North State Journal Vol. 9, Issue 20

BRIEF this week

Pro-Palestinian event ends in violence

Asheville A seminar held at the West Asheville Library on June 29 titled “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance,” part of the Another Carolina Anarchist Bookfair (ACAB), ended in controversy and violence. According to WLOS News 13, two Jewish residents and an 80-yearold Navy veteran attended to monitor the event.

Monica Buckley, one of the three, livestreamed the proceedings. Approximately 30 minutes in, their presence was noted, leading to a physical altercation as they were accused of being Zionists. The three reported being assaulted by multiple people. Buckley told WLOS people were “hitting me, punching me, punching my wrists, stomping on my ankles. Somebody choked me with something.” Bob Campbell, the 80-yearold, was allegedly pushed to the oor. The third victim, David Moritz, reported sustaining bruises to his head. Asheville Police responded and is investigating the incident, with one arrest made for resisting o cers. Several other attendees were shown as persons of interest in a Facebook post by the department. ACAB organizers, in a statement, characterized the attendees as “fascists” there to “provoke con ict,” alleging a “planned disruption.”

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer condemned the violence, stating that members of the community “deserve the right to enter any community spaces with a feeling of security. We will not tolerate violence, either against or carried out in our community.”

College football season is just around the corner, and NSJ is starting to prepare everyone for the fall. NC State is hoping to build o a nine-win season, while Duke is preparing for the start of the Manny Diaz era.

Read previews for both teams in Sports

Cooper vetoes 5 bills, eclipses 100 the

Judge rules protesters can’t march through RNC security zone Madison, Wis.

A federal judge ruled Monday that protesters can’t march through a security zone at the Republican National Convention, handing a defeat to liberals who wanted closer access to where delegates will be gathering next week in Milwaukee. The ACLU and the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 led a lawsuit last month against the city of Milwaukee, alleging that the city’s plans for protesters violated their free speech rights. U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig ruled protesters have a right to march in protest, “but the First Amendment does not allow them to protest or parade in any way they choose.”

UNC System schools receive guidance on equality policy

The new plan replaces the repealed DEI policies

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — All 17 UNC System Schools have received legal guidance on implementing a new equality policy adopted by the UNC Board of Governors on May 23. The policy replaced the system’s diversity, equity and inclusion policy that was previously in Section 300.8.5 of the UNC Policy Manual.

The new guidance emphasizes the need to balance institutional neutrality with academic freedom, student support and the university’s core mission.

“The operative language of the Policy, taken together, directs campus administrations to abstain from the political and social fray,” the guidance reads. “This is the driving principle of institutional neutrality — that each institution will be the forum in which others

may fully debate but will not itself be a participant in that debate. By committing to neutrality, the University’s weighty voice avoids chilling speech and allows constructive discourse to thrive. Institutional neutrality is in fact principled neutrality operating in service to academic freedom and the University’s core mission.”

The guidance aims to guide chancellors and campuses in implementing the new policy while maintaining a commitment to nondiscrimination, equality of opportunity and student success. Campuses must certify and report compliance by Sept. 1.

Key areas outlined in the guidance include a focus on student success while maintaining institutional neutrality on political and social issues, and avoiding endorsing speci c ideological content while still supporting diverse student groups.

Universities should generally refrain from making public

Biden declines

to step aside, wants Democrat drama ‘to end’

The president sent a two-page letter to party leaders

By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden, in a letter to congressional Democrats, stood rm against calls for him to drop his candidacy and called for an “end” to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his dismal public debate performance.

Biden’s e orts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party came Monday as lawmakers are returning to Washington and confronting a choice: decide whether to work to revive his campaign or edge out the party leader, a make-or-break time for his reelection and their own political futures.

tion,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign.

“Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a uni ed party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

He followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, on which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was “frustrated” by the calls from party o cials for him to step aside.

“It’s time to come together, move forward as a uni ed party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

President Joe Biden in a letter to congressional Democrats

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said. He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump.

Biden wrote in the twopage letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.” He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general elec -

Anxiety is running high as top-ranking Democratic lawmakers are joining calls for Biden to step aside despite his de ance. At the same time, some of the president’s most staunch supporters are redoubling the ght for Biden’s presidency, insisting there’s no one better to beat Trump in what many see as among the most important elections of a lifetime.

The two-term governor added to his record total

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Following the end of the legislative short session, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed ve more bills, bringing his two-term total to 102. His ve predecessors who held veto power issued a combined 35. On July 3, Cooper issued vetoes 98 and 99 on House Bill 155, Titles for O -Road Veh./ Low Speed Veh. Insp., and House Bill 556, Tenancy in Com./E-Notary/Small Claims Changes. House Bill 155 would make several changes to North Carolina motor vehicle laws, primarily focusing on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility vehicles and low-speed vehicles.

“This new law would allow certain o road vehicles to op -

erate on four lane highways at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour,” Cooper said in his veto of House Bill 155. “These vehicles lack many of the safety features found in traditional vehicles which creates an increased risk of serious injury or death for people on our highways.”

ly and people with disabilities to nd a ordable rental housing by preventing local governments from protecting against rent discrimination based on lawful income.”

The governor also claimed the bill “creates legal ambiguity regarding when eviction orders become e ective and the potential for increased legal expenses for renters in disputes with landlords.”

Some of the governor’s veto comments are supported by the bill text, such as a provision in Section 7 that would prevent local governments from enacting ordinances forcing property owners to accept federal housing assistance funds for rent.

While the bill does expand where modi ed utility vehicles can operate, including on some higher-speed roads, it does not allow them on four-lane highways at speeds up to 55 mph as his veto statement suggests. The bill maintains restrictions for four-lane roads.

In his veto message of House Bill 556, Cooper said, “This bill would make it harder for low-income families, the elder -

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed four more bills, bringing his total to 101 over his two terms.

See BIDEN, page A8

See VETOES, page A8

See UNC, page A2

AARON BEARD / AP PHOTO

the word | The cost of being a blessing

Preachers sometimes tell us, in urging us to live a useful life, that it costs but little to do good. In a sense this is true. Without large outlay of money, and without great expenditure of strength — one may do many helpful things and make one’s life a rich blessing in the world; yet there is a deeper sense, in which one cannot be a true blessing in this world, except with much cost. Such helpful ministries seem to cost nothing: they ow from lip and hand and heart, as quietly and naturally as if no e ort were required to perform them. Yet the least of them is the fruit of self-denial and sacri ce. They cost heart’s blood. No real good or blessing of any kind, do we ever get, which has not cost some other one, a pang or a tear. Nor can we in our turn do good to others — without cost. The life that is to be a bene cent one, cannot be one of ease and sel sh enjoyment. Even a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die — before it can yield any harvest. To become useful and helpful, we must die to SELF and to personal ambitions and longings: “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”

(John 12:25). We may have our choice. We may live for SELF, taking good care of our lives, not exposing them to danger, not making personal sacri ces, having a keen eye always for our own interests and advancement. By this plan of life, we may come to old age hale and with our strength unabated. People may congratulate us on our well-preserved state, and we may have considerable pride in the outcome of our prudence and carefulness. There certainly seems to be something quite pleasant and attractive in such a life — yet really it is only the grain of wheat remaining safe and dry in the garner, and kept from falling into the earth. It is well preserved — but there is no harvest from it. The life abides by itself alone, well enough kept — but with no increase. It has been no blessing to the world. It has wrought no ministry of love.

But there is another way to live. It is altogether to forget self — not to think of nor care for one’s own life — but to throw it away in obedience to God and in the service of others. People will say we are foolish thus to waste our golden life, to wear ourselves out in toils that bring us no return, to make sacri ces for others

Ballard appointed to NCInnovation board

The former state senator, chosen by Senate Leader Phil Berger; will serve through September 2025

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Before the end of the 2024 legislative short session, former state Sen. Deanna Ballard was appointed to the board of NCInnovation.

Established in 2020, NCInnovation (NCI) is a nonpro t with

a mission of “accelerating commercialized innovation” of the state’s public university research and development projects. Ballard’s appointment was among the scores of others made by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) under Session Law 2024-12.

“I’m honored by this appointment and look forward to working alongside NCInnovation to transform research breakthroughs into successful businesses across our state,” Ballard

who are not worthy. They sought to hold Jesus back from his cross. They said his life was too precious to be wasted in such a way — that it ought to be kept for crowning and for reigning among men. But we understand now that Jesus made no mistake when he chose the way of sacri ce. The grain of wheat let fall into the ground — has yielded a most glorious harvest. Jesus has never been sorry for the choice he made; he has never regretted Calvary. The heart of the lesson is that we cannot be blessings in this world and at the same time live for our own sel sh pleasures and desires. That which has cost us nothing is worth nothing to others. This principle applies in every life and in all spheres. All along the ages, whatever is good and beautiful and worthy has been the fruit of su ering and pain. Civilization has advanced through wars, through revolutions and failures, through the ruin, decay and overturning of empires and kingdoms. Every thoughtful reader of the world’s history understands this. What Christian civilization is today — it is as the harvest of long, sad centuries of weary struggle, toil and oppression. Earth’s thrones of power are built on the wreck of hopes that have been crushed. Every advance worth recording, has been made through carnage and disaster. It seems that without shedding of blood, there is not only no remission of sin — but no

wrote in a post on X about her appointment. Ballard’s term on that board will expire Sept. 30, 2025.

NCI received $500 million in nonrecurring funding over two years as part of the 2022-23 budget. The organization can use $50 million of the NCInnovation Reserve Fund endowment as investment income in the 2023-24 scal year and $90 million in the 2024-2025 scal year.

Public money is not the only source of funding for NCI. In April of this year, NCI announced it had surpassed its $25 million goal for private fundraising commitments. The group also recently announced $5.2 million in funding for eight research projects at seven of the state’s public universities as part of the rst round of pilot program grants.

PUBLIC MEETING FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S. 74 (INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD) FROM I-277 TO I-485 CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY

STIP NOS: U-6103 AND U-2509

CHARLOTTE - The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold an open house style public meeting to provide information on the proposed improvements to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from I-277 to I-485 (Charlotte Outer Loop) in Charlotte and Matthews.

T , July 23 - 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. East Mecklenburg High School - Cafeteria 6800 Monroe Road, Charlotte

The project will widen and upgrade U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) with additional general-purpose lanes, auxiliary lanes, express lanes in the median, and the replacement of at-grade intersections with interchanges and overpasses. The project will also extend and connect existing parallel collector roads in the corridor.

NCDOT representatives will be available in an informal, open house-style setting to answer questions and gather public input regarding the proposed project. The opportunity to submit written comments or questions will be provided and is encouraged. Citizens may attend at any time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will be no formal presentation.

Project maps and other information can be found on the project website https://www. ncdot.gov/projects/us-74-express-lanes

For more information contact Bryan Key with the NCDOT Project Management Unit at bckey@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6263.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in this public open house. Anyone requiring special services should contact Diane Wilson at pdwilson1@ncdot.gov or (919)707-6073 as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

progress in life, no growth (Hebrews 9:22). Heaven’s victorious throngs wearing white robes and waving branches of palm, have come up out of great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). Even Jesus appears in glory as a Lamb that has been slain; his blessedness and his saving power — are the fruit of su ering and death (Revelation 5:6). We know, too, that all the joys and honors of redemption come from the Savior’s cross, and that personal holiness can be reached only through struggle, con ict and the cruci xion of SELF. Thus, whatever is good in earth and in heaven is the outcome of pain, sacri ce and death.

The lessons alone which have cost us pain, which we have learned in struggle, which have been born out of anguish of heart — will heal and really bless others.

It is only when we have passed through the bitterness of temptation, wrestling with evil and sore beset ourselves, victorious only through the grace of Christ — that we are ready to be helpers of others in temptation.

It is only when we have known sorrow, when the chords of our love have been swept by it and when we have been comforted by divine grace and helped to endure — that we are tted to become comforters of others in their sorrow.

This law prevails, therefore, in all life. We yield blessing — only through dying.

Work for others that costs nothing — is scarcely worth doing. At least, it takes heart’s blood to heal hearts. Too many of us are ready to work for Christ and do good to our fellowmen, only so long as it is easy and requires no sacri ce or self-denial; but if we stop there, we stop just where our service is likely to become of use. This saving of life proves, in the end — the losing of it. It is those who sow in tears — who shall reap in joy. It is he who goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed — who shall come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:5-6). We may take easy work if we will — work that costs us nothing, that involves no pain or self-denial — but we must not then be surprised if our hands are empty in the great harvest-time.

J. R. Miller (1840-1912) was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.

Hans’ memo said the policy is a “powerful a rmation of academic freedom.”

statements on external matters of public concern, per the guidance on the adopted equality policy.

Centers and programs may need to restructure to comply with neutrality requirements, but academic freedom is preserved for faculty-led initiatives.

Under the guidance, curriculum and course content decisions remain under faculty control due to academic freedom, and research activities and grant applications are still permissible within policy guidelines. However, content-speci c administrative positions and divisions (e.g., diversity o ces) should be eliminated or modi ed.

Public service activities should avoid content endorsement or advocacy when administratively directed and contracts with external parties must comply with policy restrictions.

The policy does not apply to student-led activities using university resources, and student and faculty groups retain their rights to organize and invite speakers.

Attached to the new guidance was a memo from UNC System President Peter Hans, who underscored that the system “remains committed to welcoming and serving students of all backgrounds.”

“North Carolina is a vibrant and diverse place, and our public universities should welcome the full breadth of talent in this state,” Hans wrote. “Targeted initiatives to support specific student populations are well within the scope of the revised policy, provided they abide by nondiscrimination statutes and do not require students, sta , or faculty to adopt a political viewpoint as a condition of participation.”

“The goal of principled neutrality is to prevent administrative sta from establishing o cial stances on contentious issues, precisely so that faculty remain free to teach and research,” wrote Hans. “Students and student groups are likewise exempted from expectations of neutrality.”

“Simply put, the goal is more discussion, not less,” Hans says in the memo. “As President Bill Friday elegantly wrote in 1970, ‘While individual members of the University community deserve our support as they speak and act in a responsible and constructive manner, it must be clearly understood that the University itself, as an institution, must remain non-political.’ This policy a rms that long-held understanding of the university’s role in public life.”

The UNC System joins Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Texas and Utah, as well as Oklahoma University and the University of Wyoming, in dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) o ces, programs and mandates.

A 2022 report by the James G. Martin Center found spending on DEI sta salaries of $11 million spanning 14 of 16 UNC System schools.

The report showed two schools had more DEI administrators than the other 15 system schools: NC State has 36 DEI administrators and UNC Chapel Hill has 35 such roles. The report cited spending by the two schools at more than $3 million each on just administrator salaries.

In May, the UNC System Board of Trustees voted to pull $2.3 million of DEI funding that comes from state funds and direct it to public safety and policing e orts.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Angelus” by Jean-François Millet (circa 1857) is a painting in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

UNC from page A1

NCSBE sidesteps changing decision to keep RFK Jr., West o ballot

The We The People Party and Justice For All Party are still not certi ed

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Board of Elections did not overturn an earlier decision to keep two of three proposed political parties o the state’s November presidential ballot at its meeting Tuesday.

During the meeting, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) unanimously reversed its earlier decision to keep the Constitution Party o the ballot after the board had questioned the ling address listed on the party’s petition during its June 26 meeting. The board also approved requiring the party to submit its candidate names within the next two weeks.

When it came to the We The People Party and Justice For All Party, updates were given on the investigation into petition signatures which the Democrats on the board had questioned last month; however, Chair Alan Hirsch wouldn’t bring a vote to certify their status.

Republican Member Kevin Lewis objected to postponing the vote, noting the board reversed the decision for the Constitution Party and the mounting “bad publicity” over the lack of certi cation.

“I’m a little just a little bit disappointed and at a loss of how this board is dragging its feet on this issue,” said Willis. “And you know how I voted the last time, and I hope my fellow board members will do the right thing and approve these parties today.”

“Mr. Willis, I know you know

this is on the agenda as an update,” Hirsch responded, adding that sta was still looking through the results of inquiries into petition signers. “As chair, I have the authority to set a meeting. And I promise we will do that promptly in plenty of time to get these folks on the ballot should they be approved as parties.”

Member Stacey “Four” Eggers noted the signatures being examined by sta and told Hirsch, “We generally do not second guess voters on their decisions and should not do so in this case.

“Plus, my understanding from sta is that both of these parties are still well above the necessary signature thresholds set by statute. Is that correct?” Eggers added, with his thresh-

old question subsequently being con rmed by sta . The continued certi cation denials mean Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornell West’s are still blocked from the state’s November ballot.

NCSBE Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell was not in attendance at the July 9 meeting as she was reportedly on vacation in Alaska.

The NCSBE voted June 26 not to certify the We The People Party, Justice for All Party of North Carolina and Constitution Party even though they had all obtained more than the required number of signatures to qualify by the July 1 deadline. The votes taken on each party’s certi cation failed by a vote of 3-2 down partisan lines.

Under state law, the NCSBE

is required to certify a party if they meet the signature threshold. The law also states, “Verication shall be completed within two weeks from the date such petitions are presented.”

The June 26 decision to block Kennedy and West from the ballot drew interest from both congressional and state lawmakers.

U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and U.S. House Committee on Administration Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) announced a congressional probe into the NCSBE’s decision on July 1. Following the congressional probe announcement, the N.C. House Oversight and Reform Committee sent letters to certain NCSBE board members requesting a hearing to be sched-

uled sometime after the board’s July meeting about the matter. The letters went out to Hirsch, Brinson Bell and Kevin Lewis, the only Republican member.

The North Carolina Republican Party protested the initial decision as partisan activity designed to protect President Joe Biden, who in recent weeks has seen increasing calls to step aside following his poor debate performance against his opponent, former President Donald Trump.

“It is apparent this board has not learned lessons from 2022, when national and state Democrats sought to keep the Green Party o the ballot over fear their presence would harm their candidate in the U.S. Senate contest,” wrote NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons in a letter sent to the NCSBE ahead of the July meeting.

Simmons went on to note that Judge James C. Dever in the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled in favor of the Green Party and criticized the NCSBE for missing the legal deadline to certify the party and that the NCSBE should “let the voters decide.”

A group called Fair Election Fund took to social media ahead of the July 9 NCSBE meeting to protest the board blocking Kennedy and West from the ballot.

Fair Elections Fund is a nonpro t that announced its formation in May 2024 with the aim “to expose and stop corruption in our elections in order to restore trust in our democratic process.”

The group said it will spend more than $5 million to “shine a light on fraud and abuse still occurring in our election system,” and its budget will be “devoted to paying whistleblowers like election workers, organizers, and concerned citizens who have witnessed this corruption rsthand for sharing their stories.”

In one post on X, Fair Election Fund included a picture that was projected onto the NCSBE’s building that reads in part the board is “working to block your voting rights.”

MEG KINNARD / AP PHOTO

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a November 2023 campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Vice-presidential Russian roulette

The job of vice-president was “not worth a bucket of warm spit.”

We need a new way to select our vice presidents. They are not selected because of ability, intelligence or leadership abilities. If they were the “best” person running, they would be the presidential candidate, not an also-ran.

VPs are selected for political purposes only. They are selected based on gender and race nowadays ― they used to have to be able to bring electoral votes from their home state. Being able to do the enormous task of President of the United States is a secondary or tertiary matter. Not getting in the president’s way or being an enormous embarrassment to the White House is a far more serious concern. However, once elected to the second slot, even mediocre vice presidents start to think they are quali ed to do the most important job in the world ― just because.

John Nance Garner of Texas was one of FDR’s three VPs. He confessed later that the job of vice president was “not worth a bucket of warm spit” although he used another word for “spit.”

Fifteen former vice presidents have become president of the United States ― one-third of all presidents who have served. Two of them are considered “great” ― John Adams and Thomas Je erson. Anyone with the intellectual repower and guts to form the United States of America goes in the “great vice president” category no questions asked.

One was near-great ― Teddy Roosevelt. His face is on Mount Rushmore because he is a Roosevelt and he started the national park system. He was also a genius and historian who rivaled the output of Winston Churchill. Another “near-great,” to conservatives at least, was Calvin Coolidge. He ascended to the presidency in 1923 following the death of Warren G. Harding. He cut spending and reduced taxes annually and yet was able to pay o 30% of the national debt during his tenure.

Harry S Truman is considered “great” by millions of soldiers and their families who did not have to invade Japan for his decision to use atomic weapons against Japan to end World War II. He at least knew where the buck stopped ― right at his desk.

Most of the rest are forgettable. The others made mistakes that cost them reelections to full terms.

Martin Van Buren of New York was Andrew Jackson’s second vice president. He was 5-foot-6 and known as the “Little Magician.” He couldn’t work his magic during the Panic of 1837 and made all the wrong decisions at precisely the wrong time. He soon became known as “Martin Van Ruin.”

John Tyler of Virginia became president one month into the term of William Henry Harrison in 1841. He is best known today for having sired a son late in life who then sired two sons late in life, one of which, Harrison Tyler, is still alive and kicking in Virginia at age 95.

Millard Fillmore of New York took over as president when Zachary Taylor died in 1851. His presidency was considered so feckless and inconsequential that Fillmore is ranked routinely in the bottom 10% of all U.S. presidents.

Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln in 1865 ― and became the rst U.S. president to be impeached. Chester Arthur became president four months after James Gar eld was shot in 1881. Arthur, who had never been elected to anything at any level before, was so frantic when Gar eld was on his deathbed that he went around begging for someone, anyone else to take his place.

Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas became president in 1963 when JFK was murdered in cold blood. He failed as president and declined to run for another full term in 1968.

Richard Nixon was VP to Dwight

Joe Biden’s post-debate comeback tour proves disastrous

Biden said he was “proud” to be “the rst black woman to serve with a black president.”

WHILE JOE BIDEN’S June 27 presidential debate performance may go down in American history as one of the worst ever, the way he, his campaign and the White House apparatus have handled the fallout from it has been just as bad.

The o cial spin is that while it may not have been a great night for Biden, it was an hour and a half out of a 3½-year presidency which they say is what has shown the true strength of the leader of the free world.

While that is also highly debatable, one thing that isn’t is how, in trying to show that Biden is still t as a ddle despite his age, the debate instead highlighted the fact that he’s not.

Interviews Biden has done since then and public appearances he’s made also prove the point.

For instance, at a campaign event he did in Wisconsin on July 5, Biden was an incoherent mess after arriving an hour late. He talked about how he was going to “beat Donald Trump again in 2020” and seemingly forgot the names of some local Democratic o cials while uttering sentences that trailed o into confusion at times.

A softball interview he did that same week with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, also didn’t go well. Biden’s incoherence once again shined

through as he repeatedly insisted that the reason for his poor debate performance was because he was merely “exhausted” after traveling abroad and had been dealing with “a cold” — the latter of which was never conveyed to the public until after the debate was over.

“The whole way I prepared, nobody’s fault, mine,” he said. “Nobody’s fault but mine. I, uh — I prepared what I usually would do sittin’ down as I did come back with foreign leaders or National Security Council for explicit detail. And I realized ’bout partway through that, you know…”

If those sentences didn’t make sense to you, you’re not alone.

Making matters worse for Biden and his campaign were the revelations over the weekend that two post-debate radio interviews with him were conducted with questions submitted to the hosts from the campaign itself.

According to The New York Times, “Andrea Lawful-Sanders, the host of ‘The Source’ on WURD in Philadelphia, said Saturday morning on CNN that Biden o cials had provided her with a list of eight questions ahead of the interview on Wednesday (July 3).”

