education and disabilities laws by collecting federal education funds meant to provide special needs therapies to students while the districts did not provide the services. Where that federal money is now remains a question.

encouraging school districts to return to five-day-a-week in-person instruction. He did not issue an executive order on the matter. Instead, NCDHHS’ Safe Schools NC Toolkit was updated with language that all grades could reopen for in-person learning using certain safety measures. The N.C. Republican Party pushed back on Cooper for not releasing an executive order. “The science and data show not only is it safe for kids and teachers to return to schools, but kids are suffering and falling behind with the schoolhouse doors locked,” said NCGOP Communications Director Tim Wigginton. “Cooper needs to modify or repeal his executive orders and put our kids back in school as the science and data show. It is time for Cooper to lead for our kids and stop carrying water for the extreme liberal special interests who want to keep kids out of the classroom.” The vote came just two days after the N.C. Democratic Party Chair Wayne Goodwin accused Republicans of “playing politics” with school reopenings “by imposing heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all

legislative mandates.” The governor has only shown interest in local control of public schools when it comes to enforcement of his pandemic orders. Most of Cooper’s orders have covered the entire state, including his stay-athome orders, business closures, the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, and the alcohol sales prohibitions, the latter two of which have been renewed multiple times. During the question-and-answer session on Feb. 2, Cooper said he “hadn’t seen the legislation” yet, but claimed that SB 37 did not follow safety protocols. He did not respond to the follow-up question by the same reporter on whether he would veto the bill. Senate Bill 37 does follow safety protocols and cites NCDHHS’ Strong Schools guidance, saying that districts “shall comply with all requirements of the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit (K-12), as that guidance existed on December 4, 2020, for implementation of Plan A (Minimal Social Distancing) and Plan B (Moderate Social Distancing).” “It’s troubling that both Gov. Cooper and Senate Democrats

continue to make false claims about the bill,” said Ballard. “It does not force schools into any one plan. Local districts have control over their reopening plans, including offering Plan A, Plan B, or a mixture of the two while allowing families to opt-in to a remote option if they need it. It also allows the flexibility to move to remote-only learning if needed because of quarantines.” The bill also mentions the CDC’s advice which says that schools can open safely “with mitigation efforts” and that there is “little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission.” The N.C. State Board of Education has not openly commented on Senate Bill 37, but state Superintendent Catherine Truitt says that while the bill still needs to go through the legislative process, “at its center is the desire to get all children back in the classroom so they can start to recover from the learning loss this pandemic has wrought.” Truitt also noted that “current health and safety guidance from DHHS does not allow for this.”

SENATE TELEVISION VIA AP

In this image from video, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is presiding over the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, opens the trial day in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

History repeating The day after Senate Bill 37 was filed, Gov. Cooper held a briefing

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

State board of education passes new K-12 social studies standards Board votes 7-5 to approve Draft Five amid growing pushback By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

TOBY TALBOT | AP PHOTO

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt.

NC attorney general announces $573 million settlement in opioid consulting firm case NC’s share will be $19 million, with $15 million expected in coming months By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to pay over $573 million as part of a settlement to resolve claims of liability in the opioid epidemic. The claims were made by 43 states, which includes North Carolina, as well as the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories. According to N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, the state will receive just under $19 million, with $15 million paid out in the coming next few months. The balance of $4 million will be paid in installments over the course of the next three years. “The opioid epidemic has ripped families apart all across our state,” said Stein. “Just as we were making progress in fighting back, the COVID-19 pandemic made overdose deaths spike again. I am committed to doing everything in my power to fight this epidemic — and that includes holding accountable those who are responsible for its creation and have profited from it.” Stein continued, alleging that McKinsey “helped to develop and promote schemes that led to widespread over prescription of Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin.” The announcement was made alongside California Attorney

General Xavier Becerra. The Biden administration has nominated Becerra to head up the U.S. Health and Human Services department. “Today’s deal is a big deal because... well, it’s a big deal,” Becerra said during the press conference. Stein said the funds will be used to deal with the consequences of opioid addiction, such as treatment centers, county paramedics who respond to overdoses, and programs in county jails. The payout is related to the role McKinsey played in the opioid epidemic and advice it gave to drugmaker Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family that owns the company. Purdue Pharma had to file for bankruptcy in 2019 as part of a proposed $10 billion settlement aimed at ending thousands of lawsuits, many claiming Purdue deceptively marketed opioids, which helped fuel the opioid epidemic. Last year, Stein filed a lawsuit against eight members of the Sackler family claiming in a press release that the Sacklers “are the driving forces behind Purdue Pharma and its work to deceptively market and sell OxyContin.” “On behalf of the tens of thousands of sick people in North Carolina who desperately need treatment, I am suing the Sacklers personally,” said Stein in 2020. “The Sacklers must be held accountable. They need to write a check.” A December 2020 CDC re-

“I am committed to doing everything in my power to fight this epidemic — and that includes holding accountable those who are responsible for its creation and have profited from it.” Attorney General Josh Stein port said overdose death rates were the highest ever recorded for a single 12-month period from May 2019 and May 2020. During that time, 81,000 people in the United States died from an overdose. Data for North Carolina located on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services opioid dashboard is largely incomplete and outdated. The most recent data available is surveillance of emergency room visits for overdoses, which showed a 23% increase when comparing statistics in November 2020 to that of November 2019. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), an estimated 79% of drug overdose deaths in North Carolina in 2018 involved opioids for a total of 1,783 fatalities. In 2018, health care providers in North Carolina wrote “61.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons compared to the average U.S. rate of 51.4 prescriptions,” according to the NIH.

RALEIGH — On Feb. 4, the N.C. State Board of Education voted to pass controversial revisions to the state’s social studies standards by a margin of seven to five, ending a battle which spanned multiple meetings over the last month. Both elected officials on the board, N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, voted against approving the standards. Board members Amy White, Dr. Olivia Oxendine and Todd Chasteen joined Folwell and Robinson in voting no. The approved standards are Draft Five of the revision process and include a preamble written by state schools Superintendent Catherine Truitt. Draft Five includes a glossary of terminology that includes race and identity. Just prior to the vote on Draft Five, board member James Ford attempted a substitute motion to use Draft Four instead, which included previously objected-to terms like “systemic racism” and “gender identity.” Ford’s motion was voted down by all members except Reginald Kenan and Ford. “I still disagree with the refinement of the terms,” Ford said, adding that he had a “better appreciation” of why the adjustment was made, but he still disagreed with the “fundamentals of the move.” Folwell made remarks prior to the vote noting the condemnation of the board of a cartoon published by WRAL depicting those opposing the revisions as members of the KKK. Folwell said the board’s statement did not go far enough. “For whatever reason, there were many, many North Carolinians who were not aware of these standards,” said Robinson, noting that the board had received 7,000 pieces of feedback on the revisions and that 85% of that feedback was positive. In voting to approve Draft Five,

PHOTO VIA N.C. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt briefs media from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

Top NCDHHS officials’ presentation underscores need to return K-12 students to classrooms Officials cite mitigation protocols and low transmission rates By A.P. Dillon North State Journal N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Chief Deputy Secretary Susan Gale Perry and State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson gave updates to the State Board of Education on Feb. 4 with a presentation that underscored the need for K-12 students to return to the classroom. Earlier this week, Gov. Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said that the state’s guidance had been updated to encourage districts to return all students back to full-time in-person learning. According to the changes in the Strong Schools Toolkit, K-5 students should return for in-person instruction “five days per week to the fullest extent possible while following all public health proto-

PHOTO BY NCDHHS

cols in the Toolkit (Plan A).” Middle school through high school should also return to in-person five days a week but should include the “Six Feet Social Distancing (Plan B).” Perry and Tilson both indicated that transmission in schools

was low despite high rates of community transmission when “strong preventive measures are in place.” “With prevention measures in place, increasing evidence suggests low rates of COVID-19 transmission in primary and sec-

the board chose to ignore public pushback on the standards in the form of emails, calls and a petition started by Robinson, which has garnered over 30,500 signatures. Robinson continued, “But again, I would say to you, that in four days we had contact with over 30,000 people in North Carolina that are diametrically opposed to these standards. They have serious concerns about them. We are aware of that now.” Dr. Terry Stoops, director of the John Locke Foundation’s Center for Effective Education, told North State Journal that it would be unwise for the board to ignore public opinion and the “overwhelming response to Lt. Gov. Robinson’s petition suggests that the State Board of Education is out of touch with the views of North Carolinians.” Stoops also commented that if the State Board of Education did approve the standards as written, he suspects that the General Assembly may get involved. The lieutenant governor said moving forward with passing the revisions was “irresponsible.” “We see it now. We know what a hot topic it is. What a divisive issue it is…it’s still divisive with us [the board],” said Robinson, as he urged the board to “go back to the drawing board.” The standards were heavily criticized before the meeting by Robinson and other members as being too focused on social justice and Critical Race Theory themes. Robinson pushed back on the “code words” in the standards, like “systemic racism,” that give students a negative view of their country. He also rejected the premise that the U.S. government is systemically racist, saying it is “not racist at all.” “I think they are politically charged. I think they are divisive, and I think they, quite frankly, smack of a lot of leftist dogma,” Robinson said during a January meeting of the board. In the hour before the vote on the standards, board members were informed that around 50,000 students had left the state’s public district schools during 2020-2021.

ondary school settings even with high rates of community transmission,” the NCDHHS presentation reads. Tilson highlighted academic loss and mental health harm to children who have been kept in remote instruction. She also detailed examples of ongoing research, including a North Carolina-based study conducted last fall showing no child-to-adult transmission in schools that were open for instruction. “No one study is perfect, we are learning every day,” Tilson said. On the topic of vaccinations for school employees and teachers, Perry referred to remarks made by the new director of the CDC. “There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely. Vaccination of teachers is not a prerequisite for the safe reopening of schools,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Feb. 3. Teachers unions nationally

have campaigned to keep schools closed and have demanded educators be moved to the front of vaccination groups before agreeing to return to the classroom. In North Carolina, the N.C. Association of Educators (NCAE) made a similar demand. The NCAE is an affiliate of the National Education Association, one of two of the nation’s largest educator unions. “If Governor Cooper feels so strongly about resuming in-person instruction quickly, then he should support educators and immediately bring the full weight of his office to bear to get all educators vaccinated by the end of this month, just as 25 other states have been able to do,” said NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly. “In the meantime, we encourage local school boards to continue to make decisions that protect students and educators based on local conditions.” Kelly and the NCAE also announced they would be conducting a statewide “We Heart Public Schools” tour. Kelly and NCAE Vice President Bryan Proffitt plan to tour the state in an RV over the next five months, hitting “100 counties. 2500+ schools.” Additionally, a flier bills the event as a listening tour that will include music by “DJ Whole Wheat, NCAE swag, giveaways & more!”

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

Romantic getaways across NC are waiting From the mountains in the west to the waters of the east, N.C. has options to get away from home and enjoy breathtaking views with your special someone. Manteo’s White Doe Inn shows the magic of Manteo, with waterfront at your doorstep and exceptional service. If you want a spot in the Piedmont, Pittsboro’s Fearrington House Inn is a can’t-miss destination. As Chatham County continues to grow, so does the reputation of the Fearrington. Finally, if the mountains are calling, Waynesville’s The Swag, situated more than 5,000 feet above sea level, sits close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

WEST DJ gets a black bear visit during solo techno house party

3 9

The Swag Waynesville

Haywood Park Hotel & Atrium Asheville

Gideon Ridge Inn Blowing Rock

The Duke Mansion Charlotte

The Fearrington House Inn Pittsboro

Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn & Garden Fuquay-Varina

Highland Lake Inn & Resort Flat Rock

Marsh Harbour Inn Bald Head Island

Inner Banks Inn & Restaurant Edenton

The White Doe Inn Manteo

The Castle on Silver Lake Ocracoke

Man wanted on child sex crime charges killed

Avery County Several local businesses are giving customers the chance to support the community’s elderly residents on Valentine’s Day. The “Gifts from the Heart” program features trees adorned with heart decorations. Each of the 175 hearts represent a need for an elderly person in Avery County, such as clothing, blankets, activities and snacks.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Burke County Gerald Edward Huffman, 77, was killed in a fire in his home in Connelly Springs on Saturday. Firefighters believe the blaze started in the garage, and neighbors reported that a man was trapped inside. As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, rescuers were able to locate Huffman’s body in the laundry room/garage area. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alleghany County The U.S. Geological Survey reports that earthquakes have shaken the town of Sparta. The tremors struck Wednesday night. The 2.4 magnitude quake began shortly after 11 p.m. Another quake that was a 2.1 magnitude hit around 11:30 p.m. Sparta is the same town that withstood a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in August. That earthquake was felt throughout the state. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPECTRUM

Elderly man dies in fire

PIEDMONT

‘Gifts from the Heart’ remembering elderly for Valentine’s Day

Granville County A man wanted on child sex charges was shot and killed after an 18-hour standoff. Agents with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and Granville County sheriff’s deputies went to a home in Franklinton to serve a search warrant to find evidence of production of child pornography. The suspect, who wasn’t identified, came to the door with a long gun. One of the SBI agents shot the suspect, who died at the scene. He was charged with firstdegree statutory sex offense, four counts firstdegree sexual exploitation of a minor and disseminating obscenities to a minor.

EAST

Man finds WWII-era mortar round in basement

Girl, 10, fatally shot

Durham County A man’s discovery of a World War II-era mortar round in his home prompted police to close several area roads. Dr. Ralph Haynes, of Durham, found the 60 mm mortar round from 1942 behind a pillar in a basement crawlspace during a home renovation project. He believes the shell had probably been there since the 1950s. The mortar round still had its firing pin intact, so he moved it to a separate garage before calling the Durham Police Department, which informed the Durham County Bomb Squad. The removal prompted street closures for nearly two hours.

Halifax County A 10-year-old girl has died after being shot in what authorities say may have been the result of mishandling of a gun by a family member. Halifax County deputies were called to Bobolink Trail in Hollister at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a juvenile being shot. By the time they arrived, they learned the girl had died from her injuries. Deputies said an investigation indicates that the girl may have been shot accidently by a relative who mishandled a firearm. No other details were immediately available. The shooting remains under investigation.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Body found in submerged car off I-95 Johnston County The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is looking into the discovery of a submerged car with a man’s body inside off Interstate 95. Patrol investigators said skid marks suggest the driver ran off I-95 north of Selma and his car went into water near Campground Road. Around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, divers found the car. It was pulled from the water and the man’s body was recovered. The unidentified man was the only person in the car. There were car seats in the backseat, but the children weren’t with the man. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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WBTV

Female shot by officer responding to overdose call Gaston County An armed female was shot and seriously hurt by an officer who was responding to a call about a drug overdose. The Gastonia Police Department received an overdose call. When officers arrived, they encountered a female armed with a gun. The shooting remains under investigation, and police have not said what led to it. The officer who shot the female was placed on administrative leave, which is procedure. Officials said that Gastonia Police Chief Travis Brittain contacted the State Bureau of Investigation, which will also investigate the shooting. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senate committee advances NC DEQ secretary’s EPA nomination to full Senate NSJ staff

Buncombe County Jody Flemming, 50, a part-time DJ who took up livestreaming dance parties during COVID, was DJing when a black bear came looking to join the party. In a viral video, the bear paced in front of the door, seemingly lured by the melody. Looking to get inside, the bear stood on its hind legs leaning on the glass and screen door, while Flemming obliviously played music. When Flemming finally noticed the 150-pound bear, he snapped a cell-phone photo. A neighbor’s horn blowing scared the bear away. Flemming then turns back to his turntables and finishes his set.

USGS reports two tremors near Sparta

Jones & Blount

Assistant principal faces sex charge

Deputy released from hospital after traffic stop shooting

Iredell County An assistant principal at Coddle Creek Elementary School has been charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Mooresville police arrested Shaun Michael Bock, 28, last week. A report was filed Jan. 26 about suspected sexual exploitation with a minor. After police conducted interviews with witnesses, Bock was identified as a suspect. Police executed search warrants at Bock’s home and the school. Bock was suspended by the Iredell-Statesville School System pending a police investigation. The victim is not a student in the system. Bock has been an employee of the Iredell-Statesville School System since July 2020.

Nash County Nash County sheriff’s deputy William “Tommy” Toney was shot during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 and has been released from the hospital. Deputies stopped a MercedesBenz for speeding and noticed criminal activity in the car. When deputies asked the driver to leave the car, he opened fire. Toney received multiple gunshot wounds. Deputy Shelby Scott returned fire and held the suspect at gunpoint after he ran into a ditch. Toney and the suspect, Jarred Javon Ford, 33, of St. Petersburg, Florida, were taken to a hospital in Greensville for surgery. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNC Wilmington launches $100 million campaign New Hanover County Officials at UNC Wilmington say the school has raised $86 million toward the fundraising campaign’s goal of $100 million. Among the donors are David and Helen Congdon, who made a $10 million gift commitment to establish the School of Supply Chain, Business Analytics and Information Systems. There was also a $5 million gift from Quality Chemical Laboratories to support the development of new programs related to pharmaceutical sciences and chemistry. Among the newest programs already established is the bachelor’s degree in coastal engineering, the first of its kind in the nation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. Senate committee gave its approval to N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan to become President Joe Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator on Tuesday. A floor vote to confirm Regan is expected in the coming days. In a committee hearing on Feb. 3, Regan pledged to “move with a sense of urgency on climate change” and other priorities, while working with lawmakers from both parties to protect the environment. Under questioning from Republican senators, Regan vowed to “follow the law, not exceed my statutory authority” to complete major new regulations on power plants, automobile tailpipes, mercury emissions and waterways — all of which will likely face strong GOP opposition. “We will work transparently with responsible industries eager to establish clear, consistent rules of the road,’’ Regan said, and “work in partnership with Congress, leveraging your expertise ... as we strive to build healthier communities.’’ Biden has vowed to focus on environmental justice as a core part of his climate and environmental strategy, and Regan said he was eager to do his part. West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the panel, questioned whether Regan can be effective, saying he and other Cabinet officials tasked with addressing climate change “are going to be tripping over each other,’’ while facing likely interference from two high-profile White

CAROLINE BREHMAN | POOL VIA AP

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency nominee Michael Regan, speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. House climate advisers, former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy and former Secretary of State John Kerry. McCarthy serves as domestic climate adviser while Kerry is a special climate envoy. Following Tuesday’s vote, Capito said of Regan, “Let me be clear: my decision today is not a personal one. Mr. Regan is a professional and affable gentleman. However, I remain deeply concerned about unaccountable climate czars in the White House and their control over EPA and environmental policy. Without clear commitments to oppose policies that would economically devastate West Virginia again, I cannot support him.” The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Federal appeals court denies petition for review of voter ID case NSJ staff RALEIGH — Legislative leaders said Monday that the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition for an en banc review of the decision to overturn the state’s voter ID law. The plaintiffs in the case, led by the state’s NAACP, petitioned for a full 15-member review of the case. “A bit of good news. By order this morning, the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Plaintiffs’ petition for en banc review of the favorable voter ID decision we received last month,” state Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) said. “Unless Plaintiffs now take the extraordinary step of seeking review in the US Supreme

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The

98 % of ALL Farms Truth are Family Farms

About Ag

ncfb.org

Court, this case will head back to the Federal District Court in NC for trial.” In December 2020, the federal judges wrote in a unanimous opinion that “The district court penalized the General Assembly because of who they were, instead of what they did. When discussing the sequence of events leading to the 2018 voter ID law’s enactment, the district court discounted the normalcy of the legislative process to focus on who drafted and passed the law.” A state Court of Appeals trial is still expected to be held this year over the law. A spokesperson from Senate Leader Phil Berger’s office said that the goal to have the requirement in place by the 2022 elections.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Build real equity, don’t just talk about it

Every younger worker today will lose 3% of their net income during their lifetimes paying Social Security payroll taxes to the federal government.

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S domestic policy advisor Susan Rice went to great lengths to explain how the Biden Administration was not only going to somehow wave a magic wand and proclaim “equality” in every federal agency but guarantee everyone achieves “equity” as well. Equality connotes the sense of fairness and freedom of opportunity, the very essence of American values. Equity by fiat demands everyone’s outcome will be the same even though their individual input in terms of work, education and plain God-given abilities are not ever going to be equal — the very definition of socialism. Equity cannot be mandated through President Biden’s executive pen or a law passed by Congress. Real equity, however, can be built for everyone through the miracle of investing and tax-free cash value buildup if done correctly over a long period of time. Instead of paying lip-service to the socialist dream of equity, the Biden Administration could take the bold first step that will provide a truly amazing amount of “real equity” for every American citizen for the rest of our history: Make Social Security a defined contribution 401k plan for everyone. It would be the singular most important step towards financial security for every average American citizen since passage of the Homestead Acts in the mid-to-late 19th century. It would exceed the benefits of any massive tax cut favored by Republicans — 50%+ of citizens pay no income tax to begin with — or gargantuan increases in entitlements and domestic welfare programs favored by liberal Democrats, which are weighing down our children and grandchildren with debt they cannot pay. Social Security (SS) should have been established as a 401k program at inception in 1935 — except there were no 401k plans until 1978. Or in 1983 when the Greenspan Commission hiked payroll taxes but didn’t change the structure of Social Security. Or during any session of any Congress for the past 38 years. We have reached the inflection point where younger workers today will not receive a positive net real return on their lifetime payroll tax “contributions” (sic) to SS during retirement. According to former Social Security Trustee Charles Blahous, every younger worker today will lose 3% of their net income during their lifetimes paying SS payroll taxes to the federal government as he explains in his worthwhile report, “An

Analytical Framework for Strengthening Social Security,” published by the Mercatus Center. Boomers retiring today can expect perhaps a 1% real rate of return on all the money paid into SS on their behalf from their paychecks matched by their employers. None of their money went into a true individual investment account where those funds were allowed to grow with taxfree dividends, interest and capital-gains over time. $100 paid in SS taxes one pay period went to Washington, D.C., where it was paid out in SS benefits to Grandpa Jones in Ames, Iowa, the next month. Minimum wage earners for an entire work career could amass a fortune of hundreds of thousands of dollars in their personal retirement account if every payroll tax dollar they had withheld from their paychecks went into a private 401k plan. Social Security taxes are not tax-deductible at the personal level, which is another impediment to significant wealth accumulation by average working folks. Minimum wage earners of the past can expect to receive around $1,000/month in Social Security checks after retirement. That is Social Insecurity (SI), not Social Security (SS). The most unfair and “inequitable” aspect of SS has been the lack of ability to build wealth to pass on to a spouse or children, for people of all races. It is especially acute for black men; the average lifespan of a black male did not pass 67 years until 1997. Many black men died before receiving $1 in SS benefits after a lifetime of work. Had they been able to put their SS money in a true 401k plan, even if they died early at age 60, they could pass along a portfolio of many hundreds of thousands of dollars to a surviving spouse and children instead of relatively meager survivor benefits. Want to achieve “true” equity, Mr. President and Domestic Policy Advisor Rice? Lead the charge to amend the Social Security system and make it a private plan for every individual for their 21st century retirement needs. Younger voters and black men should demand it and march in the streets to make it happen.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Democrats are on shaky ground with ‘incitement’ charge against Trump

“If you see anybody from that [Trump] Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)

THE SENATE’S impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump began this week with much fanfare and hype from the usual mainstream media and Democrat circles. But beyond the predictable swooning and swaying from the press and the left, a good look should be taken at the charge against Trump that led to this point. As some have suggested, Democrats are traveling down a very troubling path in charging him with “incitement” based on the Jan. 6 speech he gave as Congress convened for a joint session to affirm and debate electoral votes. The House’s impeachment article against Trump reads as follows: “Shortly before the Joint Session commenced, President Trump, addressed a crowd at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. There, he reiterated false claims that ‘we won this election, and we won it by a landslide.’ He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol, such as: ‘if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’ Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to, among other objectives, interfere with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol …” There are multiple problems with this argument. For starters, during the same speech, Trump also told the rally attendees that “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” He also called on people to “primary” the Republicans who didn’t voice objections to the electoral votes. Urging supporters to “peacefully” make their voices heard and to “primary” Republican politicians doesn’t sound like an incitement to riot. Secondly, the case Democrats will make — that Trump supporters spontaneously decided to breach the Capitol building after hearing his speech — is crumbling. Evidence is piling up to suggest the attack was preplanned, with the FBI and NYPD reportedly warning the Capitol police in advance as to the possibility there would be violence during Trump’s speech. In addition to that, pipe bombs were planted at the RNC and DNC

headquarters the night before the attacks. They were found and reported the next day during Trump’s speech. According to the Washington Post, former Capitol police chief Steven Sund, who resigned after the riots, “said he suspects the bombs were an intentional effort to draw officers away from the grounds of the Capitol.” Thirdly, congressional Democrats, including the House’s lead impeachment manager, Jamie Raskin, have objected to certifying electoral votes in presidential elections where Republicans have won. This goes against the current Democratic argument that such a thing is undemocratic, unprecedented and unconstitutional. Lastly, Democrats who are pursuing the “incitement” line of argument might regret it when such arguments are used against them. Because, by their standard, a number of current Democratic officeholders could be investigated for alleged incitement, and for using rhetoric that actually did encourage people to aggressively confront their political opposition. Here’s what House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) urged a crowd of fired-up Democrats to do in June 2018: “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that [Trump] Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.” When asked about her past comments, Waters defensively claimed what she said “does not in any way equal what this president has said and what he has done.” The Republicans who were stalked and harassed out of restaurants and terrified at their homes as “protesters” converged on them might beg to differ. Media analyst Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021 COLUMN | RHONDA DILLINGHAM

COLUMN | GUY MITCHELL

Time to leave charter school myths behind

When districtrun schools perform poorly, the remedy is to pour more of your taxes into that school, taking away funds that your children could use to find a public charter school that provides a better path for success.

THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER, new policymakers have been sworn in, schools are back in full swing, and the commitment to resolve our former ills and to do new and better things is, for a short time, all around us. There’s no better time than the start of this new year to leave tired myths about public charters schools in the past and start a fresh conversation about what’s in the best interest of the more than 1.5 million students in schools across North Carolina. In nearly every part of North Carolina, there are critics of public charter schools who seek to shut them down, even while there are waiting lists full of families in those same communities who want the option of a public charter school for their children. There’s something wrong with that picture, and the conflict is rooted in myths. Let’s debunk three of those most pervasive myths as discussed in a recent NCAPCS event with Reason Foundation’s Corey DeAngelis: “Public charter schools steal funding from district-run schools in North Carolina.” First, public charter schools are public schools exactly like district-run schools. More importantly, funds allocated to education should go to students to fund their education in the school that works best for them. No public school — charter or districtrun — has an automatic right to North Carolinians’ hard-earned tax dollars. As Corey DeAngelis says, “Allowing families to choose their grocery store doesn’t ‘steal’ funding from Safeway. Allowing families to choose their school doesn’t ‘steal’ funding from district schools. Education funding is supposed to be meant for educating children — not for propping up a particular institution.” “Public Charter schools are too restrictive on the students they admit.” In North Carolina’s 201 public charter schools, they are open to all of North Carolina’s students and don’t confine students to the community they live in. North Carolina’s public charter schools provide a free option to many families whose only other option is the closest district-run school to where they live. District-run public schools, on the other hand, operate as a result of zip code. “Public charter schools lack transparency and accountability.” This myth is the most baseless of them all, because North Carolina’s public charter schools go through a rigorous application process before they can even open their doors. Once they’re open, these charter schools undergo an annual

review of their school’s performance — and if they don’t measure up, they must close. When district-run schools perform poorly, the remedy is to pour more of your taxes into that school, taking away funds that your children could use to find a public charter school that provides a better path for success. As Corey DeAngelis puts it: “Charter schools that underperform shut down. The reality is that public charter schools are directly accountable to families.” Dispelling these and other myths is only half of our challenge. We must also engage our lawmakers to prioritize a student-focused approach to funding and regulation of all of North Carolina’s public schools. Here are six specific policy actions that the North Carolina General Assembly could take to support students’ success: 1. Allow charter schools to continue to offer virtual instruction. 2. Increase parity of charter schools regarding funding opportunities, including COVID-19 funding. 3. Restrict districts’ request for sensitive student information, and impose a penalty to districts for late payment of local funds. 4. Allow charter schools to directly bill Medicaid for reimbursement of eligible expenses. 5. Allow counties the option of providing capital funding to charter schools. 6. Clarify statute to guarantee charter schools’ eligibility for teacher residency licensure

Whether we are dispelling myths or challenging our lawmakers to adopt a student-focused approach to education in North Carolina and across this country, our enduring commitment remains the same: to make sure our families and children have the option of the best possible environment to be prepared for their future. That commitment won’t change based on who is in office, the myths that run rampant or the obstacles that we must face. Let’s work together to prioritize the needs of students over the needs of a system. Rhonda Dillingham is a former high school English teacher, charter school leader and is now the executive director of the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools.

GUEST OPINION | STEPHEN MOORE

Biden wants to kill 80% of America’s energy

Some 80% of all our energy comes from oil, gas and coal. Less than 5% comes from wind and solar. Somehow, Biden is going to magically flip these percentages around in five or 10 years?

When giving speeches and talking to audiences, I’ve often been struck by how few Americans, even those who are highly educated, have any idea where the energy they use in their home or business comes from. I’ve asked college students where the electric power is generated, and they shrug and then point to the electric socket in the wall. The electric currents just come magically through that plug. For millennials, supporting green energy is cool and even virtuous. It’s a popular and costless way to save the planet — until the power doesn’t flow through the grid. Then the laptops, hairdryers, Netflix shows, computer games and iPhones run out of juice. That may happen one of these days — and in the not-too-distant future (just ask Californians about blackouts), when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Which brings me to President Joe Biden’s takeno-prisoners approach to energy. The goals: kill fossil fuels; stop the building of pipelines; enter international treaties that outlaw fossil fuel use; end drilling on federal lands; strangle the oil and gas industries with regulatory assaults. And then throw billions and perhaps trillions of tax dollars at wind and solar farms. So, let’s go back to the question I ask students: How much of our energy needs today are met with fossil fuels — the so-called dirty energy? The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released a chart showing the latest official data on U.S. energy production sources from the Department of Energy. Some 80% of all our energy comes from oil, gas and coal. Less than 5% comes from wind and solar. Somehow, Biden is going to magically flip these percentages around in five or 10 years? Even the federal forecasters who support renewable energy think that is highly unlikely. Even if Biden were able to quadruple American production of green energy over the next decade — a huge undertaking — we will be meeting about 25% of our power needs. Where will we get the other 75% of our electric power and transportation fuels? Battery-operated cars such as Teslas and Chevy

Volts need electric power to recharge the massive batteries. As we produce less oil and gas domestically, two bad things will happen. First, gas prices are going to rise rapidly — perhaps to above $4 a gallon. Prices have already started to rise at the pump to more than $2.50 a gallon in many markets. Second, we will make up for the lost domestic energy production by importing more energy from Saudi Arabia, Russia and OPEC nations. We will reverse the energy independence achieved under former President Donald Trump to dependency on OPEC nations under Biden. This certainly isn’t good for the U.S. economy and jobs here at home. But it’s great news for the Saudi oil sheiks, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the communists in Beijing — all of whom are going to make out like bandits. They can’t believe their good fortune. Maybe so, my younger and more idealistic friends say. But at least we will be doing our part to save the planet. Alas, no. China and India are building more than 100 coal plants as we shut ours down. China and Russia just signed a multibillion-dollar deal to build a pipeline from oil-rich Siberia to the big cities of China. Would Beijing invest in that infrastructure if they had any intention to stop using fossil fuels? Trump was right when he said that we have the toughest environmental standards in the world. So, shifting energy production out of America only increases greenhouse gases. Perhaps over the next several decades, wind and solar power will be cheap enough to meet most of our energy needs. But are we to starve ourselves of energy in the meantime? Are Americans willing to pay $4 or $5 a gallon to fill up the tank with Saudi oil or Russian gas? Wouldn’t it be smarter, safer and, yes, more virtuous to get the energy we need from Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota or even Alberta, Canada, than from countries that hate us? Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an economic consultant with FreedomWorks.