Lawful-Sanders told CNN, “I got several questions — eight of them. And the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved.”

Eisenhower but lost to Kennedy in 1960. Nixon, who was also considered a genius, particularly on foreign a airs, was called “Gloomy Dick” by fellow students while at Duke Law School in 1936. He later became president in 1968. He was reelected in 1972 but only after succumbing to his inherent paranoia and became the rst POTUS forced to resign following the Watergate debacle in 1974. His VP Gerald Ford was the most scally conscious president since Coolidge. He vetoed a record 66 bills in his two-year term but lost to Jimmy Carter after failing to curb rampant in ation. George Herbert Walker Bush 41 was the rst VP elected to directly succeed a living president in 156 years, Ronald Reagan, in 1988. He lost reelection when he broke his “No New Taxes!” pledge. Today we have President Joe Biden, twoterm VP to Barack Obama. He has once again proven that former vice presidents do not routinely become great presidents. It is not just his physical and mental in rmities that disqualify him ― it is the fact that he has been wrong on almost every single foreign and domestic issue as president that disquali es him. And what about his VP, Kamala Harris? According to pollster Frank Luntz, Harris is the most disliked VP since Dan Quayle, and Quayle was the most unpopular VP since Aaron Burr.

Is she quali ed to be a great president like Thomas Je erson? Or will she become the next Millard Fillmore one day ― perhaps soon?

But even the presubmitted questions didn’t help Biden, as he said at one point during their exchange that he was “proud” to be “the rst black woman to serve with a black president.”

The questions asked of Biden on “The Earl Ingram Show” out of Milwaukee were also submitted in advance, Ingram con rmed to ABC News.

Lawful-Sanders and WURD have since “mutually agreed to part ways,” according to the radio station, which added, “WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other admin.”

Though there are still some holdouts, national media outlets that have in e ect acted as mouthpieces themselves for Biden and his administration throughout his presidency no longer are, at least on this issue, with some feigning shock at his debate performance and what has followed since.

Whatever the case may be, it’s safe to say that the wheels have fallen o the Biden Express, and as usual, he has no one to blame for all of this but himself.

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

COLUMN | JERRY CLIMER

Congress can’t outlaw unintended consequences

These three changes from 111 years ago have created a system that guarantees perpetual growth of the federal government.

IN OUR BOOK, “Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People,” Mike Johnson (the other one, not the speaker) and I review how the negative impact of large population congressional districts, historic changes to the role of U.S. senators, and the evolution of campaign nance have reduced the in uence of citizens back home.

Consider how those changes produced adverse consequences for your taxes, federal spending and public debt.

One hundred eleven years ago, individuals with noble intentions made decisions that have negatively impacted our democratic/republic form of governance:

1. They froze the size of the U.S. House at 435 members;

2. They changed the US Senate from its role as the voice of the republic into a duplicative democratic body representing more residents with longer terms than the House and;

3. They invented the federal income tax.

Before the 1910 census could take e ect on U.S. House representation, the number of representatives in the House was adjusted following each census. Members of Congress went from originally representing an average of around 30,000 folks to today’s singlemember district with a colossal 762,000 residents.

Large congressional districts spawned unintended consequences, making communications more complex and campaigns much more expensive. Today, a congressional campaign’s goal of communicating with those 762,000 residents routinely costs over a million dollars.

In our book, we o er options to large congressional districts and campaign nance challenges.

We do the same thing as we discuss another well-intentioned idea to give residents direct in uence over U.S. senators. The 17th Amendment ended state governments naming U.S. senators, as had been done since the country’s founding. The shift to the direct election of senators sounded great, but it undermined Congress.

It was not anticipated that senators would cease to be voices in the republic. Instead, senators shifted their focus to electoral politics. The unintended consequence was that no one was ghting for the long-term interests of residents, and senators began ghting for campaign dollars from their residents and outof-state sources legally allowed to be involved.

Not surprisingly, to respond to constituents, senators also became advocates for more regulation and spending by the federal government.

COLUMN | NAN MILLER

Many issues belong at the national level; many others don’t. But senators and representatives know that delivering the bacon is a better way to greet constituents than talking about austerity. It is projected that next year the U.S. government’s debt will exceed 106.2% of the nation’s private sector’s annual economic output — which has never happened before. The popular election of senators removed the brake-power on federal spending that once existed. The Constitution’s 16th Amendment was adopted 111 years ago to meet the country’s growing need for revenue. That rst federal income tax only applied to the top 1% of earners, and everyone else was assured they did not need to fear the taxman. Unintentionally, that shift in taxation introduced envy and greed into the tax system. If you were part of the 99% who had less income than the 1 percenters, why oppose shifting that tax burden to the guy behind the tree who must have too much money anyway?

That 1% of income level was not enough to feed a growing government. The rate now includes roughly the top 49% of income earners who pay 98% of all federal income tax collected.

With this broader array of earners now mandated to pay for programs and legislators enticed to keep spending more to reward their constituents, why stop there? Candidates and incumbents make noise about cutting spending and changing the tax load, but how often does that happen when the political rewards encourage more spending and fewer taxes? Would appointed senators see it di erently?

Unintended consequences of just these three changes from 111 years ago have created a system that guarantees perpetual growth of the federal government and debt while simultaneously reducing the in uence of each resident and removing a vital attribute of a republic where wiser long-term decisions are made that don’t necessarily placate bene ciaries of today’s federal largess.

We do not advocate simply reverting to the conditions of 111 years ago. Everything has changed domestically, internationally, and in terms of communications. We need new approaches built on those realities that also empower women, racial groups, and youth, who are all now encouraged to be engaged in this democratic republic which excluded them from voting 111 years ago.

“Fixing Congress” o ers options without recommendations to encourage you to engage in conversations that o er “Uncommon Solutions for Unprecedented Problems.”

The Devil wore Pravda

Under Stalin’s control, Pravda cast Jews as a “terrorist group” that committed “monstrous crimes” at the behest of Western “agents.”

YOU READ THAT HEADLINE RIGHT.

The devil that concerns me here is not Anna Wintour, the Prada-clad czarina of the fashion industry. Rather, it’s Joseph Stalin, who used the Soviet mouthpiece Pravda to make antisemitism the o cial state policy in the USSR. Under Stalin’s control, Pravda cast Jews as a “terrorist group” that committed “monstrous crimes” at the behest of Western “agents” who conspired to subvert the USSR’s communist regime.

Stalin died before he could purge the Soviet Union of those “anthropoid beasts,” but his brand of Jew-hatred has bewitched a new generation of antisemites who aim to purge our nation of what a Chicago professor has called “irredeemable excrement.”

Today’s protesters might know that, like Stalin, they are following Karl Marx’s directive to plot “vengeance against hated individuals or public buildings which have acquired hateful memories.”

What they do not know is that, in 1947, Stalin’s delegation to the United Nations voted yes to the UN resolution that divided Palestine between Jewish refugees and the Palestinians. What they do not know is that Stalin became anti-Zionist only when he saw that Israel would not become a Marxist pawn and saw that anti-Zionism would play well with the Arab League, which had rejected the UN resolution — and chosen instead to ght a losing war with the new state of Israel.

No amount of hard evidence will disarm young Stalinists who chant “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” but students who join protests as a means of “belonging” are ripe for reform. If you have access to the hangers-on, you might use the summer to trace their brand of antisemitism to its Soviet roots and let them know, gently, that behind every Jew-hating “comrade” is a Marxist agenda.

You might open with a reminder that Russian dictators have a long history of echoing Marx, who dubbed Jews “hucksters” and note that in 1975, the USSR invented new charges against the prospering Israelis. Under pressure from the USSR, the United Nations passed a resolution linking Zionism to “neo-colonialism, foreign occupation … apartheid, and racial discrimination.” In 1991, the UN rescinded Resolution 3379, but the charges have outlived the fall of the Soviet Union — and ensnared two

generations of American professors.

Students whose professors denounce Israel’s “foreign occupation” and condone Hamas’s “resistance” should know that it was a Palestinian-American professor who made denouncing Israel the “Next Big Thing” in American universities.

With the publication of his 1978 tract “Orientalism,” Columbia professor Edward Said claimed “Palestinian resistance is not terrorism; it is a legitimate struggle for justice and freedom” against Israel and its Western allies.

Forty-seven years later, 100 Columbia University professors would make headlines echoing Said’s mantra, calling Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel a “military response” to an “occupying power” and setting the stage for protesters nationwide.

While Said was busy exporting bornagain Marxism to universities nationwide, a more insidious plot was taking shape in Philadelphia. In October 1993, the FBI wiretapped a meeting of Hamas o cials who were discussing ways to sabotage the Oslo Peace Accords, which had recognized Israel’s right to exist and con ned the Palestinians to the West Bank and Gaza. Three years later the agreement collapsed, and Hamas resumed their mission to rain down terror on Israelis.

Hamas’ other mission that day involved enlisting American-born activists to set up a network of Hamas apologists and nanciers in the U.S. The success of that mission is on full display now — in our streets, parks and universities. An anonymous Palestinian reporter has even admitted what Israel’s supporters have known for decades: “It would appear that many of Palestine’s supporters are more comfortable when Palestinians are perceived as mere passive victims of Israel’s colonial rule.”

Victimhood has served the Palestinians well, but reasonable students will see that their comrades have become victims of the same ploy the Soviets used in the Middle East after World War II. They cast themselves as a champion of the oppressed and cast Israel and its allies as the evil oppressors.

Reasonable students will disown that myth, and they might even discover that the real villains on the world’s stage are the teachers who a rm it.

A century later…

WHAT A DIFFERENCE a century makes. One hundred years ago, America was entering into its quadrennial presidential election campaign under circumstances quite di erent from those facing us today. Republican incumbent President Calvin Coolidge was facing Democratic challenger John W. Davis. An accidental president, Coolidge had acceded to the presidency on the death of Warren Harding in 1923 and was still in something of a honeymoon period as the 1924 campaign began.

As a solid conservative Republican, Coolidge had won a succession of Massachusetts elections, serving as town alderman, state senator, lieutenant governor and governor. In 1919, he achieved national prominence for his successful di usion of the Boston police strike with his terse declaration, “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.”

In 1920, the GOP convention nominated Coolidge as Harding’s running mate as the party sought a return to “normalcy.”

While the country was still getting acquainted with President Coolidge in 1924, two impressions were already indelibly stamped on voters’ minds. Coolidge was rmly committed to continuing the conservative policies of Harding — tax reduction and limited government were the keystones of the Harding/Coolidge administration and would continue under Coolidge.

In addition, it was clear to voters by 1924 that Coolidge was a man of unimpeachable integrity. He was the embodiment of classic New England virtues: honesty, thrift, lack of pretense, dignity and common sense. The taint of the emerging Harding scandals left Coolidge unscathed.

Davis was also an accidental candidate. He had risen from West Virginia obscurity as a young congressman to serve as solicitor general, ambassador to Great Britain and successful Wall Street lawyer. In 1924, the Democratic Party was bitterly divided between the urban, Catholic forces led by New York Gov. Al Smith and the rural, Protestant faction led by William G. McAdoo. When the convention deadlocked for an unprecedented 102 ballots, Davis was nominated on the 103rd ballot and charged with bringing some sense of unity to the unruly Democrats.

While Davis was not well known among voters, he — similarly to Coolidge ― presented two de ning attributes. He was from the conservative wing of the Democratic Party, which had long championed Je ersonian values of limited government. In addition to establishing an impressive record of accomplishment as a constitutional lawyer, Davis was seen as a man of deep integrity who might bring unity to the fractured Democrats. As columnist Walter Lippmann noted, “Davis’ nomination was the result of con dence in his character rather than of studied agreement with his views.”

At the campaign’s outset, several things became quite clear. There were few substantial di erences between Coolidge and Davis. The Democrats’ best issue should have been corruption, but Coolidge was able to stand apart from the Harding scandals. Davis boldly denounced the Ku Klux Klan, which was a signi cant factor both nationally and within the Democratic Party, and urged Coolidge to follow suit. Coolidge declined to respond to Davis’ challenge, but Coolidge’s record on civil rights made clear his opposition to the Klan.

On matters of tax policy and limited government, there was virtually no di erence between the two candidates. As the old progressive Democratic war horse William Jennings Bryan lamented. “Davis is a man of ne character. So is Coolidge. There is no di erence between them.” Their only signi cant policy di erence was over tari s. Coolidge was a pro-tari Republican, while Davis was a traditional Democrat free-trader.

Both men spoke eloquently of tax policy in moral terms. Coolidge believed, “The wise and correct course to follow in taxation and all other economic legislation is not to destroy those who have already secured success but to create conditions under which everyone will have a better chance to be successful.”

Davis voiced a similar view: “Taxation can justly be levied for no purpose other than to provide revenue for the support of the government. To tax one person, class or section to provide revenue for the bene t of another is none the less robbery because done under the form of law and called taxation.”

Coolidge sounded the same note: “The collection of any taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to the public welfare is only a species of legalized larceny.” Both men believed in Coolidge’s moralistic conclusion, “I favor the policy of economy not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people.”

As the campaign unfolded in the fall of 1924, Coolidge was clearly dealt a winning hand. A strong economy, the advantages of incumbency, a united GOP and successful fundraising all favored Coolidge, and he played his hand awlessly. Davis’ campaign was hampered by a fractured Democratic Party, an absence of de ning policy di erences with Coolidge, and Coolidge’s popular incumbency.

Perhaps the de ning characteristic of this race was the civility and dignity with which these two men conducted themselves.

“There was something more to Coolidge and Davis,” Columnist Fred Barnes wrote. “They grew up in small towns — Coolidge in Vermont, Davis in West Virginia — and were gentlemen admired for their personal integrity and unblemished morality. Coolidge was famous for being terse. Davis was noted for his graciousness. They were neither mean-spirited nor power hungry. I can’t recall a presidential race in modern times between two such honorable men.”

We can only hope that someday history might repeat itself.

Garland S. Tucker III, retired chairman and CEO of Triangle Capital Corporation, is author of “Conservative Heroes: Fourteen Leaders Who Shaped America — Je erson to Reagan” (ISI Books) and “The High Tide of American Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge and the 1924 Election” (Emerald Books).

Murphy to Manteo Jones

Trail of Tears

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Blue Ridge Parkway

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Flat Rock

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Greensboro

Moores Creek National Battle eld, Currie

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo

Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills

NC A&T again has most a ordable tuition

Guilford County North Carolina A&T has the most a ordable tuition in the country, according to Money magazine. Money magazine’s Best Colleges rankings “ranks America’s best 745 colleges and universities on a variety of factors, including ‘Estimated Full Price, 202425,’” the school said in a press release. For the second straight year, the HBCU is in the top spot for estimated full price. At $20,100, NC A&T has the lowest estimated full price of all doctoral research universities on the list.

NSJ

Daughter charged in death of 74-year-old mother

Forsyth County

A daughter accused of killing her mother on the Fourth of July is now in custody, the Kernersville Police Department said. Following a domestic disturbance call, o cers found 74-year-old Linda Turner Terrell inside her home su ering from trauma to her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. Terrell’s daughter, 51-year-old Michelle Denise DeGuzman, has been arrested and charged with the murder of her mother.

WGHP

HanesBrands moving to downtown Winston-Salem

Forsyth County HanesBrands announced Monday that it will move its corporate o ces to downtown Winston-Salem. The company is located in WinstonSalem but is currently north of the downtown area. This move will put the headquarters inside the Park Building on North Cherry Street, according to a company press statement. “The newly renovated, modernized space will provide HanesBrands associates with an energetic environment that promotes collaboration and innovation while driving its strategic growth initiatives forward,” company o cials said. HanesBrands will move out of its current location on 1000 E. Hanes Mill Rd. and transition into the downtown building in early 2025. The company signed an agreement to sell the old property to a third party that will occupy part of the space later next year. The original Hanes outlet store was housed in a room adjacent to their factory. HanesBrands currently operates and owns around 220 HanesBrands, Maidenform and Champion retail stores across the U.S.

NSJ

Chapel Hill campus lmed for

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Orange County Filming for the popular Amazon TV series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” began last week at UNC Chapel Hill. A statement from UNC communications said several roads will be closed between July 5-12 for lming, which is taking place July 8-10. According to UNC o cials, the lming has largely taken place outdoors on McCorkle Place, which is near the Old Well and the Davie Poplar, and inside surrounding buildings.

NSJ

ECU lab recognized for cardiac treatment

Pitt County

According to ECU School of Medicine o cials, the Health Medical Center electrophysiology lab is the rst hospital lab in North Carolina to earn accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission in cardiac electrophysiology in testing and ablation, device implantation and left atrial appendage occlusion. The accreditation is recognized as a “seal of approval” assuring patients of consistent quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement. The process involves a detailed self-evaluation followed by a thorough review by a panel of experts.

NSJ

Teen identi ed in Nags Head drowning

Dare County An 18-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, who died after being pulled from the ocean on Nags Head has been identi ed. Nags Head’s Fire, Rescue and Police departments were called to the Gull Street Public Beach on July 3 to help three swimmers in distress. Two of the swimmers were returned to shore, one with the help of a Nags Head lifeguard. They were both taken to Outer Banks Hospital for medical assistance. The third swimmer could not be found. A Nags Head police o cer deployed a drone to help locate the missing swimmer. After being found, the swimmer was brought to shore by Nags Head lifeguards and taken to Outer Banks Hospital. The swimmer, Ibrahim Salam Sankoh, was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital. According to state o cials, there were nearly 200 beach rescues along the N.C. coast over the holiday weekend.

Cherokees begin sales of recreational marijuana to adult members in NC NATION & WORLD

Expansion to others could begin in August

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

CHEROKEE — A trib -

al-owned medical marijuana dispensary in western North Carolina is also now selling cannabis products for adult recreational use just weeks after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians governing board approved its expanded use on tribal lands.

The Great Smoky Cannabis Co. began recreational marijuana sales on July 4 to adults at least 21 years of age who are enrolled Eastern Band members or members of any other federally recognized

VETOES from page A1

Possible “increased legal expenses” may refer to Section 8 of the bill, which would allow landlords to recover “reasonable attorneys’ fees actually paid or owed.” However, the bill would also limit these fees to “not to exceed” 15% of the amount owed by the tenant or of the monthly rent “if the eviction is based on a default other than the nonpayment of rent.”

On July 5, Cooper broke the 100 veto threshold on House Bill 690, No Centrl Bank Digital Currency Pmts to State, and hit veto 101 with Senate Bill 166, 2024 Bldg. Code Regulatory Reform.

House Bill 690 proposes changes to North Carolina’s laws regarding the acceptance of certain types of currency by state agencies and the court system, speci cally Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), which is dened as a digital currency, medium of exchange or monetary unit issued directly by the U.S. Federal Reserve or a federal agency.

The bill would preemptively

BIDEN from page A1

As lawmakers weigh whether Biden should stay or go, there appear to be no easy answers.

It’s a tenuous and highly volatile juncture for the president’s party. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years — if not decades — and cherished his life’s work on policy priorities are now entertaining uncomfortable questions about his political future. And it’s unfolding as Biden hosts world leaders for the NATO summit this week in Washington, D.C. Time is not on their side, almost a month from the Demo -

tribe, according to news outlets. A company social media post included a photo of what it called last Thursday’s first legal sale of marijuana for recreational use on Eastern Band land called the Qualla Boundary. Recreational sales to nonmembers are expected to begin later in the summer.

In April, Great Smoky Cannabis opened its doors for medical marijuana purchases for adults with a tribe medical cannabis patient card or an out-of-state approved medical marijuana card.

But tribal members had already voted in a referendum last September backing adult recreational use on their reservation as well, telling the tribal council to develop legislation to regulate such a mar -

block the use of CBDC in the state’s government and court system in order to maintain the state’s nancial autonomy and protect against potential future implementations of federal CBDC.

Cooper’s veto message on House Bill 690 deferred to “efforts being made at the federal level” to put protections in place and said, “This legislation is premature, vague and reactionary and proposes an end result on important monetary decisions that haven’t even been made yet.”

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) said in a statement on X that the veto of 690 would be “swiftly overridden.”

“With his veto of House Bill 690 (which passed the NC House 109-4), Governor Cooper has chosen to side with Joe Biden’s heavy-handed regulatory agenda over private sector innovation,” Moore wrote. “Roy Cooper may claim to be sticking up for consumers when in reality he is cozying up to the Biden administration over the American consumer. This veto will be swiftly overridden.”

cratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential pick. Many Democrats are arguing the attention needs to be focused instead on the former president’s felony conviction in the hush money case and pending federal charges in his e ort to overturn the 2020 election.

It’s what Biden himself might call an in ection point. As he de antly says he will only step aside if the Lord almighty comes and tells him to, Democrats in the House and Senate are deciding how hard they want to ght

ket. Based on the referendum, the council approved language last month that effectively decriminalizes cannabis on the Qualla Boundary, but also updates the tribe’s laws to reflect its use.

Marijuana possession or use is otherwise illegal in North Carolina, but the federally recognized tribe can pass rules related to cannabis as a sovereign nation. Of North Carolina and its surrounding states, only Virginia allows for the legal recreational use of marijuana statewide.

Qualla Enterprises, the tribe’s cannabis subsidiary, had previously signaled that adult-use sales would initially be limited to tribal members. The expansion to others could begin in August, a Qualla En -

Senior Director of Industry A airs for Blockchain Association Dan Spuller also reacted to Cooper’s veto of House Bill 690 in a statement on X, writing that he was “disappointed” Cooper vetoed “the widely supported, bipartisan HB 690,” and the governor “missed an opportunity to send a clear message to the @FederalReserve that North Carolina stands united against the creation of a #CBDC. This veto must be overridden.”

House Bill 690 passed with heavy bipartisan support, 39-5 in the Senate and 109-4 in the House.

Senate Bill 166 would make various organizational and technical changes to laws and regulations related to construction, building codes, electric vehicle charging and public utilities.

“By limiting options for energy e ciency and electric vehicles, this legislation prevents North Carolina’s building code from adopting innovations in construction and mobility that save consumers money,” Cooper said of Senate Bill 166.

The governor also said the bill, “removes subject mat-

the president to change course, or if they want to change course at all. In an e ort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Je ries is convening lawmakers for private meetings before he shows his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it.

A private call Sunday of some 15 top House committee members exposed the deepening divide as at least four more Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith

terprises executive said recently.

The Great Smoky Cannabis marijuana sales center, located near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, is predicted to be more of a revenue-generator for the 14,000-member tribe as its customer base is expanded.

At a council late last month, the tribal council voted to overturn two provisions contained in the new adultuse ordinance. One amendment now overturned had made it illegal for nontribal government-owned businesses to sell hemp on the Qualla Boundary. Another had allowed medical marijuana cardholders to grow up to four plants in homes without children.

ter experts from the building code council,” likely referring to the reorganization of the N.C. Building Code Council in the bill which takes the council’s membership from 17 to 13. Instead of the governor appointing all of the seats, six of the 13 appointments will go to the legislature. The seven seats allotted to the governor are subject to con rmation by the General Assembly.

On July 8, Cooper issued veto No. 102 on Senate Bill 445, Recording of Court-Filed Documents. In the veto message, he said the bill “creates legal ambiguity regarding when eviction orders become e ective and may harm low-income individuals by making it harder for them to appeal as indigent in small claims court.”

Additionally, Senate Bill 607, Regulatory Reform Act of 2024, will become law without Cooper’s signature. The governor said the bill has parts that should become law, but he refused to sign it because he believes a section is “seeking to interfere with the charter and bylaws of the North Carolina Railroad, a private corporation.”

of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — privately said Biden should step aside.

Nadler, as the most senior ranking member on the call, was the rst person to speak up and say that Biden should step aside, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so aware of his seniority and that it would allow others to join him.

Many others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and chance of winning reelection, even if they stopped short of saying Biden should step out of the race.

French political leader Le Pen investigated

Paris

The Paris prosecutor’s o ce said Tuesday it opened an investigation last week into suspicions of illicit nancing of French politician Marine Le Pen’s campaign during the 2022 presidential election. The judicial probe opened July 2 into allegations of accepting a nancial loan, misappropriation of property, fraud and forgery. The preliminary investigation was opened after a report from the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing dating from 2023. In French elections, candidates are barred from exceeding a certain spending limit.

Elephants trample, kill Spanish tourist in South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa Elephants trampled to death a Spanish tourist at a South African wildlife reserve after he left his vehicle and approached a herd to take photographs, police and local government authorities said Tuesday. The 43-year-old man was killed on Sunday at Pilanesberg

National Park in North West province, about 111 miles from Johannesburg, police said. The elephant herd included young calves. Police said the man’s ancée and two other women, all from Johannesburg, were in the vehicle and unharmed.

N.J. forest re 90% contained Tabernacle, N.J, Fire ghting crews have managed to contain 90% of a forest re that burned 6.7 square miles in the New Jersey Pinelands. The blaze in Wharton State Forest was not threatening any structures, and no one had been injured by it, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Monday night. On Sunday, the service said the blaze had been touched o by the use of reworks. The re was reported by a spotter from a nearby re observation tower shortly after 9 a.m. Friday.

Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

And several lawmakers appeared frustrated that leadership was not providing direction or a path forward, according to people familiar with the call. One Democratic lawmaker said regardless of the decision, the situation has to “end now,” one of the people said.

catastrophe

questions about when normal

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

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

taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in added Reserve backup liquidity to the the U.S. dollar were not the reserve fund any of these emergency of rampant in ation and currency aberrant ways and decisions through Diplomacy has obviously not worked world of 21st century health, hygiene communist regimes never take the blame remorse, because that is not what take advantage of every weakness pushing until they win or the event happens such as the Chernobyl believe that event, not the Star Wars the dissolution of the Soviet Union Chernobyl. already talking about the possibility debt we owe them as one way to get they have caused the US. Don’t hold your “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected accountable in tangible nancial ways for expected to operate as responsible citizens of nation.

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

we begin to get back to normal

How China will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe

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

WALTER E. WILLIAMS

The comfort

The 3 big questions nobody

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

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

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

Fixing college corruption

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

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

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

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

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

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

Amid cooling job market, Fed’s Powell signals rate cuts

Not one little bit.

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

The cavalier manner in virus, covered up its spread

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

business & economy

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

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

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

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve faces a cooling job market and persistently high prices, Chair Jerome Powell said in testimony Tuesday. This shift in emphasis away from the Fed’s single-minded ght against in ation of the past two years suggests it is moving closer to cutting interest rates.

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

Powell told the Senate Banking Committee that the Fed has made “considerable progress” toward defeating the worst in ation spike in four decades.

a society simply must accept without tells us about when it’s safe to begin the normalcy. us, and we have the right to ask those stay-at-home orders are in place all over the them get in states, such as Michigan, feeling isolated and/or anxious about providing for their families, will demand levels should be as forthcoming as they again, not vague answers, but answer statements believability. what we can to keep our families, safe. But we should also still continue because while reasonable stay-at-home they should also have an expiration date. and it is not normal. Not in any way, should remain vigilant and stay safe, at comfortable with this so-called “new

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

“In ation has eased notably” in the past two years, though it remains above the central bank’s 2% target.

Powell noted that “elevated in ation is not the only risk we face.” Cutting rates “too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment,” he said.

under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

3,341 related deaths has millions of Americans needlessly

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

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

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

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

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

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

From March 2022 to July 2023, the Fed raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times to a two-decade high of 5.3% to ght in ation, which peaked at 9.1% two years ago. Those hikes increased the cost of consumer borrowing by raising rates for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards, among other forms of borrowing.

In the past, Powell and other Fed policymakers have repeatedly stressed that the economy’s strength and low unemployment rate meant they could be patient about cutting rates and wait to ensure that in ation was truly in check.

“THIS IS in it” (Psalm I know that working from be glad” as the and dad, the have to be thankful pandemic.

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

Until China adopts rigorous veri able policing and regulation of their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other choice than to build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery reliability concerns.

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

We need transparency and honesty from our scienti c experts — we need to know what they know, what they don’t and when they hope to know what they don’t.

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

The result: a reduction in expected hospitalization According to the University of Washington Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited Trump administration, the expected need peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the number August by nearly 12,000.

The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is to o er U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of their production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 billion worth of American direct investment in plants and equipment in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by comparison.

Nor

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

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

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

An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the past.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

A 2023 AARP study calculated that Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to fraud

By Michael Rubinkam The Associated Press

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

But on Tuesday, Powell said the job market has “cooled while remaining strong.” He added that the economy’s growth has moderated after a strong expansion in the second half of last year. Last week, the government reported that hiring remained solid in June, though the unemployment rate rose for a third straight month to 4.1%.

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

China has to pay for their economic and nancial means. to bring China into the civilized and fair trade. Totalitarian or express sincere regret totalitarian governments they nd in adversaries and adversaries push back. That is, unless an exogenous meltdown in 1986. Some program of Reagan, led directly in 1989.

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

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

north STA

For me, my making. As Corinthians a iction, so a iction, with God.” If you are re ect on this God’s example this di cult con dent we In this same neighbors helping In Concord, money to buy health care workers

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

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

15, 2

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

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Senators in Washington of China forgiving $1.2 trillion China to “pay” for the damage breath waiting for a Chinese representatives to hold China this disaster. It is about time they are the world like any other modern

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

China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi.

VISUAL VOICE S

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

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

It’s okay to ask questions about when we begin to get back to normal

The comfort and hope

Sophisticated scammers grift billions, elderly victimized

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

SOPHISTICATED OVERSEAS criminals are stealing tens of billions of dollars from Americans every year, a crime wave projected to get worse as the U.S. population ages and technology like AI makes it easier than ever to perpetrate fraud and get away with it. Internet and telephone scams have grown “exponentially,” said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network. This overwhelms police and prosecutors, who catch and

ably, it’s almost impossible to overcome right now.”

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

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

convict relatively few perpetrators.

between Dayton and Columbus to pick up a package for delivery.

Grifts can also be challenging to investigate, particularly ones that originate overseas. Stolen funds are quickly converted into hard-to-track cryptocurrency or siphoned into foreign bank accounts.

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

The case goes back to crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed 346 people

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

By David Koenig and Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press

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

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

Powell did not provide what Wall Street investors are watching most closely: any clear indication of when the Fed might make its rst rate cut. But his testimony will likely harden investors’ and economists’ expectations that the rst reduction will come at the central bank’s September meeting.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

LAST WEEK, federal prosecutors gave Boeing the choice of entering a guilty plea and paying a ne as part of its sentence or facing a trial on the felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The plea deal, which still must receive the approval of a federal judge to take e ect, calls for Boeing to pay an additional $243.6 million ne. That was the same amount it paid under the 2021 settlement that the Justice Department said the company breached. An independent monitor will oversee Boeing’s safety and quality procedures for three years.

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

The deal also requires Boeing to invest at least $455 million in compliance and safety programs. It covers only wrongdoing by Boeing before the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed all 346 passengers and crew members aboard two new Max jets. A Justice Department o cial said it does not give Boeing immunity for other incidents, including a panel that

“We are at a crisis level in fraud in society,” Stokes said. “So many people have joined the fray because it is pretty easy to be a criminal. They don’t have to follow any rules. And you can make a lot of money, and then there’s very little chance of getting caught.”

“THIS IS THE DAY the lord has made, in it” (Psalm 118:24). I know that during this challenging time working from home or losing a job, it may be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. However, and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded have to be thankful and hopeful for, even pandemic.

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

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

A recent case from Ohio, in which a scammer targeted an 81-year-old man and allegedly responded with violence, illustrates the law enforcement challenge.

Homeowner William Brock was charged with murder in the fatal March 25 shooting of LoLetha Hall, but the scammer who threatened Brock over the phone and set the tragic chain of events in motion remains on the loose more than three months later. Brock pleaded not guilty, saying he was in fear for his life.

Some police departments don’t take nancial scams as seriously as other crimes, and victims wind up discouraged and demoralized, according to Paul Greenwood, who spent 22 years prosecuting elder nancial abuse cases in San Diego.

fallen into place. I understand to take precautions, but I’m questions about the data, normal are treated in some They’re treated as though question what the government process of returning back No. The government works questions. And the longer country, and the stricter the more people, sitting at when they can get back to answers.

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

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

Police say the man fatally shot an Uber driver after wrongly assuming she was in on a plot to extract $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative. According to authorities, the driver fell victim to the same scammer and was dispatched to the home midway

Online and telephone rackets have become so commonplace that law enforcement agencies and adult protective services don’t have the resources to keep up.

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

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

“It’s a little bit like drinking from a re hose,” said Brady Finta, a former FBI agent who supervised elder fraud investigations. “There’s just so much of it, logistically and reason-

Leaders at the local and can be with those answers with details that give their

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

“There’s a lot of law enforcement who think that because a victim sends money voluntarily through gift cards or wire transfers, or for buying crypto, they’re engaging in a consensual transaction,” said Greenwood, who travels the country teaching police how to spot fraud. “And that is a big mistake because it’s not. It’s not consensual. They’ve been defrauded.” The U.S. Justice Department says it does not impose a blanket monetary threshold for

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

Boeing takes 737 Max crashes plea deal; victim’s families displeased, angry

We should all continue ourselves, and our communities to ask questions about the measures are understandable,

This is all new to Americans, shape, or form. So while the same time we shouldn’t normal.”

If you are celebrating the Easter season, re ect on this message and be comforted, God’s example and comfort all those in need this di cult time. Through faith and by helping con dent we will emerge out of this pandemic In this same spirit, I continue to be inspired neighbors helping neighbors. In Concord, a high school senior named money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to health care workers out of his own home.

Not one little bit.

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

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

opia. The Lion Air pilots in the rst crash did not know about ight-control software that could push the nose of the plane down without their input. The pilots for Ethiopian Airlines knew about it but could not control the plane when the software activated based on information from a faulty sensor.

The Justice Department charged Boeing in 2021 with deceiving FAA regulators about the software not existing in older 737s and how much training pilots would need to y the plane safely. However, the department agreed not to prosecute Boeing if the company paid a $2.5 billion settlement, including the $243.6 million ne, and took steps to comply with anti-fraud laws for three years.

blew o a Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines ight over Oregon in January.

In a ling Sunday night, the Justice Department said it expected to submit the written plea agreement with a U.S. District Court in Texas by July 19. Lawyers for some of the relatives of those who died in the two crashes have said they will ask the judge to reject the agreement.

“This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeing’s conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ, the

deadly consequences of Boeing’s crime are being hidden,” said Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the families.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, who has overseen the case from the beginning, has criticized what he called “Boeing’s egregious criminal conduct.” O’Connor could accept the plea and the sentence that prosecutors o ered with it or reject the agreement, likely leading to new negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing.

The case goes back to the crashes in Indonesia and Ethi-

Boeing, which blamed two low-level employees for misleading the regulators, tried to put the crashes behind. After grounding Max jets for 20 months, regulators let them y again after the company reduced the power of the ight software. Max jets logged thousands of safe ights, and orders from airlines picked up, increasing to about 750 in 2021, 700 more in 2022 and nearly 1,000 in 2023. That changed in January when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew o a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines ight over Oregon. Pilots landed the 737 Max safely, and no one was seriously injured, but the incident led to closer scrutiny of the company. The Justice Department opened a

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Jason

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior

MANUEL BALCE CENETA / AP PHOTO

Protesters hold up their red-painted palms, meant to resemble blood, during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental A airs Subcommittee on Investigations hearing on June 18.

See SCAMMERS, page A10

See BOEING, page A10

William Bortz, pictured with his daughter Ave Williams in May, said criminals stole his family’s nest egg of almost $700,000 in an elaborate scheme.

GREGORY BULL / AP PHOTO

Year later, earthbound simulated Mars habitat crew emerges

The quartet lived and worked inside the space of 1,700 square feet to simulate a mission to the red planet

By Brian P. D. Hannon

The Associated Press

THE CREW of a NASA mission to Mars emerged from their craft after a yearlong voyage that never left Earth.

The four volunteer crew members spent more than 12 months inside NASA’s rst simulated Mars environment at Johnson Space Center in Houston, coming out of the articial alien environment Saturday around 5 p.m. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell and Nathan Jones entered the 3D-printed habitat on June 25, 2023, as the maiden crew of the space agency’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog project.

Haston, the mission commander, began with a simple “Hello.” “It’s just so wonderful to say ‘hello’ to you all,” she said.

Jones, a physician and the mission medical o cer, said their 378 days in con nement “went by quickly.”

The quartet lived and worked inside the space of 1,700 square feet to simulate a mission to the red planet, the fourth from the sun and a frequent focus of discussion among scientists and sci- fans alike concerning a possible voyage taking humans beyond our moon.

The rst CHAPEA crew focused on establishing possible conditions for future Mars operations through simulated spacewalks, dubbed “Marswalks,” and growing and harvesting vegetables to supplement their provisions and maintain the habitat and equipment.

NASA said they also worked through challenges a real Mars crew would be expected to experience, including limited resources, isolation and communication delays of up to 22 minutes with their home planet on the other side of the habitat’s walls.

Two additional CHAPEA missions are planned, and crews will continue conducting simulated spacewalks and gathering

Saks to buy struggling Neiman Marcus Group

Neiman Marcus led for bankruptcy protection in May 2020

By Anne D’innocenzio

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has signed a deal to buy upscale rival Neiman Marcus Group, which owns Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores, for $2.65 billion, with online behemoth Amazon holding a minority stake.

The new entity will be called Saks Global, creating a luxury powerhouse in an arena that has become increasingly fragmented, with di erent players, from online marketplaces that sell luxury goods to upscale fashion and accessories brands, opening up their stores.

The organization will comprise the Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks O 5th brands, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, and the real estate assets of Neiman Marcus Group and HBC, a holding company that purchased Saks in 2013.

HBC has secured $1.15 billion in nancing from investment funds and accounts managed by Apollo a liates and a $2 billion fully committed revolving asset-based loan facility from Bank of America, the lead underwriter, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo.

The deal was announced July 4 after the department store chains had negotiated for about a year. However, the twist is Amazon’s minority stake, which adds “a bit of spice” to an oth-

BOEING from page A9

new investigation, the FBI told passengers on the Alaska plane that they might be victims of a crime, and the FAA said it was stepping up oversight of Boeing. According to some legal ex-

SCAMMERS from page A9

federal prosecution of eldernancial abuse. However, it conrmed that some 93 U.S. attorneys’ o ces nationwide may set their thresholds, prioritizing cases with more victims or more signi cant economic impact. Federal prosecutors le hundreds of elder fraud and abuse cases annually.

A 2023 AARP study calcu-

data on physical and behavioral health and performance factors, NASA said.

Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center, said most of the rst crew’s experimentation focused on nutrition and how that a ected their performance. The work was “crucial science as we prepare to send people on to the red planet,” he said.

“They’ve been separated from their families, placed on a carefully prescribed meal plan and undergone a lot of observation,” Koerner said.

“Mars is our goal,” he said, calling the project an essential step in America’s intent to be a leader in the global space exploration e ort.

Emerging after Kjell Lindgren, an astronaut and the deputy director of ight operations, knocked on the habitat’s door, the four volunteers spoke of their gratitude for each other and those who waited patiently outside, as well as lessons learned about a prospective manned mission to Mars and life on Earth.

Brockwell, the crew’s ight engineer, said the mission

showed him the importance of living sustainably for the benet of everyone on Earth.

“I’m very grateful to have had this incredible opportunity to live for a year within the spirit of planetary adventure towards an exciting future, and I’m grateful for the chance to live the idea that we must utilize resources no faster than they can be replenished and produce waste no faster than they can be processed back into resources,” Brockwell said.

“We cannot live, dream, cre -

ate or explore on any signi cant timeframe if we don’t live these principles, but if we do, we can achieve and sustain amazing and inspiring things like exploring other worlds,” he said. Science o cer Anca Selariu said she had often been asked why there is a xation on Mars.

“Why go to Mars? Because it’s possible,” she said. “Because space can unite and bring out the best in us. Because it’s one de ning step that ‘Earthlings’ will take to light the way into the next centuries.”

erwise anticipated pact, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, a research rm. Amazon will work with Saks Global to o er expertise in logistics and personalization technology.

“For years, many in the industry have anticipated this transaction and the bene ts it would drive for customers, partners and employees,” said Richard Baker, HBC executive chairman and CEO. “This is an exciting time in luxury retail, with technological advancements creating new opportunities to rede ne the customer experience, and we look forward to unlocking signi cant value for our customers, brand partners and employees.”

Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks’ e-commerce business, will become CEO of Saks Global. In a phone interview, he told The Associated Press that consumers increasingly demand more access to designer products, easier ways to shop and more personalized experiences.

“This type of combination was the next move to make to put Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman where they need to be for the consumer, “ he said.

The deal should help reduce operating costs and create more negotiating power with vendors. The new entity will also give shoppers better access to more designers, particularly up-and-coming ones, as it will have more nancial exibility. Metrick said that shoppers will also see their experiences more personalized through improved use of arti cial intelligence.

Saks Fifth Avenue currently operates 39 stores in the U.S.,

perts, a criminal conviction could jeopardize Boeing’s status as a federal contractor. The plea announced Sunday does not address that question, leaving it to each government agency whether to bar Boeing. The Air Force cited “compel-

lated that Americans over 60 lose $28.3 billion annually to fraud. The Federal Trade Commission, seeking to account for unreported losses, estimated fraudsters stole a staggering $137 billion in 2022, including $48 billion from older adults. The authors of that study acknowledged a “considerable degree of uncertainty.” In San Diego, 80-year-old William Bortz said criminals

including its Manhattan agship. In early 2021, Saks spun o its website into a separate company, hoping to expand that business at a time when more people were shopping online.

Neiman Marcus led for bankruptcy protection in May 2020 during the rst months of the coronavirus pandemic but emerged in September of that year. Like many of its peers, the privately held department store chain was forced to close its stores temporarily for several months. Other department stores are under pressure as well. Lord & Taylor announced in late August 2020 that it was closing all its stores after ling for bankruptcy earlier that month. Macy’s announced it will close 150

ling national interest” in letting Boeing continue competing for contracts after the company paid a $615 million ne in 2006 to settle criminal and civil charges, including that it used information stolen from a rival to win a space-launch contract.

stole his family’s nest egg of almost $700,000 in an elaborate scheme involving a nonexistent Amazon order, a fake “refund processing center” in Hong Kong, doctored bank statements and an instruction that Bortz needed to “synchronize bank accounts” in order to get his money back.

“I understand now why so much elder abuse fraud is never reported. Because when you

stores over the next three years, including 50 by year-end. Saunders said a deal between the two luxury retailers only resolves some of the issues, especially when high-end shoppers want to buy luxury goods online or at luxury brands’ stores.

“As a larger entity, negotiating power will be a little better with the brands, but even a combined chain would not match the heft and power of the global luxury conglomerates, which would still hold most of the cards,” Saunders said. “As such, there is a risk that the deal might create an even bigger headache for Saks.”

Saunders noted that Amazon’s stake in the business makes sense, as it has ambitions to play more heavily in

Relatives of the Max crash victims have pushed for a criminal trial that might illuminate what people inside Boeing knew about deceiving the FAA. They also want the Justice Department to prosecute top Boeing o cials, not just the company.

look back at it, you think, ‘How could I have been so stupid?’” said Bortz, who retired after a career in banking, nancial services and real estate.

His daughter, Ave Williams, said local police and the FBI diligently tried to track down the overseas scammer and recover the money but ran into multiple dead ends. The family blames Bortz’s bank, which Williams said ignored numer -

the luxury arena. Saunders said Amazon could use its ability to streamline logistics and e-commerce to create an advantage for the new entity in a market where online shopping has become more important to shoppers — especially younger ones, which both chains need to do more to attract. Saks Global will also include HBC’s U.S. real estate assets and Neiman Marcus Group’s assets, creating a $7 billion portfolio of retail real estate assets in top-tier luxury shopping destinations. Ian Putnam, president and CEO of HBC Properties and Investments, will become CEO of Saks Global Properties and Investments, which will manage the company’s portfolio of assets.

“Boeing has paid nes many a time, and it doesn’t seem to make any change,” said Ike Ri el of Redding, California, whose sons Melvin and Bennett died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash. “When people start going to prison, you will see a change.”

ous red ags and facilitated several large wire transfers by her father for eight days. The bank denied wrongdoing, and the family’s lawsuit against it was dismissed.

“The scammers are getting better,” Williams said. “We need our law enforcement to be given the tools they need and our banks to improve because they are the rst line of defense.”

NASA VIA AP

Kelly Haston, a crew member of the rst CHAPEA mission, speaks in front of other members, from left to right, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones and Anca Selariu on July 6.

JEFF CHIU / AP PHOTO

The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue signed a deal last Thursday to buy Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion.

Hardee’s promotion raises over $30K for military families

Since 2003, The Patriot Foundation has provided educational scholarships totaling more than $17 million

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

ROCKY MOUNT — The nation’s largest Hardee’s franchise owners, Boddie-Noell Enterprises, recently raised more than $30,000 for the Patriot Foundation to support military families and provide educational scholarships to fallen and injured N.C. military children and spouses. The fundraiser was part of a limited-time Hardee’s “FRYDAY” promotion in which 25 cents were donated to the Patriot Foundation for every crinkle-cut french fry sold each Friday. As part of the fundraising initiative, the new crinkle-cut french fries were added to Hardee’s hand-breaded chicken tenders platter. The meal included a choice of three or ve tenders, dipping sauces, crinkle-cut fries, slaw, toast and a beverage.

General Motors will pay the federal government nearly $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million of its older vehicles don’t comply with emissions and fuel economy standards.

The enhanced menu coincides with Boddie-Noell’s investment of over $20 million in new Hardee’s restaurant remodels in the area. “This is our home market and includes the most restaurants of any region where we operate,” said Mike Boddie, president of Boddie-Noell Enterprises. “We’re showing our commitment here by investing not only in our restaurants but also in our community. The Patriot Foundation does incredible work to support families of soldiers killed or wounded while supporting our country.”

Shortly after the attacks on 9/11 and amid military con icts in the Middle East, Spike and Debbie Smith founded the Patriot Foundation in Pinehurst in 2003. What began as a charity golf tournament to raise money and awareness for soldiers in the Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) area grew and now supports multiple military installations and services nationwide. Thanks to corporate sponsorships from companies such as Boddie-Noell Enterprises and individual donations, the foundation has provided educational scholarships — totaling more

Hardee’s hand-breaded chicken tenders platter includes the “crinkle-cut fry” to raise money for the Patriot Foundation.

“We are so grateful to Mike and the fantastic team at Boddie-Noell. Their support over the years has impacted hundreds of military families.”