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Global warming’s biggest promoter: the UN IN PREVIOUS ARTICLES, we have seen there is no consensus among the world’s scientists on the premise of man-made global warming. The position statements of a number of the world’s leading research universities and academic societies demonstrate that AGW remains an unproven hypothesis. If the world’s leading environmental scientists have not concluded that AWG is a scientific fact, who is pushing this unproven conclusion, and why are they doing it? The driving force behind the AGW hypothesis has always been politics, not science. The primary political force has been the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (“IPCC”). The IPCC was established by the United Nations in 1988 to “provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.” In its first report issued in 1990, the IPCC concluded that AGW was a fait accompli. For the IPCC, the question has never been whether global warming is actually occurring and, if so, whether human activity is the cause. There has been no effort by the IPCC to report the current state of scientific knowledge regarding supposed climate change, listing the various theories and known facts. The subterfuge of the IPCC from the beginning has been to “confirm” the AGW hypothesis by attempting to show the amount of global warming that would occur with man-made increases in CO2 concentration in the earth’s atmosphere over time. The IPCC has failed repeatedly in its predictive efforts. The most fundamental problem is the enormous scale and complexity of the open system that characterizes the earth’s environment. This open system is impossible to replicate as a control environment in a laboratory. The AGW hypothesis cannot be tested by experimentation, as required by the scientific method. The alternative to the above approach is to develop a computer model which attempts The IPCC’s real to simulate a control goal is to use environment. To this the premise end, the IPCC has developed computer of man-made models that are so global warming complex that they to restructure require multiple Cray world society XC 40 supercomputers to run them. Even and effect a so, the IPCC models transfer of have never been able wealth from to accurately predict developed climatic changes based on simulated cause and nations to effect. Complexity does developing not equal accuracy in nations. science. Computer modeling of climate change is fraught with difficulties. First of all, the earth’s climate is far too complex to be accurately reduced to a mathematical model. Second, in order to assess the accuracy of a model and further refine it, predictive results must be able to be confirmed by back-testing. This involves substituting actual recorded historical values for certain input climate variables, such as CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, to determine if the model output accurately matches the actual recorded environmental temperatures associated with these variables. Back-testing the predictive output of the IPCC models has never been successful. The critical problem is that accurate measurement of global temperature data only became possible some 40 years ago, with the advent of NOAA’s polar orbiting satellites. It is impossible to accurately back-test models predicting changes in environmental temperatures over thousands of years when only 40 years of actual data exists for backtesting. Reflecting these problems, the IPCC models have consistently failed to accurately predict past or future results. Since 1990 the IPCC has been predicting global temperature increases that are more than twice that which was actually measured later using satellite technology. Given such consistent failure, the dictates of the scientific method would normally (absent political intervention) require that the AGW hypothesis be declared falsified, and either be modified or abandoned. Why would the IPCC continue to promote a falsified AGW hypothesis? Why would some world politicians continue to endorse it? In its Sept. 3, 2016, report, the IPCC stated that it seeks to redress “world-wide socioeconomic inequalities among nations and peoples” brought about by climate change. In other words, it seems clear that the IPCC’s real goal is to use the premise of man-made global warming to restructure world society and effect a transfer of wealth from developed nations to developing nations. And that supports the globalist agenda of certain world leaders and their political allies. The Paris Climate Accord is the vehicle intended to effect these changes. In our next article we will examine the Paris Climate Accord and its principal mechanism for effecting wealth transfer: carbon credits. This article is the fourth in a continuing series by Guy K. Mitchell, Jr. Mr. Mitchell is the founder and chairman of Mitchell Industries, a diversified manufacturing company based in Birmingham, Alabama.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

NATION & WORLD

Longtime Reagan Secretary of State George Shultz dies at 100 By Matthew Lee The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, a titan of American academia, business and diplomacy who spent most of the 1980s trying to improve Cold War relations with the Soviet Union and forging a course for peace in the Middle East, has died. He was 100. Shultz died Saturday at his home on the campus of Stanford University, where he was a distinguished fellow at the Hoover Institution, a think tank, and professor emeritus at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. A lifelong Republican, Shultz held three major Cabinet positions in GOP administrations during a lengthy career of public service. He was labor secretary, treasury secretary and director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Richard M. Nixon before spending more than six years as President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state. Shultz was the second-longest serving secretary of state since World War II and had been the oldest surviving former Cabinet member of any administration. Condoleezza Rice, also a former secretary of state and current director of the Hoover Institution, said in a statement that Shultz “will be remembered in history as a man who made the world a better place.” Over his lifetime, Shultz succeeded in the worlds of academia, public service and corporate America, and was widely respected by his peers from both political parties. As the nation’s chief diplomat, Shultz negotiated the first-ever treaty to reduce the size of the Soviet Union’s ground-based nuclear arsenals despite fierce objections

BARRY THUMMA | AP PHOTO

In this Jan. 9, 1985, file photo, Secretary of State George Shultz, center, walks with President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush upon his arrival at the White House in Washington, D.C. from Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to Reagan’s “Strategic Defense Initiative,” or Star Wars. The 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was a historic attempt to begin to reverse the nuclear arms race, a goal he never abandoned in private life. “Now that we know so much about these weapons and their power,” Shultz said in an interview in 2008, “they’re almost weapons that we wouldn’t use, so I think we would be better off without them.” Former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, reflecting in his memoirs on the “highly analytic, calm and unselfish Shultz,” paid Shultz an exceptional compliment in his diary: “If I could choose one American to whom I would entrust the nation’s fate in a crisis, it would be George Shultz.” George Pratt Shultz was born Dec. 13, 1920, in New York City and raised in Englewood, New Jersey. He studied economics and public

and international affairs at Princeton University, graduating in 1942. His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. At Shultz’s 90th birthday party, his successor as secretary of state, James Baker, joked that he would do anything for Shultz “except kiss the tiger.” After Princeton, Shultz joined the Marine Corps and rose to the rank of captain as an artillery officer during World War II. He earned a Ph.D. in economics at MIT in 1949 and taught at MIT and at the University of Chicago, where he was dean of the business school. His administration experience included a stint as a senior staff economist with President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Council of Economic Advisers and as Nixon’s OMB director. Shultz was president of the con-

struction and engineering company Bechtel Group from 1975-1982 and taught part-time at Stanford University before joining the Reagan administration in 1982, replacing Alexander Haig, who resigned after frequent clashes with other members of the administration. A rare public disagreement between Reagan and Shultz came over the secret arms sales to Iran in 1985 in hopes of securing the release of American hostages held in Lebanon by Hezbollah militants. Although Shultz objected, Reagan went ahead with the deal and millions of dollars from Iran went to right-wing Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua. The ensuing Iran-Contra scandal swamped the administration, to Shultz’s dismay. After Reagan left office, Shultz returned to Bechtel, having been the longest serving secretary of state since Cordell Hull under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He retired from Bechtel’s board in 2006 and returned to Stanford and the Hoover Institution. In 2000, he became an early supporter of the presidential candidacy of George W. Bush, whose father had been vice president while Shultz was secretary of state. Shultz served as an informal adviser to the campaign. Former President Bush said, “America has lost one of its finest statesmen with the passing of George Shultz.” “He was a person of deep intellect, talent, and patriotism,” Bush said in a statement. “He took on a wide range of important jobs and did them all well. George Shultz was a great public servant, and America is better because of that service.” Shultz was married to Helena “Obie” O’Brien, an Army nurse he met in the Pacific in World War II, and they had five children. After her death, in 1995, he married Charlotte Maillard, San Francisco’s protocol chief, in 1997. Shultz was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1989. Survivors include his wife, five children, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Divided Ecuador heads to presidential runoff ballot in April Quito, Ecuador Ecuador is headed to a runoff presidential election in April with its deep political divisions evident after the first round of voting, which saw a young leftist backed by a convicted-but-popular former president lead the field of 16 candidates, while the second slot remained undecided between a conservative former banker and an Indigenous leader. The top candidate in Sunday’s ballot was Andrés Arauz, who is supported by former President Rafael Correa, a major influence in the troubled Andean nation despite a corruption conviction. But long after polls closed it was not clear if Arauz would face Guillermo Lasso, in his third run for the presidency after a long career in business, banking and government, or Yaku Pérez, an Indigenous rights and environmental activist. Pérez’s challenge for second place surprised some observers because he had trailed Arauz and Lasso in pre-election polls. April’s winner will succeed President Lenín Moreno. He also was initially a protege of Correa but he turned on his predecessor, who had governed Ecuador for a decade and whose criminal conviction blocked him from seeking the vice presidency this year. “What you are seeing here is really fractured politics,” said Marc Becker, a history professor with a focus on Latin America at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

SPORTS

FBS, D2 schools prepare for spring football, B3

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NC State remains 4th in women’s poll Indianapolis NC State was hoping its win over top-ranked Louisville was enough to move the team to No. 1 in the country. The rival Tar Heels made sure that didn’t happen. The Wolfpack stayed at fourth in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll after defeating the Cardinals — who dropped to No. 3 in this week’s poll — but then losing to UNC last week. South Carolina, which started the season at No. 1 before suffering its first loss of the season to NC State on Dec. 3, returned to the top spot but lost 63-59 in overtime Monday to new No. 2 UConn.

FOOTBALL

Holt, Mills passed over for Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson highlighted the eight-person class elected into Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, but finalists Torry Holt and Sam Mills were again denied entry. Players John Lynch, Alan Faneca and Drew Pearson are also part of the 2021 class, along with coach Tom Flores and sportswriter Bill Nunn. Holt, an NC State alumnus who was a receiver on the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” ranks 16th in NFL history in receiving yardage with 13,382 and 21st in receptions with 920, both well ahead of Johnson’s 731 catches and 11,619 yards. Johnson had 83 touchdowns to Holt’s 74. Mills, the former Panthers and Saints linebacker who died in 2005 after a battle with cancer, coined the “Keep Pounding” slogan Carolina still uses today in his honor. He played nine seasons in New Orleans before spending his final three years in the league in Carolina from 1995-97. In 1996, Mills was a first-team All-Pro for the only time in his career and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection.

ROBERT FRANKLIN | AP PHOTO

First-year Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes has welcomed the relaxed dress code for coaches during the pandemic.

No suits, no tie — no problem The pandemic has led to college basketball coaches relaxing their dress code, a decision that is a relief for some and a break in tradition for others By Brett Friedlander North State Journal BACK IN 2018, when he was still at East Tennessee State, Steve Forbes was selected by fan vote as one of the 10 sexiest coaches in mid-major college basketball. It’s an honor for which he openly campaigned on social media, not out of vanity but rather for comic relief. One look at Forbes’ bald dome and somewhat rotund physique explains why. Let’s just say the first-year Wake Forest coach isn’t likely to appear on the cover of GQ magazine anytime soon, which is why he may have been the happiest man on the conference call this summer when his ACC counterparts decided to switch to a more casual look on the sidelines this season in the absence of fans in the stands.

“Do I look like a person who would miss wearing suits?” Forbes said during a recent Zoom conference in which he was wearing a Deacons hoodie. “I mean, come on, man. I’ve got the Belichick look going on today. I always thought it was kind of ridiculous we had to do it. “A baseball coach wears his uniform. A football coach is wearing this, except for maybe Tom Landry. I’m not coaching any different. I’m just more comfortable.” There are no actual guidelines to coaching attire in college basketball, a fact most famously embodied by West Virginia’s Bob Huggins and his assortment of half-sleeve pullovers and wrinkled windbreakers. Even the most buttoned-down of the bunch, a list that includes Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, will shed their coats and ties for a loud Hawaiian shirt or polo when leading their teams at early-season tournaments such as the Maui Invitational or Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Wearing suits on the sideline is simply a tradition coaches have been carrying on for decades. The vote to leave them hanging in the

ROBERT WILLETT | THE NEWS & OBSERVER VIA AP

UNC coach Roy Williams, left, and NC State coach Kevin Keatts, usually two of the best-dressed coaches in the ACC, have dressed down for games this year during the pandemic. closet this season because of the coronavirus pandemic is the basketball equivalent to wearing pajama bottoms on a Zoom meeting with co-workers. It’s a matter of convenience — with a practical twist since polo shirts and khakis can be washed at home rather than sending them out for others to handle at a dry cleaner. Like Forbes, Notre Dame’s Mike Brey is a happy proponent of the more casual look. On Jan. 2, Brey — who rarely wears a tie even under normal cir-

cumstances — showed up for his team’s game at North Carolina’s Smith Center wearing shorts. But not everyone in the ACC’s coaching fraternity is as comfortable with the new relaxed fashion trend. “Coach (Dean) Smith always said if you want to be respected like a businessman or a professional, you should dress like one,” said UNC’s Roy Williams, who has followed that advice by amassing a trademark collection of Alexander Julian-designed See SUITS, page B4

NC Central ‘staying poised’ despite bumpy path The Eagles have had their season paused three times due to COVID-19, including a 49-day stretch that has left the team scrambling to peak at the right time

NC Central guard Jordan Perkins, pictured in November against Iowa, said the Eagles are still trying to get their legs due to their frequently delayed season.

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal THE SCOREBOARD said that the NC Central basketball team lost at Florida A&M 59-50 on Monday. But the way things have been going for the Eagles during this disjointed season, just being on the court playing a game that matters made it feel like a win in the eyes of coach LeVelle Moton. “Any opportunity that we’ve had to play, we got better,” Moton said in a prophetic statement made before the loss in Tallahassee. “Even if we lost, we got better because we haven’t played basketball. “The only way you can get better is to play the game, and we had an opportunity to play against someone that didn’t look like us, with a different jersey on, where we didn’t know or expect what was coming, where we had had to game plan and scout. It was really different. It felt like we haven’t played basketball in two years.” Actually, the Eagles only went 49 days without being on the court thanks to three separate pauses for COVID-19 issues and the cancellation or postponement of eight games.

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | AP PHOTO

Moton said it felt as if he and his team spent more time in quarantine than they did in practice during that time. That inactivity has only added to the challenge of starting back up again. Although the Eagles have played five games since their return — including a rematch with

FAMU on Tuesday — it’s almost as if they’ve begun a new season while their opponents are already well on their way toward reaching their peak. “We’re all creatures of habit, so my concern was that we never developed any habits,” Moton said of the layoff. “There’s only so much

2-on-2 and 3-on-3 basketball that you can play. That’s been our practices, pretty much. We’re so far behind. We don’t look like a North Carolina Central basketball team. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there, so we’ve got to hurry up and turn things around.”

NCCU’s battle with COVID began even before the season did when it paused practice because of at least one positive case just two weeks before its opening game at Iowa on Nov. 26. The virus struck again after a See NCCU, page B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

2.10.21

TRENDING

Rameses: The Tar Heels’ retired 10-year-old Dorest Horn ram and mascot died Monday. Rameses XXI had spent nine years representing the university at games with his horns painted Carolina blue. Rameses retired last fall and lived the rest of his days on Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm just north of Carrboro. His successor is a young ram named Otis. Russell Wilson: The Seattle Seahawks quarterback was named 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, an award given annually to a player who makes a significant impact in the community. Wilson has worked to address food insecurity and poverty, and he and his wife, singer Ciara, also partnered to educate people on voter registration and spoke out on systemic racism. The former NC State quarterback is also a frequent visitor to Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. The winner of the award receives a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice. Chris Mack: The Louisville men’s basketball coach has tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and the Cardinals have postponed a third ACC game scheduled for Wednesday against Pittsburgh. Louisville assistant and former Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio will take over the lead coaching role in practice and Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech. Louisville’s games last week at Syracuse and Virginia were also postponed following positive tests, contact tracing and quarantining.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NFL

The Buccaneers won their second Super Bowl — and Tom Brady got his seventh in a 10th appearance — with a dominating 31-9 win over the Chiefs on Sunday in Tampa Bay. Both Brady and Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians quickly brushed aside retirement rumors, saying they’ll be back to try and be the first team to repeat as champions since Brady did so with New England in 2003-04.

TONY GUTIERREZ | AP PHOTO

“He’s never played better.” Golden State coach Steve Kerr on guard Stephen Curry after he scored 57 points in the Warriors’ loss in Dallas on Saturday.

BEN LIEBENBERG | AP PHOTO

NBA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

STEVEN SENNE | AP PHOTO

“I think anytime you have good people around, I don’t care what business you’re in, you’re gonna find ways to be successful.” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour on the team hiring former player Justin Williams into a front office adviser role.

ADAM HUNGER | AP PHOTO

Former NC State guard Dennis Smith Jr. is on the move again. The Knicks point guard was traded along with a second round pick to Detroit in exchange for former MVP Derrick Rose. Smith had fallen out of favor in New York, totaling just 28 minutes in three games. He was traded to the Knicks by Dallas on Jan. 31, 2019.

ETHAN HYMAN | THE NEWS & OBSERVER VIA AP

NC State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts said Tuesday that senior guard Devon Daniels underwent surgery on his left knee, which he injured Jan. 27 against Wake Forest. Daniels was leading the Wolfpack in scoring at 16.5 points per game at the time of his injury while averaging 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

PRIME NUMBER

7 Three-pointers for Hornets guard LaMelo Ball in Charlotte’s 119-94 win Monday over Houston, matching a franchise rookie record. Ball was 7 of 12 from behind the arc and tied the record previously set by P.J. Washington last season and D.J. Augustin in 2008.

BOXING

AP PHOTO

Leon Spinks, an Olympic gold medalist who shockingly beat Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in 1978, died Friday after battling cancer. He was 67. Spinks defeated Ali by split decision but lost the rematch seven months later. He fought for the title once more, losing to Larry Holmes in 1981, and finished his career 26-17-3.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Tar Heel men, women top rivals in magical weekend Duke and the fourth-ranked Wolfpack fell to UNC

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ACC

Western Carolina scheduled three games in the fall against FBS opponents, including a Dec. 5 matchup in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels, to prepare for their spring season.

Colleges prepare for new kind of spring football — actual games Many of the state’s FBS and Division II programs are playing an abbreviated schedule after missing out in the fall By Brett Friedlander North State Journal SAM WASHINGTON played in the NFL and has spent more than three decades in college coaching, so the concept of spring football is hardly new to him. This spring, however, is unlike any other he’s ever experienced. Instead of concentrating on long-range goals such as fundamentals and conditioning with his NC A&T Aggies for a traditional season this fall, Washington is feverishly working to prepare his team to play actual games starting later this month. “It’s different,” Washington said. “Generally speaking, this time of year you’re working on development. To switch it from development to playing is challenging, more so because football players are routine people who normally do the same thing, in the same way, every day. And we’re totally out of their comfort zone. “There’s just a lot of little things that have taken us totally out of our routine that makes it very challenging.” The Aggies are among a large group of FCS and Division II schools around the state that are getting ready to play an abbreviated schedule this spring to make up for a 2020 season lost to the coronavirus pandemic. Teams will play between 4-6 games with a 16-team national championship playoff in both divisions set to begin in mid-April. COVID-19 willing. Among the other state FCS schools playing this spring are Davidson, Elon, Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina. Barton, Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, UNC Pembroke and Wingate are the Division II participants. While A&T’s Washington and most of his fellow coaches are busy trying to figure out how to negotiate their way through these un-

precedented circumstances, at least one has an idea of what to expect. Western Carolina’s Mark Speir got a sneak preview of his Catamounts during the fall by scheduling three games against FBS competition. Although they lost all three by lopsided margins — to Liberty, Eastern Kentucky and North Carolina — the opportunity to get out onto the field and play was more important than the results, as far as Speir is concerned. “We learned a lot about externals, the logistics, a lot about our football team,” Speir said. “I know some people are a little anxious about what spring will be, but I think playing those three games in the fall really gave us a comfort zone and we’re really excited about this opportunity.” In addition to learning how to handle the challenges associated with COVID-19 and the protocols it has brought about, Speir and his staff were able to evaluate their players — especially the young ones playing important roles for the first time — under actual game conditions. “We treated it a lot like a preseason NFL,” he said. “We went into every game to win, but we had an agenda to play a lot of players because that’s what you’re going to have to do in a COVID world. You’re going to have certain players that just aren’t going to be available if the trends continue like they did in the fall. So we wanted to see what we had and give a lot of young guys experience.” It’s an approach Speir is hoping will pay dividends once the team begins playing against Southern Conference opponents. He said he’s never looked forward to an opener with greater anticipation than WCU’s Feb. 20 date at No. 15 Furman. “I’m shaking right now,” he said. “I’m ready to go.” As excited as Speir is about starting the long-delayed season, his enthusiasm is tempered compared to that of Barton’s Chip Hester. After practicing amongst themselves for the better part of two years in preparation for their

school’s first intercollegiate football season since 1950, Hester’s Bulldogs will finally get a chance to face off against a hostile opponent when it plays Erskine in Wilson on Feb. 20. “Just think about when you report in August and you go through that training camp, you can’t wait to hit someone in a different color jersey by the end of August,” Hester said. “So we’ve got 80 guys that went through that whole year and then went through the whole fall without playing, so they’re ready to play. “We’ve got a long time to go to get to our first game. But man, they are definitely champing at the bit. They’re ready to get after it.” Because of the circumstances surrounding his startup program, Hester said that the delay to the spring might actually benefit his team. Still, he admitted he has no idea what to expect. “I know that we’ve got talent that can play on this level,” the former Catawba coach said. “We just don’t have experience in competition against other folks. Until you turn that scoreboard on and it counts, you just don’t know how kids are going to respond.” Not everybody that is eligible to play this spring is choosing to do so. NC Central has decided to opt out, a decision that affected NC A&T’s plans since the rivals were originally scheduled to play twice. The Aggies have since replaced the games with home-and-home dates against Norfolk State. The entire Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association has also chosen to wait until the fall before returning to the field. So has Campbell, which competes in the Big South. That’s an option Elon coach Tony Trisciani said his players never seriously considered. “Every day we get to be together is a privilege,” he said. “We understand that a pause in activity could occur at any point, and we will need to be patient as we evaluate the situation to ensure the health and safety of our players and staff. We have a ‘win today’ mindset.”

ball there.” In addition to putting the Tar Heels in prime position for the final month of the regular season, the win had the added bonus of leaving their top rival By Shawn Krest scrambling. Duke fell to .500 North State Journal on the season and saw its NCAA UNC’S SOCIAL MEDIA Tournament hopes continue to team has coined the acronym fade. The Tar Heel women’s team GDTBATH to use as a hashtag on posts. It stands for “Great day then capped the weekend with an upset of No. 4 NC State, 76to be a Tar Heel.” They may need to change it to 69, at Carmichael Arena. CaroliGWTBATH after one of the best na entered the game on a threeweekends for Tar Heel basket- game losing streak and a 1-6 record in the last seven games. ball in recent memory. The men’s team got things The Pack were coming off of a started with a win over Duke road win over top-ranked Louisat Cameron Indoor Stadium on ville and enjoying one of the top Saturday evening. While nei- seasons in program history. Instead, for the third year in ther team was ranked, the win snapped a three-game Duke a row, an unranked Tar Heels winning streak in the best ri- team knocked off a top-10 Wolfvalry in sports. That included a pack squad. The Heels beat No. 9 NC two-point overtime loss to the State, 66-60, last JanuBlue Devils last year ary and topped the No. and a one-point loss 7-ranked Wolfpack, 64the year before. 51, in Raleigh during the The 91-87 score “We wanted 2018-19 season. Over the marked UNC’s first to get our last 20 years, the Carwin over Duke by olina women are 10-5 fewer than five points big guys against ranked NC State since 2018 and the involved teams. first on the road since offensively. “These rivalry games 2016. are a sacred part of While any win ... We had to over the hated Blue win the paint sports,” said Courtney Banghart, who is now Devils is significant 2-1 against the Pack to the Tar Heels, this area.” since taking over as UNC year’s game, unlike coach. “I told them that. those that take place Roy Williams, This is for the instituwith both teams at tion, it’s for our program, the top of the polls, UNC coach it’s for our tradition, and had additional uryou have to honor that gency since an NCAA Tournament berth is far from with your energy, and they did that.” guaranteed for either team. Carolina led by as many as The Tar Heels took a big step toward solidifying their trip to 12 in the second half before NC March Madness with the win, State rallied to take the lead at which was their fourth in five the end of the third quarter. Banghart challenged her games. It also marked Carolina’s first Quadrant I (the selection team, asking, “How tired are committee’s term for top oppo- you of losing games in the fourth nents) win in six attempts. Three quarter?” The Heels responded and of the previous five Quad I losses pulled away from the Pack down were by single digits. UNC also got a boost from the stretch. The Tar Heels got a boost point guard Caleb Love, who had a career-high 25 points from the win but still face a against Duke and showed that tough stretch run this season. things may be finally clicking af- At 9-8, 4-8 in the ACC, Caroliter an up-and-down freshman na will need a strong finish and, likely, a run in the ACC Touryear. “Caleb did some really good nament to lock up a spot in the things tonight,” coach Roy Wil- NCAA Tournament. The remaining five regular liams said. “He did some really good things, made some big season games include four road shots for us, made a couple of big contests, however, including a free throws down the stretch as rematch with the Wolfpack in Raleigh. well.” Following a weekend of wins Kerwin Walton also had a big game, hitting all four of his over their biggest rivals, both 3-pointers and helping to open Tar Heel teams are ready to ride up the middle, where Garrison the momentum, although both Brooks, Armando Bacot and had their rolls slowed with postDay’Ron Sharpe all were able to ponements of their next game — the men against Miami and the make an impact. “We wanted to get our big women against Boston College. Regardless of whether either guys involved offensively,” Williams said. “We had to win the team finishes off the season in paint area. We had to win the the Big Dance, both got a taste of game inside the 10 feet around playing Cinderella in what will the basket, rebounding-wise, be remembered as a great weekdefensively and also scoring the end to … well, you know the rest.

NCCU from page B1 73-67 loss at North Carolina on Dec. 12 — in a matchup that was thrown together hastily after both teams had other opponents drop out of regularly scheduled games — and continued to plague the Eagles for more than a month. The situation became so frustrating that Moton seriously considered following the lead of his school’s football team, which decided not to participate in a planned spring season, by opting out for the remainder of its schedule. “I told them, ‘I’m here for y’all. Whatever you want to do, I’m willing to do,’” Moton said. “‘If you want to cancel the season, I understand. If you want to go ahead, I understand. You make the call and I’ll stand by you.’ “They made the decision to continue. It takes a certain fortitude (to go on). We have some seniors and they’re a little older, so they know this is their last go around. They want to make the most of their senior year.” NCCU’s road back began on Jan. 29 after Moton’s scheduling coordinator, Reggie Sharp, cast a wide net looking for anyone to play as a tuneup before facing Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition. The Eagles’ 94-61 victory against winless Carver College,

“The only way you can get better is to play the game. … It felt like we haven’t played basketball in two years.” LeVelle Moton, NC Central coach

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

NC Central coach LeVelle Moton said he and his team discussed canceling the rest of the 2020-21 season, but his players decided they wanted to continue playing. a non-NCAA historically black school from Atlanta, was followed by back-to-back wins against South Carolina State. Even after the sweep of the Bulldogs, senior point guard Jordan Perkins said he and his teammates are still fighting to get back into a routine again.

“I feel like I’m not in a rhythm at all. Being a point guard, you have to be in rhythm to be good,” said Perkins, the team’s leader with 43 assists. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We’re just staying poised, staying focused. Me and the guys are just figuring it out on the court.”

The biggest obstacle is conditioning. “This is easily the worst conditioned team I’ve played for,” Perkins said. “But it’s only because of COVID. You can still play, but it’s like your body just isn’t doing the same. We need to take these next couple of weeks and turn our lev-

el of intensity up so we can get our legs back right.” There’s not a lot of time left for that to happen. After Tuesday’s game at FAMU, the Eagles had only six games left on their schedule. While Moton’s focus is on preparing his team to be at its best for the upcoming MEAC Tournament, where the NCCU will try to earn its fifth straight NCAA bid, he understands that every chance it gets to play from here on out is a moment to savor. “I want them to understand that, despite all the circumstances and challenges, it is a blessing to be out here on this floor,” Moton said of his players, who were 4-4 (2-1 MEAC) before Tuesday. “Any time you step between the lines, whether you have five people at practice or the entire team, your responsibility is to go hard and honor those that came before you and pave the way for those that will come after.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Silly season makes way for start of Cup Series racing Sunday’s Daytona 500 starts the 2021 schedule, and there are plenty of new teams and drivers in new rides

year in his only start of the season. 52. Josh Bilicki, Rick Ware Racing Bilicki will pilot the other RWR full-time entry. The Wisconsin native ran 22 races last season with three different teams. He had two 25th-place finishes in 2020 —one at Indianapolis driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing and the other at Kansas with RWR.

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal THE GREEN FLAG FLIES on the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season with Sunday’s Daytona 500, opening a schedule that features the most changes in recent memory. This year’s slate includes seven road races, five new tracks and even a dirt-filled Bristol Motor Speedway. There are also plenty of faces in new places, from changes at the wheel to Michael Jordan joining the series as an owner. Here are the new full-time teams and driver changes that will debut at The Great American Race. 5. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Larson’s exit from Chip Ganassi Racing during the Cup Series’ pause last year is well-documented. He was reinstated by NASCAR after taking steps to make amends for using a racial slur during an iRacing event and promptly landed a top ride with the Hendrick No. 5. 7. Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports The Concord native left the Go Fas Racing No. 32 and landed a ride with Spire’s new second team, which was acquired from Leavine Family Racing. LaJoie had top-10s at Daytona the last two seasons, finishing eighth at last year’s Daytona 500. 14. Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing Briscoe fills the seat vacated by

78. B.J. McLeod, Live Fast Motorsports

CHUCK BURTON | AP PHOTO

Michael Jordan, pictured waving the green flag before the 2010 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, will debut his new No. 23 Cup Series team with co-owner Denny Hamlin — driven by Bubba Wallace — at Sunday’s Daytona 500. Clint Bowyer, who will join NASCAR on Fox as a commentator and had taken over the No. 14 in 2017 after Tony Stewart’s retirement. The 27-year-old Briscoe won an Xfinity Series-high nine times last year. 20. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Bell rejoins the JGR stable and takes over for Erik Jones in another former Stewart car, the No. 20. Bell drove for Leavine Family Racing in its final season last year, scoring seven top-10 finishes. 23. Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Michael Jordan’s entry into auto racing with co-owner Denny Hamlin will be piloted in its first season by the Cup Series lone black driver, Bubba Wallace. Wal-

lace leaves one famed number — Richard Petty Motorsports’ No. 43, where he totaled nine top-10s the past two seasons — to drive Jordan’s preferred No. 23.

Gibbs since 2012, but he missed the playoffs last year.

38. Anthony Alfredo, Front Row Racing

It’s a lateral move for Bowman, who goes from Hendrick’s No. 88 — which will be out of circulation — into the No. 48 that was available after teammate Jimmie Johnson retired. Crew chief Greg Ives remains on the pit box for Bowman, who finished sixth in the 2020 standings.