Kim Gilley, Patriot Foundation vice president

than $17 million to the children and spouses of servicemen and women killed, wounded, or injured while serving our nation.

“We are so grateful to Mike and the fantastic team at Bod-

die-Noell. Their support over the years has impacted hundreds of military families,” said Kim Gilley, executive vice president for the foundation. “Taking Care of Those Left Behind isn’t just our mantra. It is the passion of every donor and volunteer,” their website states.

Boddie-Noell was founded in Fayetteville in 1962 when Carleton Noell and the late Mayo and Nick Boddie opened one of the rst Hardee’s restaurants. Today, Boddie-Noell Enterprises operates more than 330 Hardee’s restaurants and is the famous brand’s largest franchisee.

To learn more go to The Patriot Foundation at patriotfoundation.org and Boddie-Noell Enterprises at bneinc.com.

GM to pay $146M in federal emissions case

GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM’s initial compliance testing claimed

By Tom Krisher and Matthew Daly

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

General Motors will pay the federal government nearly $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million older vehicles do not comply with emissions and fuel economy standards.

The penalty comes after the Environmental Protection Agency said its testing showed that GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM’s initial compliance testing claimed.

The EPA says the vehicles will remain on the road and cannot be repaired. The GM vehicles, on average, consume at least 10% more fuel than the window sticker numbers say, but the EPA said the company won’t be required to reduce the miles per gallon on the stickers.

“Our investigation has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that’s reducing air pollution and protecting communities across the country,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.

In a statement, GM said that it complied with all regulations regarding pollution and mileage certi cation of its vehicles. The company said it is not admitting to any wrongdoing or

JOSE LUIS MAGANA/ AP PHOTO

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks to employees June 27 in Washington, D.C.

failing to comply with the Clean Air Act.

GM spokesman Bill Grotz said the problem stems from a 2016 change in testing procedures that the EPA implemented. He said owners don’t have to act because there are no vehicle defects.

“We believe this voluntary action is the best course to resolve the outstanding issues with the federal government,” he said.

The EPA said the enforcement action involves about 4.6 million full-size pickups and SUVs and about 1.3 million midsize SUVs. The a ected models include the Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado. About 40 variations of GM vehicles are cov-

ered. The EPA said GM will be forced to give up credits used to ensure that manufacturers’ greenhouse gas emissions are below the eet standard for emissions that applies for that model year. In a quarterly ling with the Securities and Exchange Commission, GM said it expects the total cost to resolve the matter to be $490 million.

Because GM agreed to address the excess emissions, the EPA approved making a formal determination regarding the reasons for the excess pollution. However, David Cooke, senior vehicles analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, questioned how GM could not know that pollution exceeded the initial test by more than

Target to stop taking checks

New York Target says it will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15. The Minneapolis-based discounter con rmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “shallow volumes” of customers who still write checks. It’s another sign of a once ubiquitous payment method going the way of old-fashioned objects like oppy disks and the Rolodex. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the Target Circle membership program. Walmart, Macy’s and Kohl’s aew among the retailers still accepting personal checks.

U.S. data gathering soars, analysts alarmed

Statisticians and demographers are sounding the alarm about threats to o cial data gathering in the U.S. They warn that funding for the federal statistical agencies is inadequate and measures in a House appropriations bill could undermine what Americans know about themselves. A report released Tuesday by the American Statistical Association also says agencies lack protections against political interference. There is also concern about an appropriations bill being considered by the GOP-led Congress that could limit how often federal agencies can contact a respondent and would, therefore, miss many more people.

Shock hazard leads Hatch to recall nearly 1M power adapters

10% because the problem was so widespread on many different vehicles. “You don’t just make a more than 10% rounding error,” he said.

Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign for the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, said the violations by GM “show why automakers can’t be trusted to protect our air and health, and why we need strong pollution rules. Supreme Court, take notice!”

In similar pollution cases in the past, automakers have been ned under the Clean Air Act for such violations, and the Justice Department gets typically involved, Cooke said. Hyundai and Kia, for instance, faced Justice Department action in a similar case.

In 2014, Hyundai and Kia entered a settlement in which they paid a $100 million civil penalty to end a two-year investigation into overstated gas mileage on the window stickers of 1.2 million vehicles. The afliated Korean automakers denied allegations that they violated the law.

In 2015, Volkswagen admitted it intentionally rigged nearly half a million cars to defeat U.S. smog tests.

The German company admitted that it intentionally installed software programmed to “defeat” emissions testing, enabling cars to drive more powerfully on the road while emitting as much as 40 times the legal pollution limit. The scandal cost Volkswagen more than $30 billion in nes and settlements, and two U.S. executives were imprisoned.

Due to a shock hazard, a California company is recalling nearly 1 million power adapters sold with sound machines marketed to help infants and young children sleep. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the plastic surrounding the AC power adapter supplied with some of Hatch’s Rest 1st generation sound machines can come o when removing the product from an outlet, leaving its prongs exposed. Hatch notes the issue is only with the adapter accompanying impacted sleeping machines, not the device itself. Hatch is o ering customers a free replacement adapter.

Rent in ation still stressor for small businesses

New York Rent in ation remains a pressure point for small businesses. The Bank of America Institute found that average monthly rent payment growth for the bank’s small business clients rose 12% yearover-year in May. The rent payments per client closely track the nonresidential real estate rent component of the Producer Price Index, which suggests the increases are largely due to in ation.

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 5

Beginning Cash $2,512,974,889 Receipts (income) $209,650,569 Disbursements $119,063,456 Cash Balance $2,567,131,445

COURTESY BODDIE-NOELL ENTERPRISES

PAUL SANCY / AP PHOTO

Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV

The electric future comes at a (luxury) cost

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

BOSTON — Electric cars have nally moved past the novelty of being “electric” and are now competing on a similar footing to gas-powered vehicles. But that doesn’t mean carmakers aren’t leaning hard into “the future” — maybe even leaning a bit too hard.

Case in point: the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is so excited about its electric powertrain that it forgot to bring along some of the luxury touches we’ve come to expect from a $90,000 German SUV.

It’s a rolling contradiction. From the outside, the EQE SUV is ino ensive and slightly bloblike. Inside, you’re on the Enterprise, kind of. The centerpiece is a nearly 13-inch OLED touchscreen running the latest version of MBUX, Mercedes’ infotainment system, which is both beautiful and functional. The “Zero Layer” interface means everything is accessible with a single tap, no menu diving required.

But the more impressive part is the ambient lighting. A strip of LED lights wraps around the entire cabin at shoulder height. You can choose a pretty color like purple, blue or green, but, if you want, you can make it a bit more interactive.

The light strip ties into the throttle, so when you accelerate, a series of white dots y out from the center of the dash like electrons out of a battery. Put your

foot down hard, and it blinks red! When you’re recharging the battery while braking, blue lights ow towards the center of the dash. It’s utterly pointless and completely awesome. But here’s where things get weird. Last week, I was cruising around in the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV — same size, same price tag, but with a gas engine under the hood. I expected the EQE to be its electrical doppelganger. Not quite. Where the GLE o ers sumptuous materials and ventilated, massaging seats, the EQE

SUV’s cabin feels more restrained. The reduction in traditional luxury touches — less wood trim, fewer soft-touch materials, more black plastic — suggests that much of the EQE’s cost is tied up in its electric powertrain.

It’s like Mercedes decided to go all-in on the tech and forgot about the luxury. No massaging seats? In a $90,000 car? I suspect they spent so much on the powertrain that they had to raid the C-Class parts bin for the interior.

It’s still nice inside — it’s a

Mercedes, after all — but it’s more “I just got my rst big promotion” than “I’m a captain of industry.” It’s a reminder that we’re still in the awkward teenage years of electric vehicles, and you must make sacri ces somewhere.

The dual motor setup in the EQE SUV 350 makes 288 horsepower and 564 torque, good for 0 to 60 in about 6 seconds. Faster options are available if you spend even more money. It’ll run about 300 miles on a charge, which is pretty good.

But — and there’s always a

but — nding a reliable public charger when you need one can feel like searching a needle in a haystack ... if the haystack was actively trying to thwart you. Eventually, Mercedes’ electric cars will charge at Tesla Superchargers, but until then, it’s a signi cant weakness.

On the road, though? Pure magic. The air suspension makes potholes disappear like they’re government secrets, and the rear-wheel steering lets you pull U-turns that would get you around the Savoy in London. If you’re the type who values cutting-edge tech over traditional luxury and you’ve got a charger at home, you’ll probably love the EQE. The lack of a frunk is disappointing, and some might nd the exterior design a bit too conservative.

Ultimately, the EQE SUV is like an incredibly enthusiastic dog who’s always ready to play fetch. It’s exciting, full of energy and packed with tricks that’ll impress your friends. But sometimes, you wish it would curl up on a ventilated leather seat (that it doesn’t have) and let you enjoy a quiet, truly luxurious ride.

The Mercedes EQE SUV offers a tantalizing glimpse into the electric future of luxury cars — brilliant in some ways, bafing in others, but at least it’s never tedious. It’s a compelling package for tech enthusiasts who value cutting-edge features over traditional luxury — as long as you don’t expect it to massage your back while you sit at that charger.

Duke football preview, B3

Wolfpack football eyeing ACC title

NHL

Hurricanes continue restocking in free agency, sign Roslovic

Raleigh

The Carolina Hurricanes continued to restock in free agency by signing forward Jack Roslovic to a oneyear contract worth $2.8 million. He is the sixth NHL player the Hurricanes have added in the rst week of free agency. They also signed forwards William Carrier, Tyson Jost and Eric Robinson, and defensemen Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere.

NBA Tatum misses start of USA Basketball camp

Las Vegas

Jayson Tatum of the NBA champion Boston Celtics was not present for the start of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball training camp, excused because of personal reasons. Tatum was expected to join the team by Monday, when it will have the third of its four camp practices. The team plays its rst exhibition on Wednesday against Canada then leaves for nearly ve weeks abroad — rst to Abu Dhabi followed by Londonand Paris.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Ex-Kansas stars Chalmers, Collins le class-action lawsuit vs. NCAA

New York

Kansas stars Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins are among 16 ex-men’s college basketball players suing the NCAA and multiple conferences over the use of their names, images and likenesses in promoting and monetizing March Madness. Turner Sports Interactive, the Big East, Pac-12, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and ACC also are defendants in the class-action lawsuit.

NC State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion celebrates his touchdown against UNC last November. Concepcion will again be a major factor in the Wolfpack’s o ense in his second year.

NC State has the schedule and personnel to compete for a conference crown

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RALEIGH — NC State team is preparing for the 2024 football season, its 133rd in program history and 12th under head coach Dave Doeren, and the Wolfpack enter it with high expectations. On top of a very generous schedule, it’s also been a big year for athletics at NC State, with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams making the Final Four, the baseball team reaching Omaha, a back–toback-to-back national championship for women’s cross-country and so many more, so the pressure is on for the university’s largest and most in uential sports program.

Last year

The Wolfpack turned a near disaster of a season into one of the more impressive 9-4 records in college football.

Led by consensus All American in Payton Wilson and a hard-hitting defense, the Wolfpack were able to overcome mid-season quarterback controversy — MJ Morris won the starting job from Brennan Armstrong, then decided to redshirt after four games and ultimately transferred — and rallied to win their nal ve games of the regular season, including big victories over Clemson and UNC. While things zzled out once again in the postseason, as NC State lost 28-19 to Kansas State in the Pop-Tart Bowl, the season overall set the Wolfpack up for a strong push heading into this year.

Changes and newcomers

NC State is welcoming a fairly fresh but experienced o ense with new faces leading the way in almost every position group on the o ensive side of the ball. However, one area that the Wolfpack don’t have to worry about is with the coaching as Doeren is returning nearly all

See WOLFPACK , page B4

Holly Springs native to compete in second Olympic Games for USA diving this month

Andrew Capobianco is Paris-bound after qualifying for the men’s 3-meter springboard

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

HOLLY SPRINGS native Andrew Capobianco will be in international waters once again for another chance at an Olympic gold medal this month.

Capobianco, the Holly Springs High School and Indiana University alumnus, quali ed for his second Olympic Games at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on June 23. In the 3-meter springboard nal, Paris-bound Capobianco nished in rst place with a score of 971.80, and he quali ed alongside former college teammate Carson Tyler, who nished second in the event.

“I don’t really have words to describe it,” Capobianco said after qualifying for Team USA. “I was just trying to be in the moment and not try to get ahead of

him 91.65 points which was the most for any of his dives in the round.

Despite a sub-par back 3½ somersault tuck in the nals that only earned him 32.40 points, Capobianco maintained his lead, receiving top scores of 93.60 and 93.10 for his nal two dives, respectively.

myself too much. I think I got a little bit ahead of myself on that back, which I’m kind of (mad) about, but other than that, I think that was a great list.”

With a strong showing in the men’s 3-meter semi nal

round, Capobianco created a 77.15-point cushion between himself and the third-place spot before the nal round. His second-to-last dive in the seminals, a forward 2½ somersault three twist pike, earned

“Usually, I’m pretty good at being the comeback kid coming from behind,” Capobianco said “So, I’m not really used to having that lead and having to try to keep it. It’s de nitely hard to dive like that, where you’re almost trying to dive not to miss instead of diving to hit.”

After each of Capobianco’s dives, the NBC broadcast switched to shots of his dad,

DMITRI LOVETSKY / AP PHOTO

Andrew Capobianco competes in men’s diving 3-meter springboard nal at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He’ll be returning to the Olympics as a member of Team USA this summer.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

With star receiver Kevin Concepcion returning after a dazzling freshman year and new high-pro le transfers at quarterback and running back, NC State coach Dave Doeren should have plenty to be excited about this football season. We take a look at how things are shaping up for the Wolfpack.

“I don’t really have words to describe it.”

Andrew Capobianco

KARL B DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

TRENDING

Isaiah Hazel:

The former Charlotte 49ers defensive back was killed in a car crash that also took the life of Vikings fourth-round draft pick Khyree Jackson and a third passenger, Anthony Lytton Jr. The three, who were high school teammates, were killed when their vehicle was struck by another car that was speeding. Hazel, 23, was driving. He played 12 games for Charlotte last season after transferring from Maryland.

Blake Anderson:

The Utah State football coach will be red for cause after an external review of allegations that Anderson hadn’t complied with Title IX policies regarding the reporting of sexual misconduct cases. Anderson was UNC’s o ensive coordinator under coach Larry Fedora in 2012-13. Utah State also red its associate vice president/deputy athletic director.

Caleb Martin:

The Mocksville native and former NC State basketball player is reportedly signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 28-year-old Martin averaged 8.5 points over ve seasons, including two with the Hornets and three with the Heat. Martin will likely start at power forward. Martin played two years with the Wolfpack before transferring to Nevada.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“My frustration got the best

of me.”

Cubs relief pitcher Colten Brewer after fracturing his left hand, punching a dugout wall. The righthander gave up three runs. He’ll be out two months.

“There have de nitely been moments when I thought it’s never going to happen again.”

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton after winning the British Grand Prix, his rst win in 945 days.

2.10

Meters cleared by Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the high jump (6.88 feet), a new world record. Mahuchikh, the reigning world champion, broke the old mark, which had stood for 37 years, at one of the last tune-up meets before the Paris Olympics.

NASCAR

Alex Bowman secured a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s when he held on for the victory on a rainy street course in downtown Chicago. It was Bowman’s rst win since Las Vegas in March 2022 and No. 8 for his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four remaining spots in the playo s with six races left in the regular season.

Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox made a rare visit to Truist Park for the Atlanta Braves’ game and received a standing ovation. Fan cheered after the 83-year-old Cox, who had a stroke in 2019, was introduced. Cox, who led the Braves to the 1995 World Series title and retired after the 2010 season, stood and waved with his left hand.

Charlotte FC forward Patrick Agyemang will miss Saturday’s game against Cincinnati after picking up two yellow cards in a 2-1 loss to Miami last Wednesday. Agyemang, who scored the team’s only goal — his sixth of the year — picked up the cards during rst and second-half stoppage time.

Former NC State player and coach Sidney Lowe was hired as an assistant for the Detroit Pistons. Lowe, an assistant to Cleveland coach JB Bickersta since 2021, was Bickersta ’s rst hire after taking the Detroit job. It’s Lowe’s third stint on the Pistons’ sta . Lowe was a member of the 1983 national champion Wolfpack and coached NC State from 2006 to 2011, going 86-78.

MLB

MLS

JOHN BAZEMORE / AP PHOTO MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

LUCA BRUNO / AP PHOTO

ERIN HOOLEY / AP PHOTO

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO

One in 5 Futures Game players came through North Carolina

Albemarle’s Rhett Lowder and East Forsyth’s Xavier Isaac lead a large group of MLB prospects

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THE MLB ALL-STAR Break will get started with the AllStar Futures Game on Saturday, in Arlington, Texas. The annual contest gives fans a look at tomorrow’s stars, bringing together the top minor league prospects in all of organized baseball.

Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are among the superstars who were first seen on a national level at the Futures Game. It also let future Hall of Fame pitchers like Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander make their first impression on MLB fans.

This year’s Futures Game will feature 54 top prospects. Eleven — more than one-fifth of them — either got their start in North Carolina or passed through as part of their minor league journey so far. Here’s a look at local players to watch in this year’s game.

Rhett Lowder, RHP, National League/ Cincinnati Reds

The Albemarle native and North Stanly graduate led Wake Forest to the College World Series just over a year ago. He is speeding through the Reds system and has already

been promoted to Double-A Chattanooga after dominating Class A.

Xavier Isaac, in elder, American League/ Tampa Bay Rays Born in Fayetteville, Isaac was drafted out of East Forsyth High School in the rst round, 29th overall, in 2022. The rst baseman has 13 homers and 13 steals at High-A Bowling Green and may be playing for the Durham Bulls in another year. He’s a burly power hitting prospect, but he also was never caught stealing in his rst two pro seasons and still has 25 steals in 27 attempts for his career.

Colson Montgomery, in elder, AL/ Chicago White Sox

The 21-year-old was a rstround draft pick in 2021. The shortstop is coming up through the White Sox organization, which means plenty of time spent in North Carolina. He played for Low-A Kannapolis in 2022, High-A Winston-Salem in 2022 and 2023, and is now at Triple-A Charlotte, where he has 11 home runs in 75 games this year.

Sebastian Walcott, in elder, AL/Texas Rangers

The shortstop spent a week last season with High-A Hickory, and he’s been there all

Duke football needs to keep rolling under new leadership

Manny Diaz takes over the Blue Devils, looking to build on back-to-back winning years

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

DURHAM — Way back in 1989, Steve Spurrier coached Duke to an 8-4 record, including a trip to the All-American Bowl in Birmingham. It was the second straight winning season in Durham for the Ol’ Ball Coach, and it earned him a job coaching SEC power Florida, his alma mater. Barry Wilson replaced Spurrier as Duke coach and struggled, ending Duke’s brief irtation with competitive football. The Blue Devils would go from back-toback winning seasons to having one season over .500 in the next 23 years, until David Cutcli e rebuilt the program from the ruins.

Now, Duke needs to nd a way to keep history from repeating itself, as Mike Elko left for Texas A&M after coaching the Blue Devils to back-to-back winning records, ending with a trip to a bowl game in Birmingham.

Last year

Elko convinced a large group of Blue Devils seniors to return for their fth, COVID year. The Blue Devils opened the year with

OLYMPICS from page B1

Michael, cheering him on and expressing loud support from the stands. Capobianco said he was really excited to have his family watch him in person this year afrer they weren’t allowed to during the 2020 diving trials. While Capobianco was diving in Indianapolis, his family had to watch from Orlando.

“Being able to watch in person and have my family up in the stands is huge for me,” Capobianco said.

Said Capobianco, “(Dad) been the constant in my diving career I would say the whole entire time. He was the one that would

an upset of Clemson and sprinted out to a 4-0 record. An injury to quarterback Riley Leonard in a loss to Notre Dame sent the season o track, and Duke nished with a 7-5 regular season record before beating Troy in the Birmingham Bowl.

Changes and newcomers

Elko was replaced by Manny Diaz, who has been one of the top defensive coordinators in the country at stops at Texas, Mississippi State, Miami and Penn State. However, his only previous head coaching experience ended with mixed results, as he was red from Miami following a 7-5 season, his second straight winning campaign. He had three bowl appearances and a 21-15 mark with the Hurricanes, who have gone 12-13 in the post-Diaz era.

Elko’s departure wasn’t popular with the players, and Duke lost plenty of talent, including Leonard and running back Jordan Waters to the transfer portal.

Quarterback Maalik Murphy, who arrives as a transfer from Texas, is the most signi cant newcomer. Diaz also added running back Star Thomas from New Mexico State and defensive tackle Kendy Charles from Liberty.

Players to watch

Duke returns three of its top four receivers from last year, led

wake up with me at 5 a.m. and drive me an hour to the pool for my morning practices and back and forth all over the country for my meets. (I’m) just very thankful for him and very thankful for my mom as well.”

For Capobianco, this year’s Olympic Games should bring less uncertainty than there was for the 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021. In the last Games, Capobianco dealt with a back injury that made it hard to train, and he told Lisa Costantini in June that the injury also dampened his con dence prior to competition. However, that adversity didn’t stop him from winning

this year so far. In 73 games with the 2024 Crawdads, the 18-year-old native of the Bahamas has seven homers and 10 steals. Scouts expect his power to develop as he grows into his 6-foot-4 frame.

Termarr Johnson, in elder, NL/Pittsburgh Pirates

The 20-year-old has split time between second base and shortstop, although most scouts think he’ll end up at second. He played 30 games for Greensboro last year, hitting ve home runs with an .842 OPS. He opened the season with the Grasshoppers this season and has nine homers, 14 steals and .793 OPS. He’s a veteran of USA Baseball and was drafted by the Pirates fourth overall in the rst round in 2022 after being considered one of the best high school hitters in recent memory.

Cooper Pratt, in elder, NL/Milwaukee Brewers

The current Carolina Mudcat is in his second year of pro ball and is just 19 years old. A shortstop, he has 19 stolen bases for the Mudcats and sports a .300 average. His strengths are an outstanding batting eye and ability to make contact.

A.J. Blubaugh, RHP, AL/Houston Astros

The pitching prospect went 2-1 for Low-A Fayetteville in 2022 and 6-3 for High-A Asheville in 2023. He was recently promoted from Double-A to Triple-A and could be in the majors with the Astros soon.

He has consistently struck out more than a batter an inning and has converted from relief into a starting pitcher since he left Asheville.

Winston Santos, RHP, AL/Texas Rangers

The starting pitcher from the Dominican Republic went 7-6 for Down East in 2022 then 7-9 for Hickory last year, recording one save in one of the few games he didn’t start. He went 6-3 for Hickory this year, cutting his ERA in half and striking out 11 batters per nine innings, earning him a promotion to Double-A.

Noah Schultz, LHP, AL/Chicago White Sox

A rst-rounder in 2022, he just got promoted to Double-A, which means his rst professional games for a team outside of the state. He struck out 38 in 27 innings for Kannapolis and 42 in 271⁄3 innings for Winston-Salem. He’s also allowed fewer than one baserunner an inning at every minor league stop and has a 2.53 career ERA.

Emiliano Teodo, RHP, AL/Texas Rangers

The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native has pitched more than half of his pro games for N.C. teams. He had 115 strikeouts in 841⁄3 innings for Down East, posting a 3.09 ERA. Promoted to Hickory, he fanned 84 in 612⁄3 and went 5-3. He’s now at Double-A.