The 21-year-old Alfredo — nicknamed “Fast Pasta” — jumps to Cup racing after just 19 career races in the Xfinity Series. He replaces Mooresville’s John Hunter Nemechek, who had three top-10s in the No. 38 last season. 43. Erik Jones, Richard Petty Motorsports Jones was ousted at JGR but found a landing spot in the No. 43 vacated by Wallace. A two-time winner in the Cup Series (2018 at Daytona, 2019 at Darlington), the 24-year-old had been racing for

48. Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports

51. Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Greensboro’s Ware family will have two teams, with Rick’s son Cody planned to run a full schedule in the No. 51 after driving in 23 Cup races over the last four years. The younger Ware had a 19th-place finish at Talladega last

The 47-year-old McLeod is the owner/driver of the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports team. This year will be his first competing fulltime in the Cup Series, and his career-best finish in 57 Cup races is a 19th at the 2019 Daytona 500 driving for Rick Ware Racing. 99. Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Team It’s the fourth team in four years for the Mexican-born Suarez. He drove the No. 96 for Gaunt Brothers Racing last year, finishing with two top-20s, but will drive for the new Trackhouse team run by former driver Justin Marks and Ty Norris, a longtime racing executive who worked at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and track management company Speedway Motorsports. Other drivers of note Lewisville’s Ty Dillon has found an opportunity after Germain Racing closed up shop, landing a shot with the Gaunt Brothers that may hinge on if Dillon can qualify for the Daytona 500. He’s had most of his success on superspeedways — five of his six career top-10s have been at Daytona or Talladega.

COLUMN | SHAWN KREST

SUITS from page B1

UNC players’ postgame maskless party let two teams down

suits and sports coats. “Before he passed away, I never asked him if I could change. Every game that’s counted on the record, except Maui or Nassau, I’ve worn a coat and tie. Every game. Never failed.” Needless to say, Williams wasn’t keen on the idea of dressing down. “I tried to figure out how to call Coach Smith and ask him what he thought,” he joked. “But I couldn’t figure that out either.” In the end, Williams reluctantly went along with the majority. But that hasn’t stopped him from making a unique fashion statement. The Hall of Fame coach has donned a different style of sneaker from Tar Heel legend Michael Jordan’s Nike line for every game his team has played this season. “I didn’t do it for anything other than how loyal I wanted to be to Jordan Brand,” Williams said. “I didn’t know it was going to get any hits or whatever it is they call it, but it’s gotten an incredible amount of attention.” Like Williams, NC State’s Kevin Keatts has a strong shoe game — highlighted by a pair of Gucci loafers with the Wolfpack logo stitched onto them. He’s also arguably the bestdressed coach in the ACC. But that’s not why he’s considering breaking ranks with his fellow coaches and pulling out one of his custom Peter Millar suits to wear at an upcoming game. “Do I miss it? I don’t know that,” Keatts said. “I miss my lucky suit. I’ve got a suit that I’ve never lost in before, so I may even put that on.” When it comes to going back to wearing suits regularly once the pandemic has passed, Keatts said he’d be comfortable either way. “You think about all of those years that we invested in buying suits, and now we don’t wear them,” he said. “I’m not saying that we should go back to it. It is a different feeling.” And a good feeling for at least one ACC coach. “Some of these guys that look like GQ models, it probably doesn’t affect them as much as it does me,” Wake Forest’s Forbes said. “I’d rather have more arm room when I’m out coaching, so I’ve actually enjoyed it.”

“They were all unanimous that this isn’t right. We have been quarantining, hibernating, whatever you want to call it.” Miami coach Jim Larranaga

UNC’S WIN OVER DUKE came in front of a nearly empty Cameron Indoor Stadium. Aside from game operations personnel, some ESPN broadcast crew members and arena security guards, no one attended the latest matchup in sports’ best rivalry. This for a game that’s been attended by President Obama, Spike Lee and others with the name and power to pull the strings needed to get a ticket. It didn’t matter how much you’d donated to the program. You were on the outside. It also didn’t matter whose parent you were. While many schools allow family members in for games, Duke takes a hard line with its COVID protocols. Mom and Dad can stay home. After the game, Garrison Brooks met with the media — who also were left outside for the game — and was told by a reporter that, back in Chapel Hill, students were rushing Franklin Street in the traditional celebration following a Duke win. Brooks, normally level-headed and calm during his press conferences, jerked his head back in shock, showing a look of comical surprise on his face at the news. The celebration later earned a harsh rebuke from UNC’s chancellor, who warned, “COVID doesn’t take a break for the Duke game,” and promised to “pursue consequences” against anyone violating protocol. All of which leads us to the video. On Sunday, Miami was preparing to leave for Chapel Hill, a process that has become challenging this year due to the pandemic. “Do you know how much time we spend on seating arrangements for the bus and the plane, just for contact tracing?” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said on a call earlier this season. “Travel, right now, is a challenge,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts agreed. Changes to this year’s travel process for Miami include charter flights, an added expense at a time when the athletic department and school have seen revenue plunge. A strict seating chart on buses and planes requires roommates to sit together, so no additional contacts — and potential infections — are made on the trip. The players aren’t fed on the two-hour flight or allowed to remove their masks. There are no pregame meals or meetings in hotel conference or banquet rooms. Instead, players eat boxed meals in their rooms. A small number of family members would have been able to watch the game in the Smith Center, but they weren’t allowed to hug their players. All contact between family and player must be done at a safe distance in the hotel lobby. Miami isn’t the only team taking these precautions. Some teams didn’t allow players to go home for the holidays, and some haven’t seen their families since they arrived on campus in August. With off-campus housing and online classes, many players haven’t had contact with any students outside of their teammates this school year. Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes discussed the lack of social life for his team on a recent radio appearance, saying that the players finish practice, pick up their boxed dinners and go back to their rooms, alone, for the night. In other words, basketball players aren’t living like

regular college students. As fitful as the season has been, with postponements and rapid reschedulings, it’s only been possible to limp along because teams and players are sticking to these strict rules. That’s the problem with what a few UNC players did following the Duke win. In the grand scheme of things, is celebrating a big win the end of the world? Certainly not, and no one is calling for Armando Bacot and Day’Ron Sharpe — who were caught on video, maskless, with at least seven other people at a postgame party — to lose their scholarships or eligibility. They don’t need to be booed or attacked on social media, but they made a mistake — a silly, youthful mistake they probably already regret. Still, as the Cameron Crazies would have said at some point on Saturday night, if they’d been allowed in, “You let the whole … team … down. You let the whole … team … down.” Two teams, actually, because, after making the trip from South Florida, Miami had to turn around and head home. This is the same team that has been ravaged by injuries since mid-December. The Hurricanes had six healthy players available for their conference opener and have regularly been down to seven or eight available bodies for games over the last two months. The Hurricanes could have gone ahead and played the game. If UNC allowed Bacot and Sharpe to suit up, they may have risked exposure. Even if those two Carolina players sat out, it’s possible other players on the team had contact with them post-party. And if any team can’t afford to lose a guy or two to contact tracing, it’s Miami. “Our guys have done a fantastic job,” head coach Jim Larranaga told the Miami Herald. “We have not had a single guy test positive, and they were all unanimous that this isn’t right. We have been quarantining, hibernating, whatever you want to call it, and we don’t want to get ourselves in a position to get the virus.” Larranaga and the Miami higher-ups would have been fully justified to demand some type of payback for this unnecessary trip to nowhere, but they shouldn’t have had to ask. In the final season of “The West Wing, “President Bartlet meets with one of his longtime advisers, Toby, who has just leaked classified information to the media. Toby offers his letter of resignation, and the president responds grimly, “I can’t accept your resignation, Toby. I have to fire you.” When Larranaga met with UNC officials to determine how to handle Monday’s game, the UNC response should have been, “We can’t postpone this game, Jim. We have to forfeit.” They should have then handed Larranaga a check to cover the cost of the charter flights, hotels, buses and any other expenses that came up in the quick there-andback to Chapel Hill. While a forfeited game’s outcome likely wouldn’t make much of a difference in NCAA hopes of either team, it would send a message: It was a silly mistake, but mistakes have consequences. This disease has spread, primarily, because of silly mistakes. It would have been the right thing to do, and that’s the only way to get to March Madness — by doing the right thing.

“A baseball coach wears his uniform. A football coach is wearing this, except for maybe Tom Landry. I’m not coaching any different. I’m just more comfortable.” Steve Forbes, Wake Forest coach

orth STATEment n ATEmen OP nt north ST Business & Economy

THIS WEEK, acco In order to put the crisis caused by China in perspective, zero In ordermillions Americans needlessly thrown out of work. to put theofcrisis caused by China in being perspective, zero The cavalier manner in which China lied about the origin of the and state and local worldwide pandemics can trace their source to the United Statesworldwide over The crisiscan hastrace costtheir the U.S. taxpayer at leastStates $2.4 over trilliongo i pandemics source to the United virus, covered up its spread and tried to tell the world there were only the curve in the nove our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more Reserve backup liquidity our 231-year history. At least four inin theFederal 20th century alone can be 3,341 related deaths has led to worldwide panic, economic collapse and — after all,the tre directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong flu,” 1977 markets and financial outlets. If the U.S.muted dollarflu,” were not directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong 1977 ective, zero millions of Americans needlessly being thrown out of work. have abided by recom “Russian flu” and the we 2002 SARS outbreak. There is any evidence thatemergen the “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the currency, would not be able to fund of these nited States over Perhaps The crisis has cost the U.S. taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in addedPerhaps to stay at home; they massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had COVID-19 its origins in China. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and c Robbins, publisher | Federal Frank Hill, senior opinion editor y alone can be Neal COVID-19 debt plus trillions more in Reserve backup liquidity to the they’ve donned mask There is depreciation. 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 There is 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 We need g Kong flu,” 1977 is China’s markets and financial outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserveis China’s The result: a reduc originated inChina Wuhanhas Province the completely originated Province from the completely to pay probably fortransparency their from aberrant ways and decisions thr evidence that the currency, we would not be ableintoWuhan fund any of these probably emergency According to the Neal Robbins, Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe ithas came out of aUni Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came out of a economic and financial means. Diplomacy obviously not ins in China. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and currency Metricseditor and Evaluati and Chinese honesty Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior biowarfare lab run by the communist army.opinion biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized world ofTrump 21st century health OVID-19 depreciation. administratio from our rigorous verifiable policing andregimes regulation of take th Until adopts verifiable policing and regulation of Until China andadopts fair trade. Totalitarian communist never mpletely China has to pay for theirChina aberrant waysrigorous and decisions through peak outbreak was re their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other scientific experts ve it came out of a economic and financial Diplomacy has obviously notAmerican worked business has no other their means. food safety and health protocols, or express sincere regret and remorse, because thatby is nearly not wh ventilators choice than to build redundant manufacturing elsewhere purely — wedo. need to plants to bring China intochoice the civilized 21st century health, hygieneplants elsewhere purely than toworld buildofredundant manufacturing August by nearly 12,0 They take advantage of every w for nationaltotalitarian security andgovernments safety reasons as well as supply and delivery know what they regulation of and fair trade. Totalitarian communist never take the Here’s the problem for national securityregimes and safety reasons asblame well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or t reliability concerns. ness has no other or express sincere reliability regret and concerns. remorse, because that is not what know, what they questions that will al push back. The mostadversaries direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is to offer s elsewhere purely totalitarian governments do. They takeway advantage every weakness First, what theCh tr don’t and when The most direct to makeofChina “pay” for this disaster is to U.S. offertax credits That is, unless an exogenous event happens asisthe to companies who will source at least half ofsuch their pply and delivery they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the important because it U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of theirproductionmeltdown 1986. States. Some that event, theyexperts hope to back in theinUnited There isbelieve approximately $120not the S adversaries push back. be open or of closed, wh production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, directly to the dissolution the Sov billion worth of American directled investment in plants and equipment know what they isaster is to offer That is, unless an exogenous event happens such as the Chernobyl more liberalized soci billion worth of American direct investment in plants and equipment in 1989.direct investment in China. Chinese in the U.S. is about $65 billion by don’t. half of their meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars ought to lock down fu comparison. in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl. ximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union We’ve in seen case fat An investment tax credit of 30% on half U.S. investment China comparison. Senators in Washington are of already talking about the pos s and equipment in 1989. the number of identifi today, or $60 billion,forgiving applied to$1.2 repatriated American manufacturing investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China trillion in debt we owe them as one w out $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19An is China’s Chernobyl. and the denominator investmentChina to the to U.S. would U.S. Treasury billionthe in US. Don today, orare $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing “pay” forcost the the damage they have$18 caused Senators in Washington already talking about the possibility people have actually tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is would cost Treasury $18 billion in breath waiting for a Chinese “Jubilee” to number happen has but been ask you vestment in China of China forgivinginvestment $1.2 trillion to in the debtU.S. we owe them as the oneU.S. way to get ove decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now revenue they spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is representatives to hold China accountable in tangible financ n manufacturing China to “pay” for tax the damage have caused the US. Don’t hold your of death, particularly undertaking to disaster. save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the compared to the $6ask trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this $18 billion in breath waiting for decimal a Chinesedust “Jubilee” to happen but your elected sources suggest the n past. to save ourinown economy, notways of defeated enemies as in the It is about time they are expected to operate as responsibl t revenue is representatives to undertaking hold China accountable tangible financial for many American people are dyin China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Plan we are now this disaster. past. the world like any other modern nation. Even more importa business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they d enemies as in the It is about time they are expected operate asstealing, responsible citizens ofpillaging American actually have coronav China has beentocheating, pirating and intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and the world like any business other modern nation. of identified cases co now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret thatreplace they the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. laging American number of people wh intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and no secret that they replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. in the world and enminbi. EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

irus dissipates l pay for this

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VISUAL

VISUAL VOICES

It’s okay to ask questions about ask questions aboutto when will payIt’s forokay this to COVID-19 catastrophe How Chi we begin get back to normal sstrophe about when A7 The comfort a How China will pay for this COVID-19 catas The 3 big questions nob A7 normalwe begin to get back to normal EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

EDITORIAL | FRA

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates The cavalier manner in which China lied about the origin ofSTATES the WITH MOST under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-homeONE OBINSON hina lied about the origin of the nd in the United States, China will pay for this virus, covered upONE its spread and to tell after the world there to were only THING IStried CERTAIN; thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in which arounC orders local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americans WEEK, virus, according to members theand fede iedor toanother. tell the world there were only “THIS ISofTHE DA ay 3,341 related deaths to worldwide panic, economic and aroundhas theled globe and in the United will to pay forTHIS this covered up its spread t areStates, havingChina to collapse adjust what is being called the “new normal.” catast and state and local governments, Americans have rldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psalm 118:24). either shelter-in-place stay-at-home into place. I understand the related seriousness ofhas theled virus an catastrophe one waybeing or or another. 3,341 to wo he crisis caused by China in perspective,WITH zero MOST STATES millionsunder of Americans needlessly thrown out of work. Some of fallen these orders extend at least through the end deaths of this month. In oe ce orcan stay-at-home fallen to into place. Iorders understand theto seriousness of the virus the the curve inI’m the uneasy novel coronavirus outbreak. The being thrown of work. I know that during thanks localThe or state governments, aneed majority of at Americans to precautions, with how people who sim Inand order to puttaxpayer the crisis caused by China in take perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly mics traceout their source the United States over crisis has cost the U.S. leastVirginia’s $2.4 trillion in added stay-at-home orders gobut into June. worldw ty of at Americans to take precautions, I’m uneasy withto how people who simply the ask “new normal.” muted afterand all, trends canhas easily reverse — taxp but ayer leastfour $2.4in trillion in added working from home worldwide can trace their source to the United States over The coststart the U.S. arebut having what is being called questions the— data, things can getting ry. At least the 20th century alone can be to adjustdebt plus trillions more inpandemics Federal Reserve backup liquidity toCarolina, the about Here in North Democratic Gov.when Roycrisis Cooper stated during our 23 normal.” questions and when orders things can startatgetting back tohistory. have abided by recommendations and orders. The Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, be glad” the Bible our 231-year AtU.S. least four the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more Federa Some of these extend least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circles with contempt. ainrecent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet”asifin the China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong flu,” 1977 markets and financial outlets. If the dollar were not the reserve direct nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancin he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve dad, Easter directly to to China: flu,” 1968They’re “Hong orders Kong markets andand financial outlets. If t Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June. treated asextend though we as a society simply must acce state’s stay-at-home will into May. he 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence thatwe theas a society currency, wemust would nottraced be able fund1957 any “Asian of these emergency Since when did “Russi Perhaps They’re treated as though simply accept without they’ve donned masks. fund any of these emergency have to be thankful “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able Perhaps WALTER E. WILLIAMS If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the in North Carolina, Democratic Roy Cooper stated during question what the government tellsCHARLES us about when it’s massiv safe to toa nish flu”WALTER pandemic its origins inHere China. measures without fear of rampant inflation and currency We need E. had WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safeimmediate toGov. begin the KRUPA | AP PHOTO The result: a reduction in expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflationalso and currency pandemic. 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic had its origins in China. measures without for it. And the answers should not COVID-19 be vague onesimmediate like “we fea a recent press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” ifjustification thealso process of returning back to normalcy. COVID-19 greement, outside China, of that COVID-19 depreciation. Theis know yet” theDec.of process backHiring” tocoronavirus normalcy. transparency According to the University of Washington Institu For me, my faith Easter seasons government There is 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 depreciation. In if this 10, 2020 filereturning photo, astate’s “Now sign hangs on the front wall of a Harbor Freight Tools store in Manchester, N.H. must do this out of an abundance of caution.” is model China’s stay-at-home will into May. No. The government works for us, and making. we have the right to an Province probably from thedid completely works China has toright pay to for their aberrant ways and decisions through is China’s Since when No. The government for us, andorders we have theextend ask those Metrics and Evaluation most oft cited by m origin ant ways and decisions through As I celebra and honesty originatedshould in at Wuhan Province probably from the completely has to pay for their aberr provide a China all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who If he does decide to extend it, questions be asked as to the questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place a nsanitary wet markets. believe itlonger came out of but aChernobyl. financial means. Diplomacywet hasmarkets. obviously notbelieve workedit Trump Chernobyl. asked to the questions. And theis stay-at-home orders in place all over the unsanitary administration, theand expected need for hosp plomacy has obviously notSome worked unreg Corinthians 1:4, whi graduates iseconomic only ableare toand find low-paying work. ned in as two past articles that student debt questioning unregulated and came out of at a home economic financial means. D fromSome our are being told to remain jobless and for an undetermined message of become a justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as M byones the communist Chinese army. to China into the civilized 21st century health, hygienepeak outbreak was gue likecentury “we country, and the stricter somean ofISA them getbring in states, such as Michigan, revised down by over 120,000, orld of 21st health, hygiene Under agreement, he would owe an agreedlem and that universities have encouraged affliction, so that wew biowa biowarfare lab run world by the of communist Chinese army. to we bring China into the civilized scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases government hope that will mustupon do this out ofand an abundance ofthe caution.” thethe more people, sitting at nearly home feeling isolated and/or anxi bad thing? the more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about pts verifiable policing and regulation of fair trade. communist regimes neverpolicing take blame ventilators and the number of ov percentage of his income —Totalitarian actual dollar theirrigorous own irresponsible behavior. With unist regimes never take the blame affliction, withcomm the co Unt Until China adopts rigorous verifiable and regulation of by and 13,000 fair trade. Totalitarian are reliable. —iswe need to once again enjoy atnot all levels It amount will need to be in detail to the people of this state who when they can get back to providing for their families, will d would be very low. With a traditional loan, of this stateprotocols, who when theyfinancial can get back tonoproviding for their families, will demand erse, graduates facing uncertain August by nearly 12,000. nd health American business has other orexplained express sincere regret and remorse, because that not what because that isan what God.” That is what their f their food safety and health protocols, American business nowhat otherthe state or express sincere rem To know date, what I’ve gone alonghas with has asked andregret then and they he would owe the same amount regardless of his t’s particularly important to find solutions ndetermined answers. are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the ans sporting events, advantage of become every weakness dtake redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely If you are celebrat totalitarian governments do. They take advantage of every weakness a choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely totalitarian governments do. The choice citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about income. Even with income-based repayment on his So,and what’s to cases be done? housands of Leaders the local state levels should be in as forthcoming assecurity they know, what they questions that state will allow economy tothis reopen. amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases theleaders localconcerts, and levels should beon as forthcom pushing until they win or the reflect messa ty safety reasons as well asatsupply andand delivery they find adversaries and keep pushing until they win orLeaders the family for national safety reasons as well as supplyatand delivery they findthe in adversaries and keep for nat the data. State Republican have, too. thing? livingasinand a free loan,—heand would likely make interest-only payments dical proposals, likebad completely can be with those answers again, not vague answers, but answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatality rate?c God’s example and are reliable. can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, don’t and when s.student loans adversaries push back. reliability concerns. adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is reliabi AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife withthe principal continued to mount. andasmaking subject AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife withbecause it determines That is them what society ked and then with details that give their important whether certain nt happens such the Chernobyl this difficult Th To I’veUniversity gonebelievability. along with what theexogenous statedirect has asked and then with that their statements The most waywere to make China “pay” for this disaster isgive to offer That is, believability. unless an exogenous ev way to make China “pay” for work. this disaster isdate, tostatements offer hope todetails That is, unless an event happens suchthey asThe the Chernobyl corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat thosetime. church services The Purdue is already experimenting with ptcy protection, would certainly corruption. financial squeeze resulting nesses have closed their doors By Joyce M. Rosenberg questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — believe that event, not the Star Wars confident we will em supposed free citizens COVID-19 offers opportunities for atheirunder mandated that its we“Back do, but along the way also had questions about We should all continue towhen do what weinstart can to keep our fam U.S. taxI’ve credits to who willknow source at least halfdata of their meltdown 1986. Some experts companies will source at half of ISAs meltdown in plan. 1986. Some experts believe that event, notpandemic the Star Wars what they simply the asking we can getting back a Boiler” The program iscompanies ders whofrom putwho their own money onleast the our line from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a many U.S. ta and more Sponsored by Union since thequestioning began, ac-and The Associated Press ourselves, and communities safe. But we also still continue more liberalized society that presumes wide sprea Sponsored by should the dissolution of the Soviet In this same spirit Sponsored by bit of remediation. Let’s first examine what production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly the data. State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities safe. But we should also stilt Sponsored by nue the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who being funded by the Purdue Research Foundation, diligence beforeliving lendingintoa18-yearbit of remediation. Let’s first examine what free don’t. cording to data from UKG, a produ “I want to make sure I afterdown ourinown asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping st ne billion worth of American direct investment inof plants and equipment when certain of questions get asked, there isbe scheduling to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable part the university’s endowment. It’s a smallchecked. ers. And direct the fearinvestment of students in filing for and Unfortunately, might the root academic corruption, otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or1989. others sick. merican inAs1989. work software comNEWofYORK — the U.S. types billion suggested bysociety the title were of aplants recent study,equipment generate enough income ehernobyl. to treat those measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration date. We’ve seen case fatality rates — the number of temporary In Concord, a high in China. Chinese direct investment inThat the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Cd program but is already showing positive results. ydirect wouldinvestment ensure thatGrievance loans are small and suggested bywhen the title of aarecent study, pany. points toquestioning reduced economy an unevenCOVID-19 sometimes abynow disturbing tendency among some people to treat those measures are understandable, they also have an expi Since did government at all should levels become aisbad in the U.S. $65 billionundergoes Perhaps is China’s Chernobyl. “Academic Studies and to the in Chi North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 starttalking getting back supposed This is is allabout new Americans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but b eady about the possibility money to buy a 3-D so I can hire we people and talking sacrifices are Purdue’s website explains aand few of the benefits of can start base of Grievance small employers whoto “Academic Studies and theAmericans, comparison. Senators Washington arein alra recovery from the the virus panthing? That isThis what citizens living in a free were supposed simply questioning data asking when getting back isfree all new andsociety it isin not normal. Not Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was Senators in Washington about the possibility compa A6 are people who shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, atare already and theChina denominator are likely wrong. We don’t k we owe them as one way to get health care workers will be able to rehire when ondemic, many small business ISAs: hdebt a solution is politically unpopular. Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in over. keep them.” to do, last I checked. done by Areo, opinion analysis toan do, last Iand to normal ascomfortable though they areforgiving conspiracy theorists or debt are people who shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay ax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China $1.2 trillion in we owe them as one way to get An i ick. the same time we shouldn’t get with this so-called “new people have actually died of coronavirus. Some so going vaccinations are able to owners face a tough decision on y have caused the US. Don’t hold your North Carolina Azalea The standard payment period for the Back onsiderably reduce the number byMy Areo, an opinionasand analysis today, or $60 billion,sick. applied done to repatriated American manufacturing China to “pay”isfor the damage digital magazine. By American theof way, Areo is short first concern we go in all this, of course, my family. I’m the otherwise don’t care ifisthey themselves or itothers the same time wealong shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-call on, applied to repatriated manufacturing China to get “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don’t hold your checked. bring the virus under control. whether and when to take on see” become a bad normal.” today, number has been overestimated, given that classifi toborrow happen but ask your elected a Boiler-ISA Fund about 10 years, making ble to for college and would digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by investment the U.S. would cost the U.S.about Treasury $18 billion the in virus, and breath waiting Ifor a Chinese worried them catching I’m worried will. After “Jub Festival celebrate Lakesha Cole, former N.C.become Since questioning government attoall levels aAreopagitica, bad normal.” And the pandemic has conemployees. U.S. would cost theto U.S. Treasury $18 inwhen did breath waiting for revenue a Chinese “Jubilee” tofew happen but ask your elected y were supposed Not one little bit.billion of death, among elderly patients, can competitive with most Federal Plus and private loan ionately affect low-income students. It for a in speech delivered by particularly invest untable in tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. tax spread over a years. $18 billion lost revenue is representatives to hold China acc suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, tinued to in harm many of those The pandemic forced business owner thing? That what free citizens ina asix-month free society were supposed Not one little bit. suggest the number is dramaticallytax over a few years.majoring $18year billion in lost revenue is representatives to hold China accountable in tangible financial ways for Spring all Inisaddition, allMeghan studentsliving receive disfavor students inlong soft but John Milton defense of free speech. Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. terms. sources under rev decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster. I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up small companies that have re- A. Gardner let go of 16 staffers before payments begin. towe do, last Itochecked. grace period post-graduation Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that Authors Helen Pluckrose, James pared tofamily. the as $6I’m trillion+ Marshall Plan are now e, is my this Stacey Matthews also written under thedisaster. pseudonym Sister Toldjah many people are dying at home. diplines. to operate responsible citizens of decim undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the It is about timenot they expect mained open. Inmemories the week endAdventures, which WILMINGTON — The North wrongat Once way and too many of a painful I’d prefer to are repeat. something drastically recipient makes successful for ee are solutions thathas cangone be implemented — MyGuardian Lindsay Peter Boghossian say thatmore first concern as we go along inpayments all this, course, to is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has alsoexperience written under the pseudonym Sist ied I will. After and is adefeated regular contributor RedState and Legal Insurrection. Even importantly, we have no clue how mn our own economy, not of enemies asato in the summer It iscamps, about time they areof expected operate asBut responsible citizens of ation. under ing Jan. 10th, 40% of small past. the world like any other modern ran educational Carolina Azalea Festival has what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especially the prescribed term of the contract, no and additional s acrimonious political climate.within certain something has gone drastically wrong 2009 pandemic, worried about them catching the virus, I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrec actually have coronavirus. Some scientists sugges the world like any other modern nation. businesses reported lower revshe does hopecheating, to hire at part of an industry decimat- andChina announced this festival has less been stealing, pirating and pillaging American past. fields within the year’s humanities. They payments are required even if(swine they have solution has been referred to as “skin in call in academia, especially within of this brings upApril ofcertain identified cases could be an order of magnitude enue compared withno thesecret previsuffering the H1N1 virus flu) during the 2009 pandemic, least twopaid full-time staffers latedAmerican by thefrom virus outbreak. While cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging dates of 7-11, andstudies,” festival business now for the past 30 years. They have made that they these fields “grievance where Chin than the amount of funding they received. Suchnot a policy would call for institutions fields within the humanities. They Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion ous week, for the second week in call er this year. But first, she says, Gardner got a Paycheck Protecrefer to years. repeat. number of people who have had and n organizers will behave offering I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up he past 30 They made no secret that they scholarship is not so much based upon intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and busine Both ISAsloan andand skinran in the game hare in the credit risk of every student these fields “grievance where arepeat. row, while only 5%studies,” reported a she policies needs towould be sure her revenue tion Program onost everyone haspremier additional opportunities to finding truth butinstitution. upon attending way too many memories of abenefits. painful experience I’das prefer notscholarship tocurrency he as superpower world andduring replace the dollar the reserve their renminbi. have many down-stream Both would put outU.S. a loan tothe attend the In intothe iswith not so much based upon intend gain, according to a Census Bustream is steady line camps the summer, engage throughout 2021. scholars But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has social Grievance as the reserve currency with their renminbi. pressure on universities to to keep tuition low and his means thatgrievances. universities would be on finding truth but upon attending to reau weekly survey. “I want to make sure I generby October she couldn’t afford replac The Azalea Festival is bully students, administrators and other