Bubba Chandler, RHP, NL/Pittsburgh Pirates

He started as a two-way player but seems to have settled on pitching only, as he hasn’t batted in two years. Chandler recently earned a promotion to Double-A after striking out 120 in 106 innings in Greensboro.

by Jordan Moore, who had 62 catches and eight touchdowns. While Waters is gone from the back eld, Jaquez Moore brings back 674 rushing yards and six scores. On defense, Duke returns its top three tacklers from last year in linebacker Tre Freeman, safety Jaylen Stinson and linebacker Nick Morris.

Best case

Duke under Elko prided itself on being tough and disciplined, relying on a tough defense and an o ense that could produce enough big plays to pull away.

The defense has plenty of rebuilding work to do, including replacing the entire D-line, but there are few people better to do that than Diaz, who has worked magic on defenses across college football. The o ense has the potential to be even more explosive, with an increased number of skill position players over last year. Duke’s schedule is manageable, and the Blue Devils could irt with 10 wins and a major bowl, nishing near to the top of the ACC.

Worst case

Any coach will tell you that football teams are as good as their trench players, and Duke is rebuilding both lines — o ensive and defensive — from the foun-

a silver medal in the 3-meter springboard synchronized event alongside two-time Olympian Michael Hixon.

Capobianco told Costantini that his last Olympic accomplishment taught him that he’s “a lot stronger and mentally tougher than (he) thought (he) was.”

From looking at his training routine, those attributes aren’t surprising, and from divining into his past accomplishments, there’s much to wonder about what he can do when fully healthy.

According to Capobianco’s Team USA biography, he trains four hours a day, six days a week.

dation. There’s plenty of talent on hand, both home-grown and portal-produced, but they’ll need to nd the chemistry on the eld to win the battles up front. If they don’t, the Blue Devils could nd themselves ghting to avoid being on the wrong side of .500, just like they were back when Spurrier left.

Key games

Duke has a schedule that could help it get the Diaz era o to a fast start, but there are also potential potholes scattered throughout.

Sept. 6 at Northwestern — After what should be an easy home win against Elon in the opener, Duke must travel to the Wildcats, who nished 8-5 last year. It will be an early test of just how well Diaz’s rebuild is going. A win could mean a 4-0 run of the nonconference slate to start the year.

Sept. 28 vs. UNC — The Blue

His body will also give an idea of his mental outlook as one of his tattoos reads “fortune favors the bold” in Latin. “That one came about before the last trials,” Capobianco said. “I had decided to change one of my dives to a harder one. It was just my thought like, ‘If I’m going to do it, I’m going to be bold … and try to show them I’m a medal contender going into Tokyo.”

In college, Capobianco was a three-time Big Ten Diver of the Year (2019, 2021-22) and a two-time NCAA 3-meter diving champion (2019 and 2021). He also won ve individual Big Ten Championships and earned a

Devils will host the Tar Heels in a rivalry game that comes in the season’s rst month this year. Elko never beat Carolina, which has won ve straight in the series. Oct. 18 vs. Florida State — The home win over Clemson vaulted Duke into national prominence, although the Blue Devils went on to lose potential big games against Notre Dame and Florida State later in the year. Now, Duke gets a mid-October home date against the Noles, which could push later games against Miami and NC State into the high-stakes stratosphere.

Outlook

On paper, this is a strong Duke team that could compete for one of the ACC’s signature bowl berths. However, the newcomers (including Diaz) need to get to know each other quickly.

total of 11 Big Ten medals in four active seasons at Indiana. In his time with USA Diving, Capobianco has piled on three senior national championships (two individual 3-meter titles and one synchronized 3-meter title) and ve junior national championships, winning the 1-meter in 2014, the 3-meter in 2015 and three platform titles from 2014-2016. He also won back-to-back NCHSAA state titles for the 1-meter in 2016 and 2017.

Capobianco will start his quest to add an Olympic gold medal in the men’s 3-meter

springboard preliminary on Aug. 6.

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder throws a pitch during the second inning of a 2023 NCAA super regional game against Alabama. Thirteen months later, he’s earned a spot on a team of minor league all-stars.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Fans and players celebrate together on the eld after Duke upset Clemson in last season’s opener. It marked a high point for the Blue Devils, who are now looking to return to those heights.

Hornets hold onto Bridges with 3-year extension

The forward led Charlotte in scoring during the 2021-22 season

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — After a drawn-out process with extensive talks between team executives and player agents, the Charlotte Hornets have retained a key component of their roster going forward.

The Hornets and Miles Bridges have reportedly agreed on a three-year, $75 million contract to keep the star forward in the Queen City through the 202627 season.

Bridges, 26, was an unrestricted free agent prior to his re-signing with the Hornets.

Along with his agent, Rich Paul, Bridges reportedly weighed potential sign-andtrade scenarios before ultimately choosing to take the new contract with Charlotte.

It was a decision that Hornets majority owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin — along with head of basketball operations Je Peterson and coach Charles Lee — had undoubtedly labored over, mulling both the performance and moral rami cations of keeping the controversial wing in town.

The move has drawn mixed reactions from fans so far, with some lamenting the decision to hold onto Bridges while others have favored the idea of retaining the “Big Three” identity of Bridges, All-Star guard LaMelo Ball and second-year forward Brandon Miller.

Two years ago, Bridges was on

the heels of a career 2021-22 season and just one day away from receiving a contract in the range of $150 million when his negotiations were thwarted by a felony domestic violence arrest and a no-contest plea that led him to miss the entire 2022-23 season.

This time a year ago, Bridges had just been signed by Charlotte to a one-year, $8 million qualifying o er to keep him around for the 2023-24 season, during which he averaged a career-best 21 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

The explosive wing provided the Hornets a consistent o ensive threat and a much-needed workhorse — playing a career-high 37.4 minutes per

game — in a season riddled with injuries and setbacks. Because of the trade veto power he had in his deal, Bridges used his contract clause to stay in Charlotte at the trade deadline, stating his intention remain with the Hornets. The former Michigan State star was verbally opposed to approving any trade proposals, opting to stay in Charlotte through the rest of the season.

On Feb. 14, a prosecutor dismissed three criminal charges connected to a separate domestic violence case against Bridges because of “insu cient evidence” and inconsistent victim statements, court documents show.

A green ag for clean power: NASCAR unveils its rst electric racecar

$1.5 million prototype car was demonstrated over the Chicago race weekend

By Jennifer McDermott and Jay Cohen

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — Part of the experience of a NASCAR race is hearing the engine roar, the rumble of each car’s approach and the zip when it whizzes past at more than 150 mph.

NASCAR unveiled its rst electric race car Saturday in downtown Chicago, but it doesn’t thunder when the grand marshal says “drivers, start your engines.” It hums.

The top motorsports series in North America partnered with Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota and electri cation company ABB to demonstrate a high-performance electric vehicle and gauge fan interest in electric racing.

They want to represent electric vehicles, and more broadly electri cation, in racing as cool, fun and accessible, said Riley Nelson, NASCAR’s head of sustainability.

The Associated Press got a rst look at the $1.5 million prototype. The only person who has driven it so far is semi-retired NASCAR driver David Ragan.

Ragan said the sound and smell were unlike anything he has experienced since rst hit-

WOLFPACK from page B1

of his sta from last season.

Players to watch

In the modern game, you’re going nowhere if you don’t have a quarterback, so all that pressure falls to Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall.

But the resume is good for McCall, a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year who has thrown for more than 10,000 yards and 88 touchdowns in four seasons with the Chanticleers. McCall’s top target is projected to be standout wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who dazzled last year in his true freshman season.

ting the racetrack at age 11. He could hear squealing tires. He could smell the brakes. In gasoline-powered cars, the engine’s sound and smell and heat from the exhaust overpower everything else. But after hundreds of laps, this time Ragan’s ears weren’t ringing. It was really wild, he said.

Unlike typical sports coupes, the new car is actually a crossover utility vehicle. A huge wing on the back makes it aerodynamic enough to be a race car. It accelerates almost twice as

Concepcion had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns despite being NC State’s only consistent o ensive threat.

The complement to the passing game will be former Duke running back Jordan Waters.

Last season with the Blue Devils, Waters ran for more than 800 yards and 12 touchdowns, which would be a very welcome sight for a program that has struggled to nd a consistent run game in recent years.

Best case

For the rst time in a long time, the Wolfpack actually play complementary football rather than the team being carried solely by the defense, and Dave

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges reacts to a call in the closing seconds of a March game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

he said. “And like I said before, I have to gain their trust back, so I’m just going out there and looking to play. I feel like if I can get us some more wins, I feel like people’s perspective will change a little bit on me.”

In a postgame interview during the season, he was asked outright if he wanted to stay in the Queen City going forward.

“I can just control what I can control. I’m just trying to get to the next day,” Bridges said. “I’d love to be here. I got drafted here and they stuck with me through my lowest times, so I for sure want to be here.”

Along with the front-o ce angle, Charlotte’s decision to keep the sixth-year forward appears to also be a testament to how the franchise’s revamped coaching sta views his oncourt e ectiveness.

Charlotte declined to comment on the dropped charges.

While Bridges’ legal troubles have started to dissipate from the national spotlight, the shadow cast on his reputation will continue to ght an uphill battle, perhaps an inevitable side e ect of the public seeing images of the violence he allegedly in icted on his partner two years ago.

In a reintroductory news conference this past season, Bridges suggested his on-court effort would sway public opinion in his favor, adding, “I can’t control what comes out about me.”

“I know a lot of people feel a (certain) way about me being back, and I understand that,”

would be more interested in purchasing an electric vehicle if they were exposed to it through racing. A main message is taking care with energy and optimizing it, he said.

“We’re committed to electric vehicles,” Warren said. “Racing gives a great platform to discuss a lot of those concepts and educate fans. It’s a laboratory for us to try some new technologies and learn as we educate.”

Burning gas pollutes the air and produces carbon dioxide, which warms the atmosphere and leads to more extreme weather. Burning one gallon produces about 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Racing events consume thousands of gallons in a weekend.

The event would certainly be quieter with more electric cars, though many fans love the roar of engines when the green ag drops.

fast as top gas-powered race cars and can stop almost immediately. But its lap time at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia was two-tenths of a second slower because it takes the corners slower due to being heavier. Ragan said it may go even faster; he wasn’t pushing the one-of-a-kind vehicle to its limits. Risk-taking is for racing, not testing, he said.

Eric Warren, who heads global motorsports competition for General Motors, said market research showed more than half of avid NASCAR fans surveyed

Doeren not only nally secures that elusive 10-win season hile NC State also challenges for an ACC Championship and a spot in the newly expanded college football playo s.

Worst case

The new o ense fails to mesh, leading to another lackluster season on that side of the ball. Critical losses to the bottom stock of the ACC leads to widespread fan outcry and NC State res Doeren, leading to an exodus of talent to the transfer portal.

Key games

Overall, the Wolfpack look to have a schedule that should of-

If NASCAR pursues electric racing, John Probst, NASCAR senior vice president and chief racing development o cer said he thinks they could reinvent the fan experience. One option could be a DJ.

“It’s our goal to entertain our fans,” he said. “If our fans tell us this is what they want to see, we know how to create a racing series around pretty much anything.”

The new car is part of a broader sustainability plan by NASCAR. ABB is now NASCAR’s o cial electri cation partner. It will help NASCAR bring in more electricity from renewable sources.

NASCAR also owns 15 tracks

fer them every opportunity in the world to compete for the ACC crown, but there are a few key games that will greatly help their case.

Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee — While not a conference game, a win over a top-ranked Tennessee squad would do wonders not only for the Wolfpack’s credibility but also for the con dence of the players.

Sept. 21 at Clemson — The Tigers aren’t viewed as the powerhouse they once were, but any ACC hopeful knows they have to get through Death Valley to make it to the top. Facing Clemson, with a 6-1 record at home last year, on their home turf is not an easy task.

Nov. 30 at UNC — There’s never going to be a game against

The team announced last week that it has nalized its 2024-25 coaching sta . Lamar Skeeter, Josh Longsta , Chris Jent, Blaine Mueller, Ryan Frazier, Matt Hill and Jermaine Bucknor are assistants on new coach Charles Lee’s sta , while Zach Peterson was brought in as an assistant coach/director of player development and Kemba Walker will serve as a player enhancement coach.

Walker, a four-time All-Star who had a 12-year NBA career, is the Hornets’ all-time leader in points, eld goals, 3-pointers, free throws and minutes played. He ranks second in Charlotte history in assists, third in steals and third in games played; Walker averaged 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists over 750 career games.

around the U.S., many along major thoroughfares. ABB plans to install its electric-vehicle charging stations at those tracks and connect them to the grid. They will be compatible with regular electric cars and available for anyone to use, not just racegoers.

By 2028, NASCAR says it will introduce sustainable racing fuel, recycle at all events and use 100% renewable electricity at facilities and tracks it owns. By 2035, it aims to cut operating emissions to “net zero.”

That’s why the number 35 appears on the black, white and red car, along with ABB. The auto body is made from plantbased materials, a ax-based composite by the Swiss company Bcomp, rather than the typical carbon ber composite.

NASCAR is also exploring racing with cars that run on hydrogen. IMSA, the sports car series owned by NASCAR, switched to hybrid engines in 2023. A competing race series, IndyCar, will debut its hybrid engines this weekend in Ohio. Formula 1 plans to use sustainable fuel in all cars starting in 2026 as part of new engine regulations.

Ford Performance, on its own, built eight cutting-edge electric demonstration vehicles in four years.

“Fans want to have some connection or relationship to the race car,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “As more and more customers are buying all-electric vehicles, there will be, we believe, a growing number of people that want to watch full electric racing.”

the Tar Heels that isn’t big for the Wolfpack. If nothing else in a season goes well, beating UNC is a consolation that many would accept.

Outlook

The Wolfpack are poised for a big season and the opportunity to take a huge step forward as a program. While the schedule does still have some heavyweights on it, the majority of it is one a program like the Wolfpack should dominate. They have the personnel to be very successful. It’s just about executing and limiting self-inicted wounds, which is historically easier said than done for NC State football.

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

CJ Tobin, senior engineer of vehicle systems, cleans a prototype of the rst electric race car at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord.

Story of Paul Green told in ‘The Playmaker’

The lm explores Green’s life, creative oeuvre and progressive activism during a tumultuous era in American history

By Dan Reeves The Associated Press

PROLIFIC PLAYWRIGHT, novelist, educator, activist and native son of North Carolina

Paul Green left an enduring legacy and body of work that continues to resonate with audiences and scholars alike. On Thursday at 10 p.m., North Carolina public television will premiere a highly anticipated documentary by lmmaker Hannah Bowman of Bardstown, Kentucky, that explores Green’s life, creative oeuvre and progressive activism during a tumultuous era in American history.

The biographical lm, Bowman’s rst feature, spans Green’s rural upbringing in Harnett County through studying philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill to receiving national acclaim for plays produced on Broadway and movie scripts written in Hollywood. “The Playmaker” takes a deep dive into how Green’s controversial plays made waves in the areas of integration, capital punishment and chain gang reform in North Carolina in the 1920s.

Over the last decade, Bowman has meticulously researched volumes of text, photographs and archival footage to

bring “The Playmaker” to audiences. To ensure the documentary’s authenticity, most of the footage was sourced from public domain materials from the National Archives, and photos were mainly from the Paul Green Papers at UNC Chapel Hill.

Inspired by Green’s outdoor musical “The Stephen Foster Story,” Bowman started with the idea of doing a documentary about the play itself. But the more she researched the subject, the more interested she became in the story of the playwright. “There were several biographies written about him that

just captured my interest. He seemed to be a perfect person.”

Bowman said in an interview.

“As I researched more and more and listened through 30-plus hours of his interviews, I got to know him pretty well, I think.

“What I hope people see in the lm is a portrait of Paul Green as a human. He created a lot of incredible things and knew a lot of really in uential people in his lifetime. He was a successful white man from his period.

In my community of Bardstown, he was trying to illustrate that the minstrel show was not an acceptable form of entertain-

ment and that it denigrated a whole group of people. He used blackface — a meme still alive in the 1950s.”

Green’s career spanned multiple disciplines, including playwriting, screenwriting, short story writing and non ction. His debut play, “In Abraham’s Bosom,” earned him a Pulitzer Prize and paved the way for six more successful Broadway productions. Green’s passion for combining various artistic elements, such as dance, music and lighting, into his work was driven by his desire to impact American society positively.

One of his most enduring legacies is the Symphonic Outdoor Drama, a genre he helped develop. His rst production in this style, “The Lost Colony,” has been a beloved annual tradition in Manteo since its premiere in 1937. Today, more than 50 historical dramas, including ve of Green’s original works, are still staged annually across the United States.

Green taught philosophy and drama at Chapel Hill until 1944 when he retired to devote his time to writing. In addition to his early Pulitzer Prize, Paul Green’s awards include two Guggenheim Fellowships, the National Theatre Conference plaque, an American Theatre Association citation, the Frank P. Graham Award and the North Carolina Award for Literature. In 1979, the General Assembly named him North Carolina’s dramatist laureate. He received eight honorary doctorates and was posthumously inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in New York City. Through his life and writing, he acted and spoke in support of the fundamental rights of all humanity.

The Paul Green Foundation, established in 1983 after the playwright’s death, makes grants to support the causes Green championed and provided support for Hannah Bowman in the making of her lm.

“The Playmaker” premieres on PBS North Carolina on Thursday at 10 p.m. The documentary will stream at video. pbsnc.org or the PBS app.

“Inside Out 2,” with $1.22 billion in ticket sales thus far, is the year’s biggest hit and fast climbs the all-time ranks for animated releases. It currently ranks as the No. 5 animated release worldwide.

“Despicable Me 4” made $122.6 million in its rst ve days.

By Jake Coyle The Associated Press

NEW YORK —According to studio estimates Sunday, “Despicable Me 4,” the Illumination Animation sequel, led the way over the holiday weekend with $75 million in ticket sales Friday through Sunday and $122.6 million since opening on Wednesday. Though overall ticket sales were down more than 40% from levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, heading into the summer moviegoing season, theaters have lately seen a succession of hits. After Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” outperformed expectations, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” rapidly cleared $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide, making it the rst release since “Barbie” to reach that mark. Last weekend, the Paramount prequel “A

Quiet Place: Day One” also met expectations. Hollywood’s summer is looking up with “Deadpool & Wolverine” tracking for a $160 million launch later this month.

“If you look at the industry’s mood about eight weeks ago, very di erent than today,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “The song says what a di erence a day makes. What a di erence a month has made.”

It helps to have the Minions at your disposal. Since rst debuting in the 2010 original “Despicable Me,” each franchise entry — including two sequels and two “Minions” spino s — has been seemingly guaranteed to gross around $1 billion. The four previous movies all made between $939 million (2022’s “Minions: Rise of Gru”) and $1.26 billion (2015’s “Minions”) globally.

That run has helped give Illumination founder and chief executive Chris Meledandri one of Hollywood’s most enviable track records. “Despicable Me 4,” di-

rected by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage, returns the voice cast led by Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig and doubles down on more Minion mayhem. Reviews (54% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) could have been better for the latest installment, which includes a witness protection plot and a group of Minions transformed into a superhero squadron. But in their 12-year run, little has slowed down the Minions.

“This is one of the most beloved franchises, quite frankly, in the history of lm, and certainly animation,” said Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal.

“Chris Meledandri and Illumination have their nger on the pulse of what families and audiences worldwide want to see.”

Family movies are powering the box o ce. “Despicable Me 4” performed strongly despite the still considerable drawing power of “Inside Out 2.” In its fourth weekend of release, the Pixar sequel added another $30 million domestically and $78.3 million overseas.

Instead of cannibalizing the opening weekend for “Despicable Me 4,” “Inside Out 2” may have helped get families back in the habit of going to the theater.

“What happened, I think, is the release calendar nally settled into a nice rhythm,” said Dergarabedian, referencing the jumbled movie schedule from last year’s strikes. “It’s all about momentum.”

The continued strong sales for “Inside Out 2” were enough to put the lm in second place for the domestic weekend. Last week’s top new lm, “A Quiet Place: Day One,” slid to third with $21 million in its second weekend, with another $21.1 million from overseas theaters. That was a steep decrease of 60%, though the Paramount prequel has amassed $178.2 million worldwide in two weeks.

The run of hits has caused some studios to boost their forecasts for the summer movie season. Heading into the most lucrative season at theaters, analysts predicted a $3 billion summer, down from the typical $4 billion mark. Now, closer to

$3.4 billion appears likely. The weekend’s other top new release was Ti West’s “MaXXXine,” the third in a string of slasher lms from A24 starring Mia Goth. In 2,450 locations, “MaXXXine” collected $6.7 million in ticket sales, a franchise best. The lm, which follows “X” and “Pearl” (both released in 2022), stars Goth as a 1980s Hollywood starlet being hunted by a killer known as the Night Stalker. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “Despicable Me 4,” $75 million

2. “Inside Out 2,” $30 million

3. “A Quiet Place Day One,” $21 million

4. “MaXXXine,” $6.7 million

5. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $6.5 million 6. “Horizon: An American Saga, Chapter 1,” $5.5 million 7. “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” $3.2 million 8. “Kaiki 2898,” $1.8 million 9. “The Bikeriders,” $1.3 million 10. “Kinds of Kindness,” $860,000

Family movies are powering the movie industry

COURTESY THE PAUL GREEN FOUNDATION

Hannah Bowman’s “The Playmaker” premieres Thursday on PBSNC at 10 p.m.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 24 E 937 Executor’s Notice to Creditors The undersigned, having quali ed as Personal

of

Estate of Ellon Cashwell Baker, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 20th day of September, 2024, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 20th day of June, 2024. Cynthia Council Nance Executor 4417 Willow Springs Road Conway, S.C. 29527 Of the Estate of Ellon Cashwell Baker, deceased

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate FIle Number 24E1057 Administrator’s/ Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Peggy Mitchell Bulla, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 11th day of October, 2024, (which is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 11th day of July, 2024. JT Bulla Jr, Administrator/Executor 5952 Flintlock Court Hickory, NC 28601 Of the Estate of Peggy Mitchell Bulla, Deceased

EXECUTOR NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24-E-512

State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of Raquel H. Dubreuil, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 1710 Belvue Drive, Forest Hill, Maryland 21050, on or before September 20, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 20th day of June, 2024. Jacinto Arnold Lord Executor of the Estate of Raquel H. Dubreuil, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 06/20/2024, 06/27/2024, 07/04/2024 and 07/11/2024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF SAMMIE BARRETT LONG CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 23 E 1417 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Sammie Barrett Long, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at Hutchens Law Firm, LLP, on or before the 28th day of September, 2024 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 20th day of June, 2024. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Sammie Barrett Long Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: June 27, July 4, July 11, and July 18, 2024

NOTICE

n The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #24 E 958 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Joseph Randolph Nunnery Jr, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of September, 2024, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment the undersigned. This is the 20th day of June, 2024. Administrator of the Estate of Joseph Randolph Nunnery Jr. 228 Gnarled Oaks Drive Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Stephanie Ann Davis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before October 4, 2024, (which is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 4th day of July, 2024 Kimberly Dawn Corley Administrator of the Estate 103 Villa Drive Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24 E 936 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: SADRUDIN J. VISRAM ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Sadrudin J. Visram, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 23rd day of September, 2024, (which date is three months after the date of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 20th day of June,

Court Division Estate File # 24 E 955

Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of David Edward Vaughn, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 20th day of September, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 20th day of June, 2024.

Lauren Vaughn Executor 3916 Middle St. Address Hope Mills, NC 28348 City, State, Zip Of the Estate of David Edward Vaughn, Deceased (For Publication: 6/20/24, 6/27/24, 7/4/24, 7/11/24)

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Justin Alan Thomas Donoghue, having quali ed on the 3rd day of May 2024, as Executor of the Estate of Sandra M. Sidwell (2024-E-701), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 23rd day of September, 2024, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 20th day of June 2024.

Justin Alan Thomas Donoghue

Executor ESTATE OF SANDRA M. SIDWELL David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: June 20, 2024, June 27, 2024, July 4, 2024, July 11, 2024

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, CAROL A. UNDERWOOD, having quali ed as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of ANNE DINA, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said

CAROL A. UNDERWOOD, at the address set out below, on or before October 5, 2024, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 24h day of June, 2024.

CAROL A. UNDERWOOD EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF ANNE DINA c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the ESTATE OF JENNIFER ELIZABETH VAHAMIKOS (aka Jennifer Vahamikos Guerra) (Estate File 24-E-568), Deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate to exhibit them to the Administrator, Helen D. Vahamikos, at 6733 Windyrush Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226, on or before the 27th day of September, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment to the abovenamed Administrator. This the 27th day of June, 2024. HELEN D. VAHAMIKOS, ADMINISTRATOR OF ESTATE OF JENNIFER ELIZABETH VAHAMIKOS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kevin Lawrence Newcomb Date of Birth May 16, 1968 To All Creditors: Capital One, P.O. Box 71087, Charlotte, North Carolina 28272 Pen Fed Credit Union, Box 1432, Alexandria, Virginia 22313 Notice To Creditors: The decedent, Kevin Lawrence Newcomb, who lived at 3015 Hayden Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28411 died November 14, 2023. Creditors of the decedent are noti ed that all claims against

RANDOLPH

22 CVS 4314

PUBLICATION DATES: July 4th, 2024 and July 11, 2024

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in a judgment bearing the caption “Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Plainti , vs. Unknown Heirs of Annie M. Bozeman; 22 CVS 4314 Cumberland County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will o er for sale that

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 355 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Emma G. Haynes (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD

OWNER(S): Emma G. Haynes, Heirs of Emma G. Haynes: Robin Haynes a/k/a Robin Daniel Haynes, Richard Haynes a/k/a Richard Paul Haynes, Jr., Ron Haynes a/k/a Ron Duvale Haynes) to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), dated November 29, 2012, and recorded in Book No. 09057, at Page 0360 in Cumberland 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 O ce of the Register of Deeds Cumberland 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

24 SP 285 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Calvin Haralson AKA Calvin Eugene Haralson and Fannie L Haralson, AKA Fannie R Haralson to Jovetta Woodard and Patricia Robinson, Trustee(s), which was dated August 1, 2013 and recorded on August 26, 2013 in Book 2115 at Page 1911, Davidson 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

24 SP 287 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY

Under and

Davidson 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 o er 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 July 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit: Tract 1

BEGINNING at a pipe set on the East side line of Myers Park Drive, said pipe being

281 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Kelsey Underwood and Nick Underwood (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Kelsey Underwood and Nick Underwood) to Jennifer Grant, Trustee(s), dated November 27, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 2384, at Page 2328 in Davidson 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 O ce of the Register of Deeds Davidson 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 o er for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location

certain property as described below. Said sale will be held in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2024 at the Cumberland County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain parcel of land situate in the City of Hope Mills, County of Cumberland and State of North Carolina bounded and described as follows: Being all of Lot 17 in a subdivision known as GOLF VIEW, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 28, Page 29, Cumberland County North Carolina Registry. Tax ID#: 0414-03-6759 Being the same property as transferred by deed dated 08/07/1997, recorded 08/14/1997, from R. G. Williams Construction Co., Inc. to Mackey J. Bozeman and wife Annie M. Bozeman, recorded in book 4707, Page 0659

o er for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on July 15, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 9499-82-2697

Land Situated in the City of Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland in the State of NC.

Being all of Lot No. 342, in a Subdivision known as Summerhill, Section 6, Part 1, per Plat of the same duly recorded in Book of Plats 41, Page 62, Cumberland County Registry North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 906 Bashlot Place, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Commonly known as: 906 Bashlot Place, Fayetteville, NC 28303

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one

Trustee will o er 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 July 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit: THE FOLLOWING REAL PROPERTY SITUATE IN THE COUNTY OF DAVIDSON AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING LOT 7 OF THUNDERBIRD PARK, MAP OF WHICH IS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 13, PAGE 74, IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY REGISTRY.

BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO CALVIN EUGENE HARALSON AND FANNY R HARALSON BY DEED OF HENRY W SMITH AND GRACE B SMITH RECORDED 05/20/1982 IN BOOK 601, AT PAGE 49. PARCEL ID: 1117900020007 PROPERTY ADDRESS: 207 PENNINGTON

172.9 feet from the West line of School Street, and running thence S. 84 deg. 50’ East along the line of Lot No. 164, approximately 151 feet to a stake in J. B. Craven’s line; running thence S. 2 deg. 17’ West along J. B. Craven’s line 85 feet to a new corner on Craven’s line; thence N. 84 deg. 50’ West approximately 151 feet to a stake on East line of Myers Park Drive; thence along the East line of Myers Park Drive N. 1 deg. East 85 feet to the point of beginning, the same being all of Lot No. 164 and approximately one-half of Lot No. 163 of Myers Park, Section III, as recorded in Plat Book 5, page 16 in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Davidson County, North Carolina.

Reference: Book 542, page 363, Davidson County Registry.

Tract 2

BEGINNING at an iron stake in the north line of School Street and Southeast corner of lot recently sold J. O. Burke by grantors; said iron being S. 82° 38’ E. 150.8 feet from the Northeast intersection of School Street and Myers Park Drive; running thence along the east line of said Burke lot No. 2° 17’ E. 216.4 feet to a stake in said line; thence S. 84° E. 10 feet to a stake corner of John Craven and Paul Stoner; thence with the line of said Craven S. 2° 17’ West

designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on July 24, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in High Point in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 125 of Ashebrook, Phase 3, as shown on the plat recorded in Plat Book 68, Page 13, in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Davidson County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 458 Sandybrooke Drive, High Point, 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 o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being

The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and payable from the purchaser at the sale. A cash deposit or certi ed check (no personal check) in the amount of ten percent (10%)

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 o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered 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

AVE Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 207 Pennington Ave, Lexington, NC 27292. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve 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 o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal.

216.4 feet to a point in the north line of said School Street; thence along the north line of said street N. 84° 52’ W. 10 feet to the point of beginning, being a strip of land 10 feet wide and 216.5 feet long, between the west line of said Craven and the east line of the above mentioned Burke.

This being a part of Holt Farm Property adjoining Fairview Heights.

Less and Except from Tract 2 that portion of said 10 ft. strip included within the bounds of that property described in Book 1204, page 441, Davidson County Registry, incorporated herein by reference. Reference: Book 542, page 362, Davidson County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 519 Myers Park Drive, Lexington, NC 27292. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve 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.

o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered 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 ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of

This

BY: Susan R. Benoit, Commissioner Post O ce Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 (910) 864-6888 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

being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the

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 Fanny R. Haralson. 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 e ective 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 e ective 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.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. 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 COLLEEN AITKEN. 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 e ective 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 e ective 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 ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-08004-FC01

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 ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DURHAM COUNTY 24SP001454-310 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT N. MITCHELL AND JACQUELYN Y. MITCHELL DATED JUNE 25, 1999 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2673 AT PAGE 396 IN THE DURHAM COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Durham County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 17, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Durham County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Robert N. Mitchell and Jacquelyn Y. Mitchell, dated June 25, 1999 to secure the original principal amount of $59,500.00, and recorded in Book 2673 at Page 396 of the Durham County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed 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: 3028 Wedgedale Drive, Durham, NC 27703 Tax Parcel ID: 131789 Present Record Owners: Robert N. Mitchell and Jacquelyn Y. Mitchell The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register

sale on July 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit:

24 SP 158

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Max B. Pearlstein to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), which was dated August 5, 2021 and recorded on August 5, 2021 in Book 3631 at Page 179, Forsyth 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 o er 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY

23 CVS 347 Under and by virtue of that Judgment led on July 27, 2023 in Forsyth County by the presiding superior court judge, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the Deed of Trust recorded on July 8, 2009 in Book RE 2901, Page 590, Forsyth County Registry, and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been appointed as Commissioner in this case, the undersigned Commissioner will o er for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Forsyth County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on July 25, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being known and designated as Lot No. 102, as shown on the Map of Melrose, recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 87, in The O ce of The Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which map

BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot(s) 193 as shown on the plat of SALEM SPRINGS, PHASE 4, as recorded in Plat Book 45, Page 24, in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description.

The subject property is the same as that property described in Deed Book 2515, Page 3705, Forsyth County Registry and is further designated as Tax Parcel Identi er Number 6833-91-3074 on the Forsyth County Tax Maps.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 4123 Duck Pond Ct, Winston Salem, NC 27107.

A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater,

reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Being the same property conveyed to Grady Cecil Barnes and wife, Faye C. Barnes by deed from Paul M. Kirkman and wife, Phebe M. Kirkman recorded 01/27/1970 in Deed Book 997 Page 480, in The Register of Deeds O ce of Forsyth County, North Carolina. Tax ID# 2008 762215 0 Property Address: 2375 Rosewood Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 Third party purchasers must pay any land transfer tax, costs of recording the commissioner’s deed, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

of Deeds, is/are Robert N. Mitchell and Jacquelyn Y. Mitchell. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY

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 o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. 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 All Lawful Heirs of Max B. Pearlstein.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are the heirs of Faye C. Barnes aka Faye C. Appleyard. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §1-339.29 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

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 e ective 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)].

the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Forsyth County courthouse at 11:00AM on July 17, 2024,

the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Sima Y. Torian and John D. Torian, dated July 7, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $153,700.00, and recorded in Book RE 2676 at Page 1997 of the Forsyth County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed 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: 131 Eagle Point Ct, Kernersville, NC 27284 Tax Parcel ID: 6865-90-1274.000 Present Record Owners: Sima Y. Torian The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Sima Y. Torian. The property to be o ered pursuant to

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FORSYTH COUNTY 24sp40 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BERNICE LANE AND RANDY LANE DATED OCTOBER 22, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2859 AT PAGE 2310 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JUNE 15, 2020 IN BOOK 3530, PAGE 3139 IN THE FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Forsyth County courthouse at 11:00AM on July 25, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bernice Lane and Randy Lane, dated October 22, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $93,301.00, and recorded in Book 2859 at Page 2310 of the Forsyth County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed 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: 7189 Pine Hall Rd, Belews Creek, NC 27009 Tax Parcel ID: 6970-48-6268 Present Record Owners: Bernice Lane The record owner(s) of the property,

this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open

according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bernice Lane. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and

sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2) or other applicable statute). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of termination. If the Commissioner 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 ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any

ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser

party, the Commissioner, 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.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Commissioner By: ______________________________

Cameron D. Scott, Esq. Pinyan Law Firm, PLLC 1320 Matthews Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 Phone: 704-743-6387, Fax: 866-5358589

must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only

GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 23SP001671-500 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CHERI BIANCA AND PETER BIANCA DATED

Being known and designated as

and

21 as shown on the plat of Ridgehaven, Phase I, recorded in Plat Book 38 ,Page 165, in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 165 River Crest Court, Clemmons, North Carolina. PPN: 5892-40-6963

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.

secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 11:00AM on July 23, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Cheri Bianca and Peter Bianca, dated July 30, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $303,975.00, and recorded in Book 6005 at Page 947 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed 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: 181 Palmer Dr,

23SP001305-500

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jessica Chole Zylicz-Porras a/k/a Jessica C Zylicz-Porras and Bridgette J Stewart a/k/a Bridgette Stewart to Kelly B Baumgardner and Jerry B Flowers, Trustee(s), which was dated September 5, 2017 and recorded on September 5, 2017 in Book 5021 at Page 561 and rerecorded/modi ed/corrected on December 13, 2017 in Book 5073, Page 476, Johnston 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 o er 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 July 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit:

Being all of Lot 3, containing 1.99 acres, more or less, as shown on a plat entitled “Property of Millard and Millard, Inc.” prepared by W. Stanton Massengill, RLS, dated December 13, 1994 and recorded in Plat Book 44, page 305, Johnston County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 1330 Campground Rd, Selma, NC 27576.

A certi ed check only (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price,

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on July 23, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Middlesex in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 45, Quail Village, Section Five, as shown on the map recorded in Plat Book 53, Page 167, Johnston County Registry, reference to which is made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 314 Falcon Run Middlesex, North Carolina.

having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Smith eld, Johnston County,

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 o ered

and husband, George Anthony Love; Thelma “Shay” Fonville; Shanikqua “Nikki” Davis and husband, Darryle Davis; Christopher Bell and wife, Memmo Bell; Corey Mitchell and wife, Christie Mitchell; Delonzo Sharpless and wife, Octavia Sharpless; Kareem “Jabbar” Mccoy; Marine Federal Credit Union; United States Department Of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service; North Carolina Department of Revenue; Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC; Navy Federal Credit Union; Bank of America, N.A.; Lendmark Financial Services, LLC; North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc.,” 23 CVS 3215 Onslow County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will o er for sale that certain property as described below. Said sale will be held in the City of Jacksonville,

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 o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered 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.

9, PAGE 80, IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF RANDOLPH COUUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 902 Mark Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27205. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve 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

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 o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. 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

pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered 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 o cers, 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 o ered 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 ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered

Onslow County, North Carolina at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at the Onslow County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at Herbert Marshal corner in the old I.T. Morton line, running South 67 degrees 45 minutes West 171-1/2 feet to the corner stake, between Lot No. 4 and 5; thence North 16 degrees West 900 feet to the Walter Gould Road; thence South 86 degrees 10 minutes East 167-1/2 feet to Marshal corner;

owner(s) of the property is/are Jessica Chole Zylicz-Porras and Bridgette Jeanette (Both Unmarried).

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 e ective 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 e ective date of the termination. If the

in the form of certi ed 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 ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation 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.

to, the ling of a bankruptcy

prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of

COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered 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 o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. 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 Rafael Arregoitia Rivera. 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 e ective 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

RANDOLPH ONSLOW

Only in America

Oakboro Fire & Rescue has hosted the town’s July Fourth celebration since 1958, and this year’s parade featured nearly every type of travel imaginable, from tractors and trucks to dogs on horses to… well, even more trucks. The parade ran down Main Street for some two hours, with an estimated turnout into the thousands.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

NC paves the way for digital driver’s licenses

A new law signed this week will see digital driver’s licenses on North Carolina driver’s smartphones beginning on July 1, 2025.

The legislation de nes a mobile driver’s license as a supplemental digital version of a valid physical license, approved by the Commissioner and issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Under the law, digital licenses will be legally equivalent to physical licenses, containing the same all the same information. They’ll be limited to display only on mobile devices owned by the license holder.

The DMV will publish a study by Jan. 1 that will address costs, security concerns, and potential impacts on law enforcement practices.

A dozen states already support digital licenses, with a majority of states in the process of legalizing and developing them.

Littering penalties increased in new law

North Carolina has signi cantly toughened its littering laws with a new bill set to take e ect in December.

The legislation reduces the weight threshold for the lowest tier of o enses from 15 pounds to 10 and increases nes across all categories. For instance, the minimum ne for littering under 10 pounds has doubled to $500 for rst o enses and $1,000 for repeat o enses. The bill also enhances community service requirements, with some categories seeing minimum hours more than doubled.

Commercial littering is now explicitly de ned and subject to felony charges regardless of amount, and littering in state waters will be punished as severely as littering on land. The changes re ect an e ort to deter littering through stricter penalties and enforcement.

Stanly makes major changes to minimum lot size requirements

Six areas in the Stanly County 2040 Land Use Plan map were rezoned

By Jesse Deal

Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — At the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night, the board voted 6-1 to approve an amendment to rezone portions of the 2040 Stanly County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Map.

The plan was originally adopted in November 2022.

As originally requested by the county’s planning board, the ZA 24-03 amendment changed six areas within the county from the Primary and Secondary Growth areas to

a Rural Preservation Area, where they will now be required to meet the three-acre minimum lot size requirement.

The six areas of land — Misenheimer, Aquadale, Norwood, Millingport and Hwy. 73/Hwy. 52, Hwy. 24/27 and Hwy. 73, and east of Hwy. 73 — consists of approximately 3,649 parcels and 24,696 acres. According to the parameters set by the Stanly County Planning Board in a 3-1 vote in favor of ZA 24-03 on June 10, the six areas are based on utility services in the area, the character of the land, and continuing to keep the growth closer to the municipalities as opposed to the more rural areas of the county.

Chairman Bill Lawhon and Vice Chair Mike Barbee joined Commissioners Patty Crump, Brandon King, Trent Hatley and Scott E rd in voting for the text amendment, while Commissioner Peter Asciutto was the lone nay vote against the stricter zoning laws.

Before his failed motion to deny the amendment, Asciutto spoke about government overreach and the infringement on liberties through property ownership regulations.

“We have freedoms in this country, but I just hate that we tend to want to take freedoms away from people,” Asciutto said. “One of those is property rights. Yes, we have farmland out there, but everyone doesn’t have farmland in these impacted areas. Peo -

Stanly County gets funding for rural internet access

NCDIT announced $112 million in county projects

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity announced last week that 19 counties have been awarded funding for broadband expansion. The county, by way of AT&T North Carolina and Windstream North Carolina, was awarded enough to wire up 1,013, or 22%, of the county’s 4,566 eligible homes and businesses. As part of North Carolina

Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan “to close the digital divide,” NCDIT’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program is granting $112 million to connect 25,903 households and businesses to high-speed internet — some $4,300 per connection.

“We are excited that so many counties and internet service providers have partnered with us on the CAB program,” NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity Nate Denny said in a July 1 press release. “These awarded projects will help us make signi cant progress on closing the state’s digital divide.”

The CAB program is funded by more than $61 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, as well as $25 million from counties and nearly $26

million from various broadband providers.

The program is designed to identify locations that lack broadband access and to award funding to prequali ed internet service providers who agree to provide high-speed service of at least 100 megabits per second to those locations.

“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access a ordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our increasingly digital world,” Cooper said in a NCDIT press release. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”

The awards add to the $404 million in Growing Rural Econ-

ple invested money in property and they may have had it for generations. Trying to tell them what to do with their property is not something that I believe in.”

Dozens of concerned citizens spoke up during the meeting’s public hearing section, both in favor of and against the rezoning.

Much of the dialogue centered around the societal costs of creating housing developments at the expense of losing farmland and a rural setting in the county.

“North Carolina is the second most threatened state in the U.S. for losing farmland,” said county resident Gary Hatley, speaking in favor of the

omies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB funding awarded that will connect nearly 161,000 statewide households and businesses to broadband.

Last month, the NCDIT announced a $67 million broadband grant for expanded internet access in 15 counties.

“By partnering directly with county leaders, we can focus on their individual community needs and together make decisions that will bene t their constituents,” NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information O cer Jim Weaver said. “Thanks to our extensive mapping, previous prequali cation

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

We stand corrected

To

MEETING from page 1

three-acre minimum to preserve farms. “The state is expected to lose up to 1.2 million acres by 2040. On average, we lose 55 acres a day right now.”

The conversation around farmland also led to the proposed rights of farmers to use their land as they see t — even if that includes selling land to a housing developer.

“Let’s say you have 100 acres and you build 100 homes on it, then 100 families would have a place to live. Now, with the three-acre rule, it would take 300 acres to house the same families,” Rich eld resident Brian Cody said. “You don’t need three acres to build a damn house on it.”

The commissioners will hold their next regular meeting on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

INTERNET from page 1

process and internet service providers’ responsiveness, we posted these counties’ scopes of work in March and April and worked with them to make awards for new broadband projects in less than three months.”

Additional information regarding the progress of the NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity project is available at ncbroadband.gov.

THURSDAY

Petty says camp for seriously ill children is family’s true legacy

‘The King’ of NASCAR is proud of what Victory Junction Camp has achieved

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

RICHARD PETTY, with a record 200 Cup Series wins, seven championships and a rst-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame, is considered NASCAR’s greatest driver.

He is spending the season celebrating 75 years of NASCAR participation by his famous family — basically since the inception of the stock car series in 1948 — and re ecting on the legacy that will be left behind.

As he approached his 87th birthday, celebrated Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race at Chicago, Petty has realized his family should be hailed for something far bigger than anything it did in NASCAR. He pointed to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was opened in 2004 for chronically ill children as a way to honor his late grandson.

Adam Petty was 19 when he was killed in a 2000 crash practicing for a race at New Hampshire. Not too many years before, he’d made a motorcycle visit to Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek and became interested in creating a similar camp in North Car-

July 2

• Kasey Megan Lester, 33, was arrested by SCSO for failure to appear.

• Lucio Munoz, 30, was arrested by SCSO for probation violation.

“I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

Richard Petty, stock car racing legend

olina.

Petty said the family following through on Adam’s dream will be its lasting legacy.

“This is for seriously ill kids who can’t go to camp, so it’s a very special deal,” Petty said. “The kids come from all over the country and they don’t charge them anything. We make sure they get there and get them home. So when I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play, and I think the bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.

“Racing put us in a position to come out and do something, and it was always one of Adam’s dreams,” he added. “When we lost Adam, the family got together and said we’d go pursue that deal.”

Adam Petty was the oldest son of Kyle Petty, Richard’s only son. Petty family patriarch Lee started the racing team, and Richard’s engine-building brother, Maurice, are all considered the foundation of the team’s suc -

cess. The trio are all members of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty is “The King” and he remains a larger-thanlife gure in retirement, his cowboy hat and sunglasses a beloved and familiar sight at the track, where even at 87 he shows up to every NASCAR weekend and is currently an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club. That team, co-owned by fellow seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, is the backbone of Petty Enterprises.

Kyle Petty never equaled his father in on-track success, but Adam was considered to be a future NASCAR star at the time of his fatal crash. Although winless at the national series level when he was killed, he’d made one Cup start and had won two races in the ARCA Series feeder system when he was 17.

Had he not died so young, Adam Petty likely would have moved to the Cup level to drive for Petty Enterprises and kept that team a oat and competitive for several decades.

Instead, his death helped the family create its proudest

July 3

• David Wayne Lambert, 49, was arrested by SCSO for failure to appear.

• Charles Andrew Phillips, 37, was arrested by SCSO for assault with a deadly weapon.

• Terrez Denard Walls, 31, was arrested by SCSO for felony larceny.

July 6

• Andria Nicole Bell, 37, was arrested by SCSO for possession of methamphetamine.

achievement.

Located across 84 acres in the Petty hometown of Randleman, the camp notes that “Adam’s passion for racing was equaled only by his compassion for others, especially children” and that he often visited children in pediatric hospitals.

The camp is largely funded through donations and money-raising events that include both a fan walk and the annual “Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.” The motorcycle trip began in 1995, long before the camp, but proceeds now go to Victory Junction.

Richard Petty said it thrills him that Victory Junction began long before foundations and charities started by drivers became the norm.