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offset some of the artificial pressure on demand forso I can hiresocialThat’s or some part of student loan debt when grievances. Grievance forcing some scholars small ate enough income departments adhering continuing itsinto long traditionto their pay her employees. higher education. They would also align universities’ efault. Such a policy would require action bully students, administrators and other Jason businesses to cut jobs again. people and keep them,” she says. Gardner would like to build worldview. The worldview with a full lineup of festivalthey promote is The proportion laying off workSmall businesses accounted her company back up, but the interests with those of students. Universities would ss since student loans are disbursed by the departments into adhering to their neither scientific rigorous. Grievance week events andnor programming EDITORIAL STACEY MATTHEWS ers has topped 10% every week for 47%increased of employment at U.S.worldview. virus is still raging and the fu- |not be invested in student success, just ernment. The worldview they promote is Try a New Hobby: studies of disciplines for this consist April. Queen Azalea such as since mid-November, the Cencompanies, according to the ture for children’s group activiTHEWS enrollment. Some universities would probably begin ther solution can be implemented locally. neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance sociology, gender studies, EDITORIAL | STAC #74 will beanthropology, coming to town Calligraphy sus found, after it fell below thatRICHARD mostwhen recent ties still better uncertain. She’s to wortoisoffer guidance students theybusiness choose census,studies of institutions are already giving it critical a consist of disciplines such as COLUMN | REP. HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and race to celebrate with guests mark in September. More than ried about choose the summer 2021 majors, classesofand takein out2017. loans.When payroll compa-sociology, e Share Agreements (ISAs). ISAs are anthropology, gender studies, studies. in smaller, more intimate, 12% of small businesses cut jobs race Try your hand at learning ny ADP reported the pandembeing a repeat of 2020. These innovative solutions will do what “Free l agreements in which students receive queer studies, sexuality and critical In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, socially-distanced gatherings. something new during a free in the week ending Jan. 10. forced the loss of 19 millionstudies. So, for the time make being,students she’s icand and is Boghossian started College” cannot: universities funding Lindsay in exchange for a predetermined The festival also working virtual art class tomorrow, If the years following the jobs at its business customers working as a consultant and submitting bogusover academic papers to behave more wisely and act together towards the post-graduation a certain In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, on eventincome ideas and programs February 11. Calligraphy, in April, more than 10 million Great Recession are an indioff hiring. academic in cultural, queer, holding same goal.have That goal is to create educated, wise or 52%, wereLindsay years. The percentjournals of income and number and Boghossian started to engage the community, the beautiful script-like cator, small businesses will be of those workers, “If I don’t my business up gender, fat and sexuality studies and productive graduates. Only with smart policies n changerace, based upon a student’s major submitting bogus academic papers to hand lettering that makes including BOLO for Blooms, a and and slow to staff up again once the let go by companies with fewer running and make enough determine if they would pass peer that incentivize successthan can we that tential. to academic journals in cultural, queer, Virtual Watch Party, Azaleas forTHE elegant envelopes and economy improves. Traditional500ensure workers. money to pay mystudent employees, “THIS IS DAY the lord has made, let usthe r of the virus and the review be accepted for need publication. WITHthen, MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand colleges truly provide value for students, parents, eseriousness a good deal forand students because they race, gender, fat andonsexuality studies ly, owners hired expectations Since small businessI’d have to lay them off again,” on Tour Porch Parade, the cute custom home décor, is Acceptance of dubious research that in it” (Psalm 118:24). ykywith how people who simply ask orders local6.2 or state a majority of Americans take precautions, taxpayers society. than loans. Imagine a student who determine if they would pass peer of higher revenue. But after the havethanks added to about mil-togovernments, says Gardner,and whose company is es Queen’s Coronation…A a craft to that comes down to but I’m unea editors found sympathetic to their I know that during this challenging time of soc n thingsjournal can start getting back to TATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus and the need are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” questions about the data, and wh review and be accepted for publication. recession, during which an eslion jobs, the most recent ADP based in Burlington, MassachuWIT Journey of 74 or Socially-Distant technique and practice. Learn intersectional postmodern leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it may be diffi with contempt. Acceptance of dubious research that timated 170,000 to 200,000 data show. It is worth noting job Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circle setts. cal or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask Waves for our 74th, and the both from the comfort of your orders of the world would prove the problem of glad” ashome the Bible tells to do. as However, as aasC a society simply must accept without failed, owners’ growth numbers not things include Gardner who editors found sympathetic to their Virginia’s stay-at-home ordersjournal gocompanies into June. They’re treated though we Secret Garden Party, BYOY using basicus materials st to what isacademic being called the “new normal.”Owners such as questions about the data, and do when can start getting back to beaplow standards. are haj proach was not to hire until revfreelancers. are rebuilding a business or and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded me of sders us about when it’s safe to begin the intersectional or postmodern leftist vision (Bring Yard). you probably already Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question whathave theon government tel Several of Own the fake research papers extend atYour least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circles with contempt. Som enue justified the additional ex- to of A new coronavirus $284 billion press roundbriefing ofof the starting anew after losing their a recent world would prove the problem have be thankful and of hopeful for, even in the m alcy. were With additional parades hand. accepted for publication. The Fat that “we just don’t know yet” if the process returning back to norm home orders go into June. They’re treated thoughcould we asgive a society simply must accept pense and risk. They without found ways Virgin PPP as funding smalllow companies are hesitant to make EFF SENATOR academic standards. Lenten and pandemic. us, and TARTE, we have theFORMER right to ask those and parties planned through The calligraphy class Studies journal published aNC hoaxSTATE paper state’s stay-at-home orders will intosafe May. No. The government works for Since when did arolina,that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooperwas stated question what business the government us about when it’s tobusiness begin the to operate their more hiring atells boost, al- extend hiringduring commitments because Several of the fake research papers argued the term bodybuilding the season, festival Thursday evening For me, happens my faith is an important part ofstay-atmyHer da home orders are in place allofficials over the Easter seasons If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the questions. And the longer efficiently. though back owners will have morewere it’s unclear not only when of the us press briefing that just process returning to normalcy. accepted for publication.making. The Fat As and“we should replaced a recen remind participants thatbe adon’t cap know yet” if the questioning 6-8 p.m., broadcast live from I celebrated Easter with my family, hem get exclusionary in states, such as Michigan, justification for it. the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some ofI provide Even business owners who leeway to works spend the money pandemic will end, but whether e orders will extend into May. No. The government forAnd us, andon we have the right to ask those with “fat bodybuilding, a fat-inclusive Studies journal published a hoax paper the1:4, on event attendance is as still public power community government Corinthians which reminds us our Lord “comf eeling isolated and/or anxious about Since when did suchofas restaurants ex- are must marketing do this outand of another abundance of hiring, caution.” the more people, sitting at state’s home they’ll have enough revenue to rent, message politicized performance.” One that argued the term bodybuilding was so mandated in North Carolina. of Rocky Mount tobe anyone engtofor extend it, questions should be reviewer askedjustify as to the questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the If he affliction, that we may able to comfort those their families, will demand forward toof this reopenpenses than they didexplained in earlier in looking atemployees all levels on. It will need to be detailhope to the people state whowith curiosity whenquestioning they can get back to provid “I thoroughly enjoyed this likebringing exclusionary and should behave replaced that we will As such, larger festival and an internet And thesaid, answers should not events bereading vague ones “we owners, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, ing when it’s safe to inrounds. For many it’s a quesaffliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar justific are being told to remain jobless and atbodybuilding, home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an important become a cuswith “fat as a fat-inclusive have been spread out until the connection. The session once again enjoy government door dining, are cautious. Bret Through Sunday, the SBA tion of how comfortable an should abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about God.” vels be as forthcoming as they d contribution to makeGuests to the field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the state le politicized performance.” One reviewer end of the summer. is meant for every age andlocal and must Csencsitz hopes to reopen the bad thing? approved more than 891,000 will feel about gathering sporting eagain, explained insenator, detail totothe people of thistomers state who when they can get reliable. back conditions to providing for their families, will events, demand If you are celebrating the Easter season, I—urge not vague answers, but answer journal.” at all levels It w are can be with those answers and will now be able enjoy theasked experience level, including in place. Elderly persons with underlying said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this ORMER state I have been in places like restaurants, stores loans in the new round, total- Gotham Bar & Grill by the sum“Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity Thatanswers. is what emain jobless and at home for an undetermined reflect message and be comforted, that ents believability. date, I’ve gone alongMore with what the state has asked and thenon this with By details that give theirso statem are be Street Fair, the Dollar first timers. the end of would beRetailers monitored by know health teams for some article believe itfamily has an important s what I DGX would do regarding the stay-atmerand ifconcerts, government regulations ingTonearly $73time, billion. and gyms. don’t become a the Feminism as anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to God’s example and comfort all those in need arou at we can to keep our hy models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they General Parade, and all Main howall to use free citizens mandated that we do, butloans along the way I’ve alsoexpects had questions about Weknow should continue toamoun do w leveraging telemedicine and virtual hospitals. contribution to he make to the field and thisnight, you’ll r in North Carolina. The current SAH gatherings, permit, but to have than two-thirds of the yet how much business they’ve Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was bad thing? this difficult time. Through faith and by helping o fe. on ButApril we should also continue Stage shows in still August, traditional techniques and can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but answer Led by our major health system leaders and journal.” res 29. just 35 staffers instead of the were for $50,000 or less, an inthe data. State Republican leaders have, too. permanently lost to online comourselves, and our communities s are rel church services living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str ecause while reasonable stay-at-home including performances by The get started with the basic 100 the Manhattan restaurant dication the smallest businessthe North Carolina Hospital Association, I would “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity petitors. For owners starting te senator recently said we are going to That is what e along with what the state has asked and then with details that give their statements believability. Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b feminist journal for social workers. The To d and many more were Avett Brothers, Sublime practice strokes. had before itfamilies, closed in March. es were seeking In the first over, it’s too society soon to know if all Inthose this spirit, I continue to be inspired the by yow should also have have a master plan with primary suppliers and aaid.what Feminism as an Intersectional Reply to same four things: whoan isexpiration sick, who is not,questions sometimes atodisturbing tendency among some people to treat measures are understandable, do, but paper along the way I’ve also had about We should continue do we can to keep our consisted in part ofwith adate. rewritten free citizens manda after our own “We simply don’t understand two rounds of funding last year, their brand-new companies will Rome, and Michael Franti & If hand lettering isn’t up supposed backup plan for manufacturers in N.C. to re-purpose Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was een sick and who has not. I agree. Public neighbors helping neighbors. d it is not normal. Not in any way, from Mein Kampf. Two other questioningsafe. the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Americans, a publicanpassage leaders have, too. ourselves, and simply ourgovernment communities But5.2 we should also still continue the da what the marketplace going guaranteed successful toventilators take on the Spearhead. your alley or you can’t join living in aSofree toenough produce and PPE necessary accepted fortheorists publication byisAffilia, are coalescing around benchmarks to be facilities temporary In aConcord, a shape, high school senior named Tanne derts remain vigilant and stay safe, at get hoax papers were published, including to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy or are people who or form. while we shoul when certain types of questions asked, there is to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home to look like,” says Csencsitz, the The tomorrow’s class, there are million loans worth $525 mil-feminist Unffa Existing ticket holders to take care of our own demands. An ongoing needs journal for social workers. ore rules “Rape ease: sustained reductions in new employees. Culture and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to make mfortable with thispaid so-called “new sacrifices are society were otherwise don’t care ifshould they getalso themselves or others sick. the same time we shouldn’t get co upscale restaurant’s managing rbing tendency among some people to treat those measures are understandable, they have an expiration date. checked. lion. Lakesha Cole’s hires for her for the Avett Brothers will other opportunities coming somet paper consisted in part of a rewritten deaths, widespread testing, hospital at Urban Dog Parks.”ample This paper’s subjectassessment would evaluate the re-purposing of health care workers out of his own home. Since when did questioning government atas all levels become a bad normal.” over. partner. But diners return, Newly sworn publicity have supposed gndthe when we candog start getting back beand given two weeks toBut select This is all to Americans, and it isSecnot normal. Not in any way, this Friday! was dog-on-dog rape. the rapenew hotels, empty business warehouses andnew university dormsin Treasury passage from Mein Kampf. Two he other soon, including thedata ability to asking monitor new patients and simply hopes to quickly bringat on more retary Janet Yellen at vigilant been independent contractors. thing? Thatwe is whattestified free citizens living in awere free society were supposed“Art Everywhere” Not oneislittle which Avett showforced they would alast freebit. paper eventually Boghossian, gh they are conspiracy theorists or are people who shape, or form. So while should remain and stay safe, as emergency field hospitals in conjunction with hoax papers published, including contacts. to do, I to nor confirmation hearing last employees. She needed help quickly and it’s her tocare do, last I checked. like todata attend. Selection will Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out deployment strategies foremhealth professionals. “Rape Culture and Queer Performativityweekly series to complement re reasonable points that should serve too if they get themselves or others sick. the same time month we shouldn’t get“critically comfortable with this so-called “new otherw While owners like Csenscitz that it’s imrisky to hire full-time under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah checked. Mycare firstoptions concern as we go along in allDog this, of course, my family. I’m Matthews be based onAaWall first-come, specialStacey sessions like the has also written themselves. Streeteveryone Journal writerVirtual hospitals and direct primary at Urban Parks.” This is paper’s subject ation to make decisions to keep questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” will have more certainty as the portant” to help small businessployees for a company that just Sinc dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured what theyany were doing. would be made available through first-served priority. All Artists of worried about them catchingwas the virus, and I’m worried I will. After calligraphy and class. is a regular contributor to Re every health dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape re not going back to out full normal time pandemic recedes, others have es with loans including those oflaunched. t free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. thing? Some papers accepted for publication festival sponsors will tomorrow. be given We many types teach from their suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, system. Ongoing testing would be implemented. paper eventually forced Boghossian, re not reopening everything financial issues that may derail founded her business, fered by the PPP. d. in academic journals advocated trainingCole Thursday night Sublime studios in Nash/Edgecombe to do, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because this bringsout up Rigorous statewide antibody testing would be Pluckrose and Lindsayall to of prematurely care of our most vulnerable citizens, and hopes for hiring. “We will do everything we she PR, after being forced to men like dogs and punishing whiteismale as we go along in all this, of course, my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah with Rome | Michael Franti & Counties. Participants from My implemented once available. themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. egin to reopen our businesses, now. Gardner expects to have to repossibly can to get that monclose gift shops she owned in college for historical slavery by After Spearhead andand Friday night any and everywhere tune in to m catching thestudents virus, I’m worried I will. and is other aJackregular contributor tomakes RedState and Legal Insurrection. In conjunction with regional governors had figured out what they were doing. lowing aasking couple of data models — Fuller, pay part of her PPP loan, which ey out to struggling businessworrie Portsmouth, Virginia, and But what also me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has them sit inBrothers silence on the floor in tickets to theto Avett practice, observe, and create H1N1 virus (swine flu) during theexpected 2009sonville, pandemic, complicates the financial picwith thelast WhiteesHouse, I would papers accepted for publication effectively,” she said. “When Some d the CDC. The models project N.C. cases North Carolina, sufferi chains during class and to be toand cooperation show as part of their packages. interesting compositions ture as she waits to see if she’ll businesses fail that have been year; revenue at both locations ensure N.C. receives a fair allocation of items such in academic journals advocated training tween April 20 and May 5. take extra precautions, becauseOther all ofpapers this brings up learn from the discomfort. I’ve be All newIticket sales the able resume in-person the to backbones plunged as customers avoidedstores astoventilators from national ensure weof their commu-menbelike dogstoand punishing white male using everyday tools and do the following: would not for extend morbid obesity as a healthy life mories ofcelebrated a painful experience I’ d prefer not repeat. way to Main Stage shows will be summer camps hire again. that’s permanent job losscollege in-person shopping, andscenario. Cole nities, can address any peak There would be a students forand historical slavery by objects found at home. Tap rder April 29 without compelling and advocated treating privately akespast mechoice lose sleep is how easily most everyone has suspended until Saturday, into your inner artist by But “My gut tells me that I will for workers and a tragedy for the had to lay off three employees. standing directive for rapid response to enable the asking them to sit in silence on the floor in ng its necessity. It masturbation is imperative as to akeep conducted form of February 27th at 10 am, while signing up at not have the company I had anycommunities.” Cole’s new Tampa, Florichains during class and to be expected to ygiene measures in place: suchwomen. as social sexual violence against Typically,use of FDA-approved drugs that are experimental in existing ticket purchasers more,” About one in six small busi-learn da-based is doingvirus. well, academic send submitted relationcompany to a pandemic fromshe thesays. discomfort. Other papers http://bit.ly/CityRM-Artist. , gathering limits,journal masks,editors hand washing, make their selections. papers out to referees for review. In As long as a business could demonstrate the ability celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life acceptance for publication, to follow sound Covid-19 hygiene, they would be choice and advocated treating privately es to lift recommending and reduce or continue on-going reviewers gave these papers glowing allowed to re-enter the economy. I would lean into conducted masturbation as a form of s need tomany be determined using scientific praise. exercising a little common sense on what works and sexual violence against women. Typically, Suspending and, more concerning,

VISU

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

get back to normal

What would you do?

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran

we begin

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 2/5 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$1,982,876,147 Add Receipts:

$237,150,602 Less Disbursements:

$88,341,600 Reserved Cash:

$403,713,254 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$4,084,302,150

Federal board clears way for first-ever union vote at Amazon Bessemer, Ala. The National Labor Relations Board last week dismissed objections filed by Amazon over a union vote set for this week at a fulfillment center that employs more than 5,000 people in suburban Birmingham. This significant development is seen as having a potential ripple effect across the retail giant’s U.S. distribution locations as it could usher in Amazon’s first employee union. The agency said objections by the online retailer didn’t raise any “substantial issues” that needed review, according to local news outlets. Amazon had no immediate comment, but the president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Stuart Appelbaum, said the company should begin “respecting its own employees” and allow them to vote without intimidation or interference. Amazon had cited issues with plans for mail-in balloting related to the COVID-19 pandemic and asked for in-person voting in the center’s parking lot in Bessemer, located just west of Birmingham, over four days. The NLRB ruled that in-person voting would require people to gather for extended periods, so mail-in voting was justified. Ballots are expected to begin going out by Monday to workers, and votes will be counted on March 30.

Yellen: Biden’s plan could restore full employment by 2022 The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday the country was still in a “deep hole” with millions of lost jobs but that President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan could generate enough growth to restore full employment by next year. Republican senators argued that Biden’s proposal was too expensive and they cited criticism from Larry Summers, a treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, that passage of the measure could run the risk of triggering runaway inflation. Summers also contended that Biden’s plan would make less money available for other initiatives such as improving the nation’s infrastructure. Yellen, a former Federal Reserve chair who is the first woman to lead the Treasury Department, said the central bank had the tools to handle any potential inflationary threat. She said the urgent need now is to deal with the problems raised by the pandemic-induced recession: joblessness, lost small businesses and reopening schools. “We face a huge economic challenge here and tremendous suffering in the country. We have got to address that,” Yellen said. “That’s the biggest risk.” The House and Senate this past week approved the legislation necessary to pass Biden’s package through a process known as reconciliation, which only requires 51 votes in the Senate. The Senate is split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris the tiebreaking vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she said she hopes to approve the specific budget details of the Biden proposal over the next two weeks, aiming to get the measure through Congress before current unemployment benefits run out in mid-

“There’s absolutely no reason why we should suffer through a long, slow recovery.”

JACQUELYN MARTIN | AP PHOTO

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a virtual roundtable with participants from Black Chambers of Commerce across the country to discuss the American Rescue Plan, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021

March. House Democrats plan to propose boosting the child tax credit, now at a maximum of $2,000, to as much as $3,600 per child annually, according to information obtained Sunday by The Associated Press. The proposal will be part of the COVID-19 relief bill they are writing that is expected to largely follow Biden’s plan. The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over about half of Biden’s $1.9 trillion proposal, including support for workers, the jobless and people’s health care costs. The committee’s Democrats were expected to release their full plan Monday. The child tax credit increase is expected to help about 20 million lower-earning people. The Democrats’ bill will follow Biden’s proposal to increase the child credit to up to $3,600 for each child under age 6 and as much as $3,000 for those up to 17. Under the House Democrats’ plan, those amounts would begin to phase out for individual parents earning $75,000 yearly and couples making $150,000. All families would receive the full amount, even if they owe no federal income taxes, and payments to families would be made monthly. “This money is going to be the difference in a roof over someone’s head or food on their table,” the committee chairman, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a written statement. The child tax credit proposal is supported by the White House and Senate Demo-

crats, according to House Democratic aide who was not authorized to publicly discuss private deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity. The child tax credit details were first reported by The Washington Post. Republicans cited the warnings raised by Summers that the $1.9 trillion plan was too large and that Biden was violating his campaign promise to work with Republicans once elected. “Larry Summers is a liberal Democrat ... in favor of big government spending and he has said, this is way too much,” said Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. Biden and his team have argued that a big economic package is needed to avoid the mistakes made in 2009 when the Obama administration was unable to get increased support through Congress, resulting in a long, slow recovery after the 2008 financial crisis. The government reported Friday that the economy only created 49,000 jobs in January after having lost jobs in December. Yellen said the recent jobs reports raised fears that the job market is stalling with 10 million people still unemployed and 4 million who have dropped out of the labor market. “We’re in a deep hole with respect to the job market and a long way to dig out,” Yellen said on CBS’ “Face The Nation.” Citing a report from the Con-

gressional Budget Office, Yellen said the unemployment rate could remain elevated for years to come and it could take until 2025 to get unemployment back to 4%. The jobless rate stood at a half-century low of 3.9% a year ago before the pandemic hit. She said if Biden’s relief package is approved, the country could get back to full employment by next year. “There’s absolutely no reason why we should suffer through a long, slow recovery,” Yellen said. The Biden package has been criticized for setting the cutoff for $1,400 direct payments too high, allowing wealthier Americas to collect the payments. Yellen said the administration was willing to negotiate with lawmakers, but did not specify what that threshold should be. Biden said in a CBS interview Friday that he believed his push to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour from $7.25 probably would have to be removed in order to meet Senate rules on budget reconciliation. But Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that committee lawyers were trying to build the case that a wage increase would not violate those rules. “People on top are doing phenomenally well,” said Sanders, I-Vt. “And yet we have literally tens of millions of Americans working for starvation wages.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico: migrants in US to open accounts at consulates Mexico City Mexico will set up a system allowing migrants living in the United States to open accounts with its Bank of Welfare so they can more easily and cheaply send money back to their families, officials said Monday. The bank is Mexico’s main distributor of money for the federal government’s social welfare programs. Migrants living in the U.S. would be able to open accounts through Mexico’s consulates. Mexico’s finance ministry said in a statement that the goal is to expand financial services to that sector of the population and do so “on the best terms and conditions, so that sending remittances to the country happen in a simple, safe and economic way.” Remittances amount to more than Mexico earns from oil exports or tourism and are second only to manufacturing exports. In 2020, despite the pandemic, Mexicans in the U.S. set a new record, sending $40.6 billion back to Mexico. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GREGORIA BORGIA | AP PHOTO

Pope Francis delivers his blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021.

Pope seeks ‘Copernican revolution’ for post-COVID economy By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press ROME — Pope Francis urged governments on Monday to use the coronavirus crisis as a revolutionary opportunity to create a world that is more economically and environmentally just — and where basic health care is guaranteed for all. Francis made the appeal in his annual foreign policy address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, an appointment that was postponed for two weeks after he suffered a bout of sciatica nerve pain that made standing and walking difficult. Francis urged the governments represented in the Apostolic Palace to contribute to global initiatives to provide vaccines to the poor and to use the pandemic to reset what he said was a sick economic model that exploits the poor and the Earth. “There is need for a kind of new Copernican revolution that can put the economy at the service of men and women, not vice versa,”

“Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are, as it were, the medicine we need in today’s world.” Pope Francis he said, referring to the 16th-century paradigm shift that stated the sun was at the center of the universe, not the Earth. He said such a revolutionary new economy is “one that brings life not death, one that is inclusive and not exclusive, humane and not dehumanizing, one that cares for the environment and does not despoil it.” Francis has frequently called for the world to use the pandemic as a chance to re-imagine a global economy that values people and the planet over profits, and one where fraternity and solidarity guide human relationships rather than conflict and division. The 84-year-old Francis hit

those themes in his lengthy address, which was delivered in a larger reception hall than usual to provide greater social distancing for the 88 ambassadors who attended. At the end, Francis invited each one up but said he wouldn’t shake their hands and urged them to keep their distance. Francis has been vaccinated against the virus. In his speech, he called for basic health care to be provided to all. He noted that those on the margins of society and who work in the informal economy have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with the fewest social nets to survive it. “Driven by desperation, many have sought other forms of income and risk being exploited through illegal or forced labor, prostitution and various criminal activities, including human trafficking,” Francis warned. He said children have suffered from an “educational catastrophe” with closed schools, women have been victims of domestic abuse, the faithful have been de-

prived of communal worship and that all of humanity has been restricted from close human contact. “Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are, as it were, the medicine we need in today’s world,” he said. In addition to the pandemic, Francis listed other areas of particular concern, starting with the coup in Myanmar, which Francis visited in 2017. He called for political leaders to be “promptly released as a sign of encouragement for a sincere dialogue aimed at the good of the country.” He called for the war in Syria to finally end, noting that 2021 marks its 10th anniversary, and urging the international community to “address the causes of the conflict with honesty and courage and to seek solutions.” He praised the U.N. treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons and the extension of the START treaty between the U.S. and Russia. He also called for disarmament efforts to extend to conventional and chemical weapons.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

2020 Ford F-250 TREMOR

PHOTOS COURTESY FORD

One TREMORendous pickup truck By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — America is a big place. We have big mountains and big monuments and big highways and even bigger open spaces. There’s Yosemite, Big Sky, the Grand Canyon and the Ford F-250 Super Duty TREMOR. That last one might be the biggest of them all. The TREMOR is a standard Ford Super Duty with a $3,975 package added on with 35-inch off-road tires (the largest fitted to a heavy-duty pickup), skid plates, black aluminum wheels, new suspension hardware and nearly two-inches of lift. Then there’s a limited slip front differential and a locking differential out back, with a feature called Trail Control that lets you set a low-speed cruise control so all you have to do is steer. It takes a big, incredibly capable truck and makes it even more incredibly capable. It’s Ford’s competitor to the GMC Sierra HD AT4 and the Ram Power Wagon and I tested it extensively by driving it around on the roads and parking lots of Southern California. Yes, it’s an off-road beast and it would be equally at home in a rocky desert or a logging trail as it is in the urban jungle, but plenty of TREMOR buyers will never go off road with it — but they will enjoy the visual upgrades and will be able to tell their friends about its off-road chops, too. See, the TREMOR looks awesome. Those huge chunky tires on the matte black wheels are fantastic. The front grille? That’s black too, along with a lot of the trim and the fender extensions and the fixed side-step. It’s a murdered out machine. My test unit also included the $2,045 “Godzilla” 7.3-liter V8 engine, making 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. A $10,000 upfit 6.7-liter turbodiesel is available too, which makes a mind-boggling 1,050 torques. It may be necessary if you need to relocate small towns. As is, it can tow well into the tens of thousands of pounds depending on whether you use a conventional hitch or the gooseneck, or several tons worth of payload. It’s do-it-all attitude makes it very competitive within the newly created “heavy duty off-road pickup truck” segment.

I can hear you asking already about fuel economy. What fuel economy? This thing is so big they don’t even require fuel economy ratings on it. And on a $73,465 truck, do you really care? No, you do not. It does hold 34 gallons of fuel, however, which means your fill-ups will be under $100 as long as gas stays below $3 per gallon. What else? It’s incredibly difficult to park unless you have a wide open parking lot, though the surround cameras really help. It’s the usual Ford Super Duty setup inside, though it doesn’t have the latest and greatest infotainment system that the new F-150 has. That’ll come in a future update, but it does have a quad-barrel convertible cupholder that turns a storage bin in the center console into an extra two cupholders if you’re picking up coffee for the whole worksite. Visibility is tremendous except for directly in front of the massive grille, which is large enough to hide a smallish adult so be sure you know what’s around because this thing feels a bit like a locomotive when setting off. The ten-speed transmission is invisible, and there’s always prodigious power no matter what you’re doing when you stab the throttle (at least when you aren’t towing). The truck isn’t exactly stable on the highway, however. The huge tires and sprongy (yes, I made that word up) suspension means it does tend to drift a bit in your lane. That’s all well and good, until your lanes narrow because you’re in a construction zone and then you realize — at 75 mph — just how large this truck is. That said, people do get out of the way when they see you coming. That’s the point, right? You buy this truck because either you need to traverse a log-strewn Forest Service road or because you workhard-play-harder in the mud, or because you want people to look at your truck and think either of those things might be true. Regardless, the TREMOR gets the job done. In fact, it gets the job done so well that Ford is bringing the TREMOR package to both the smaller trucks in the lineup, the F-150 and the Ranger. Those won’t have quite the gravitas of the big boy Super Duty, but expect them to perform well just the same.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

features Dollar General brings new concept pOpshelf to Garner By Elizabeth Lincicome North State Journal GARNER —The local retail industry has seen a significant decline in foot traffic as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Although many retailers go dark without making their closures public, Andy Ellen, president and general counsel at the N.C. Retail Merchants Association says that to his knowledge, at least 20 retail businesses in downtown Raleigh permanently shut down in 2020. Despite this alarming statistic, a new store, pOpshelf, is bringing jobs to the area. The company recently opened a new location in Garner. pOpshelf is the latest store concept to originate out of the broader Dollar General line of retailers. The store includes a mix of home décor, beauty products, party and craft supplies, toys, specialty foods, electronics, cleaning supplies and more and most items are $5 or less. pOpshelf says their primary customer base tends to be women living in diverse suburban communities, with total household annual income ranging from $50,000 to $125,000. The store celebrated its recent opening by giving customers an opportunity to enter to win a year of free shopping through a “Surprise and Joy For A Year” Sweepstakes. Dollar General opened two of its five pOpshelf stores in Tennessee in October of last year. There are currently five stores now open in Hendersonville, TN; Clarksville, TN; McDonough, GA; Monroe, NC and Garner and executives plan to open a total of 30 stores by the end of fiscal 2021. Each pOpshelf store will create up to 15 new jobs and employ team members passionate about helping customers enjoy their shopping experience. At pOpshelf, team members will have the opportunity to join an environment that brings to life the new brand’s mission of making

“We’re excited for customers to explore our store and discover the possibilities of home décor, beauty, party, specialty foods, electronics and more. At pOpshelf, there’s fun in every find, happiness in the affordability and joy in stress-free shopping experience we offer …” Matt Frame, Director of Store Operations, pOpshelf

While there are similarities between the two lines of retail stores, mangers say pOpshelf is a differentiated store and shopping experience. Each approximately 9,000 square foot pOpshelf store is focused on delivering a combination of continually-refreshed merchandise, seasonal specials and limited-time items while also surpassing price and value expectations. pOpshelf will also carry a highly-curated crossover assortment of Dollar General’s private brands, many of which have been recently rebranded. Dollar General offers products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and sea-

sonal items at often lowest market prices. Dollar General operated 16,720 stores in 46 states as of July 31, 2020. The fact that pOpshelf will create jobs with each new store is certainly a bright spot amidst a bleaker national unemployment rate. Nearly a year into the pandemic the labor market remains mired in what has been dubbed a “winter slowdown.” The Wall Street Journal reports weekly jobless figures remain well above their pre-pandemic peak and are higher than in any previous recession tracing back to 1967. Experts say these high jobless claims figures point to a slowing economic recovery. Nonetheless, pOpshelf executives see opportunity

and hope in the days to come and remain upbeat about welcoming customers to all their new stores. “We are excited to introduce pOpshelf from a position of strength, further highlighting our innovative spirit and building on our proven track record of store format innovation,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s Chief Executive Officer. “We have leveraged robust consumer insights to create a unique store that we believe will resonate with new customers, while providing Dollar General with even more opportunities for growth in the years ahead.” pOpshelf celebrated the Garner store’s grand opening with an $4,000 donation to The Confetti Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to provide birthday parties to children who have to spend their birthday in a hospital, pediatric oncology clinic or hospice facility. The foundation seeks to provide positive memories and normalcy for these kids during an otherwise difficult time. pOpshelf’s donation is expected to provide approximately 100 parties.

Leonardo’s ‘Last Supper’ reopens to public with short wait

Access is restricted in the first week to just eight viewers every 15 minutes, going up to 12 starting next week. While in the past demand also among foreign visitors meant that reservations were necessary weeks or even months in advance, Emma Daffra, director of Lombardy’s state museums, said reservations are now opening each week with same-day tickets possible at the museum. “The dramatic COVID emergency had the effect of lowering the legendary wait time, and for the public this is a real opportunity,” Daffra said. “For years we have said that we need to make museums a point of reference for

the locals and now this has become an unavoidable goal.” For the moment, residents of Lombardy are the main beneficiaries. Italy’s virus restrictions currently ban travel between regions, except for work, health or other necessities. “I feel it’s an experience of new beginnings,’’ said Roberto Ponti, who finally got to see the “Last Supper” after months of delay. “Italy is full of art, full of beauty, and to be able to get close to that beauty means reclaiming life as a whole,” he said. “It means taking a step toward a life that may be different socially, but that can go on.”

By Charlene Pele The Associated Press MILAN — COVID-19 restrictions have brought a novelty to art lovers: The possibility of seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” without waiting in line, and with same-day tickets possible.

PHOTOS COURTESY POPSHELF

Garner will be the fifth location of Dollar General’s new upscale bargain concept. The growing chain also has one store in Monroe, N.C., as well as two in Tennessee and one in Georgia. shopping exciting and fun. Candidates interested in joining the pOpshelf team can apply online at https://careers.pOpshelf.com/. Not to be confused with the Henderson, NC-based Variety Wholesalers, which also operates a number of discount and offprice stores across the Southeast, Dollar General is an American chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, TN. Originally founded as J.L. Turner and Son in 1939, the company changed its name to Dollar General in the 1950’s and later went public on the NYSE. Over the years, the corporation has grown to become one of the most profitable stores in the rural U.S. with revenue reaching an estimated $27 billion in 2019.

Access to the masterpiece housed inside the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie resumed Tuesday after the second closure of the pandemic, starting in November and the fall virus resurgence. The famed mural was also closed to the public from Feb. 26-June 9, with the double closures resulting in an

80% drop in visitors last year from 2019’s record 445,728 Leonardo admirers. This year remains uncertain, due both to virus variants and the slower-than-anticipated rollout of vaccinations. Museum officials are anticipating a drop of 60% in visitors, with an accompanying decrease in revenues.

ANTONIO CALANNI | AP PHOTO

A woman admires Leonardo da Vinci’s painting ‘ The Last Supper ‘, dating back to 1494-1498 and preserved at the ex-Renaissance refectory of the convent adjacent to the sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie church, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Next stop Mars: 3 spacecraft arriving in quick succession By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After hurtling hundreds of millions of miles through space since last summer, three robotic explorers are ready to hit the brakes at Mars. The stakes — and anxiety — are sky high. The United Arab Emirates’ orbiter reached Mars on Tuesday, to be followed less than 24 hours later by China’s orbiter-rover combo. NASA’s rover, the cosmic caboose, will arrive on the scene a week later, on Feb. 18, to collect rocks for return to Earth — a key step in determining whether life ever existed at Mars. Both the UAE and China are newcomers at Mars, where more than half of Earth’s emissaries have failed. China’s first Mars mission, a joint effort with Russia in 2011, never made it past Earth’s orbit. “We are quite excited as engineers and scientists, at the same time quite stressed and happy, worried, scared,” said Omran Sharaf, project manager for the UAE. All three spacecraft rocketed away within days of one another last July, during an Earth-to-Mars launch window that occurs only every two years. That’s why their arrivals are also close together. Called Amal, or Hope in Arabic, the Gulf nation’s spacecraft is seeking an especially high orbit — 13,500 by 27,000 miles high (22,000 kilometers by 44,000 kilometers) — all the better to monitor the Martian weather. China’s duo — called Tianwen-1, or “Quest for Heavenly Truth” — will remain paired in orbit until May, when the rover separates to descend to the dusty, ruddy surface. If all goes well, it will be only the second country to land successfully on the red planet. The U.S. rover Perseverance, by contrast, will dive in straight away for a harrowing sky-crane touchdown similar to the Curiosity rover’s grand Martian entrance in 2012. The odds are in NASA’s favor: It’s nailed eight of its nine attempted Mars landings. Despite their differences — the 1-ton Perseverance is larger and

more elaborate than the Tianwen-1 rover — both will prowl for signs of ancient microscopic life. Perseverance’s $3 billion mission is the first leg in a U.S.-European effort to bring Mars samples to Earth in the next decade. “To say we’re pumped about it, well that would be a huge understatement,” said Lori Glaze, NASA’s planetary science director. Perseverance is aiming for an ancient river delta that seems a logical spot for once harboring life. This landing zone in Jezero Crater is so treacherous that NASA nixed it for Curiosity, but so tantalizing that scientists are keen to get hold of its rocks. “When the scientists take a look at a site like Jezero Crater, they see the promise, right?” said Al Chen, who’s in charge of the entry, descent and landing team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “When I look at Jezero, I see danger. There’s danger everywhere.” Steep cliffs, deep pits and fields of rocks could cripple or doom Perseverance, following its seven-minute atmospheric plunge. With an 11 1/2-minute communication lag each way, the rover will be on its own, unable to rely on flight controllers. Amal and Tianwen-1 will also need to operate autonomously while maneuvering into orbit. Until Perseverance, NASA sought out flat, boring terrain on which to land — “one giant parking lot,” Chen said. That’s what China’s Tianwen-1 rover will be shooting for in Mars’ Utopia Planitia. NASA is upping its game thanks to new navigation technology designed to guide the rover to a safe spot. The spacecraft also has a slew of cameras and microphones to capture the sights and sounds of descent and landing, a Martian first. Faster than previous Mars vehicles but still moving at a glacial pace, the six-wheeled Perseverance will drive across Jezero, collecting core samples of the most enticing rocks and gravel. The rover will set the samples aside for retrieval by a fetch rover launching in 2026. Under an elaborate plan still being worked out by NASA and the European Space Agency, the geologic treasure would arrive on

ALEXANDER MCNABB | MBRSC VIA APP

This June 1, 2020 illustration provided by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre depicts the United Arab Emirates’ Hope Mars probe.

“We are quite excited as engineers and scientists, at the same time quite stressed and happy, worried, scared.” Omran Sharaf, project manager for the UAE Earth in the early 2030s. Scientists contend it’s the only way to ascertain whether life flourished on a wet, watery Mars 3 billion to 4 billion years ago. NASA’s science mission chief, Thomas Zurbuchen, considers it “one of the hardest things ever done by humanity and certainly in space science.” The U.S. is still the only country to successfully land on Mars, beginning with the 1976 Vikings. Two spacecraft are still active on the surface: Curiosity and InSight. Smashed Russian and European spacecraft litter the Martian landscape, meanwhile, along with NASA’s failed Mars Polar Lander

from 1999. Getting into orbit around Mars is less complicated, but still no easy matter, with about a dozen spacecraft falling short. Mars flybys were the rage in the 1960s and most failed; NASA’s Mariner 4 was the first to succeed in 1965. Six spacecraft currently are operating around Mars: three from the U.S., two from Europe and one from India. The UAE hopes to make it seven with its $200-plus million mission. The UAE is especially proud that Amal was designed and built by its own citizens, who partnered with the University of Colorado at Boulder and other U.S. institutions, not simply purchased from abroad. Its arrival at Mars coincides with this year’s 50th anniversary of the country’s founding. “Starting off the year with this milestone is something very important for the people” of the UAE, said Sharaf. China, hasn’t divulged much in advance. Even the spacecraft’s exact arrival time on Wednesday has yet to be announced. The China Academy of Space Technology’s Ye Peijian noted that Tianwen-1 has three objectives: or-

biting the planet, landing and releasing the rover. If successful, he said in a statement “it will become the world’s first Mars expedition accomplishing all three goals with one probe.” The coronavirus pandemic has complicated each step of each spacecraft’s 300 million-mile (480 million-kilometer) journey to Mars. It even kept the European and Russian space agencies’ joint Mars mission grounded until the next launch window in 2022. The flight control rooms will contain fewer people on the big day, with staff spread over a wider area and working from home. Desks have dividers and partitions. Masks and social distancing are mandatory. Perseverance’s deputy project manager Matt Wallace, who’s working his fifth Mars rover mission, said the pandemic won’t dampen the mood come landing day. “I don’t think COVID’s going to be able to stop us from jumping up and down, and fist-bumping,” he said. “You’re going to see a lot of happy people no matter what, once we get this thing on the surface safely.”

Mary Wilson, longest-reigning original Supreme, dies at 76 The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the Supremes, the 1960s group that helped establish the Motown sound and propelled Diana Ross to superstardom, has died. She was 76. Wilson died Monday night at her home in Las Vegas and the cause was not immediately clear, said publicist Jay Schwartz. Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard made up the first successful configuration of The Supremes, Motown’s first and most commercially successful girl group. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967, and Wilson stayed with the group until it was officially disbanded in 1977. The group’s first No. 1, million-selling song, “Where Did Our Love Go,” was released June 17, 1964. Touring at the time, Wilson said there was a moment when she realized they had a hit song. “I remember that instead of going home on the bus, we flew,” she told The Associated Press in 2014. “That was our first plane ride. We flew home. We had really hit big.” It would be the first of five consecutive No. 1s, with “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Back in My Arms Again” following in quick succession. The Supremes also recorded the hit songs “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Up the Ladder to the Roof” and “Love Child.” “I just woke up to this news,” Ross tweeted on Tuesday, offering her condolences to Wilson’s family. “I am reminded that each day is a gift,” she added, writing “I have so many wonderful memories of our time together.” Berry Gordy, who founded the Detroit-based Motown Records, said he was “extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes.” His statement Monday night, according to Variety,

CARLOS OSORIO | AP PHOTO

n this April 4, 2019, file photo, Mary Wilson, a former member of The Supremes, is escorted after singing the national anthem before a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals in Detroit. said “The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’” Wilson, Ross and Ballard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. “The world has lost one of the brightest stars in our Motown family. Mary Wilson was an icon,” Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry said in a statement. Wilson, in a recent YouTube video posted Saturday, said she was excited to celebrate Black history month, her upcoming birthday (March 6) and teased fans with the announcement that Universal Mu-

sic had plans to release some of her music. “We’re going to be talking about the Supremes, yeah, 60th anniversary, and I’m going to be talking a lot about that mainly because I’ve finally decided how to work with Universal and they’re going to release new recordings, Mary Wilson recordings,” she said. “Yes! At last!” “Hopefully some of that will be out on my birthday,” she continued. “We’ll see. I’ve got my fingers crossed here. Yes I do.” Several celebrities mourned Wilson’s death on social media, including Viola Davis, Questlove, Andy Cohen, Janet Mock, Ledisi,

Richard Marx and Kiss’ Paul Stanley, who said he was in touch with Wilson last week. “OMG! Mary Wilson of the Supremes has died suddenly. I was just on a Zoom call with her Wednesday for about an hour & never could have imagined this,” he tweeted Tuesday. “So full of life & great stories. Absolutely shocked. Rest In Supreme Peace Mary.” Steven Van Zandt said he spoke to Wilson before the world went on lockdown because of the coronavirus, tweeting Tuesday: “RIP Mary Wilson. Legendary founding member of the Supremes and fantastic solo artist. I had a wonder-

ful conversation with her just before the quarantine. She was full of energy and plans so this is shocking as well as tragic. Our love and condolences go to her family and friends.” Following the Supremes’ disbandment, Wilson released the New York Times best-selling book, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,” in 1986. She released her second book, “Supreme Faith: Someday We’ll Be Together,” in 1990. Her last book, “Supreme Glamour,” was written with Mark Bego and was released in 2019. Wilson also competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2019.

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 286 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Beverly C. Gray, Robert H. Cannon (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Beverly C. Gray and Robert H. Cannon) to Trste, Inc., Trustee(s), dated December 15, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 08533, at Page 0337 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on February 15, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain property situated in the City of Concord, in the County of Cabarrus and state of North Carolina and being described in a deed dated 03/29/2001 and

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 18 SP 248 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Taiseer A. Zarka a/k/a Taiseer Abou Zarka, Jehan Zarka (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Taiseer A. Zarka and Jehan Zarka) to GBTC, Inc., Trustee(s), dated April 30, 2009, and recorded in Book No. 3694, at Page 371 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on February 23, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Garner in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

ONSLOW AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 200 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Dawson Obrian Redman, Rayne Redman (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Dawson Obrian Redman and Rayne Redman) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated April 23, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 4931, at Page 345 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina,

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 20SP184 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KAREN THELMA SEIP AND MICHAEL JAMES SEIP DATED FEBRUARY 12, 1997 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1489 AT PAGE 526 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 53 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Daniel V. Wood (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Daniel V. Wood, Heirs of Daniel V. Wood: Teresa Ann Wood, Marie Elena Wood, Kevin P. Wood, Michael T. Wood, Lisa Wood; Heirs of Marie Elena Wood: Brandon Michael Carrick, Hollie Latham) to Richard L. Cox, Trustee(s), dated June 21, 2010, and recorded in Book No. RE 2187, at Page 233 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 23, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Asheboro in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing iron rod in the Northern right of way line of Southway Road (NCSR No. 1456), formerly described as Old Salisbury Road, the Southeast corner

UNION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION UNION COUNTY 20sp425 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LEWIS KING AND LYNN B. KING DATED JANUARY 11, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4447 AT PAGE 373 IN THE UNION COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and

recorded 03/29/2001 in Book 3168, Page 27 among the land records of the county and state set forth above and referenced as follows: Lying and being in Number Eleven (11) Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, on the east side of Tilley Road, bounded on the north by Frank Wishart Neal, on the east by Willie Blackwelder Walters, and the south by Walter O. Wentz, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron in Tilley Road, a corner of Neal, and runs thence with the line of Neal S. 8204-00 E. 387.08 feet to an existing iron, thence continuing with the line of Neal and Walters, S. 52-02-52 E. (Passing an iron at 60.07 feet) for a total distance of 99.81 feet to an existing iron, thence with the line of Walters, S. 42.51.11 E. 54.97 feet to an existing, a rear corner of Wentz; thence with the line of Wentz, S. 20-09-34 W. (Passing an iron at 15.00 feet) for a total distance of 296.37 feet to a bolt in the centerline of Tilley Road, thence with the centerline of Tilley Road, N. 43-56-18 W. 20.33 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of Tilley Road as it curves at a radius of 1637.02 feet for an arc distance of 227.92 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road, N. 36-40-36 W. 66.31 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road as it curves at a radius of 654.81 feet for an arc distance of 260.43 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road, N. 58-36-21 W. 7.71 feet to a point; thence N. 8-37-00 E. 10.70 feet to the point of beginning, containing 2.040 acres, more or less, as surveyed and platted by James T. West, R.L.S. dated March 27, 2001. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2395 Tilley Road, Concord, North Carolina.

Being all of Lot 40, Section 2, Southridge Subdivision, as depicted in Book of Maps 49, Page 130 of the Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 118 South Ridge Drive, Garner, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on February 18, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Richlands in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 49 as shown on that plat entitled “Camellia Creek”, dated June 29, 2006, prepared by Dennis L. Manning, PLS, and recorded in Map Book 52, Page 161, Slide L-1736, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 309 Vito Court, Richlands, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized

indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on February 24, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Karen Thelma Seip and Michael James Seip, dated February 12, 1997 to secure the original principal amount of $61,547.82, and recorded in Book 1489 at Page 526 of the Randolph County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. 2207 Dixon Address of property: St, Ramseur, NC 27316 Tax Parcel ID: 8702403271 Michael Present Record Owners: J. Seip and Karen T. Seip

of Rossie J. and Jimmy Chrisco as described in Book 872, Page 402, Randolph County Registry; thence from said beginning point along Chrisco, North 20 degrees 24 minutes 25 seconds East 204.02 feet to a tall existing iron pipe; thence along Redding Land Co.: South 52 degree 23 minutes 39 second East 117.83 feet to a tall existing iron pipe and South 21 degrees 17 minute 16 seconds West 212.98 feet to the Northern right of way line of Southway Road; thence along said right of way line, North 47 degrees 45 minutes 48 seconds West 117.73 feet to the BEGINNING, containing 0.532 acre and being the same property described in Book 1402, Page 162, Randolph County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 232 Southway Road, Asheboro, North Carolina. This description is in accord with a survey entitled “Edward J. Griest & Colleen S. Griest” dated February 20, 1998, and prepared by Jerry King Surveying, Inc. SAVE AND EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING TRACT: BEGINNING at an existing iron rod in the northern right of way line of Southway Road (NCSR No. 1456), the Southeast corner of the Edward J. Griest and wife, Colleen S. Griest property described in Book 1544, Page 228, Randolph County Registry; thence from said beginning point along the Western line of Griest as described in Book 1544, Page 228, Randolph County Registry, North 21 degrees 17 minutes 16 seconds East 212.98 feet to a tall iron pipe; thence along a new line within the Griest tract, South 23

agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 2:30PM on February 17, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Union County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Lewis King and Lynn B. King, dated January 11, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $247,500.00, and recorded in Book 4447 at Page 373 of the Union County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 6000 Potter Rd, Matthews, NC 28104 Tax Parcel ID: 07147107 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Lynn B. King

The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on November 21, 2018, in Book No. 13275, at Page 0022. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not

cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return

the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

And Being more commonly known as: 2207 Dixon St, Ramseur, NC 27316 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michael J. Seip and Karen T. Seip. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be

degrees 07 minutes 32 seconds West 209.99 feet to a new iron rod in existing hole in the Northern right of way of Southway Road; thence along said right of way line South 44 degrees 00 minutes 04 second East 7.40 feet to the BEGINNING, containing 0.016 acres. This description is in accord with a survey entitled “Survey for Edward J. Griest & Colleen S. Griest”, prepared by Jerry King Surveying, Inc., dated February 20, 1998, revised April 29, 1998 and designated as Job No. 1450. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to

And Being more commonly known as: 6000 Potter Rd, Matthews, NC 28104 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Lynn B. King. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the

c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 3463 - 8978

Telephone: (910) 864-6888 c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1239961 - 10714

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE Attorney at Law Hutchens Law Firm LLP Attorneys for Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. PO Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302

c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 3668 - 10903

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

termination. The date of this Notice is February 3, 2021. LLG TRUSTEE LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-110258

Parkway,

Suite

400

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the

all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be

sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1789 - 3676

The date of this Notice is January 27, 2021. LLG TRUSTEE LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 16-080211

Parkway,

Suite

400

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

B11

TAKE NOTICE

WAKE AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1960 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Financing Statement made by ProGreen Home LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company to Roper & Taylor, P.A. Attorneys at Law, Trustee(s), dated the 22nd day of March, 2019, and recorded in Book 017392, Page 02074, in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 22, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate

14 SP 1727 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Margaret W. Reeves and Ronald Wayne Reeves to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated December 23, 2002 and recorded on December 31, 2002 in Book 009830 at Page 02298 and rerecorded/modified/ corrected on January 20, 2010 in Book 013829, Page 01107 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on January 20, 2010 in Book 013829, Page 01110, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county

20 SP 553 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Arani Arzate Zamora to Getter Law Offices, Trustee(s), which was dated October 28, 2016 and recorded on October 28, 2016 in Book 016586 at Page 01134, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and

20 SP 587 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Chad E. Lynch and Danielle M. Lynch to Title Source Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated July 3, 2012 and recorded on July 17, 2012 in Book 014846 at Page 00068, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and

20 SP 1919 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Legacy of TAS, Inc., a Delaware Corporation to T. D. Service Company, Trustee(s), which was dated February 26, 2019 and recorded on February 26, 2019 in Book 017369 at Page 01163, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

12 SP 4679 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lorinda S. Hendrickson to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated April 30, 2007 and recorded on April 30, 2007 in Book 012524 at Page 01479 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on January 6, 2020 in Book 017707, Page 00967, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

situated in the City of Raleigh, in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: FIRST TRACT: BEGINNING at an iron stake on the south side of Summit Avenue at the northeast corner of Lot No. 146 and running thence in an easterly direction along Summit Avenue fifty feet; thence in a southerly direction one hundred and fifty feet to an alleyway; thence in a westerly course fifty feet along said alleyway to the southeast corner of Lot No. 146; thence in a northerly course one hundred fifty feet to the BEGINNING, and being Lot No, 145 of Caraleigh Village as shown Page 70, Book of Maps 1911, Wake County. Conveyed by Caraleigh Hills to W. C. Floyd, November 14, 1916, Book 307 Page 368, Register of Deeds of Wake County. SECOND TRACT; BEGINNING at a stake on Summit Avenue at the northwest corner of Lot No. 145 running thence 150 feet in southerly direction to an alleyway; thence in a westerly direction along said alleyway 25 feet; thence in a northerly direction one hundred fifty (150) feet to Summit Avenue; thence in an easterly direction along Summit Avenue twenty-five (25) feet to a point at the BEGINNING. Being a lot 25 by 150 feet and being one-half of Lot No. 146, Book of Maps 1911, Page 70, conveyed to A. H. Kirk by Caraleigh Mills Company, September 23, 1916, which deed of conveyance is duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Wake County, N.C., Book 307, Page 299. Property address: 143 Summit Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lots 11 and 12, Block G, Carolina Pines, according to a map recorded in Book of Maps 1946, Page 102, Wake County Registry. AND, in addition, the parcel described as follows: BEGINNING at a point located North 10 degrees, 38 minutes, West 81 feet from the center line of Sardis Drive, and also being the Northwest corner of Lot 11 recorded in Book of Maps 1946, Page 102; thence North 10 degrees, 38 minutes, West 2 feet to a new iron pipe; thence North 79 degrees, 24 minutes 10 seconds, East 199.98 feet to a new iron pipe, thence South 10 degrees, 31 minutes, East 2 feet to an existing iron pipe; thence South 79 degrees, 24 minutes, 10 seconds, West 199.98 feet to the point and place of beginning, containing approximately 400 square feet as shown on a Plat entitled “Property of Gertrude P. Morgan” by Bobby R. Lee, R.L.S., dated April 14, 1986.

will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 286 Battle Ridge North Subdivision, as shown on plat Book of Maps 2005, Page 1698, Wake County Registry Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 3445 KERNSTOWN DR, Raleigh, NC 27610.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 2521 Springhill Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603. A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

the

Land Situated in the County of Wake in

City of Apex in the State of NC

BEING ALL OF LOT 37, THE PARK AT WEST LAKE, THE WOODLANDS, PHASE 2, AS SHOWN IN BOOK OF MAPS 2005, PAGES 883, 884 AND 885, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5149 Dove Forest Lane, Apex, NC 27539. A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE

BEGINNING AT A STAKE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PENN ROAD, 195 FEET IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION MEASURED ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF PENN ROAD FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE WESTERN SIDE OF NORTH STATE STREET; RUNS THENCE SOUTH 11 DEGREES 15 MINUTES WEST 136.70 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE SOUTHERN LINE OF LOT 131 ON MAP TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HEREINAFTER MADE; RUNS THENCE NORTH 76 DEGREES 50 MINUTES WEST 65.20 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE; RUNS THENCE NORTH 11 DEGREES 15 MINUTES EAST 134.50 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE SOUTHERN LINE OF PENN ROAD; RUNS THENCE ALONG THE SOUTHERN LINE OF PENN ROAD SOUTH 78 DEGREES 45 MINUTES EAST 65.0 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, AND BEING THE WESTERN PART OF LOT 131 AND THE EASTERN PART OF LOT 132 OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS, RALEIGH, N. C., ACCORDING TO SURVEY BY D. C. SHEARIN; DATED OCTOBER 31, 1969. FOR MAP OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS SEE BOOK OF MAPS 1945, PAGE 113, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior

conducting the sale on February 17, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 3926, Blackwolf Run at Hedingham on the Neuse, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1999, Pages 1904 & 1905, Wake County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5742 Osprey Cove Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Chad E. Lynch and spouse, Danielle M. Lynch. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the

conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 714 Penn Rd, Raleigh, NC 27604. A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1956

in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 22, Block 12, Unit 214E, Crown Oaks Townhomes Phase 3A, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1983, Page 996, Wake County Registry. Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 7751 Kingsberry Court, Raleigh, North Carolina.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Patricia L. Duggins (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Patricia L. Duggins) to PRLAP, Inc., Trustee(s), dated May 20, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 010889, at Page 02333 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 15, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh

Being the same property conveyed to Patricia L. Duggins, unmarried by deed from Brenda Harrell Hufton nka Brenda Hufton Hilliker and husband, Leonard R. Hilliker, Sr. recorded 12/03/2001 in Deed Book 9191 Page 547, in the Register of Deeds Office of Wake County, North Carolina. Tax ID# 0129057 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM

A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 12497 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255

of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Margaret W. Reaves a/k/a Margaret W. Reeves.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Aaron B. Anderson Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5710 Oleander Drive, Ste. 204 Wilmington, NC 28403 Phone: (910) 202-2940 Fax: (910) 202 2941 File No.: 14-04072-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return

that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-02220-FC01

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee

rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-21463-FC01

undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Legacy of TAS, Inc. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-05873-FC01

Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 12-24214-FC01

of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not

cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 3712 - 11876

The Wake County Republican Party will hold precinct meetings February 9, 2021 - February 27, 2021. Visit wgop.us/pct for time, date, and locations.

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From Feb. 3, 2020

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 19 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

NC natives in the Superbowl

MARK HUMPHREY | AP PHOTO

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop (3) celebrates his point after against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Succup is originally from Hickory, and punter Bradley Pinion played for Northwest Cabarrus High in Kannapolis before heading to Clemson.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Lt Gov Robinson to speak at Stanly GOP event

Superintendent says district in ‘really good shape’

Stanly County On March 18, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the state’s first black lieutenant governor, will be speaking at the Stanly Republican Party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event will be held at the Stanly County Fairgrounds in Albemarle at 7 p.m.

Boa constrictor stuck in car dashboard freed unharmed Stanly County A pet boa constrictor that became stuck behind the dashboard of a car in Albemarle needed the help of animal control officers to wriggle free. But the 5-foot snake was ultimately released unharmed from its owner’s vehicle — after some car parts were removed. Officers with the Stanly County Animal Protective Services were dispatched Tuesday to free the snake after it became trapped. A photo shared by the agency on its Facebook page showed some pieces of the dashboard had been dismantled to reach the snake and let it slither out. AP

State Sen. Natasha Marcus tests positive for the coronavirus Mecklenburg County State Sen. Natasha Marcus has tested positive for the coronavirus. Marcus announced her positive test results in a Facebook post. The Democrat from Davidson said that she hadn’t been to work in person since Jan. 13 and had not attended any social gatherings. She also said that she had made limited trips outside her home. Marcus is the fifth state legislator to publicly announce that he or she tested positive for the coronavirus. AP

20177 52016 $0.50

Stanly schools ‘ahead of the curve’ as state officials recommend reopening By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Gov. Roy Cooper and his Republican rivals in the General Assembly each made moves in early February to begin transitioning the state’s students back to physical classrooms, but at Stanly County Schools’ Feb. 2 board of education meeting, district officials said those debates will have little impact locally since they already offer the proposed options. At the meeting, SCS Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis addressed the board, saying he wanted to discuss both the governor’s recent announcement on pushing for schools to reopen and the legislation working its way through the state legislature, which he identified as Senate Bill 37, “In Person Learning Choices for Families.” Dennis said the bill would require all districts to have an option for in-person learning for K-12, while also offering virtual options for those who wish to remain in remote learning. The districts would have to work out a plan that offers these options while also following the N.C. Strong Schools

Public Health Toolkit. “As far as we go as a school district, we have a leg up on a lot of other school districts in that we already meet most of these statutes anyway,” Dennis said. “So we would have to do very little work, if any, if they were to pass this.” Dennis said that 90 out of 115 districts had some form of face-to-face learning, but for those that didn’t, if the bill became law, they would have 15 days to make those changes. Turning to Cooper’s new policy, Dennis said, “During his [Cooper’s] message today, he did want school districts to embrace learning for K-5 to five days a week and he would like to see that as well as move forward with the 6-12, the secondary, to more face-to-face options. And a lot of that will be predicated on what the toolkit says at that time.” Dennis said that there was a revision to the statewide toolkit that was sent out that day, and it “would help with bringing more kids into the schools.” “I will also say that in terms of everything, we’re just in really good shape moving forward, no matter what they end up doing.” Dennis said. “But there is definitely a push to bring students back to schools across the state.” A number of Board of Educa-

Alcoa plans upgrade to Badin Lake stormwater system Environmental concerns on cyanide levels during process By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal BADIN — With operations in 10 different countries, Alcoa has become a $12 billion company and the world’s eighth largest aluminum producer. But while over a decade has passed since Alcoa shut down its aluminum smelting plant in Badin, the 132-year-old company is still dealing with the environmental ramifications of the existing property. Badin Business Park LLC, a subsidiary of Alcoa, is hoping to strike a deal with the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that will lift the pollution violations that have been handed down by the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC). According to a recent Special Order By Consent proposal that has not yet been approved by the DEQ, Badin Park’s facility is “un-

able to consistently comply with the final effluent limits for total fluoride and total cyanide” in the stormwater, which is directed from the Outfall 005 discharge point into Little Mountain Creek and Badin Lake. Badin Lake, the source of Albemarle’s water supply, currently has fish consumption advisories posted at various spots around the lake due to the lake water’s contaminants. “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously, and we are working with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to ensure compliance with our water discharge permit,” an Alcoa spokesperson told SCJ in an email. In order to navigate the current permit violations, Alcoa is designing a system upgrade intended to divert and pump water from Outfall 005. “We are planning to modify an existing stormwater piping system that will enable Badin Business Park to better manage water at

tion members responded to Dennis, and spoke on the topic in general, during their closing comments. “I think we continue the track record, the school system does, of being ahead of the curve, and providing students and families with options,” board member Anthony Graves said. “So it’s good the governor has finally recognized the importance of those things. But I do say it is interesting the timing, giving the fact that the number of hospitalizations, the infection rates, and all of that data, is much higher than it was back at the start of the school year. And they use the excuse that now they know more than they did back then. Well, some people knew more back then, and unfortunately, I know you always want to err on the side of caution, but certainly I’m glad that we gave those students that wanted the in-person instruction the option to do that at the beginning of the school year.” Another board member, Carla Poplin, also praised the district’s early adoption of in-person options, and praised those who have been involved in implementing those policies. “I guess with COVID, we’ve learned to adapt and adjust, and I know that our staff will do that and they will excel at doing that,” Poplin

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously, and we are working with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to ensure compliance with our water discharge permit.” Alcoa spokesperson the site,” Alcoa’s statement continued. “The project, which should be complete in the summer of 2022, will use an existing diffuser, which has operated in Badin Lake for decades. It will help ensure that overall concentrations are below both the state and federal standards and are protective of human health and the environment.” The company’s plan for handling the permit violation has drawn the ire of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), a non-profit environmental public interest law firm that represents the Concerned Citizens of West Badin. In 2019, SELC negotiated a settlement with Alcoa that forced the company to upgrade its stormwater system. One facet of Alcoa’s new pro-

“As far as we go as a school district, we have a leg up on a lot of other school districts in that we already meet most of these statutes anyway. So we would have to do very little work, if any, if they were to pass this.” Stanly Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis said. “I just want them to know that I personally thank them for taking on the students, because I have friends and family members with children that desperately want their children back in school. And I just feel like we’re making the right decision getting as many students back in the building as we can.” The board’s chair, Jeff Chance, then closed the meeting by saying he concurred “with everything said this evening,” and that “We’re certainly way ahead of the game, in my opinion. The governor doesn’t have anything on us.”

posal — if approved by the DEQ — is that the contaminated stormwater containing excessive cyanide and fluoride will be shifted to a new discharge point (Outfall 012) where the state’s permit limit is more lenient. However, Alcoa has documented that Outfall 012 will be a “mixing zone” where the polluted water will be diluted sufficiently before it enters Badin Lake. Yadkin Riverkeeper, a nonprofit, membership organization based out of Winston-Salem, has also taken issue with the contents of the Special Order By Consent, specifically pertaining to the short-term effects of the proposal. “The proposed SOC would allow BBP to discharge more than nine times the current effluent limitation for cyanide for up to two years, while the new piping system is being completed,” a Dec. 10 statement on Yadkin Riverkeeper’s website said. “The proposed new SOC would not only allow BBP to continue to exceed the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System effluent limitations, but also give them another two years to attain compliance, while allowing up to nine times more cyanide to be discharged into Little Mountain Creek during the interim,” the statement continued.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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♦ Faulkner, Mary Dawanna (W F, 37) Arrest on chrg of Felony Probation Violation (F),at 28870 Sweet Home Church Rd, Albemarle, on 01/29/202 ♦ Glenn, James Emmitt (W M, 43) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at780 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 01/29/2021 ♦ Xiong, Kao Nmn (A M, 33) Arrest on chrg of Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), at 621Nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 01/30/2021 ♦ Xiong, Kao Nmn (A M, 33) Arrest on chrg of Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), at621 Nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 01/30/2021 ♦ Collins, Devaunte Daiquon (B M, 28) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at204 Henson St/nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 01/31/2021 ♦ Elliott, Ty-shon Jawan (B M, 23) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 420Summit Av, Albemarle, on 02/01/2021. ♦ Hyatt, Caleb Jahleel (B M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 473 DavisSt, Albemarle, on 02/01/2021 ♦ Sikes, Kasey Denise (W F, 32) Arrest on chrg of Resisting Public Officer, M (M), at230 Us 52 South/nc 24-27 Bypass W, Albemarle, on 02/01/2021 ♦ Stirewalt, Michael Jeffrey (W M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F),at 721 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 02/02/202 ♦ West, Roderick Nathaniel (W M, 27) Arrest on chrg of Second Degree Trespass, M(M), at 781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 02/02/202 ♦ Wiley, Keith Leroy (B M, 54) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (M), at 1403Lowder St, Albemarle, on 02/03/2021

♦ Morrison, Dallas J. (I M, 36) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 627 ColstonSt, Albemarle, on 02/04/2021

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♦ Burris, Jamie Lynn (W M, 36) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 320 RidgeSt, Albemarle, on 02/04/2021

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DEATH NOTICES ♦ Morrison, Jackie Lee (W F, 36) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault (M), at 627 ColstonSt, Albemarle, on 02/04/2021 ♦ Holmes, Deandre Niko (B M, 25) Arrest on chrg of Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m), M(M), at 135 Leonard Av/ eastover Av, Albemarle, on 02/07/202 ♦ Williams, Dewitt Nmn (B M, 62) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats, M (M), at225 S Morrow Av, Albemarle, on 02/07/2021 ♦ Page, Gerald Woodson (W M, 48) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at315 S Second St, Albemarle, on 02/07/202

♦ Dye, Jeffery Daniel (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F) and 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 2/5/2021 ♦ Bennett, Travis James (W /M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F) and 2) Felony Possession Sch Ii Cs (F), at Speedway 24/27, Albemarle, NC, on 2/4/2021 ♦ Khan, Melissa Dawn (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), at Speedway 24/27, Albemarle, NC, on 2/4/2021

♦ Tyson, Uyamauri Jacquai (B /M/19) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Stolen Firearm (F), at Matt-neal Rd, Norwood, NC, on 2/7/2021

♦ Franklin, Daniel Lee (W /M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), and 3) Poss/rcv Stolen Prop Cert Fel (F), at 223 S Second, Albemarle, on 2/3/2021

♦ Dockery, Andre Nmn (B /M/46) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 305 S Kendall St, Norwood, NC, on 2/6/2021

♦ Fahy, Harry Michael (W /M/24) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 339 Nc 24-27 Bypass E/wall St, Albemarle, NC, on 2/3/2021

♦ Nicastro, Joseph Frederick (W /M/52) Arrest on chrg of Surrender By Surety (M), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 2/5/2021

♦ Clonch, Christopher Terrence (W /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Heroin (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 2/2/2021

♦ Bruton, Justice Dewayne (B /M/25) Arrest on chrg of Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), at 500 Fork Rd/s Main St, Norwood, NC, on 2/5/2021 ♦ Dye, Jeffery Daniel (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F) and 2) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 2/5/2021 ♦ Hopkins, Justin Allen (W /M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F), 2) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F), and 3) Felony Probation Violation (F), at 126 South Third, Albemarle, NC, on 2/5/2021 ♦ Drake, Samantha Wilson (W /F/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), and 3) Poss/rcv Stolen Prop Cert Fel (F), [Missing Address], on 2/5/2021 ♦ Thomas, Peggy Alease (B /F/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail Reprt New Address-sex Off (F) and 2) Felony Probation Violation (F), at 909 Lauras Ln, Albemarle, NC, on 2/5/2021

♦ Thomas, Derrick Shawn (W /M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault Inf Ser Inj Minor Present (M) and 2) Assault On Female (M), at 140 Doody Ave., Norwood, NC, on 2/2/2021 ♦ Dunevant, Richard Thomas (W /M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 2) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), and 3) Maintain Veh/ dwell/place Cs (f) (F), at Habitat For Humanity, Albemarle, NC, on 2/2/2021

♦ Richard Ying Xiong, 60, of Albemarle, passed away February 1. ♦ Wesley Eugene Smith, 53, of Norwood, passed away February 1. ♦ Etha Blanche Furr Burris, 88, of Albemarle, passed away February 3. ♦ Zeb Monroe Page, 81, of Albemarle, passed away February 3. ♦ Connie Lou Kendall, 73, of Albemarle, passed away February 4. ♦ JoAnn Holt Wing, 58, of Albemarle, passed away February 4. ♦ Betty T. Kiser, 84, of Stanfield, passed away February 5. ♦ John Peter Homer, 82, of Albemarle, passed away February 5. ♦ Joan H. Lambert, 65, of Albemarle, passed away February 5. ♦ Hugh David Whitley, 71, of Albemarle, passed away February 7.

♦ Shaffar, David Alvin (W /M/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Felony Probation Violation (F), at 12883 Sun Rise Ln, Oakboro, NC, on 2/2/2021 ♦ Nicastro, Joseph Frederick (W /M/52) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F) and 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 2/2/2021

See OBITS, page 7

Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals private life details

Morgan Wallen arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas.

By Molly Sprayregen The Associated Press PRIYANKA CHOPRA Jonas’s memoir, “Unfinished,” is a moving story of her rise to fame — and of her life before anybody knew her name. Chopra Jonas never intended to become the internationally renowned entertainer and public figure she is today. Before she was an actor, producer, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she was the daughter of two doctors, dreaming of becoming an aeronautical engineer. Growing up in India, her life as we know it began accidentally, when her brother convinced a 17-year-old Chopra Jonas to enter the Miss India competition, hoping it would get her out of the house so he could have her bedroom. Little did her family know, this effort would catapult Chopra Jonas to stardom and transform her into an international phenomenon. “Unfinished” is Chopra Jonas’ deeply open and honest account of her experience navigating life in the public eye, as well as the extreme hard work and dedication she put into her career. But “Unfinished” is also about the pieces of her life the public doesn’t see. It is her story of growing up on two continents, spending time in both India and the United States. It is the story of the love she shares with her family, and the way her parents embraced their daughter’s curveball career path and sacrificed so she could chase her dreams. It is the story of her own battles with self-confidence and doubt as she learned to stand up for what she

JORDAN STRAUSS | INVISION | AP, FILE

Album sales surge for Morgan Wallen after racist comment By Kristen M. Hall The Associated Press IMAGE VIA AP

knew she deserved. It is the story of the racism and sexism she confronted throughout her life, and the depression she battled after the death of her father. It is also a love story, chronicling how she fell in love with her now-husband Nick Jonas. Chopra Jonas’ writing is open, engaging, and full of energy. She writes, it seems, to connect. The experience feels intimate, like Chopra Jonas is exchanging stories with a friend over coffee. Her stories are exceedingly personal, and despite being an international movie star, many of them even feel relatable. Even those who are not already fans of Chopra Jonas will find reason to enjoy her story, one that chronicles a deep love of family and culture and a passion for standing up for what you believe in.

NASHVILLLE, Tenn. — Fans of Morgan Wallen are buying up the country star’s latest album after a video showed him shouting a racial slur last week. Wallen’s sophomore record, “Dangerous: The Double Album” retains its top spot for a fourth week on Billboard’s all-genre albums chart, less than a week after Wallen apologized for using racist language. The country music industry acted swiftly to publicly rebuke him and radio stations and streaming services removed his songs from their playlists. But fans responded by playing him even more. Billboard reports that his latest album sold 25,000 copies during the week ending Feb. 4, an increase of 102%, according to MRC Data. Billboard reported that that the album’s streaming numbers slightly increased

by 3%, representing roughly 160 million on-demand streams. Song downloads from the album also went up by 67%. The bump in interest extended beyond just Wallen’s current album. Daily sales of his first album “If I Know Me,” released in 2018, also increased from 200 to 2,500 on the week ending Feb. 4, according to data provided by MRC Data. Wallen’s popularity had skyrocketed in the last year and songs like “Seven Summers” and “Wasted on You” earned him crossover success on pop radio. His album was already setting streaming records and is the first country album to spend four weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart since 2003, when Shania Twain’s album “Up!” spent five weeks at the top. Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director, said that some uptick in interest in his music is coming from people who are curious about Wallen in the wake

of the scandal and media attention. But she said that also shows how his fans are responding to decisions to remove him from the radio as well. “His fans are likely streaming him more because they can’t hear him on the radio anymore,” said Karp. “Some fans may be streaming him more in addition to show their support for him, which is something that super fans and fan armies often do.” Karp noted that in general album sales and downloads are much smaller than streaming numbers for all artists, so it doesn’t take much to cause large percentage jumps in sales. Karp said that it may be too early to predict the long-term consequences for Wallen. “We haven’t seen the full effect of radio dropping his music from playlists. Radio is a really powerful driver of consumption, so it’s possible that will end up in decreasing streaming and sales eventually,” she said.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The inequality of ‘equity’

America was rooted in equality and freedom. Equity requires freedom to be curbed.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN took office pledging a return to unity and decency. A new era of good feelings is at hand, we were informed by both his administration and its sycophants in the media. A new world — a world of “equity” — is at hand. Equity, you see, is the word of the day. Not equality — that would be a traditionally American concept. The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal ... endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides that all citizens must receive “equal protection of the laws.” Equality, in the traditional understanding, means something simple and easy to implement: the protection of the rights of all individuals, along with the invasion of none of those rights. Equity means something different. The two words are separated by one syllable — but that syllable represents the difference between justice and injustice, rights and infringements, individualism and tribalism. Equity, in the common political parlance, means that each group should receive the same outcome as every other group. Ibram X. Kendi, the chief expositor of the new Democratic “racial equity” theory, explains that “Racial equity is when two or more racial groups are standing on a relatively equal footing.” Because race is a social construct, says Kendi, the chief indicator that two races are on unequal footing can be found not in proof of differential treatment by race but in differential outcome by race. To prove racial inequity, therefore, one need not show animus or discriminatory policy. All one must show is unequal outcome. Kendi explains in his massive bestseller, “How to Be an Antiracist”: “A racist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial inequity between racial groups. An antiracist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial equity between racial groups.” And, says Kendi, “There is no such thing as a nonracist or race-neutral policy.” All policies either forward equity or oppose it. Any policy not explicitly designed to rectify unequal outcome is therefore racist. This philosophy is both idiotic and perverse. It’s idiotic because

all human groupings — literally all of them — will result in differential outcomes. Draw a line down the middle of any room in random fashion and the result will be unequal income distribution, criminal records, educational histories. When culture takes a hand, disparities can be more deeply rooted than random chance. Discrimination would still not be the cause of such disparity. As a basic logical matter, discrimination is not the cause of all disparity. This philosophy is perverse because it attributes malice to those who have none; it fosters policy that actively discriminates, supposedly in order to alleviate unproven discrimination. Kendi himself explains: “The defining question is whether the discrimination is creating equity or inequity. If discrimination is creating equity, then it is antiracist. If discrimination is creating inequity, then it is racist.” Unfortunately, this idiotic and perverse philosophy has become the root of Biden administration policymaking. “Equity” has been used as the keyword from environmental to economic to COVID-19 policy. Susan Rice, Biden’s domestic policy adviser, explained this week, “(W)e’re focused on racial justice and equity...It’s for everybody who has not had the benefits of a system that has not served everybody. ... This is not about serving one group to the detriment of another.” This, of course, is a lie. It is utterly about group equality, which requires individual injustice. America was rooted in equality and freedom. Equity requires freedom to be curbed. It’s therefore a national tragedy to watch equality of rights abandoned in favor of equity. If freedom is discarded to achieve equality of outcome, we no longer live in an America defined by the Declaration of Independence. We live in an America defined by tribalism and leveling — and, in short order, tyranny. Ben Shapiro, 36, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and editor-in-chief of DailyWire. com.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

You balance your checkbook: so should Washington

President Biden’s partisan relief plan is incredibly expensive and comes while over $1 trillion in funds from previouslyenacted COVID-19 legislation remains unspent.

CHANCES ARE that at one time or another, you sat down at your kitchen table and planned out a budget or balanced your checkbook for your family. For most of us, budgeting means making some tough decisions and compromising to make ends meet. Unfortunately, setting a budget does not look the same for Washington Democrats. Last week, House Democrats voted to pass their budget for the upcoming year. Not only did their plan open the door for massive spending, but it also paved the way to pass multiple spending bills without one Republican vote. This includes President Joe Biden’s latest $1.9 trillion COVID-19 spending bill — a bill that funds many unrelated items. If anything can be bipartisan in Washington, defeating the coronavirus should be at the top of the list. However, through this budget resolution, Washington Democrats have signaled that talk of unity and bipartisanship were just that and they have no interest in working together to tackle the issues facing us. President Biden’s partisan relief plan is incredibly expensive and comes while over $1 trillion in funds from previously-enacted COVID-19 legislation remains unspent. Let me say that again — $1 trillion that we have already approved is sitting there unspent. This includes $280 billion remaining for the Paycheck Protection Program, $239 billion unspent for health care measures, $172 billion unspent for unemployment insurance, and $59 billion unspent for schools. Now adding an additional $1.9 trillion on top of this unspent funding not only represents a massive undertaking six times larger than the 2009 Obama stimulus plan, but this is all borrowed money, and we can’t afford to keep borrowing and spending blindly. Instead, we should continue to identify and fund the real needs of workers, small businesses and health care professionals on the frontlines of battling coronavirus in our community. I stand ready to continue working with Democrats to combat coronavirus, speed up vaccine distribution, and find ways to increase jobs and

opportunities for you and our neighbors. However, using COVID-19 relief as a Trojan Horse for massive spending and radical policies that threaten jobs is not what American workers and families need. Unfortunately, this is par for the course with President Biden’s agenda so far. By signing more than 40 executive actions, including rejoining the Paris Climate Accords, canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline and ending federal oil and gas leasing, he has jeopardized thousands of American jobs. I fear the president is more concerned with fulfilling a left-wing partisan climate agenda than creating jobs or being a “president for all.” Now, President Biden’s most recent executive actions have done more than kill jobs and put our economy in danger — they have put our national security at risk. Recently, President Biden reinstated catch and release and promised to dramatically rollback the immigration policies of the previous administration to prioritize undocumented illegal aliens. President Biden’s proposed Create a Pathway to Citizenship for Undocumented Aliens legislation prioritizes immigrants during a time when American citizens and businesses are hurting. The bill doubles-down on family-based immigration, clearing backlogs through amnesty, and increasing the number of visas we issue. The bill will also allow undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years. And, President Biden’s decision to end construction of the border wall is a signal that he is not concerned about addressing border security. These priorities of the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress continue to miss the mark. However, I won’t give up. I remain committed to working across the aisle for common sense solutions to the problems we face, including rebuilding our economy, passing targeted COVID-19 relief and reopening our schools. And like you and I have to do, I’ll continue to push our government to balance its checkbook along the way.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

New No. 1 South Carolina falls to No. 2 UConn in OT Storrs, Conn. Paige Bueckers scored 31 points, including her team’s final 13, to lead No. 2 UConn to a 63-59 overtime victory Monday over topranked South Carolina. The freshman scored all of the Huskies’ nine points in overtime. The Gamecocks’ Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson missed 3-pointers in the final seconds. The thriller came just hours after the Gamecocks and Huskies earned the top two spots in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll. South Carolina had its 12-game winning streak snapped.

NFL

Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach with 200 wins, dies at 77 Charlotte Marty Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season games with four NFL teams thanks to his “Martyball” brand of smash-mouth football, has died. He was 77. Schottenheimer died Monday night at a hospice in Charlotte, his family said. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. He was moved to a hospice on Jan. 30. Schottenheimer was the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history. He went 200126-1 in 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. Despite his success, Schottenheimer was just 5-13 in the postseason.

MLB

MLB renews 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on 2nd in extras New York Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The deal did not include last year’s experimental rule to extend the designated hitter to the National League or expanded playoffs. After allowing 16 teams in the postseason last year instead of 10, MLB had proposed 14 for this year before withdrawing that plan last month. Last year’s expanded playoffs agreement did not come together until hours before the season’s first pitch.

SKIING

2-time Olympic champion Ligety to retire after worlds Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Ted Ligety, the American skier who captured a surprise gold medal in the combined at the 2006 Turin Olympics and then another gold medal eight years later in the giant slalom at the Sochi Games as the favorite, is retiring following the world championships in Italy. Ligety’s final race will be the giant slalom on Feb. 19. The 36-year-old’s storied career also includes five wins at world championships, 25 World Cup victories and five season-long World Cup giant slalom titles. Ligety’s dominance in the giant slalom once led Austrian skiing great Marcel Hirscher to pronounce him “Mr. GS.”

COLIN E. BRALEY | AP PHTO

In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson walks to the garage before the final practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

Larson grateful for 2nd chance in NASCAR after racial slur The driver landed a top ride at Hendrick Motorsports six months after being let go by Chip Ganassi Racing By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Larson loaded his motorhome and drove to Daytona International Speedway by himself, alone for some seven hours to prepare for his return to NASCAR competition. The excitement of a new season settled his nerves and he felt optimistic about his future. After serving a six-month suspension for his use of a racial slur that nearly cost him his career, Larson was just appreciative of the opportunity ahead. “I feel extremely grateful because, you know, I really nev-

er thought I would get another chance to race in NASCAR and I kind of accepted that,” Larson said Monday as he waited for the Daytona infield to open. “I hope to do a good job on and off the track and really take advantage of a second chance.” Larson’s career imploded early in the pandemic during a night of virtual racing. He used the N-word to address his spotter over the livestream and it was heard by everyone following online. The clip quickly spread and the fallout was swift: Larson was dropped by nearly every sponsor and fired by Chip Ganassi Racing within a day. He’d been headed into free agency, poised to sign the most lucrative contract of his life, and suddenly found himself unemployable at 27 years old. He began a path to redemption that went far beyond the sensitivity course NASCAR ordered him

“I hope to do a good job on and off the track and really take advantage of a second chance.” Kyle Larson to take during his suspension. Larson took it upon himself without publicizing his actions to pursue a hands-on education in racial inequality and injustice. Larson volunteered with a Minneapolis foundation focused on youth development and empowerment, visited with former Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee and resumed work with a Philadelphia nonprofit that helps minorities advance in motorsports. Although he’s half-Japanese and advanced through NASCAR’s di-

versity program, Larson had his eyes opened to his childhood of privilege coming from a middle-class, two-parent household. NASCAR reinstated Larson late last year and he found a soft landing with Hendrick Motorsports, one of the top teams in motorsports. Rick Hendrick wanted to offer Larson that second chance and his support has been unwavering — he’s willing to fund the No. 5 Chevrolet out of pocket if needed and the sponsor for Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 is a Hendrick automotive company. Larson spent most of 2020 rebuilding his image and is ready to prove his character in and out of a race car. “A lot of people do things and they just say ‘I’m sorry’ and go right on running their life. And that’s all they have to do and people say ‘OK, we’ll give you another shot,’” Hendrick said. “This guy did 10 times that. He’s created an image and (done) things in that community that people really respect. “It was Kyle’s heart and Kyle’s desire that got him back.”

Bucs, Lightning, Rays transform Tampa Bay into Titletown The Buccaneers’ win in Super Bowl 55 gave the city another thing to celebrate By Fred Goodall The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Fans poured into downtown streets and packed bars and nightclubs around the city to celebrate another professional sports title for Tampa Bay, which is building a reputation as a home of champions. Los Angeles has reigning world champs in baseball’s Dodgers and basketball’s Lakers, however, it’s difficult to top the collective success of this region’s Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers, Stanley Cup champion Lightning and World Series runner-up Rays while playing through challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s hard enough to win a title in any sport, let alone the same city being able to nab two and almost get another at the same time,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Monday. Super Bowl Sunday was a travel day for the Lightning, who flew to Nashville, where they watched Tampa Bay’s 31-9 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs as a group at their team hotel. “Congrats @Buccaneers! Thanks for the birthday present,” captain Steven Stamkos, who turned 31, wrote on Twitter, where he also posted a photo of teammates posing in Bucs gear in front a giant television screen showing Tom Brady celebrating after the game. “You feel like you’ve got a stake in the game when it’s your home

ASHLEY LANDIS | AP PHOTO

Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady celebrate after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 Sunday in Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla. team. That was the cool part about watching the game and watching all the guys in the room cheer. It was a really cool feeling,” Cooper said. “I know we’re not part of the NFL, but you feel a part of it. So it was great. Impressive. What a showing. It was fun to watch.” The Lightning made their entire postseason run in NHL playoff bubbles set up in Canada, hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history in September. The following month, Major League Baseball’s Rays cap-

tured their second American League pennant in a bubble setting in California before losing to the Dodgers in six games during a neutral-site World Series played in Texas. The Bucs’ first NFL title in 18 years was especially sweet because they won three straight road playoff games to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Attendance was limited to about 25,000 in 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium due to COVID-19 protocols. That didn’t

stop the community from celebrating the hometown team’s appearance on football biggest stage. “It’s definitely a family thing. All organizations stick together for this city,” Bucs linebacker Lavonte David said. “We were able to step up to the plate and bring one home for Tampa Bay.” Cooper said successful sports teams, and especially championship runs, bring communities together. “It brings unity to your city, and pride,” the coach said.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021 HOMETOWN HARDWOOD

ALBEMARLE (4-3, 2-3 YVC) Feb. 2

North Moore

W, 58-51

Feb. 4

Montgomery Central

W, 80-57

Feb. 5

at Gray Stone Day

W, 60-35

Feb. 9

Chatham Central

After Press

Feb. 12

South Stanly

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16

at North Stanly

7:30 p.m.

GRAY STONE DAY (0-7, 0-7 YVC) Feb. 2

North Rowan

L, 72-19

Feb. 5

Albemarle

L, 60-35

Feb. 12

North Stanly

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16

South Stanly

8 p.m.

Feb. 2

Chatham Central

W, 51-50

Feb. 5

at Uwharrie Charter

W, 64-38

Feb. 9

South Stanly

After Press

Feb. 12

at Gray Stone Day

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16

Albemarle

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 1

at North Moore

L, 64-62

Feb. 3

at North Rowan

L, 50-40

Feb. 9

at North Stanly

After Press

Feb. 12

at Albemarle

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16

at Gray Stone Day

8 p.m.

Feb. 2

CATA

W, 76-43

Feb. 5

at Montgomery Central

W, 50-34

Feb. 9

at Anson

After Press

Feb. 12

Mount Pleasant

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16

at Forest Hills

6 p.m.

NORTH STANLY (7-2, 7-0 YVC)

SOUTH STANLY (1-7, 1-4 YVC)

WEST STANLY (9-0, 7-0 RRC)

Pfeiffer men defeat Greensboro College in hoops season opener Jamaal David had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Falcons

vid converted five shots from beyond the 3-point arc. Fellow senior guard Sean Scott made 5 of 6 from the field to add 18 points to go with five rebounds, while freshman forward Dorian Miles recorded 13 By Jesse Deal points and seven boards. The Associated Press Pfeiffer had productive perMISENHEIMER — Af- formances from its bench with ter multiple game cancella- junior guard Nick Ruggiero (13 tions due to the USA South points), senior guard Jerome Savoy (12 points) and Athletic Conference’s freshman guard Elan COVID-19 protocol, Muniz (11 points) all the Pfeiffer men’s basreaching double digketball team was fiits in the scoring colnally able to see the umn. court in an official “It’s nice to be matchup Friday night Games around a group of — and it responded kids that are pullwith a convincing vicalready ing for each othtory over Greensboro played by er and want to win,” College. Featuring an exGreensboro Schoch said. “The first thing that made perienced roster with College me really happy was nine seniors, the Falcons topped the Pride before Pfeiffer their attitude. It was team-first and real99-78 fueled by a hosted the ly supportive of each 52-point second half. Pride on other. I was pleased “It sure was fun with their ball moveto get to play someFriday in ment throughout the body else because their season game, and I think dewe’d exhausted all fensively they gave a the ways of making opener. pretty good effort.” things competitive Greensboro Colin a practice situalege guard Bradley tion,” Pfeiffer coach Pete Schoch said. “Early in the Pierce led both squads with season is when you really find 24 points on 8-of-14 shootout things about your team — ing, achieving a career-high in what works and what didn’t scoring. While the Pride (4-9, 1-4 — and opening with a league opponent like that, I was con- USA South) eclipsed the Falcerned. I was really encour- cons in overall shooting peraged, and the camaraderie of centage (53%), they were outrebounded by Pfeiffer by a wide the kids was really good.” With 6-of-10 shooting from 43-24 margin. As a team, the the field, senior guard Jamaal Falcons converted 48% of their David led the Falcons (1-0, 1-0 shots from the field (34 of 71), USA South) with 19 points 41% of their 3-point attempts alongside a team-high eight re- (14 of 34) and 81% of their free bounds and three assists; Da- throws (17 of 21).

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | AP PHOTO

Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson lead the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Manning, Woodson head 2021 Pro Football HOF class Former NC State receiver Torry Holt, eligible for the seventh year and a finalist for a second time, and longtime Panthers linebacker Sam Mills were denied the honor again By Eddie Pells The Associated Press PEYTON MANNING, the quarterback whose meticulous attention to detail helped turn the 21st-cen-

tury gridiron into a chessboard on turf, was awarded his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in his first year of eligibility. The son of Saints legend Archie and brother of two-time Super Bowl champion Eli will be joined later this year in Canton by another first-ballot lock, defensive back Charles Woodson, who beat out Manning for the Heisman Trophy in 1997, and then spent nearly two decades trying to stop him. Calvin Johnson — aka “Megatron” — was also a first-ballot selection, his mere nine years of playmaking excellence

with the Lions more than enough to convince the panel. Noticeably missing was Torry Holt, who starred at NC State and went on to be a key piece in the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. Holt ranks 16th in NFL history in receiving yardage with 13,382 and 21st in receptions with 920, both well ahead of Johnson’s 731 catches and 11,619 yards. Johnson had 83 touchdowns to Holt’s 74. Sam Mills, the former Panthers linebacker who died in 2005 after a battle with cancer and coined the

“Keep Pounding” slogan the team still uses today, was also passed over. Also making it were guard Alan Faneca, who made nine Pro Bowls and missed only one game over 13 seasons with the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals; and John Lynch, the Buccaneers’ hard-hitting safety who transitioned into a successful front office figure with the 49ers. Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson, Raiders coach Tom Flores and longtime Steelers scout Bill Nunn made it in the senior, coach and contributor categories, respectively. The winners’ names were made public at the NFL Honors awards ceremony Saturday night. Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli and Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas were among the other finalists whose names were not called. Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was an assistant at Tennessee

during Manning’s time there, said he knew Manning was something special when the quarterback, in advance of his freshman year, took three pages’ worth of handwritten notes on a base play the Vols ran called 62 Meyer. “He redefined preparation,” Cutcliffe said during a 2013 interview. “He redefined the quality of the work that’s expected of the people around him.” Manning both entered and exited the NFL the same time as Woodson, the cornerback who went to one Super Bowl in his first eight years with the Raiders, then went to Green Bay to win his only Super Bowl title, before finishing out his career as a safety in Oakland. He finished his career with 65 interceptions and 13 defensive touchdowns, tied for the career record with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper.

ment. area.” EMPHIS, Tenn. — Faced For Nutbush resident He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the10, virus. onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 2021 “All around, people are scared,” could lose stores that are ts facilities and performance the neighborhood. Offici he said. es into backup treatment sites Their fears are not unfounded. ven’t said if stores would oronavirus patients. nel, including 80 who will give their governors for use in their the are Gateway facility In thisasmajority-black along What some Memphis, Tenstates and more likely to was the vaccines, well as nurses andcityown If they did, shopping wo the Mississippi River, lawmakers e, residents don’t get is why in other support staff. The teams be used in remote, rural locations. more leaders been come officials havedifficult made for re wouldand be community able to provide abouthave Pentagon r city, a shopping center in the it clear they are being care- who ar 6,000sounding shots a day. for those the alarm over what theythatespecially dle of a predominantly black, ful about tapping National Guard The teams represent a growing see as a disturbing trend of the vi- have no means of transpo income residential neighboruse of the active duty military to and Reserves, because in many rus killing African Americans at a to stores located farther aw d has been chosen. a vaccination campaign that al- cases those service members “For people who don’t ty and state officials are conin medical readyhigher involvesrate. nearly 100 Nation- are already working whatlives do they resident Patricia Hared that By anLolita influx patients jobs in theircar, civilian at lo-do?” ask al GuardNutbush teams in 29 states across C. of Baldor cal hospitalsris, andwho medical centers. the country. National aloud Guard leadThe Associated spoke to The Ass ris wondered if city officials m Memphis, as well asPress nearby while the a bott ers told The “trying Associated that Hokanson Press that while lugging were to Press contaminate” the noted sissippi, Arkansas and rural Guard could staff as many as 600 they are now considering training WASHINGTON, D.C. — The tergent, a package of bott neighborhood. Tennessee, will strain hospiadditional Guard members to give vaccine teams, he has to cut that Pentagon will deploy more than ter in and items Activist Earle Fisher, an AfriTheir fears are echoed across halfother because of from t shots, so that they can also ex- number about 1,100 troops to five vaccination ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO A Lot to her car. She note can American Memphis pastor, country:centers Governors, mayors pand vaccinations in more remote those types of civilian job restricin what will be the first grocery store recently clos understands the anxiety. “This health wave experts in numerous tions. of increased military This sup- Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Centerand rural portions of their states. Tim Manning, the White Gen. Dan Hokanson, chief port for the White House camher house and she already is an honest and reasonable cones are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. House’s supply to coorof the National Guard Bureau, to get more Americans intravel farther get to Gat cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. COVID-19 tructingpaign makeshift medical said the Guard has the ability to dinator, said the administration oculated against COVID-19. “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. field about 200 additional teams. was looking to help drugmaker President Joe Biden has called got to consider the black people to be righteously a Chinese restaurant and other Lee has disclosed a few: the Mun New York City, they’re turnTraining other medical person- Pfizer clear a bottleneck around people for setting up 100 mass vaccinashe said. “W of governmental inter- neighborhood,” sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses. o the Javits capabilities with nel toskeptical give the vaccination shots, fill-and-finish tion Center centers convention around the country vaccine giving the the neighb he said, would potentially provide need tobymake withinthe a month. One of theChattanooga five vention that did not consult withproduction Locating a treatment center for Convention Center, in Chicago, McCormick priority more.people on the ground first.”drugmaker first new military teams to aKnoxville Expo Center — all coronavirus patients there posworse thanto it access already is.” e Convention Center; andwill in go the needed reachMcGowen, the point where center openingsites in away from residential neigh- es two problems, residents say: “If weDoug U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the city’s chiefsupplies. dy, Utah,vaccination the Mountain AmerManning also said the governwe’ve fully implemented all of California. Other centers are exMARK WELSH | DAILY HERALD VIA AP phis Democrat, said the d operating officer, said the GateIt could potentially expose them borhoods. Expo Center. our folks who can [give shots], ment is investing in six manupected to be announced soon. doesn’t sense. way site was being considered beto the virus amid concerns that The Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. Army Corps of Engiat-home and then they’re looking at potential facturers to develop make The Federal Emergency Man- Lisa Meincke of Arlington Heights prepares herself to receive “I’m sure there cause it could potentially accomblacks are by contracting COVID-19 the first Nutbush neighborhood s has been scouting locations training opportunities if we’re go- point-of-care COVID-19 tests,are othe agement Agency has askedter thein her COVID-19 vaccination administered National Guard withsaid the goal producing ing tomodate need more than that,” said He Pentagon to supplyhere as many personal O’Meara Scott Air Force base at Triton thatofwould work,60and they hundreds of beds. at higher rates; and itCollege, could force of as Memphis is Erika different. TheofcenTennessee, and officials million tests by the end of therather t Hokanson. “We’re going to do ev10,000 service members to staff Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in River Grove, Ill. compiled a list of 35 possi- ter features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those summer. Earlier in the week, the neighbo erything to make a difference and 100 centers. Defense Secretary site, it would hold only mildly ill into a residential backup sites. They haven’t restore, a Rent-A-Center, a Fami- close. White House announced a $230 meet whatever that need is.” Lloyd Austin approved the initial Cohenwith said. Ellume, patients who could be contract Nutbush and commuly be Dollar, a beauty supply shop, ed the whole list, but Bill will million Thecoronavirus Pentagon has said that to 85% resident of its population, acin Oakland. More sites will open 70% five teams, but Gov. the others

Pentagon deploys troops to fuel COVID-19 vaccine drive

approved in separate tranches as FEMA identifies the other site locations. Acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton told reporters that two vaccination sites that will be “predominantly” federally run will open in California on Feb. 16, one at California State University, Los Angeles, and the other

around the country as more doses of vaccine become available. Only about 2% of Americans have received the required twodose vaccination regimen that confers optimum protection with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines currently available. To reach widespread, or “herd,” immunity, the U.S. must vaccinate

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

cording to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert. That would be roughly 230 million to 280 million people, compared to 6.9 million who are currently fully immunized with two shots. Each of the Pentagon’s five military teams includes 222 person-

the FEMA teams could be a mix of active duty, National Guard and Reserves. But Hokanson and Maj. Gen. Jerry Fenwick, director of the Guard’s Office of the Joint Surgeon, said that at this point, the FEMA teams are more likely going to be filled largely by active-duty troops. The Guard, they said, will probably be tapped by

manufacturer of an at-home test approved by the Food and Drug Administration. No prescription is required for the over-thecounter test. “The country is well behind where we need to be in testing,” said Manning. Due to contract issues, he said he could not yet reveal the names of the companies.

Lawyer who pushed voter fraud claims under investigation

bin Salman, a son of King Salman, assented to the deal. “I go with the consent, so I UBAI, United Arab Emiragree,” the prince said, chuckling, — OPEC, Russia and other roducing on Sunday drawing a round of applause from cases. By nations Kate Brumback Wood insisted Donald Trump Associated Press pro- those on the video call. ized anThe unprecedented won the election but it was rigged But it had not been smiles and ion cut of nearly 10 million for him to lose. He filed legal chalATLANTA — Georgia laughs for weeks after the soels, or a 10th of global supply, election lenges on his own and with atofficials are investigating whethOPEC+ group of OPEC opes of boosting crashing pric- called torney Sidney Powell, who kept er one of the most outspoken promembers and other nations failed mid the coronavirus fighting for Trump even after she ponents of the pandemic claim that the presiin March to reach an agreement a price war, officials was removed from his legal team. dential electionsaid. was stolen through Wood and Powell were criticized widespread fraudrehad moved on production cuts, sending pricThis could be thevoter largest by Republican leaders after they to another state es in tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply ion in production frombefore OPECvoting encouraged Georgia voters not to last fall. perhaps Georgia a decade, maybe lon- criticized Russia days earlier over cast ballots in the U.S. Senate runThe Georgia secretary of state’s said U.S. offs. officeEnergy opened aSecretary probe Tuesdaywhat into it described as comments critical of the kingdom, which Brouillette, who Lin credited State and federal officials have where attorney Wood has been repeatedly said there was no evifinds itself trying to appease ident Donald Trump’sto perliving, according its investigadence of widespread voter fraud, tive casein sheet. Wood was listed as Trump, a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement getting duelin Georgia or any other state, and living in Fulton County and voted Even U.S. senators had warned parties to the table and helpdozens of lawsuits making such early in person in Georgia in the to end November a price war between Saudi Arabia to find a way to allegations were rejected by the presidential election, boost prices as American shale di Arabiaaccording and Russia. courts. to records on the agenil pricescy’s have collapsed as the firms face far-higher production Over the past year, an LLC website. linked to Wood has purchased The secretary of state’s office costs. American troops had been navirus and the COVID-19 SAUDI ENERGY three plantations totaling more opened investigation deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes havethelargely halt- after than $16 million in South Carolearning from a television reportlobal travel and slowed down first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minist lina’s Beaufort County, a coastal er that Wood may have been living attacks over concerns of Irani- Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summitarea r energy-chugging of the Group of 20 energy south of Charleston popularminister in South Carolina sectors when he voted in anac-retaliation amid regional ten- his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, towith as manufacturing. It has coordinate a response to plummet retirees, known for its low-lythe November general election, stated cording the oil inwithsions. prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn ining global demand due to the pandem marshlands. to aindustry senior official the According to The Island Packsecretary state’s office. “They’ve spent over the last U.S., which nowofpumps more The ofet of Hilton Head, Wood acknowlficial asked The Associated Press month waging war on American e than any other country. edged forming The Tomotley Crew not to be named because of securipraise. Andrés ut sometyproducers have been oil producers while we are defend- that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, LLC, through which he purchased concerns after the secretary and BEN MARGOT | AP PHOTO had said “The Manuel López Obrador, the United Arab Emirates would ing theirs. This is not how friends ctant to his ease supply. The carmore than 2,000 acrespure in thesize area,of the cu staff received threats over the precedented, but, Friday that he had agreed with cut another 2 million barrels of treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin nd other nations on Sunday handling of the election. Attorney Lin Wood, member of President Donald Trump’s legal team, gestures while speaking during including Tomotley Plantation. then ag The $7.9 million property of more is the impact the corona announced the move oilinaAlpharetta, day between a rally on Wednesday, 2, 2020, Ga. them atop the Trump that the U.S. will compenCramer, a Republican fromDec. North ed to allowWood Mexico to cut only includes a 14-acre said M himself, without mentioning exhaving on demand,” add1,000 to acres OPEC+ deal. The three countries sate what Mexico cannot than Dakota, before the OPEC+ deal. 000 barrels a month, a stick- its lake and half-mile entry ways an lined act an timing at first.initially med Ghulam, energy an U.S. producers have already did not immediately acknowledge the proposed cuts. point for accord “BREAKING NEWS! I have suggestion that he told the station wrote. “Until yesterday, I have been tigation says that if its disciplinary with live oak trees that were plantRaymond James. “The big Oil Deal with OPEC been reducing output. The Amer- the cut themselves, though Zanhed Friday after marathon changed mya legal residence from or its reporter that he had been a resident of Georgia since 1955. board finds that a lawyer may be ed in 1820. Ghulam and others Plusorisincapacitated done. Thisto will hun-just sayBut attended the video conferican Petroleum laudo conference between 23 to na-the State between the Low“impaired prac-save “Let’s Ha! The enemy’s attacks are get“domiciled” inInstitute South Carolina last ganeh the State of Georgia may not be enough. dreds of thousands of energy jobsanditGeorgia, edonSunday’s pact, saying it ence. s. The nations together agreed country I just found tice law” as result of mental illness, ting weaker and weaker.” year “is global not accurate.” of South Carolina!” he posted the said Lowcountry“This in South cognitive impairment substance Georgia law says a person’s res- cuts I spent time in South Telegram.barrels “South aCarolina has help“While is at Carolileast a tempo in the United or States,” Trump Officials said other planned get other nations’ stateut 9.7 million day will a lot morelief appealing terms ofindustry thea board a conidence stand shall be “that abuse,in in 2020, considered welcomed Georgia has falsely for theinenergy tweet.may “I make would like tonathank in considered the deal, meaning ownedCarolina oil production to Ifollow the would ughout May and me. June. residence,” told theeconomy. paper in This i fidential referral to an appropriate place8-million-barrel-per-day in which such person’s habi- cut domiciled in Georgia and an me the and deal shunned I am ofmyself the global and congratulate President Pu- Wood U.S. producers that are tryhe groupaccused reached justme. lead thrilled about my change in resi- a resident of Georgia at all times tation is fixed, without any present medical or mental health profes- a story that ran Wednesday, noting is too big to be let to fail and of Russia and King Salman of continue Julyofthrough end of the toWood plunging s before Asian markets re- ing to adjust he would to practice law sionaltin for evaluation. intention removing the therefrom.” in 2020,” wrote.demand. He said he from dency.” liance showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internaWood said on Telegram that he’s out of his Atlanta office. WSB-TV first reported on the voted in person in Georgia on Oct. It also says that if a person moves agreement,” said Per M The Kremlin said President beginning in 2021. commitments of its but own Wood toldthis the paper he intends al benchmark Brent mind,” hasn’t violated to months another state “with the inten- “of sound for the general election did 16 investigation. The crude station make said 21 to preserve land and the is mulling of professional of making it such person’s res- any rule in the Wood had$31 emailed one of itsproduction re- not vote Nysveen, head of ana Vladimir Putin conduct, held a joint call the “This will enable the rebalanccuts, butSenate was runoffs able toin tion ed at just over a barrel projects building a chapand will fightTrump the stateand bar in court King idence, suchoilperson shall and be conJanuary. porters, sayingproducers he had been “domiRystad Energy. “Even tho with Saudi Sal-including of the markets the exshow the obvious — that plunging ing American shale el, puppy rescue facility and chilWood also blasted the investiga- sidered to have lost such person’s if necessary. ciled in South Carolina for several man to express support of the production cuts are small demand because of the pandem- pected rebound of prices by $15 Wood ggle. months after purchasing property has long been known for dren’s camp. tion in another post on Telegram, residence in this state.” market needed a deal. It alsoofsaid barrel in isthe short term,” said ic is expected to slash U.S. oil proideo aired by the want towhat try to the do good things his representation highPutin profilespoke“Isepalso being scrutinized calling Secretary of State Brad perWood in the stateSaudi-owned in April.” The reporter postpone the stock with Richard Trump Jewaboutfor the oil people,” abystatement Nigeria’s duction. lite channel Al-Arabiya other Wood said. “And buildi clientsarately — including the State Bar from of Georgia, which oil Raffensperger “a loser.” provided a screenshot of the email will find that I’mthe wor was wrongly accused in I hope everybody said it “is proceeding with an in- ell, who “I only yesterday announced my ministry. the AP. that Saudi straints problem, market and other issues. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanwed thetomoment a good neighbor, a good citizen Olympic bombing in At- cautious into Wood. The state blocked bar the 1996Analysts of residency South Car- quiry” Wood denied this in a textganeh exchange nowand avoided.” offered Mexico had initially also told state totelevision rgy Minister Prince Abdulaziz

Associated Press

change with the AP, saying the

olina EFFECTIVE February 1!” he

rule cited as a basis for the inves-

lanta — particularly in defamation

of South Carolina.”

& CREMATORY 522 North 2nd St. P.O. Box 7 Albemarle, NC 28002 Phone 704-983-1188

460 Branchview Dr. NE P.O. Box 367 Concord, NC 28026 Phone 704-786-1161

13575 Broadway Ave. P.O. Box 100 Midland, NC 28107 Phone 704-888-5571

www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd. P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

obituaries obituaries

Jason Efird Etha Burris ASON EUGENE “GENE”

EFIRD,BLANCHE 94, went home to be with ETHA FURR his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his BURRIS, 88, of Albemarle passed homeWednesday, in Stanfield.February 3, 2021 away Gene was Her bornfuneral October 9, 1925, in her home. service willin Cabarrus CountyFebruary to the late7,Simeon be 3 PM Sunday, 2021 in Jason Efird the late SarahChurch Ella Liberty Hill and Primitive Baptist Burris Efird. In addition to his with Elder Brannen Hooven and parents, he wasBroadway precededand in death Elder Richard Elderby his wife, Jewell Little Efird;Burial sisters, James Carelock officiating. Mary Lambert, will follow in theFannie churchAlmond, cemetery. Minnie Furr, Wilma Burleson and The family will receive friends at Aileen Huskey; and brothers, Homer Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Efird, Getus Efird and Wayne Efird, of Albemarle on Saturday evening Sr. 4 until 6 PM. from A private funeral be Born October 27, service 1932 inwill Stanly held on Saturday, April 2020 County, NC, she was the11, daughter at the Love’ s Grove United Methodist of late Craven Cephus Furr and Church Cemetery in Stanfield Bessie Sides Furr. She was a member officiated Rev. Jim White. Burial of Libertyby Hill Primitive Baptist will follow at the Love’ s Grove Church and was a homemaker.United Methodist Church 4360 Mrs. Burris was Cemetery, preceded in Polk Ford Road, Stanfield. death by her husband Lawrence Survivors Gerald Arthur Burrisinclude Jr. andson a son Lawrence Wayne Burris (Gail) Efird of Albemarle; Arthur III. Survivors include daughter Rebecca Lisa Efird (Mark) and Hartsell daughter McKeon of Stanfield; granddaughters, husband Eddie of Albemarle, sons Kelly Efird Barbee Joseph Allen Burrisand andLauren wife Rita Hartsell (Justin) Crump; andBurris greatof Albemarle, Mark Anthony grandsons, IanofPatrick Simmons and and wife Tina Denton, two Elliot Jacob Simmons. brothers Steve Furr and wife Judy Memorials may MI be made to Love’s of Sault Ste Marie, and Tommy Groveand United Church, PO Furr wife Methodist Susan of Oakboro, Box 276, Stanfield, 28163-0276. sister Jean CarelockNC of Sumter, SC, 9 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by brother Eldridge Furr and sisters Louise Almond and Mary Frances Austin.

Pauline Tucker

AULINE ELIZABETH ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed away peacefully at Trinity Place, Albemarle, NC on April 11, 2020. Pauline was born on March 22, 1922 in Cabarrus County, NC to the late John Richard Almond and Alice ZEB PAGE, 81, of Ada AnnMONROE Lambert Almond. Albemarle, passedby away She is survived herWednesday, three February 2021 at his (Jack), daughter’s daughters,3,Gay Michel home in Locust, by his Oak Island, NC; surrounded Pamela Rushing family. (Foreman), Oakboro, NC; Kathy Mr.(Marc), Page was born February Hunt Albemarle, NC; her 15, inTucker Stanly County to the son,1939 Chris (Chris Lear), late Berry Franklin Page Eva Washington, DC. She willand be greatly Almond Page. In addition to his missed by her five grandchildren, parents, he was also preceded in Heather Rushing Chaney (Shannon), death by Rushing, his son, Edwin Zeb Michel Page. Michael Elizabeth The family willJack receive friends Hartzog (Craig), Michel, Jr. from 1:00 PM, Saturday, (Jenn), and- 2:00 Woody Hunt as well as February 13, 2021, at Hartsell seven great-grandchildren. She also Funeral Homecherished of Albemarle. leaves behind niecesAand graveside nephews. service will follow at 2:30 PM, at Plyler Baptist The family expresses itsChurch sincere Cemetery, 25958 Austin gratitude to the staff andRd., caregivers Albemarle. at Trinity Place for the care they He is survived provided Pauline.by his wife of 62 A years, Gradene Morris Page; private graveside service will be daughter, Tina Martin and2020. husband, held on Monday, April 13, A Reed; and grandsons, celebration of Pauline’sDamian life and Page legacy and Evans. will Cameron be held this summer. A you Community Inspecial lieu of thank flowers, thetofamily Hospice well as abe special requestsas donations madefriend to the of the family,Foundation Sylvia Pitman who BrightFocus at www. assisted in his care. brightfocus.org. Memorials may be made to https://my.fca.org/beaulinker to support sharing the gospel to local high school athletes. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Page family.

Zeb Page

Tony Smith Richard Xiong ONY MONROE SMITH, 72, of

Rockwell, NC, wentXIONG, to be with RICHARD YING his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 60, of Albemarle, passed away on on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 athis Monday, February 1, 2021 with his home surrounded by family. A loving family by his side. private family service will be held. He was born in Sayaboury, Laos Online condolences can belate made at on August 25, 1960 to the Choua stanlyfuneralhome.com Tong Xiong and Ia Xiong. In addition Tony was born August 11, 1947 to his parents, he was preceded in in Stanly County to Mee the late Pearlie death by his sisters, Xiong and Asbury Smith Yee Xiong Vue.and Emmer Lee Smith. He was the son by in law of Pat Richard is survived his loving and Mick Cagle where he worked wife Jao Thao Xiong, of 40 years; at the fish house for many years seven children: daughter Yenguntil Xiong he opened Anchor House Seafood and son-in-law Lucky Vang, son in Rockwell. and hisJulie wifeXiong Becky David Xiong,He daughter owned and operated Anchor and son-in-law Billy Vang, sonHouse Jim for 25 years before retiring in 2009. Xiong and daughter-in-law Amanda Mr. Smith wasXiong, a charter member Her, son Peter daughter Cindy and deacon at Open Door Jer Baptist Xiong Lor and son-in-law Lor, Church Richfield. He loved the son Benin Xiong and daughter-in-law Lord and his family abundantly. Tony Jesse Davis Xiong; six grandchildren was ahewonderful father, and who loved andhusband, adored very much: grandfather and could fix anything Vivian Chang, Simon Chang, Nathan he put his hands Lor, Kody Xiong,on. London Vang, and Mr.Vang; Smithfour is survived byKhou his wife Cloud brothers: Becky Cagle Smith of the home, Xiong, Lee Xiong, Chai Xiong, and sons Walter Smith three and Robbie Chong Bee Xiong; sisters: Blia Smith; daughter Kayla Henderson Xiong, Bao Xiong, and Ger Xiong. (Brandon); grandchildren In 1975, Richard and hisDanielle, family Dustin, Steele Smith, Keaton fled fromand Laos to Thailand and then and Ella Henderson; brother David to America in 1982 where he resided Smith; sistersCalifornia Kay Kriechbaum, in Stockton, for 10 years. Karen Stevenson, Eudy, and In 1992, he decidedRuby to move across Dorothy Smith (Nick). the country to Albemarle, North He is preceded Carolina to provideinadeath betterby life for brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, his family. Richard was a devoted Claude Smith, WadetoSmith, Robert husband and father his family and Smith, andstrived sister Mary Morris. he always to work hard to Memorial contributions provide everything he couldcan for be his made to Open Door Baptist family financially and be theChurch best role at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC model that he could be. He always 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care wanted the best life for his children. of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice Richard was devoted to his Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081. job where he was employed at Preformed Line Products for 15 years. In addition to his work, he was committed to serving and leading in his Hmong community. Richard was a humbled and kindhearted person who never said no to anyone that was in need. He believed in treating everyone with the same respect. During his free time, he enjoyed fishing at the lake and in the mountains, hunting, and spending time with his friends and families. He loved hosting family events at his home and making delicious home cook meals for everyone to enjoy. He loved raising his chickens, maintaining his yard, and sitting outside on the front porch with his HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, beautiful wife. of Albemarle awayservices on Visitations andpassed memorial Aprilbe11, 2020 at Atrium Health will held at Hartsell Funeral Stanly.in The family will hold a private Home Albemarle, NC on Saturday, graveside 20, service Mrs.6:00 Haire. February 2021forfrom am Shirley December 12, to 10:00was pmborn and Sunday, February 1946 in Washington, to thepm. 21, 2021 from 7:00 amDC to 2:00 late Charles Richard and Following the service,Bateman Richard will Elizabeth MaeatMulligan Bateman. be laid to rest Stanly Gardens of ShirleyinisAlbemarle, survived byNC. her husband Memory of 30 years Vaughn Smith Monetary donations canofbe made Albemarle; Sandra Painter by followingsister this link: https://paypal. of Gainesville, VA; half-brother me/pools/c/8wCZIcNh7L Richard Robert Bateman Stevensville, Ying Xiong, 60, ofofAlbemarle, passed MD; step-children Heather Smith away Monday, February 1, 2021 at of Jacksonville, FL and Atrium Health Main inDavid Charlotte. Smith of New London, NC;of4 Hartsell Funeral Home step-grandchildren; Cyndi Albemarle is serving nieces the Xiong Hentschel of Leesburg, VA and family. Cheryl Hardy of Aylett,may VA; be 16 made grandOnline condolences nieces and nephews; and Gus the at www.hartsellfh.com dog. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Haire family.

Shirley Haire

Merle Helms John Homer ERLE LORRAINE AUSTIN

HELMS, 72, of Marshville, JOHN PETER HOMER, 82, of passed away Wednesday, April 8, Albemarle, passed away on Friday, 2020 at McWhorter Hospice House February 5, 2021 at Tucker Hospice in Monroe. House in Kannapolis, NC. A private Lorraine born 28, 1947 burial will bewas held at aApril later date. in Monroe to the Homer Mr. Homer waslate born May David 5, 1938 Austin and Jewell Delphia-Jane in Birmingham, England to the Austin. SheHomer was also preceded in late Harry and Elizabeth death by brothers, A.D.was andan Teddy Yahagan Homer. John avid Austin;and andenjoyed sister, Joy Austin. reader going to the TheCounty family will receive friends Stanly Public Library. He from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm, Friday, loved animals and watching sports. Aprilenjoyed 10, 2020watching at Hartsell Funeral John soccer, Home of Albemarle. funeral especially his favoriteThe team, Aston service will beHomer at 11:00was amaon Villa F.C. Mr. man Saturday at heart. Pleasant with a kind HeHill gaveBaptist donations Church Marshville, officiated on manyinoccasions to the St. Jude’s by Rev. John Miller and and to Rev. Children’ s Hospital theLeon Whitley.ofShe lie inCounty state for 30 Friends thewill Stanly Public minutes prior to the service. She will Library. be He laidwas to rest in the church preceded in deathcemetery. by his She is survived byHomer. her beloved wife Emma Gibson He is husband of 47 years, Paul survived by nephew LarryHelms Gibson of the home; son, Alex (Deanna) (Glenda) of Albemarle. Helms of of Pageland; In lieu flowers, daughter, memorial Paula (Cristin Brandt) of Mint Hill; contributions canHelms be made to Stanly grandchildren, Mason, and County Humane SocietyGrant, at 2049 Raegan Helms; brothers, Badin Rd. Albemarle, NCBoyce, 28001 or Royce, Tim Austin; sisters, to the Friends of theand Stanly County PatriciaLibrary Mullis,atand Tarleton. Public 133Angel E Main St. # Memorials mayNC be28001. made to the 4993, Albemarle, Alzheimer’ s Association, 4600 Park Stanly Funeral and Cremation Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NCthe 28209. Care of Albemarle is serving Homer family.

Linda Hatley

INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020. Linda was born September 18, 1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and THOMAS TOM MARK Claris Tucker. was alsopassed preceded BALES, 52, ofShe Albemarle, in death by her brother, Terry Lee away on Sunday, February 7, 2021, Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda at Atrium Health Cabarrus. Due to Tucker Strickland. We know service Brenda Covid-19, a private memorial and Linda are in Heaven watching to celebrate Tom will be held at a later over us and laughing. date. Linda was a loving mother, Tom was born July 22, 1968,sister, in and “Nana.”IA She a very giving Davenport, to was the late James and loving person. Linda would Malon Bales and Sally Ruth Williams always do anything she could for Bales. He was a graduate of Pfeiffer others, especially her family. University. Tom worked with She the enjoyed atAmerica FastShopCouncil #5, local Boyworking Scouts of Locust. Linda will be forever loved for several years and he loved his cats. and greatly Mr. Balesmissed. is survived by his Survivors include her son, sister Susan Bales of Carrboro, Alanbrothers: Hatley and wife, Angela,Bales of NC; Bruce Sullivan Albemarle;Keane) brother, Tucker (Margaret ofRonnie San Francisco, andand wife,James Linda,W. ofBales Midland; CA, (Elizabeth) granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 of Boston, MA; nieces: Hana Hanley niece; and 2 nephews. (Zach) of Pensacola, FL, Kim Chase Theoffamily willKA, receive friends (Jack) Wichita, Kate Bales of from 4:00OR, pmLindy - 6:00Bales pm, Thursday, Portland, of Boston, Aprilnephews: 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral MA; Bruce James Bales Home in Albemarle. LindaBales will of of Des Moines, IA, Charles be laid to rest during a private Boston, MA. committal Bethel United In lieu ofservice flowers,atmemorial Methodist Church, contributions can beMidland. made to the In lieu of flowers, please consider a American Kidney Fund at www. memorial donation to Bethel UMC, kidneyfund.org 12700 Idlebrook NC Stanly FuneralRd, andMidland, Cremation 28107. Care of Albemarle is serving the Bales family.

Danny Luther JoAnn Wing ANNY PAUL LUTHER,

65, of Norwood, passed away JOANN HOLT WING, 58, of unexpectedly Thursday, 9, Albemarle, passed away April Thursday, 2020 at Atrium Stanly in February 4, 2021Health at Atrium Health Albemarle. Cabarrus in Concord. Mr. Luther March 27, JoAnn was was bornborn October 8, 1962 1955 to the late Robert and in Stanly County to theFulton late Robert Helen Tucker Andrew Holt,Luther. Sr. and Jewel Louise Danny Furr Holt.was survived by his wife, Denise Burleson Norwood; The family willLuther receiveoffriends sons, Jeremy (Karen) Luther and from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, Jody Luther; step-sons, Bryan February 9, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Whitley Gregg (Anita) Whitley; Home ofand Albemarle. The funeral Grandchildren, Daniel Luther service to celebrate her life will and be at Hunter as well as at hisHartsell brother, 1:00 pmZado, on Wednesday Bob Luther Jr (Lorena), uncle Jack Funeral Home’ s Lefler Memorial Luther and severalbyother Chapel, officiated Rev.loved Stevenieces, nephewsShe andwill cousins. Combs. be laid to rest at DannyMemorial recently retired from Fairview Park. At other Charlotte and Foundry after at times, the Pipe family will be gathering a dedicated 37 years and worked the home of Chris and Danyelle. there his sonsby and other Shewith is survived herseveral beloved friends and family members. sons, Robert Lee Wing, Christopher Danny loved spending time at Allen (Danyelle) Wing, Gary his lake house with his family and Lambert; daughter, Amber Wing; friends asRobert well asAndrew vacationing with his brothers, (Delores) family. and Denise enjoyed Holt, Jr.,Danny Cecil James (Teresa) listening to beach music and loved to Furr; sister, Patti Durilla Boles; shag dance every chance they three grandchildren, Destiny could get. He was an amazing father, loving (Kenny Poplin) Blalock, Dylan grandfather andBlalock; great friend Blalock, Denver two to greatmany. He will never be forgotten. grandchildren, RayLynn “Peanut” A celebration of life will be Poplin, Hudson Poplin; ex-husband, announced David Wing;once andthe hercurrent beloved fur COVID-19 baby, Buddy.restrictions are lifted. Hartsellwas Funeral Home ofloving JoAnn a devoted and Albemarle is serving the Luther mother, grandmother, greatfamily. grandmother, sister, and friend to all. She loved the Lord, and read her Bible everyday. She also enjoyed life’s pleasures like food and sunbathing. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979 www.heart.org, or American Cancer Society, 1901 Brunswick Avenue, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28207.

Thomas Bales

Jerry Fincher Joan Lambert ERRY FINCHER passed from

this lifeH. on LAMBERT, April 3, 202065, at 8:05 JOAN of pm. He was surrounded by his Albemarle, passed away Friday,family and holding the hand of the Health love of February 5, 2021 at Atrium his life. Jerry is preceded death Cabarrus in Concord heldinby her by three siblings, brothers, Billy husband and twotwo girls. Gilbert Larry Richard JoanFincher, was bornand February 28, 1955 Fincher, and one sister, Joyce in Stanly County to the Barbra late Frank Eli Moore.and Wilma W. Hatley. Hatley He iswas survived byand his wife, Eleanor She a loving devoted wife Kate Fincher of the home, daughter, of 47 years, married to her teenage Cindy Fincher Jacobs of together Wingate sweetheart having been NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy since the age of 13. She dedicated (Tiffany) Fincher of New London her entire life to her husband and NC.,girls Stepand Children, Jimmy two then, when her(Lisa) grandLanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) babies came along it just got richer Krimminger of Locust NC., Eric and fuller. Mama was the center (Sharon) Lanier ofto Charlotte NC., and the backbone our family. She Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson was the kindest, most loving, most of Midland, Step-grandchildren, giving, and most loyal person you will Zach (Brittney) Washington, ever meet. She committed to,Aaron and (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) put her whole self into everyone and Washington, Beth Setzer, everything she has(Robbie) ever done. Life to Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step else her, was about making everyone great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve happy and making sure everyone else Washington, Robert Setzer, was taken care of. There willGeorge never be (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer another like her, and anyone who was Bumgardener, Katie lucky to have met herUnderwood, was blessed by Andrew Underwood, Step great her and a better person for knowing greatShe grandchild, George her. has left usWaylon with a great void Setzer and brother Lewis and emptiness thatDonald will never be Fincher Albemarle, NC. filled, butofwe will live the rest of our Jerry Fincher will becarrying laid to rest days honoring her and outon Wednesday 8,2020 at 11:00 am her purpose.April The world was a better at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone place because of her. Her love was interested in the attending, “bigger than sky”. please RSVP at 704-796-2412. Phil McCray The family willDr. have a Celebration and Pastor Tommy will of Life at a later dateFincher to honor her. officiate. Survivors include husband, Kevin Lambert of Stanly County, NC, daughters, Kelli (Daniel) Lambert Furr, Karman (Steven) Lambert Huneycutt , grand-babies, Karsyn, Grant, Kailey, Jaret, and Brynli, mother, Wilma Evelyn Hatley, sisters, Frankie Gail Harris of Albemarle, NC, Jean Page of Locust, NC, brother, Donnie Hatley of Albemarle, NC. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made to Victory Junction Camp 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, NC 27317 or any charity of your choosing. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Lambert family. Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

Connie Kendall CONNIE LOU KENDALL, 73, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord. Connie was born March 21, 1947 in Minnesota to the late Wallace Knotts and the late Artila Jane Knotts. She was also preceded in death by son, Anthony Kendall. The memorial service officiated by Rev. Tommy Fincher will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 9, 2021 in Hartsell Funeral Home’s Lefler Memorial Chapel, 522 North Second St., Albemarle NC. She is survived by her sons, Wayne (Shannon) Kendall and Jason Adam (Teresa) Kendall both of Albemarle; daughter, Tresa Byrd; five grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Kendall family.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

STATE & NATION

Reopening debate testing Biden’s ties with teachers unions By Collin Binkley The Associated Press The increasingly heated school reopening debate is forcing President Joe Biden to balance two priorities: getting children back into the classroom and preserving the support of powerful labor groups that helped him get elected. Following weeks of standoff in some cities and states where teachers unions are demanding vaccines as a condition of reopening, the issue came to a head when Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said vaccination of teachers “is not a prerequisite for safe reopening of schools.” But in a juggling of positions, the White House declined to back Walensky, saying she was speaking “in her personal capacity.” Asked last Friday about her earlier comments, Walensky punted. So far, it doesn’t appear that the issue is driving a wedge between Biden and the unions. Even those demanding vaccines say shots would not be required if schools were taking other steps to make buildings safe. Walensky cited CDC data showing that social distancing and wearing a mask significantly reduce the spread of the virus in school settings. Just a week earlier, the agency issued a study similarly finding that, with mask wearing and other precautions, it’s generally safe to hold in-person schooling. To many Republicans and some on the left, Walensky’s comment was seen as an endorsement to reopen schools immediately. Some believed it discredited teachers unions that have demanded vaccines before returning to in-person instruction. Unions, however, largely met it with a shrug. With the right

mix of safety measures in places, teachers unions generally agree the vaccines aren’t a condition for reopening. The problem is that many schools are far behind on ventilation updates and other important measures recommended by health officials, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “Vaccinations go from a priority to essential if you can’t do some of these basic mitigation strategies,” Weingarten said. “Rather than keep these schools closed for months, why not vaccinate teachers more quickly?” Even among state and local unions that have taken a harder line on vaccinations, Walensky’s comment drew little fire. The California Teachers Association is pushing for all teachers to be vaccinated but it’s largely because many schools “aren’t anywhere close” to making buildings safe through other methods, said Claudia Briggs, a union spokesperson. In Chicago, vaccinations have been a major sticking point between the city and the teachers union as they work to negotiate a return to the classroom. At a Friday news conference held by the Chicago Teachers Union, special education teacher Dawn Kelly said teachers want to return but feel they aren’t being protected. “We want to come back to school. I miss my babies, I want to hug my students, I want to sit on the carpet and do read-alongs, but right now it’s just not safe,” she said. Despite the seemingly definitive statement from the CDC, the White House has declined to take a firm stance on teacher vaccinations. Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said Walensky was speaking “in her personal capacity” and that the White House would await updated school guidance that Biden has requested from

WHITE HOUSE VIA AP

In this image from video, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a White House briefing Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington, D.C. the CDC. “Obviously she’s the head of the CDC, but we’re going to wait for the final guidance to come out so we can use that as a guide for schools around the country,” Psaki said. Biden has pledged to reopen most of the nation’s K-8 schools within his first 100 days in office, a goal he says is possible if Congress approves his pandemic rescue plan and if states prioritize teachers in vaccine rollouts. In many states, teachers are being included early in a second wave of shots. But the plan has drawn fire from critics who say Biden is cowing to teachers unions who see him as an ally. Both of the nation’s two major teachers unions endorsed Biden for president, including the National Education Association, whose 3 million members include first lady Jill Biden. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said efforts to get students back in the classroom have been blocked by “rich, powerful unions that do-

nate huge sums to Democrats and get a stranglehold over education in many communities.” “An administration that puts facts and science first would be conducting a full-court press to open schools,” he said on the Senate floor. Some on the left have issued similar rebukes, including former New York Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, who said on MSNBC that Biden must “stand up” to teachers unions and force a return to the classroom. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom cited Walensky’s comment as evidence that it’s safe to reopen schools before all teachers get vaccines. He has been pressing schools to reopen for weeks, but so far it appears the CDC’s finding has done little to persuade teachers to return. Vaccine shortages and slow rollouts have jeopardized Biden’s reopening plan as more schools delay in-person instruction. Leaders in some districts have expressed doubt that they will bring all students back for

in-person instruction until next school year. The Biden administration says it hopes to accelerate openings by boosting funding and helping schools implement virus testing. Miguel Cardona, Biden’s pick for education secretary, has said he’s prepared to help reopen schools safely even if teachers have not all been vaccinated. Weingarten, of the AFT, said Biden’s proposed pandemic relief would go far toward getting schools opened. But even if Congress approves it, she said, it could be months before schools receive it and make necessary fixes. Instead of scapegoating teachers, though, she said blame should fall to the Trump administration for failing to deliver vaccines sooner and to districts that have failed to update buildings for years. “There’s not a lot of trust for districts because we’ve had years and years of austerity budgets, and we know that the facilities are not what they should be,” she said. “It shouldn’t take a pandemic to fix ventilation systems.”

Justice Department drops Yale admissions discrimination suit By Colleen Long The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — In another reversal of Trump-era policy, the Biden administration last week dropped its discrimination lawsuit against Yale University that alleged the Ivy League school was illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants. Federal prosecutors said the Justice Department’s underlying investigation, aimed at ensuring Yale complies with federal anti-discrimination laws, continues. The government accused Yale in October of violating civil rights laws because it “discriminates based on race and national origin in its undergraduate admissions process, and that race is the determinative factor in hundreds of admissions decisions each year.” The investigation stemmed from a 2016 complaint by the New Jersey-based Asian American Coalition for Education coalition against Yale, Brown and Dartmouth. Yale said its practices comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent and that it looks at “the whole person” when deciding which applicants to admit. A department spokesperson said in a statement that it was dropping the suit “in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments” but didn’t specify further. The government also notified Yale that it had withdrawn its determination letter that the university discriminated based on race and national origin. Yale was gratified and pleased by those two developments, spokesperson Karen Peart said. But Swan Lee, a co-founder of the group behind the complaint, called it “a racist decision because it preserves discrimination in education. It’s a setback in our fight against racial discrimination against Asian Americans in education.” The change in administrations brought an end to the suit, but the

JESSICA HILL | AP PHOTO

In this May 24, 2010 file photo, future graduates wait for the procession to begin for commencement at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. challenge to college admissions policies that take race into account is alive in a case against Harvard’s practices. The challengers have lost at each round in the lower courts, but their appeal is expected in the coming weeks at the Supreme Court, where a conservative majority may well be more receptive. “The challenge to race-based affirmative action in higher education will continue regardless of any change in the Department of Justice,” said Edward Blum, the president of Students for Fair Admissions, which filed the lawsuit against Harvard. The department, under President Donald Trump, had backed the challenge in the

lower courts. The Yale investigation also found that the university used race as a factor in multiple steps of the admissions process and that Yale “racially balances its classes.” The Supreme Court has ruled colleges and universities may consider race in admissions decisions but has said that must be done in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity and should be limited in time. Schools also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate. “I am totally shocked by the Biden DOJ’s hasty decision to drop the Yale lawsuit, only eight days after President Biden signed an ex-

ecutive order claiming to combat anti-Asian discrimination,” said Yukong Zhao, the president of the Asian American Coalition for Education. But the decision was lauded by other civil rights groups, including one run by the Biden administration’s incoming assistant attorney general for civil rights. “It has been proven in the courts that race-conscious admissions programs are lawful, and Black students and other students of color who come from all walks of life can rest a little easier knowing our government is looking to lift them up, not divide and suppress,” said David Hinojosa, director of the Ed-

ucational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The group’s president, Kristen Clarke, is Biden’s nominee to run the Justice Department’s civil rights division Biden’s Justice Department is working to undo Trump policies, including “zero tolerance,” the immigration policy that was responsible for family separations. Also last week, the Supreme Court agreed to requests from the Biden administration to put off arguments in two challenges to Trump-era policies involving the U.S.-Mexico border wall and asylum-seekers as Biden works to change the policies that had been challenged in court.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 21 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Twin City Herald

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

A certified medical assistant starts a timer for a coronavirus rapid test in the student health center at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Trial set for lawsuit over shooting on Wake Forest campus A lawsuit filed over the shooting death of a Winston-Salem State University student on Wake Forest University’s campus has been scheduled for trial. The court proceeding is set for Oct. 4 in federal court. Najee Ali Baker was WSSU football player from New York. He was shot to death in 2018 when he was leaving a party that was held at The Barn on Wake Forest University’s campus. Two men were charged in his death. Baker’s mother, Jemel Ali Dixon, filed a wrongfuldeath lawsuit against Wake Forest.

Beer and spirits maker Diageo gives grant to Winston-Salem State The Associated Press NEW YORK — British-based beer and spirits maker Diageo is giving a combined $10 million to 25 historically Black colleges and universities across the United States, continuing an upswell of giving to the institutions following last summer’s racial justice protests. The money, given by the company that makes and sells brands such as Guinness beer, Johnnie Walker whiskies and Smirnoff vodka, will create endowments to help colleges financially assist students. Diageo said it’s trying to help offset the higher student debt that graduates of historically Black colleges often accrue. Diageo also said it will create innovation hubs at some of the col-

leges, providing students with experience, mentorships, guest lecturers and helping faculty developing curriculum. Locations for the hubs will be announced later. “We are proud to partner with these esteemed institutions and to do our part to help shape a more equitable society by providing opportunities for future leaders,” said Debra Crew, President, Diageo North America. “This initiative further deepens Diageo’s commitment to making a long term and sustainable impact on underrepresented communities.” Donations are going to schools in 12 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They include Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bowie State University, Clark Atlanta Uni-

versity, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Fisk University, Fort Valley State University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Harris-Stowe State University, Howard University, Jackson State University, Kentucky State University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Virgin Islands, Winston-Salem State University, and Xavier University. The company said it’s giving four grants of $1 million, one grant of $500,000 and 20 grants of $250,000 to the schools, plus another $500,000 to support pro-

grams across the colleges. Diageo did not identify which schools are getting which amounts, although other reports stated that WSSU and NC A&T both received $250,000 grants. “Many of our students come from under-resourced communities and the pandemic aggravates the financial hardship to complete their education or could potentially accumulate a great deal of debt when they graduate,” said Elwood L. Robinson, Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. “This endowment will help us provide first class education and a life changing opportunity to our students.” Diageo said it will also seek to give internships to students from historically Black schools, seeking to diversify its workforce.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Woman stabbed while walking with daughter Ladeja Hackett, 22, of Winston-Salem, left her home and was walking with her young daughter to a friend’s car when a man came out of a nearby building and stabbed her in the head and shoulder. Hackett and her daughter escaped into the car, and the attacker rammed the car as it drove away. The attacker’s name wasn’t released, but it was someone Hackett knew. Her injuries are non-life threatening and no one else was injured when the car was hit. MY FOX 8

20177 52016 $0.50

W-S Symphony puts together a Valentine’s Day Mixtape On demand concert will stream starting Saturday night TCH staff COUPLES LOOKING for a romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day weekend might want to go back to the pre-digital era’s way of saying “Be mine,” as the Winston-Salem Symphony presents “Mixtape,” just in time for Valentine’s Day. Like the hand-picked collections of songs love-struck teens used to compile, “Mixtape,” will present a romantic blend of orchestral favorites from Mozart to Puccini and beyond. Due to the pandemic, the con-

cert will be available on demand beginning Saturday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. This concert will be available to Spring Stage Pass members or can be purchased for $20 per stream (concerts will be available on demand until March 13. Conducted by Music Director Timothy Redmond, Christopher Gilliam (Director of the Symphony Chorus), and Karen Ní Bhroin (Assistant Conductor) and recorded at Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, “Mixtape” will take audience members back to the days of making mixed tapes, CDs, or playlists for their “crush” or loved one. “We are delighted to offer a blend of some of the greatest ro-

mantic music from across the centuries and across musical genres with our very own Mixtape, made just for you,” said Redmond. “Featured pieces include Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Mahler’s “Adagietto,” and Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” performed by one of Winston-Salem’s favorite sopranos, Jodi Burns. Also on the mixtape playlist is Gershwin, Ravel, Debussy, Ella Fitzgerald, and the theme from the film Love Actually.” In addition to Burns, the Symphony will be joined by dancers from the UNC School of the Arts’ world-renowned dance program. Marrianna Flores, a young poet currently enrolled at Salem College who was the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools Poet Laureate for several years and won the

2020 North Carolina Poetry Out Loud contest, will participate in the “Mixtape” concert as well. Also, through Valentine’s Day, the Symphony is offering their Spring Stage Pass series for just $45, discounted from the original $75 price. The Spring Stage Pass will cover the remainder of the 2020–2021 season, which includes: “Mixtape,” “Center Stage” (Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.), “The World Beloved: A Blue Grass Mass by Carol Barnett” (Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.), and “For Your Eyes Only: Music of James Bond” (May 8, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.). Stage Pass is a digital membership program providing access to exclusive online content including live-streamed performances, Etherbound presentations, behind-the-scenes extras, and interviews with musicians and special guests. The Winston-Salem Symphony’s spring concerts also can be purchased for $20 per stream (concerts will be available on-demand for 30 days after initial post).

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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OPINION | BEN SHAPIRO

The inequality of ‘equity’ PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN took office pledging a return to unity and decency. A new era of good feelings is at hand, we were informed by both his administration and its sycophants in the media. A new world — a world of “equity” — is at hand. Equity, you see, is the word of the day. Not equality — that would be a traditionally American concept. The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal ... endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides that all citizens must receive “equal protection of the laws.” Equality, in the traditional understanding, means something simple and easy to implement: the protection of the rights of all individuals, along with the invasion of none of those rights. Equity means something different. The two words are separated by one syllable — but that syllable represents the difference between justice and injustice, rights and infringements, individualism and tribalism. Equity, in the common political parlance, means that each group should receive the same outcome as every other group. Ibram X. Kendi, the chief expositor of the new Democratic “racial equity” theory, explains that “Racial equity is when two or more racial groups are standing on a relatively equal footing.” Because race is a social construct, says Kendi, the chief indicator that two races are on unequal footing can be found not in proof of differential treatment by race but in differential outcome by race. To prove racial inequity, therefore, one need not show animus or discriminatory policy. All one must show is unequal outcome. Kendi explains in his massive bestseller, “How to Be an Antiracist”: “A racist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial inequity between racial groups. An antiracist policy is any measure that produces or sustains racial equity between racial groups.” And, says Kendi, “There is no such thing as a nonracist or raceneutral policy.” All policies either forward equity or oppose it. Any policy not explicitly designed to rectify unequal outcome is therefore racist.

This philosophy is both idiotic and perverse. It’s idiotic because all human groupings — literally all of them — will result in differential outcomes. Draw a line down the middle of any room in random fashion and the result will be unequal income distribution, criminal records, educational histories. When culture takes a hand, disparities can be more deeply rooted than random chance. Discrimination would still not be the cause of such disparity. As a basic logical matter, discrimination is not the cause of all disparity. This philosophy is perverse because it attributes malice to those who have none; it fosters policy that actively discriminates, supposedly in order to alleviate unproven discrimination. Kendi himself explains: “The defining question is whether the discrimination is creating equity or inequity. If discrimination is creating equity, then it is antiracist. If discrimination is creating inequity, then it is racist.” Unfortunately, this idiotic and perverse philosophy has become the root of Biden administration policymaking. “Equity” has been used as the keyword from environmental to economic to COVID-19 policy. Susan Rice, Biden’s domestic policy adviser, explained this week, “(W)e’re focused on racial justice and equity... It’s for everybody who has not had the benefits of a system that has not served everybody. ... This is not about serving one group to the detriment of another.” This, of course, is a lie. It is utterly about group equality, which requires individual injustice. America was rooted in equality and freedom. Equity requires freedom to be curbed. It’s therefore a national tragedy to watch equality of rights abandoned in favor of equity. If freedom is discarded to achieve equality of outcome, we no longer live in an America defined by the Declaration of Independence. We live in an America defined by tribalism and leveling — and, in short order, tyranny. Ben Shapiro, 36, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com.

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ ADAMS, MICHAEL JOHNTHAN was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at NB 52/N LIBERTY ST on 2/7/2021

♦ Gray, Brianna Logan (F/25) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (F), at 8185 Broad Street, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/3/2021 21:13.

♦ APPLING, SHELDON CRAIG was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 2/8/2021

♦ HATTON, GABRIEL CORNELIUS was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/ SER INJURY at 4999 LANSING DR/ CARVER SCHOOL RD on 2/7/2021

♦ Barrow, Kara Suzanne (F/28) Arrest on chrg of Breaking/enter-misd (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/5/2021 22:20.

♦ Howard, Jason Wayne (M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched I (F), 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 2471 Lewisvilleclemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 2/4/2021 23:00.

♦ BROOKS, ANTHONY QUINN was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/ LARC-FELONY at 2420 CALEDONIA DR on 2/8/2021 ♦ Carter, Kenzie Paige (F/21) Arrest on chrg of Assault-simple (M), at 9000 Hollydale Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 2/6/2021 22:59. ♦ Clayton, Gary Keith (M/47) Arrest on chrg of Vio. Protective Order By Courts Another State/ Indian Tribe (M), at 5055 Klondike Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 2/3/2021 14:30. ♦ Clement, Antonio Juwan (M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Affray (M) and 2) Affray (M), at 5698 Reidsville Rd/rail Fence Rd, Belews Creek, NC, on 2/5/2021 01:35. ♦ COONE, ANDREW DEAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 2061 BETHABARA RD on 2/6/2021 ♦ Culbreath, Morgan Alese (F/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny/misdemeanor (M), 2) Vand-real Property (M), and 3) Vandpersonal Prop (M), at 200 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/8/2021 12:00. ♦ Davis, Harrison Rashan (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-mfg Sched I (F), 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 5) Weap-poss By Felon (F), and 6) Ccw (M), at Nb 52/nb 52_s Main St Ra, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/3/2021 09:39. ♦ ERBY, STEVEN JESSE was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 1217 E TWELFTH ST on 2/7/2021

♦ ISLAR, CHRISTOPHER was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1600 THURMOND ST on 2/7/2021 ♦ Jackson, Michael Dangelo (M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Stolen Goods (F), 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 4) Ccw (M), at Nb 52/nb 52_s Main St Ra, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/4/2021 13:28. ♦ JOHNSON, JAMES DAVID was arrested on a charge of ADW-OTHER WEAPON at 990 E THIRD ST on 2/6/2021 ♦ JOHNSON, MICHAEL LEON was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at LEWISVILLECLEMMONS RD/STADIUM DR on 2/6/2021 ♦ Jones, Jason Neil (M/37) Arrest on chrg of Breaking/larc-felony (F), at 200 Stoltz St, Rural Hall, NC, on 2/7/2021 01:19. ♦ King, James Michael (M/18) Arrest on chrg of Rec/poss Stole Mv (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/5/2021 14:22. ♦ Manning, Brandon Denard (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) P/w/i/s/d Marijuana (F), 2) Poss Marijuana Fel (F), 3) Maintain Vehicle (F), and 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 2 Piedmont Industrial Dr/barnes Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/5/2021 09:25.

♦ FOWLER, ULYSSES ALONZO was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 950 FILE ST on 2/8/2021

♦ Massey, David Randell (M/59) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi (M), at 2410 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 2/5/2021 20:06.

♦ Gaddy, Corey Lamont (M/26) Arrest on chrg of Drugs-mfg Sched I, F (F), at Peters Creek Pw/silas Creek Pw, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/3/2021 14:56. ♦ GONZALEZ, JOSE MARIA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 2/8/2021

2/8/2021 15:20. ♦ Morrison, Joshua Glenn (M/36) Arrest on chrg of Assault - Strangulation (F), at 7150 Reynolda Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on 2/6/2021 21:00. ♦ Phillips, Francois Malike (M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F) and 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), at 1048 Nc 66 South/south Park Dr, Kernersville, NC, on 2/6/2021 12:27. ♦ Purvis, Danielle Sierra (F/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Vand-personal Prop (M) and 2) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 200 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/4/2021 11:32 ♦ RODRIGUEZ, VICTORIA IRENE JENNY was arrested on a charge of POSS HEROIN at 400 N TRADE ST on 2/8/2021 ♦ Rourke, Patrick Paul (M/36) Arrest on chrg of Poss Heroin (F), at 2298 Amarillo Ln/old Walkertown Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 2/5/2021 21:36. ♦ SATTERWHITE, KEIONY JERMAINE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULTSIMPLE at 100 W FIFTH ST on 2/6/2021 ♦ Seamster, Luther Mark (M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Trafficking Marijuana (F), 2) Maintain Dwelling (F), 3) P/w/i/s/d Sched I (F), 4) Drugs-poss Sched I (F), 5) P/w/i/s/d Sched Iv (F), 6) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 7) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 2131 Rougemount Ln, Kernersville, NC, on 2/3/2021 08:00. ♦ SMOOT, DERRICK LAMAS was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at NB 52/WB 40_NB 52 RA on 2/6/2021 ♦ Tollison, Arthur Leroy (M/65) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi (M), at Towncenter Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 2/3/2021 04:04. ♦ Torres Perez, Jesus (M/32) Arrest on chrg of Vio. Protective Order By Courts Another State/ Indian Tribe (M), at 5036 Lake Morris Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 2/3/2021 01:00. ♦ UNDERWOOD, LEVERN LAMONT was arrested on a charge of B&E-VEHICLE at 5216 GERMANTON RD on 2/7/2021

♦ David Wesley Arrington, 79, of Winston-Salem, died February 4, 2021. ♦ Wade Bennett, 88, of Surry County, died February 6, 2021. ♦ Larry Dean Billings, 80, of Winston-Salem, died February 7, 2021. ♦ James Augustus Brewer Jr., 97, of Winston-Salem, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Theodore Walker (T.W.) Carmichael, 96, of King, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Josephine M. Carpenter, 91, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Kay Beeker Deese, 83, of Winston-Salem, died February 4, 2021 ♦ Lawrence Mason Godfrey, 85, of Winston-Salem, died February 7, 2021. ♦ James Patrick Goodman, 53, of Clemmons, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Edwin J. “Jerry” Hall, 80, of Winston Salem, died February 3, 2021. ♦ Betty Louise Wright Holcomb, 91, of Winston-Salem, died February 6, 2021. ♦ Joseph John Kaper, 97, died February 3, 2021. ♦ Larry Edward Keaton, 73, of Forsyth County, died February 3, 2021. ♦ William Harold Ledford, Sr., 89, of Clemmons, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Stella Souther Marshall, 101, of Winston-Salem, died February 4, 2021. ♦ Katherine Virginia Searight McCoy, 94, of WinstonSalem, died February 6, 2021. ♦ Jo Ann Sink Morgan, 79, of Lexington, died February 08, 2021. ♦ Charles Michael Parrish, 74, of Pfafftown, died February 5, 2021. ♦ Eleanor Rose Sturgell Peak, 98, of Winston-Salem, died February 7, 2021. ♦ Mary Louise McDonald Pulley, 92, of Winston-Salem, died February 6, 2021. ♦ Betty Lynn Gaupel Schuh, 86, of Winston-Salem, died February 7, 2021. ♦ Howard Lee Shaw, 82, of Forsyth County, died February 3, 2021. ♦ Annie Margerite Swaim Spach, 92, of Winston Salem, died February 7, 2021.

♦ MOLINA, BRIAN MALINO was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 6299 SILAS CREEK PW/GOOD HOPE RD on 2/7/2021

♦ Williams, Demarcus Jahan (M/38) Arrest on chrg of 1) Financial Identity Fraud (F) and 2) Weap-poss By Felon (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 2/5/2021 14:22.

♦ David Andrew Stump, 70, died February 5, 2021.

♦ Morrison, Joshua Glenn (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault - Strangulation (F) and 2) Dom Criminal Trespas (M), at 7150 Reynolda Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on

♦ WILLIAMS, RANDALL LONORRIS was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 715 N CHERRY ST on 2/8/2021

♦ Claude Wesley Wilmoth, 95, of Surry County, died February 5, 2021.

♦ Nellie Adelene Whitman, 79, of Forsyth County, died February 4, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

SPORTS

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COLIN E. BRALEY | AP PHTO

In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson walks to the garage before the final practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

advanced through NASCAR’s diversity program, Larson had his eyes opened to his childhood of privilege coming from a middle-class, two-parent household. NASCAR reinstated Larson late last year and he found a soft landing with Hendrick Motorsports, one of the top teams in motorsports. Rick Hendrick wanted to offer Larson that second chance and his support has been unwavering — he’s willing to fund the No. 5 Chevrolet out of pocket if needed and the sponsor for Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 is a Hendrick automotive company. Larson spent most of 2020 rebuilding his image and is ready to prove his character in and out of a race car. “A lot of people do things and they just say ‘I’m sorry’ and go right on running their life. And that’s all they have to do and people say ‘OK, we’ll give you another shot,’” Hendrick said. “This guy did 10 times that. He’s created an image and (done) things in that community that people really respect. “It was Kyle’s heart and Kyle’s desire that got him back.”

Bucs, Lightning, Rays transform Tampa Bay into Titletown The Buccaneers' win in Super Bowl 55 gave the city another thing to celebrate By Fred Goodall The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Fans poured into downtown streets and packed bars and nightclubs around the city to celebrate another professional sports title for Tampa Bay, which is building a reputation as a home of champions. Los Angeles has reigning world champs in baseball’s Dodgers and basketball’s Lakers, however, it’s difficult to top the collective success of this region’s Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers, Stanley Cup champion Lightning and World Series runner-up Rays while playing through challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s hard enough to win a title in any sport, let alone the same city being able to nab two and almost get another at the same time,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Monday. Super Bowl Sunday was a travel day for the Lightning, who flew to Nashville, where they watched Tampa Bay’s 31-9 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs as a group at their team hotel. “Congrats @Buccaneers! Thanks for the birthday present,” captain Steven Stamkos, who turned 31, wrote on Twitter, where he also posted a photo of teammates posing in Bucs gear in front a giant television screen showing Tom Brady celebrating after the game. “You feel like you’ve got a stake in the game when it’s your home

ASHLEY LANDIS | AP PHOTO

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, February 10, 2021

STATE & NATION

To many Republicans and some on the left, Walensky’s comment was seen as an endorsement to reopen schools immediately. Some believed it discredited teachers unions that have demanded vaccines before returning to in-person instruction. Unions, however, largely met it with a shrug. With the right mix of safety measures in places, teachers unions generally agree the vaccines aren’t a condition for reopening. The problem is that many schools are far behind on ventilation updates and other important measures recommended by health officials, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “Vaccinations go from a priority to essential if you can’t do some of these basic mitigation strategies,” Weingarten said. “Rather than keep these schools closed for months, why not vaccinate teachers more quickly?” Even among state and local unions that have taken a harder line on vaccinations, Walensky’s comment drew little fire. The California Teachers Association is pushing for all teachers to be vaccinated but it’s largely because many schools “aren’t anywhere close” to making buildings safe through other methods, said Claudia Briggs, a union spokesperson. In Chicago, vaccinations have been a major sticking point between the city and the teachers union as they work to negotiate a

return to the classroom. At a Friday news conference held by the Chicago Teachers Union, special education teacher Dawn Kelly said teachers want to return but feel they aren’t being protected. “We want to come back to school. I miss my babies, I want to hug my students, I want to sit on the carpet and do read-alongs, but right now it’s just not safe,” she said. Despite the seemingly definitive statement from the CDC, the White House has declined to take a firm stance on teacher vaccinations. Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said Walensky was speaking “in her personal capacity” and that the White House would await updated school guidance that Biden has requested from the CDC. “Obviously she’s the head of the CDC, but we’re going to wait for the final guidance to come out so we can use that as a guide for schools around the country,” Psaki said. Biden has pledged to reopen most of the nation’s K-8 schools within his first 100 days in office, a goal he says is possible if Congress approves his pandemic rescue plan and if states prioritize teachers in vaccine rollouts. In many states, teachers are being included early in a second wave of shots. But the plan has drawn fire from critics who say Biden is cowing to teachers unions who see him as an ally. Both of the nation’s two major teachers unions endorsed Biden for president, including the National Education Association, whose 3 million members include first lady Jill Biden. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said efforts to get students back in the classroom have been blocked by “rich, powerful unions that donate huge sums to Democrats and get a stranglehold over education in

WHITE HOUSE VIA AP

In this image from video, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a White House briefing Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington, D.C. many communities.” “An administration that puts facts and science first would be conducting a full-court press to open schools,” he said on the Senate floor. Some on the left have issued similar rebukes, including former New York Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg, who said on MSNBC that Biden must “stand up” to teachers unions and force a return to the classroom. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom cited Walensky’s comment as evidence that it’s safe to reopen schools before all teachers get vaccines. He has been pressing schools to reopen for weeks, but so far it appears the CDC’s finding has done little to persuade teachers to return. Vaccine shortages and slow rollouts have jeopardized Biden’s reopening plan as more schools delay in-person instruction. Leaders in some districts have expressed doubt that they will bring all students back for in-person instruc-

JESSICA HILL | AP PHOTO

In this May 24, 2010 file photo, future graduates wait for the procession to begin for commencement at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. in a statement that it was dropping the suit “in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments” but didn’t specify further. The government also notified Yale that it had withdrawn its determination letter that the university discriminated based on race and national origin. Yale was gratified and pleased by those two developments, spokesperson Karen Peart said.

But Swan Lee, a co-founder of the group behind the complaint, called it “a racist decision because it preserves discrimination in education. It’s a setback in our fight against racial discrimination against Asian Americans in education.” The change in administrations brought an end to the suit, but the challenge to college admissions policies that take race into account

is alive in a case against Harvard’s practices. The challengers have lost at each round in the lower courts, but their appeal is expected in the coming weeks at the Supreme Court, where a conservative majority may well be more receptive. “The challenge to race-based affirmative action in higher education will continue regardless of any change in the Department of Justice,” said Edward Blum, the president of Students for Fair Admissions, which filed the lawsuit against Harvard. The department, under President Donald Trump, had backed the challenge in the lower courts. The Yale investigation also found that the university used race as a factor in multiple steps of the admissions process and that Yale “racially balances its classes.” The Supreme Court has ruled colleges and universities may consider race in admissions decisions but has said that must be done in a narrowly tailored way to promote diversity and should be limited in time. Schools also bear the burden of showing why their consideration of race is appropriate. “I am totally shocked by the Biden DOJ’s hasty decision to drop the Yale lawsuit, only eight days af-

tion until next school year. The Biden administration says it hopes to accelerate openings by boosting funding and helping schools implement virus testing. Miguel Cardona, Biden’s pick for education secretary, has said he’s prepared to help reopen schools safely even if teachers have not all been vaccinated. Weingarten, of the AFT, said Biden’s proposed pandemic relief would go far toward getting schools opened. But even if Congress approves it, she said, it could be months before schools receive it and make necessary fixes. Instead of scapegoating teachers, though, she said blame should fall to the Trump administration for failing to deliver vaccines sooner and to districts that have failed to update buildings for years. “There’s not a lot of trust for districts because we’ve had years and years of austerity budgets, and we know that the facilities are not what they should be,” she said. “It shouldn’t take a pandemic to fix ventilation systems.”

ter President Biden signed an executive order claiming to combat anti-Asian discrimination,” said Yukong Zhao, the president of the Asian American Coalition for Education. But the decision was lauded by other civil rights groups, including one run by the Biden administration’s incoming assistant attorney general for civil rights. “It has been proven in the courts that race-conscious admissions programs are lawful, and Black students and other students of color who come from all walks of life can rest a little easier knowing our government is looking to lift them up, not divide and suppress,” said David Hinojosa, director of the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The group’s president, Kristen Clarke, is Biden’s nominee to run the Justice Department’s civil rights division Biden’s Justice Department is working to undo Trump policies, including “zero tolerance,” the immigration policy that was responsible for family separations. Also last week, the Supreme Court agreed to requests from the Biden administration to put off arguments in two challenges to Trump-era policies involving the U.S.-Mexico border wall and asylum-seekers as Biden works to change the policies that had been challenged in court.