“We had a grandson that we loved, but look at the thousands of kids — I think we’ve seen 30,000 kids and this is our 20th year, and Kyle always says when he sees one of them smile, he sees Adam smile,” Richard Petty said. Petty is adamant that the family never would have been able to launch Victory Junction without the success of Petty Enterprises, which was NASCAR’s winningest team until 2021. Once they decided to start the camp, drivers, industry veterans and fans were all eager to contribute in any way they could.

“Everybody wants to leave a legacy of some kind,” Petty said. “I think that, racing over a period of time, will go away or be di erent. I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

• Gregori Giovanni Chorio Utrillo, 28, was arrested by SCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.

July 8

• Natalie Suzanne Russell, 19, was arrested by SCSO for failure to appear.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Richard Petty and his granddaughter Montgomery Lee Petty, then 14, take part in a 2000 news conference announcing the founding of Victory Junction Camp.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

A tale of two debates

One possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies.

THE DEBATE FEATURED “an extraordinarily aggressive, top-to-bottom attack,” Politico wrote. “Over and over,” one candidate’s “tactic of choice was a gut-level punch.” An “alpha-male display,” Britain’s left-wing Guardian headlined. The dominant candidate’s style, CNN agreed, was “put your head down, charge forward, and don’t stop.”

No, those were not comments about the earliest-in-history presidential debate. They were analyses made nearly 12 years ago after the Oct. 2012 vice presidential debate between Paul Ryan and his much more aggressive opponent, Joe Biden.

Biden was then the incumbent vice president, determined to o set former President Barack Obama’s indolent performance against Mitt Romney in the campaign’s rst presidential debate eight days before. His forceful, often mocking approach obscured his frequent misstatements and factual errors, but he reversed the Democratic ticket’s downward plunge in the polls.

The contrast between Biden’s 2012 and 2024 performances is glaring and a reminder of the ravages of age. But the two debates may also turn out to represent a turning point in the politics of, and the balance between, the two parties.

Going into the 2012 debate, Ryan at age 42 looked to me like the future of Republican politics.

As House budget chairman, he had gotten his colleagues to back his package of tax cuts and entitlement reforms while looking favorably on free trade and legalization of worthy illegal immigrants.

But the bombast and ridicule Biden in icted on Ryan in the 2012 debate was a foretaste of the bombast and ridicule former President Donald Trump in icted on multiple rivals in presidential primary debates in 2015 and ‘16 —

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Blind loyalty

Are rank-andle Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that?

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM says he has President Joe Biden’s back. It’s almost enough for me to take him o my list of possible successors to the incumbent president. Having Biden’s back is not a matter of loyalty.

Biden has been a ne president. He inherited a country in crisis, roiled by the pandemic, and righted the ship of state. The economy recovered. We beat back the pandemic. Important bipartisan bills were passed, including the infrastructure bill and major legislation on climate change. We would have passed immigration reform, with bipartisan support, if Donald Trump hadn’t scuttled the e ort by calling on his Republican friends to abandon the bill to save him an issue to campaign on. He led the Democratic Party to a surprisingly successful midterm election. He would go down in history as a very successful president if he doesn’t go down, as seems increasingly likely, as a sel sh leader who stayed too long and endangered our democracy as much as the man he is running against. We’ve been to that movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Trump court. Make no mistake, if he doesn’t step aside, that will be his legacy. The polls say that as many as 78% of the American people don’t want him to run again.

and which he in icted on the (to many voters) surprisingly inert Biden last week.

As speaker of the House for 38 months from Oct. 2015, Ryan helped shape and pass Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. But from the time he came down the Trump Tower escalator, Trump repudiated Ryan’s stands on entitlements, trade and immigration. By now, almost all Republican o ceholders have followed his lead.

Meanwhile, under Biden, Democrats moved sharply left on key issues, with an open borders policy, vast spending increases (on top of Trump’s) sparking rst-time-in-fourdecades in ation, and ninth-month abortions. Trump hit Biden hard on such leftward lunges last week.

Will the 2024 debate in which Biden got shellshocked have a politics-altering e ect like that of the 2012 debate in which he administered the shellshocking?

Of course we don’t yet know the fallout of this year’s debate. Thoughtful liberals like polling analyst Nate Silver, issues advocate Ezra Klein, and the gifted reporter Joe Klein are pleading that Biden withdraw and Democrats nominate someone stronger than his handpicked vice president, Kamala Harris.

But Democratic politicians have, as the younger Klein writes, a “collective action” problem: Retribution awaits the rst dissenters from the public Biden-should-stay consensus. And as shown in Biden’s 36 years of commuting from the Senate home to Delaware and his nearly 300 days there as president (according to CBS’s Mark Knoller), he’s never been close to Washington insiders. He has relied instead largely on family members, all of whom are reportedly strongly against withdrawal.

It’s still possible he could win. Silver gives that a 31% likelihood, just above the 29% he

gave Trump of winning going into the 2016 election. Things that likely tend to happen about one-third of the time.

But two-thirds of the time they don’t. Trump was ahead going into the debate, initial polling suggests his lead has grown since, and he seems to have signi cant leads in states (including Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which he lost in 2020) with 268 electoral votes, two short of a majority. Add Pennsylvania or Michigan or Wisconsin or Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and he’s president again. And probably with a Republican House and Republican Senate. Democrats looking back on the last three decades brag that they’ve won ve of the last eight presidential elections and have carried the popular vote in seven. A Trump presidency, if it were as successful with voters as the pre-COVID rst Trump term was, could be followed by a second and possibly two-term Republican presidency.

Possible Trump VP nominees Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) or Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), or Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), whom he shoved aside this year, look to me at least as gifted at politics and policy as any Democrat I’ve seen mentioned as national nominees. So one possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies, something achieved only once since 1952, in Ronald Reagan’s 1980s. That would represent success for the Republican politics of Trump and would surely, sooner or later, prompt a rethink of the Democratic politics of Biden. Is that too much to extrapolate from a single debate? Probably. But it would be poetic justice if the devastation Biden in icted on Ryan’s ideas were in icted in turn by Trump on Biden’s.

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

They aren’t kidding. And I’m not kidding when I wonder if those who do are only looking for a candidate so thoroughly discredited that he’s the only one Trump could beat.

We all know what we saw on television. It was not just an o night. It was a man who had no business being on that stage.

Dear Gavin: Who are you being loyal to? How about being loyal to the future of our democracy? Biden himself has recognized that’s what is at stake in this election. It is. And Biden is the one who is threatening to take it down because of his stubborn determination to hold onto power past his time. He has clearly emerged as the Democrat least likely to defeat Trump. Are rank-and- le Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that? It can’t be. Where is Biden’s inner circle? Where are the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party? Are they telling him what he needs to hear or what he wants to hear?

The New York Times has reported that Biden met with his family to seek their advice. The family, it is reported, urged him to stay in the race. Hunter was particularly strong. How terrifying. The Biden with the demonstrably worst judgment in the family, a convicted felon and an object of ridicule — is this who Biden is listening to?

Or are we only being told this by an insider who is afraid to speak out publicly about why Biden should step aside so they are telling us who he is listening to instead? It hardly helps Biden. It makes him look weaker, not stronger. I understand blind public loyalty. I’ve been

there and done that. It is misplaced. Politics is too important for personal loyalty at the expense of country. The reason the party rallied around Biden in the rst place — when some of those who knew him best must have seen up close what had happened to him over the course of four years, must have seen the decline we all witnessed in Atlanta — was clearly because of the conventional wisdom that challenging an incumbent president would only weaken him in the general election. That was, on the face of things, the lesson of the 1980 election, when Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter, who used the power of the presidency adroitly to defeat him and then lost to Ronald Reagan. But that’s just plain wrong. I was there, too. The reason Kennedy ran in the rst place was because he was convinced, rightly, that Carter could not defeat Reagan.

Could Kennedy have done better? He could not have done worse.

It would have been better if someone had taken on Biden. We would have seen him on a debate stage earlier than we did. Every delegate to the convention would not have been pledged to Biden. We would have a stronger candidate right now.

But it is not too late. Rank-and- le Democrats may not be able to do much, but Democratic leaders and donors can make their voices heard. This is a cause that demands courage. Biden needs not only to hear it privately but to hear it publicly. It is not too late for him to avoid more public humiliation — and for us to preserve our democracy.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

STANLY SPORTS

Stanly’s Lowder to represent Cincinnati in MLB Futures Game

The pitcher is regarded as the consensus top Reds prospect

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — Former

Stanly County baseball standout Rhett Lowder is one of two Cincinnati Reds’ rst-round draft picks selected to participate in this weekend’s 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game. Set at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the game starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will air on the MLB Network.

The Futures Game is an annual seven-inning event where every MLB team is represented by at least one up-and-coming minor league prospect; Lowder is one of nine pitchers listed on the National League’s roster.

Joining third-baseman Cam Collier in the exhibition game, the former North Stanly and Wake Forest right-handed pitcher — drafted seventh overall with the Reds’ rst-round pick last year — had a 2-0 record and 2.49 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched for the High-A Dayton Dragons before getting called up to Double-A Chattanooga, where he’s made nine starts for the Lookouts.

Although the 22-year-old has slid to a 1-4 record and 6.69 ERA with Chattanooga in 39 innings pitched, he is still regarded as the consensus top Reds prospect and is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 20 overall prospect for the league.

Last week, the Albemarle native posted his rst win with the Lookouts, allowing just two runs on six hits in ve innings.

Overall, Lowder has made 14

starts with a 5.04 ERA in 641⁄3 innings, giving up 71 hits but striking out 71 of the 281 batters he has faced during the year.

As just the No. 491 recruit in his high school class, he quickly worked his way up to become a three-year starter at Wake and one of the top pitchers in college baseball.

Notching the ACC Pitcher of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023, Lowder led the NCAA in wins (15) during his junior season in 19 appearances while ranking fourth in ERA (1.87). He also pitched seven shutout innings against LSU in the 2023 College World Series, eventually adding a First-Team All-American honor to his padded resume.

The Demon Deacons came away from that season with

program records in regular season wins, ACC wins, ACC series wins, postseason wins and overall wins.

In a team-friendly deal last July, Lowder and the Reds agreed to terms with a $5.7 million signing bonus that comes in below the $6.28 million slot value of the seventh selection.

Cincinnati landed sixth in Baseball America’s recent list of most talented minor league teams in the country, while Lowder personally debuted at No. 34 in MLB Pipeline’s top 100. Scouts have lauded in particular his command over his slider and changeup pitches.

Depending on his continued performances and the Reds’ pitching depth, he could potentially make his MLB debut this season or the following season.

Mary-Ryan Hinson

South Stanly, softball

Mary-Ryan Hinson completed her senior year on the South Stanly softball team.

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls went 14-6, and Hinson led the team in runs (29), hits (28), doubles (7), triples (2) and stolen bases (6). She was also second in home runs, slugging, elding percentage, RBIs and batting average.

Last month, Hinson was named to the all-district softball team by the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association. Last week, the NCSCA named their all-state team, and Hinson was on that as well, for class 1A. She was also named the 1A North Carolina softball player of the year.

Bowman wraps up a spot in the Cup Series playo s

The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s eighth career win and rst since March 2022 came on the Chicago street course

By Jay Cohen The Associated Press

CHICAGO — At long last, Alex Bowman got a win. And a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s.

So yeah, he was ready to party.

“We’re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight, it’s going to be a bad deal,” a jubilant Bowman said. “I’m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom oor again. That’s just part of this deal sometimes.”

Bowman held o Tyler Reddick on a rainy street course in downtown Chicago on Sunday, stopping an 80-race winless drought.

It was his rst victory since Las Vegas in March 2022 and No. 8 for his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four remaining spots in the playo s with six races left in the regular season.

After his Vegas victory two years ago, Bowman, 31, was sidelined by a concussion. He injured his back in a shorttrack accident in April 2023.

“You start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again,” he said. Not anymore.

The Cup Series’ second street race in Chicago was stopped for more than 100 minutes be -

cause of rain, and NASCAR set a cuto time of 8:20 p.m. CDT because of the fading sunlight. When Bowman crossed the start- nish line after that time, the white ag came out, followed by the checkered.

Tyler Reddick made a late charge, but he got into a wall while trying to run down Bowman. Ty Gibbs was third, followed by Joey Hand and Michael McDowell.

“I got the opportunity to run him down,” Reddick said. “Just obviously couldn’t get the job done. A clean lap was all I had to do and couldn’t even do that.”

Bowman closed it out on wet weather tires in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out.

During the cool-down lap, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Bubba Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.

“I have to apologize again to the 23 guys,” Bowman said. “Just messed up, trying to get my windshield wiper on, missed a corner and ruined their day. I hate that. I’m still embarrassed about it.”

Larson slammed into the tire barrier in Turn 6 on Lap 34, bringing out a caution. He was trying for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start.

“As soon as I hit the brakes, I knew I was in trouble,” said Larson, who has an 11-point lead over Chase Elliott in the driver standings.

“I just sort of turned in. It looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s gutting.”

Shortly after the wreck, the race was stopped to give NASCAR time to clear standing water from the makeshift track. The drivers returned to their cars about an hour later, but the delay continued when another cell passed over the course.

Gibbs was in front when the race resumed, followed by Christopher Bell and Larson.

Van Gisbergen was clipped by Chase Briscoe going into Turn 6 on Lap 25. Briscoe slid into a tire barrier, but van Gisbergen crashed into the temporary wall — causing heavy damage to the right side of his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

CAROLYN KASTER / AP PHOTO

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder follows through on a pitch during spring training baseball workouts.

SIDELINE REPORT

WWE

Cena announces retirement from professional wrestling in 2025

Toronto

John Cena has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after two decades in the ring. The wrestler-turnedactor told World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of dates and an epic nal ght. Cena assured fans he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career. He told reporters after the event that he feels physically “at my end” but that doesn’t mean he needs to distance himself from the sport he loves. Cena is a 16time WWE champion and action movie star.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson assistant coach, former RB

Spiller selected for ring of honor

Clemson, S.C. College Football Hall of Famer C.J. Spiller was selected to Clemson’s ring of honor for its Death Valley stadium. The award is the highest honor given by the school’s athletic department. Spiller played running back from 2006 to 2009 and set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 7,588 all-purpose yards. He was selected to the College Football Hall in 2021. Spiller was picked No. 9 overall by Bu alo in the 2010 draft and spent eight seasons in the pros. He is entering his fourth season as Clemson’s running backs coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Kipyegon breaks own world record in 1,500 meters

Paris Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Diamond League track and eld meeting in Paris. Kipyegon nished in 3:49.04, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year. The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Before Sunday, she had only run twice in 2024, in the 1,500 and 5,000, to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics at the Kenyan trials in June.

NBA

Banned NBA player Porter to be charged in betting case, court papers indicate New York Court papers indicate that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will be charged with a federal felony connected to the sports betting scandal that spurred the NBA to ban him for life. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn led what’s known as a criminal information sheet. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges. But it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four gamblers charged with conspiring to cash in on tips from a player about his plans to exit two games early.

Looking like dad, James makes NBA Summer League debut

for Lakers as he prepares to team up with LeBron

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Once that second-quarter layup went in and he nally had his rst NBA points after a trio of misses, Bronny James could exhale and everything began to slow down.

“The atmosphere, it was more than I expected,” a grinning James said. “It’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know the people of Golden State would come and rep for me, so that was pretty nice to see.”

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut Saturday, the rookie looked so much

like his famous father, LeBron, it caused some at Chase Center to do a double-take.

Bronny James took his place in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers and his professional career was formally underway, with plenty of scouts in the building to witness it as he wore jersey No. 9.

“Every rst game that I step on the next level there’s always some butter ies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”

The younger James wound up 2 for 9 for four points, missing all three of his 3s, with a pair of assists, two rebounds and a steal in just under 22 minutes of court time — 21:43 to be exact — as the Lakers lost 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his rst action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game. James scored his rst NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

“Moments like that can slow the game down for you especially because I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to beforehand,” he said. “... I couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but all the reps it’s going to come more smooth.”

At one point during his warmup routine, the 6-foot-2 guard stood with hands on hips in a resemblant position to one of his father. And during the game, the son leaned over by the baseline 3-point corner, gripping his knees while waiting for the offensive possession to begin.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the

55th overall selection in the second round out of the University of Southern California.

If all goes as planned, the 19-year-old James and his dad would become the rst father-son pair to play in the NBA at the same time — and on the same team no less.

“What he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well,” LeBron James said at USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas. “I just want him to continue to grow, practices, lm sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything as far as stat wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”

Goodbye Big 12, hello growing SEC

Texas and Oklahoma party as their conference move becomes o cial

By Cli Brunt and Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma nally got the chance to celebrate its long-awaited move to the Southeastern Conference.

As the switch from the Big 12 became o cial last Monday, the school nally was letting loose.

Festivities started Sunday night and stretched to events statewide on Monday. There were pep rallies in Norman on Monday afternoon. In the evening, the free “Party In The Palace” at Memorial Stadium included music, a brew garden, a basketball court, a gaming trailer, a mechanical bull and a photo booth.

“Today is a celebration,”

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “It’s about engaging our fans and our stakeholders. That’s what this is, rather than having a quick press conference and an announcement and moving on. We’ve tried to really bring our fan base into it because we were very, very strident about not trying to celebrate it before the o cial day would come.”

There was no downplaying it on Monday. The SEC logo was plastered all over Oklahoma’s stadium and the campus — even painted on the sidewalks. Not to be outdone, Texas made its long-awaited conference switch at the same time and celebrated with campus parties, carnivals, concerts and reworks.

Now Oklahoma and Texas, rival programs that were co-founders of the Big 12 in 1996, nally are in the SEC. And

Gage Sisco

campus event in Austin to celebrate the school moving from the

Conference.

their celebrations t the conference mantra: “It Just Means More.”

At Texas, thousands poured onto campus in near 100-degree heat Sunday for a carnival and concert with pop star Pitbull under the iconic campus clock tower.

At the Texas party, children played on bounce houses, rock walls and slides. Misters cooled their parents who waited in long lines for autographs from Longhorns coaches, photographs with the Longhorn mascot Bevo, and packed into merchandise tents for gear with the SEC logo.

“This is a day we have been building toward for years,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “Our fans our really

excited about this. You can tell by the turnout.”

It’s a moment college sports in general has been building toward in the era of major realignment. The Texas and Oklahoma break from the Big 12 helped trigger myriad conference shifts with more on the way. By the rst kicko of the 2024 season, 11 so-called Power 4 programs will be in new conferences.

Oklahoma and Texas originally planned to join the SEC in 2025, but ultimately reached a nancial deal with the Big 12 for an early exit.

“Texas brings more tradition, more talent, more passion and more ght,” to the SEC, the school said on its athletics website.

Oklahoma’s celebration start-

ed Sunday night with a “Race to the SEC” 5k race through the heart of campus, with midnight sales of SEC merchandise and reworks.

Monday morning, former Sooners coach Barry Switzer co-hosted a celebration breakfast in Tulsa.

Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz said the move will improve the experience for students and enhance the school athletically and academically.

“We want our students to not just come here and participate, we want them to feel like they belong,” Harroz said. “Intercollegiate athletics provides that. And today, we celebrate a move to the SEC that ensures we accomplish both of those goals. It puts us with the best.”

JIM VERTUNO / AP PHOTO

holds his daughter Harper as they pose for photos at the University of Texas

Big 12 to the Southeastern

Bronny James debuts

NIC COURY / AP PHOTO

Looking very similar to his famous father, LeBron, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James waits during a break in the rst half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the Sacramento Kings.

New British PM seeks to improve trade deal with EU

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party decisively won last week’s election

By Brian Melley

The Associated Press

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad.

During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh — that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales — Starmer said he would seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union.

“I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the U.K. with,” he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit.

Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his rst visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden.

With two of Starmer’s ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO

meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the U.K. following his party’s landslide victory last week.

Starmer, who said he has a “mandate to do politics di erently,” met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an e ort to “turn disagreement into cooperation.”

“We will serve every single

person in Scotland,” Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters. “Performance, self-interest: they’re the politics of the past. The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind’s eye the people who elected us into government.”

While each of the devolved nations in the U.K. elects mem-

bers to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments.

Starmer’s Labour Party trounced Swinney’s Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

Swinney said after meeting the prime minister that he believed there is an opportunity to work together to make a di erence for the Scottish people.

The trip to build better working relations across the U.K. comes as Starmer’s government faces a mountain of problems.

The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and scal missteps. It also faces a public disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and scal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer has declared broken.

Starmer said he wants to transfer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities.

After his two-day tour, he’ll return to England where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying he would engage with politicians regardless of their party.

“There’s no monopoly on good ideas,” he said “I’m not a tribal political.”

Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease- re in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.

He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the “undeniable right of Palestinians” and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the longterm conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuringnancial means for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to operate effectively.

Labour’s initial refusal to call for a cease re last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday’s election.

In advance of Starmer’s attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated an “unshakeable” commitment to the alliance during his rst trip abroad. Lammy said that the U.K. government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.

“European security will be this government’s foreign and defense priority,” Lammy said in Poland. “Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defenses.”

After

chaotic election, Macron keeps France’s PM in place

The French president refused Gabriel Attal’s o er to resign

By Sylvie Corbet and Lori Hinnant

The Associated Press

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France’s prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo.

Voters split the legislature on the left, center and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy. Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a “moment of

clari cation,” but the outcome showed the opposite less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics when the country will be under an international spotlight.

The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in o ce if needed but o ered his resignation Monday morning. Macron, who named him just seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s top political allies joined the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which ended after about 90 minutes.

On Sunday, Attal made clear that he disagreed with Macron’s decision to call the surprise election. The results of two rounds of voting left no obvious path to form a government for

the leftist coalition that came in rst, Macron’s centrist alliance or the far right.

Newly elected and returning lawmakers on Monday gathered at the National Assembly to begin negotiations over a new government in earnest. Macron himself will leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

Talks over who should form a new government — and who should lead the foreign, interior and nance ministries among others — are expected to be extremely di cult and lengthy given that political parties negotiating a deal have diametrically opposing policies and contempt for one another.

“We are in a situation that is totally unprecedented,” said Jean-Didier Berger, a newly elected lawmaker from the conservative Republicans party.

Aurélien Rousseau, a newly elected lawmaker from the New Popular Front and former minister in Macron’s government,

acknowledged disagreements within the leftist alliance over the government formation but said the alliance could eventually reach an agreement.

“We need to build compromises, but we need to take time to discuss, to know what we agree on or disagree within the left,” Rousseau said.

Another New Popular Front lawmaker, Jérôme Guedj of the French Socialists party, said the leftist alliance won’t buckle under pressure to name its candidate for the next prime minister who could govern alongside Macron.

“This is a confusing moment (and) we’re not going to add anxiety, unnecessary division at a moment when we need to nd the right path,” Guedj said.

Political deadlock could have far-ranging implications for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability.

Still, at least one leader said the result was a relief.

“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, posted on X late Sunday. According to o cial results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the most powerful of France’s two legislative chambers. The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed rst, to beat Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. The far-right National Rally part of Marine Le Pen and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022.

Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, leave a voting booth in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France, on Sunday.

SCOTT HEPPELL / AP PHOTO

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday as part of a two-day tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

Mary Lowder

August 7, 1943 – July 7, 2024

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.

Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld.

Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

Mary Evelyn Kearns Lowder, 80, of Albemarle, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2024 at her home with family by her side. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 12, 2024 at Zion United Methodist Church. Rev. Daniel Delany will o ciate and interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Edwards Funeral Home in Mt. Gilead. Mrs Lowder was born on August 7, 1943 in Montgomery County to the late Worth and Kathleen Thompson Kearns. She was a graduate of West Montgomery High School and retired from Wiscassett Mills. She also spent many years bookkeeping for PeeDee Electric. She will be remembered for her love of gardening and working in her yard to grow beautiful owers. In her free time, she enjoyed going out to eat with family and friends and ea marketing.. She loved all of her animals and pets and was a very talented pianist. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Van Lowder; brother: Bobby Wood Kearns; and son Joseph ‘JoJo’ Murphy McRae III. She is survived by her children: Kevin McRae and Lisa Hurley (Todd) of Mt. Gilead,, and Juliane McRae Ingram of Colorado; grandchildren: Stephanie Perez Pedro, Spencer McRae, Andrew Hurley, Austin Hurley, Anna Hurley McNeill (Jake), Abigail Hurley, Jacksen Ingram, and Wyatt Ingram; great-grandchildren: Sienna Waddell, Skyla Wadell, Jayden Cooper, and Cade McNeill; brother: David Kearns (Cheryl) of Albemarle; and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews.

In lieu of owers, the family requests memorials to Zion United Methodist Church PO Box 176 Mt. Gilead, NC 27306 or Tillery Compassionate Care 960 N First Street Albemarle NC 28001

Dwight Farmer

Jerry Colson Sr.

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

November 18, 1943 –July 5, 2024

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

Jerry Bryce Colson Sr. 80, of Norwood, passed away on Friday, July 5, 2024 surrounded by his loved ones.

James Roseboro

Peggy Turbeville

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

August 21, 1950 –July 2, 2024

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

John B. Kluttz

Jeter Byrd

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

October 21, 1939 – July 2, 2024

Dale Smith

Doris Jones Coleman

October 8, 1960 – July 1, 2024

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Peggy Tyndall Turbeville, 73, of Norwood passed away on Tuesday morning, July 2, 2024 at her home.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Norwood. Rev. Chris Mabe will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Whitecrest Baptist Church Cemetery.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday July 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Norwood. Rev. Todd McSwain will o ciate. The family will receive friends following the service.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.

He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.

He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.

Jerry was born on November 18, 1943 in Stanly County to the late Glenn and Ilene Lemmons Colson. He worked in carpentry and construction. He was also a member of Whitecrest Baptist Church since 1969. Jerry was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a talented artist that loved to work with his hands. Jerry enjoyed sharing his works and talents, and he painted the baptismal scene at Whitecrest Baptist Church. Jerry also loved to hunt, sh, and raise animals, mostly chickens and turkeys.

Peggy was born on August 21, 1950 to the late James and Almetta Tyndall. She retired from the NC Department of Corrections as an Admin Associate. She was a member of Norwood First Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister Gloria Ellis, and her brother James “Jimmy” Tyndall.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers: JW Colson, Frank Colson, and John Colson, and his sisters Glenda Vick, and Helen Colson.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lequitta Colson, of the home, his children, Angela Joy Copeland, Debra Jean Colson-Furr (Gene), Linda Colson Fraley, and Jerry Colson Jr. (Cary Allen), six grandchildren: Tonda Parsons (Jonathan), Anthony Moyle, Ashley Mabe (Chris), Amanda Frick (Deven), Brett Fraley (Christen), and Landon Fraley (Yoselina Jaimes), nine greatgrandchildren: Katrina, Jay, Zane, Rylan, Lawson, Heidie, Autumn, Cullen, and Aly, two sisters: Mary-Jean Sherrill (Austin) , and Jane Cauble and his special cat Lucy.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.

She is survived by her husband, John Turbeville of the home; daughter, Jennifer Jenkins; step daughter, Susan Whitman (Randy); sisters, Fannie Brock, and Edith Pilkington.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Darrick Baldwin

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.

He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.

He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.

He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.

When John purchased his rst Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!

Doc Byrd of Mount Gilead, NC passed to the heavenly realm on July 2, 2024 at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst. A celebration of life service with Masonic rites will be held at Hamer Creek Baptist Church on July 6, 2024 at 11 o’clock. Interment will be held in the church cemetery. The Reverend Rupert Medford will o ciate. The family will meet with family and friends from 10 to 11 o’clock in the church fellowship building. Doc was born on October 21st 1939 in Montgomery County as the ninth child to Nathan Jeter Byrd and Beulah Elizabeth Little. In 1966 he married the love of his life and soul mate Linda Gardner who passed in 2012. He was ready to leave this life and requested to go to Hospice House where Linda had passed. He retired from Jordan Lumber Company working at rst as a truck driver and later worked in the scale house. Over the years Doc enjoyed horseback riding, spending time at Holden Beach, gardening, watching Atlanta Braves baseball, Carolina Tarheels basketball and NASCAR racing. After the passing of Linda, Doc spent time visiting with family and friends and especially enjoyed going and seeing friends at Hall’s Auction House in Marshville, NC.

At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.

He was preceded in death by brothers Lee, L.P., Bill and sisters Mae Harrison and Lois Sneed.

John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.

Survivors are brothers and sisters Frances Martin of Pinehurst, Eunice Douthit of Thomasville, Thomas (Reba) Byrd of Oakboro, Joyce McNeill and Harris (Mary) Byrd both of Mount Gilead, numerous nieces and nephews, special family Larry and Ellen Thompson and family of Mount Gilead and best friend Lenny (Pat) Pigford of Mount Gilead.

Memorials can be made to Hamer Creek Baptist Church, 4830 NC Hwy 109, Mt. Gilead, NC 27306 or FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, 251 Campground Rd., West End NC 27376.

This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.

Dale Eugene Smith, 63, of New London, passed away Monday, July 1, 2024 in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm, Sunday, July 7, 2024 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Norwood. Reverend Rick Clayton will o ciate. The family will receive friends from 1:00pm2:00pm, prior to the service at Edwards Funeral Home.

Dale was born October 8, 1960 in Stanly County to the late Eugene Carlton and Jean Plyler Smith. He was a 1978 graduate of North Stanly High School. He was a retiree of Southern Pipe.

Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long ght in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away ghting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.

Dale was a hard working man that loved his family and extended family. He enjoyed shing and hunting but most of all he loved spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Tamara Smith. He is survived by his children, Amy Clark(Brandon) of New London, Andrew Smith(Kim Gallagher) of Albemarle and Bradley Smith (Angel) of New London; sister, Donna Clayton(Rick); ve grandchildren; his ance, Sheila Deese and her family, Chris Watson(Johnna Cole), Phillip Watson(Karalee), Amanda Watson, Farron Watson and nine grandchildren.

Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was sel ess, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.

She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, out ts for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.

Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

STATE & NATION

Persistent heat wave in the US shatters records

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in several

East Coast cities

By Christopher Weber and Margery A. Beck

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A

long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip.

An excessive heat warning — the National Weather Service’s highest alert — was in e ect for about 36 million people Sunday, or about 10% of the population, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records.

That was certainly the case over the weekend: Many areas in Northern California surpassed 110 degrees, with the city of Redding topping out at a record 119. Phoenix set a new

daily record Sunday for the warmest low temperature: it never got below 92. A high temperature of 128 was recorded Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died Saturday

from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized, ofcials said.

The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died was not identi ed. The other motorcyclist was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said.

The other four members of the party were treated at the scene.

Park o cials warned that heat illness and injury are cumulative and can build over the course of a day or days.

“High heat like this can pose real threats to your health,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” the statement said.

The soaring temperatures didn’t faze Chris Kinsel, a Death Valley visitor who said it was “like Christmas day for me” to be there on a record-breaking day. Kinsel said he and his wife typically come to the park during the winter when it’s still plenty warm — but that’s nothing compared with being at one of the hottest places on Earth in July.

“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, who was visiting Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area from Las Vegas.

Kinsel said he planned to go to the park’s visitor center to have his photo taken next to the digital sign displaying the current temperature.

Across the desert in Nevada, Natasha Ivory took four of her eight children to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas, which on Sunday set a record high of 119.

“They’re having a ball,” Ivory told Fox5 Vegas said. “I’m going to get wet too. It’s too hot not to.”

Triple-digit temperatures were common across Oregon, where several records were toppled — including in Salem, where on Sunday it hit 103, topping the 99 mark set in 1960. On the more humid East Coast, temperatures above 100 degrees were widespread, though no excessive heat advisories were in e ect for Sunday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” read a weather service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

Biden assails Project 2025, Trump claims to be unaware of it

The conservative think tank’s plan has become an election issue

By Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former o cials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to re as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.

“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released

by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tari s on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and sug-

gested their transition-in-waiting e orts were unhelpful.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last Tuesday that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia hosted the show for Bannon, who is serving a four-month prison term.

“We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,” Roberts said.

Those comments were widely circulated online and assailed by Biden’s campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”

Some of the people involved in Project 2025 are former senior administration o cials.

The project’s director is Paul Dans, who served as chief of sta at the U.S. O ce of Personnel Management under Trump. Trump’s campaign spokeswom-

an Karoline Leavitt was featured in one of Project 2025’s videos.

John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel O ce in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser. McEntee told the conservative news site The Daily Wire earlier this year that Project 2025’s team would integrate a lot of its work with the campaign after the summer when Trump would announce his transition team.

Trump’s comments on Project 2025 come before the Republican Party’s meetings this coming week to begin to draft its party platform.

Project 2025 has been preparing its 180-day agenda for the next administration that it plans to share privately, rather than as part of its public-facing book of priorities for a Republican president. Russ Vought, a key Trump ally who contributed to Project 2025 and is drafting this nal pillar, is also on the Republican National Committee’s platform writing committee.

Project 2025 said in a statement it is not tied to a speci c candidate or campaign.

“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” it said. “But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement.”

Practice makes better

For re ghters, the training never stops. Winston-Salem Fire shared images this week of members practicing low-angle rescue, typically used where terrain is sloped but not vertical — hillsides, embankments or ditches with inclines between 15 and 45 degrees. Above, re ghters with Ladder 2, Engine 13, Battalion 4 train on night operations.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

NC paves the way for digital driver’s licenses

A new law signed this week will see digital driver’s licenses on North Carolina driver’s smartphones beginning on July 1, 2025.

The legislation de nes a mobile driver’s license as a supplemental digital version of a valid physical license, approved by the Commissioner and issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Under the law, digital licenses will be legally equivalent to physical licenses, containing the same all the same information. They’ll be limited to display only on mobile devices owned by the license holder.

The DMV will publish a study by Jan. 1 that will address costs, security concerns, and potential impacts on law enforcement practices.

A dozen states already support digital licenses, with a majority of states in the process of legalizing and developing them.

Littering penalties increased in new law

North Carolina has signi cantly toughened its littering laws with a new bill set to take e ect in December.

The legislation reduces the weight threshold for the lowest tier of o enses from 15 pounds to 10 and increases nes across all categories. For instance, the minimum ne for littering under 10 pounds has doubled to $500 for rst o enses and $1,000 for repeat o enses. The bill also enhances community service requirements, with some categories seeing minimum hours more than doubled.

Commercial littering is now explicitly de ned and subject to felony charges regardless of amount, and littering in state waters will be punished as severely as littering on land. The changes re ect an e ort to deter littering through stricter penalties and enforcement.

Autopsy details released on gunman who killed four o cers in Charlotte

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, had THC in his system

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — More details on the death of the Charlotte gunman who carried out the deadliest attack on law enforcement officers since 2016 were released in state autopsy and toxicology reports.

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, opened fire with an assault rifle on officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant on April 29, killing four officers and injuring another four. He eventually was shot 12 times after a lengthy standoff and

died from his injuries, according to a North Carolina medical examiner’s report obtained by local media outlets.

The report showed Hughes was shot both on his upper and lower body. THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, was also found in his system, but other substances such as alcohol were not, according to a toxicology report.

The shooting in the residential neighborhood in east Charlotte eventually ended when Hughes jumped from a second- oor window into the front yard and was killed, according to police. At least 12 o cers shot their guns during the stando , police said.

Petty says camp for

There was initial confusion on whether Hughes acted alone in shooting at officers from the home’s second floor, as police floated the idea that there may have been a second shooter. That possibility was dispelled in a May 31 news conference when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington said Hughes was the sole gunman in the attack. There were two females inside the home during the shooting, but police said they were not involved in the gunfire.

Hughes also had a lengthy criminal record dating back

seriously ill children is family’s true legacy

‘The King’ of NASCAR is proud of what Victory Junction Camp has achieved

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

RICHARD PETTY, with a record 200 Cup Series wins, seven championships and a rst-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame, is considered NASCAR’s greatest driver. He is spending the season celebrating 75 years of NASCAR participation by his famous family — basically since the inception of the stock car series in 1948 — and re ecting on the legacy that will be left behind. As he approached his 87th birthday, celebrated Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race at Chicago, Petty has realized his family should be hailed for something far bigger than any-

“I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

Richard Petty, stock car racing legend

thing it did in NASCAR. He pointed to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was opened in 2004 for chronically ill children as a way to honor his late grandson.

Adam Petty was 19 when he was killed in a 2000 crash practicing for a race at New Hampshire. Not too many years before, he’d made a motorcycle visit to Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek and became interested in creating a similar camp in North Carolina.

Petty said the family following through on Adam’s dream will be its lasting legacy.

“This is for seriously ill kids who can’t go to camp, so it’s a

very special deal,” Petty said.

“The kids come from all over the country and they don’t charge them anything. We make sure they get there and get them home. So when I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play, and I think the bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.

“Racing put us in a position to come out and do something, and it was always one of Adam’s dreams,” he added. “When we lost Adam, the family got together and said we’d go pursue that deal.”

more than a decade, with state records showing charges such as breaking and entering, eluding arrest and illegal possession of a rearm by someone convicted of a felony.

The four officers killed by Hughes were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks.

In the shooting’s aftermath, the officers were commemorated in memorials around the state. President Joe Biden also visited North Carolina to privately meet with the officers’ families.

Adam Petty was the oldest son of Kyle Petty, Richard’s only son. Petty family patriarch Lee started the racing team, and Richard’s engine-building brother, Maurice, are all considered the foundation of the team’s success. The trio are all members of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty is “The King” and he remains a larger-thanlife gure in retirement, his cowboy hat and sunglasses a beloved and familiar sight at the track, where even at 87 he shows up to every NASCAR weekend and is currently an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club. That team, co-owned by fellow seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, is the backbone of Petty Enterprises.

See PETTY, page 2

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM FD / X

“Join

MONDAY

State awards $112M to connect 26K rural homes, businesses

The money, half from the federal government, is spread across 19 counties

By Jesse Deal Twin City Herald

ALBEMARLE — Last week, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity announced that 19 counties have been awarded funding for broadband expansion.

As part of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan “to close the digital divide,” NCDIT’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program is granting $112 million to connect 25,903 households and businesses to high-speed internet — some $4,300 per connection.

“We are excited that so many counties and internet ser-

3 killed in small plane crash in western NC mountains

The Cessna 182 went down east of Asheville

The Associated Press

MARION — Three people were killed when a small plane crashed in the mountains about 30 miles east of Asheville, o cials said Monday.

McDowell County Emergency Management said in a statement that emergency personnel responding to a report of a missing small plane found the downed aircraft near the Rutherford County line. McDowell County ofcials later con rmed three deaths in the downed aircraft.

Three people were aboard the single-engine Cessna 182 when it crashed in the mountains near Rutherfordton, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates, according to the FAA, which is also investigating.

The NTSB said in a statement that preliminary information indicates the plane, which departed Mountain City, Tennessee, and was heading to Rutherford County Airport, crashed Sunday and the wreckage was found Monday.

An NTSB investigator was traveling to the scene to document and examine the wreckage, o cials said. The agency is expected to issue a preliminary report within 30 days on the initial phase of its investigation though a nal report with a probable cause and any contributing factors is expected to take one to two years.

vice providers have partnered with us on the CAB program,” NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity Nate Denny said in a July 1 press release. “These awarded projects will help us make signi cant progress on closing the state’s digital divide.”

The CAB program is funded by more than $61 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, as well as $25 million from counties and nearly $26 million from various broadband providers.

The program is designed to identify locations that lack broadband access and to award funding to prequali ed internet service providers who agree to provide high-speed service of at least 100 megabits per second to those locations.

“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access a ordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our in-

“We are excited that so many counties and internet service providers have partnered with us on the CAB program.”

— Nate Denny, NCDIT deputy secretary for broadband and digital equity

creasingly digital world,” Cooper said in an NCDIT press release. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”

The awards add to the $404 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB funding awarded that will connect nearly 161,000

statewide households and businesses to broadband.

Last month, the NCDIT announced a $67 million broadband grant for expanded internet access in 15 counties.

“By partnering directly with county leaders, we can focus on their individual community needs and together make decisions that will bene t their constituents,” NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information O cer Jim Weaver said. “Thanks to our extensive mapping, previous prequalication process and internet service providers’ responsiveness, we posted these counties’ scopes of work in March and April and worked with them to make awards for new broadband projects in less than three months.”

Additional information regarding the progress of the NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity project is available at ncbroadband.gov.

PETTY from page 1

Kyle Petty never equaled his father in on-track success, but Adam was considered to be a future NASCAR star at the time of his fatal crash. Although winless at the national series level when he was killed, he’d made one Cup start and had won two races in the ARCA Series feeder system when he was 17. Had he not died so young, Adam Petty likely would have moved to the Cup level to drive for Petty Enterprises and kept that team a oat and competi-

tive for several decades.

Instead, his death helped the family create its proudest achievement. Located across 84 acres in the Petty hometown of Randleman, the camp notes that “Adam’s passion for racing was equaled only by his compassion for others, especially children” and that he often visited children in pediatric hospitals.

The camp is largely funded through donations and money-raising events that include both a fan walk and the annual “Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.” The motorcycle trip

began in 1995, long before the camp, but proceeds now go to Victory Junction.

Richard Petty said it thrills him that Victory Junction began long before foundations and charities started by drivers became the norm.

“We had a grandson that we loved, but look at the thousands of kids — I think we’ve seen 30,000 kids and this is our 20th year, and Kyle always says when he sees one of them smile, he sees Adam smile,” Richard Petty said. Petty is adamant that the family never would have been

able to launch Victory Junction without the success of Petty Enterprises, which was NASCAR’s winningest team until 2021. Once they decided to start the camp, drivers, industry veterans and fans were all eager to contribute in any way they could.

“Everybody wants to leave a legacy of some kind,” Petty said. “I think that, racing over a period of time, will go away or be di erent. I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Richard Petty and his granddaughter Montgomery Lee Petty, then 14, take part in a 2000 news conference announcing the founding of Victory Junction Camp.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

I just had a cold

OK, Democrats, the time for choosing is now.

I KNOW YOU ARE LIKELY TIRED of hearing about President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance recently. I can’t resist commenting on it, though. The mainstream media has been in a tizzy for the past week about the debate and what a shock it was.

I hope you’ve noticed that the only time the media does its job is when there is a Republican in the White House. Then they work around the clock, turning over every stone to nd a “gotcha” incident. If they can’t nd any, then they go to great lengths to make stu up and report on it as if it’s fact.

There is nothing mainstream about the media. That stream meanders through Castro’s Cuba, North Korea and the People’s Republic of China. That’s the best I can say about our mainstream media.

The media talking heads were in “shock” the president performed so poorly. Huh? Where have they been? This was no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. Most of us have seen the president do much worse at other times. This reminds me of Captain Renault in the movie “Casablanca.” He said, “I’m shocked, shocked to nd gambling going on here.” He made this statement as he was collecting his winnings.

Members of the press have been running cover for the president ever since he began running for o ce. He managed to hide out in his basement during the rst campaign and he wasn’t seen or heard as much as he should have been. Of course, COVID was on the scene, so they had a likely excuse. Most of us at that time had seen the signs of the president’s cognitive condition. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to notice when someone is having trouble putting thoughts together and expressing himself.

No matter how you feel about the president, and you know I’m no fan, this debate was painful to watch. It made me feel sorry for President Biden.

The spin room has gone dark, and the Sunday shows have had

Blind loyalty

Are rank-andle Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that?

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM says he has President Joe Biden’s back. It’s almost enough for me to take him o my list of possible successors to the incumbent president.

Having Biden’s back is not a matter of loyalty.

Biden has been a ne president. He inherited a country in crisis, roiled by the pandemic, and righted the ship of state. The economy recovered. We beat back the pandemic. Important bipartisan bills were passed, including the infrastructure bill and major legislation on climate change. We would have passed immigration reform, with bipartisan support, if Donald Trump hadn’t scuttled the e ort by calling on his Republican friends to abandon the bill to save him an issue to campaign on. He led the Democratic Party to a surprisingly successful midterm election. He would go down in history as a very successful president if he doesn’t go down, as seems increasingly likely, as a sel sh leader who stayed too long and endangered our democracy as much as the man he is running against. We’ve been to that movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Trump court. Make no mistake, if he doesn’t step aside, that will be his legacy.

The polls say that as many as 78% of the American people don’t want him to run again. They aren’t kidding. And I’m not

their input. Now the Democrats are in full meltdown. The party has some big decisions to make. Do they circle the wagons and protect their nominee, as they have been doing for four years? Or do they just throw him under the bus without running him over? This is a real dilemma for the party. They have been telling us not to believe our “lyin’ eyes.” They classi ed our fears as “cheap fakes.” They rigged the nomination process to protect the president against other opponents. They put all their chips on their guy, and now they must reap what they have sown. They even shut out a Kennedy and would not allow him on the ballot — a Kennedy! There is no stronger Democrat credential than being a Kennedy. The president’s team has answered with a decision to get him out more in front of the people. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. He did OK at a rally where he could read the teleprompter, but we’ve seen in the past that he couldn’t do that without messing up.

His handlers also scheduled an interview with “friendly” commentator George Stephanopoulos. That didn’t do much more than the debate to stem the tide of those who believe he is incapable of being president. He appeared to lose his train of thought and meandered a bit. The performance was somewhat better than the debate, but that’s not saying much.

Biden’s campaign slogan has been that a Trump win will be the end of democracy. He also told Stephanopoulos that he could live with a Trump reelection and that he could sleep well if he did his best in the campaign. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all, and I did the goodest job I know I can do; that’s what this is about.”

Those comments will not help Americans conclude that he can serve as president. It will con rm the fact that he is a stubborn and sel sh man who will do or say anything to hold onto power. OK, Democrats, the time for choosing is now. You asked for him, and you got him, such as he is. Consequences are a real bitch sometimes.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec has represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the North Carolina Senate since 2014. She lives in Kernersville.

kidding when I wonder if those who do are only looking for a candidate so thoroughly discredited that he’s the only one Trump could beat.

We all know what we saw on television. It was not just an o night. It was a man who had no business being on that stage.

Dear Gavin: Who are you being loyal to?

How about being loyal to the future of our democracy? Biden himself has recognized that’s what is at stake in this election. It is. And Biden is the one who is threatening to take it down because of his stubborn determination to hold onto power past his time. He has clearly emerged as the Democrat least likely to defeat Trump. Are rank-and- le Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that?

It can’t be. Where is Biden’s inner circle? Where are the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party? Are they telling him what he needs to hear or what he wants to hear?

The New York Times has reported that Biden met with his family to seek their advice. The family, it is reported, urged him to stay in the race. Hunter was particularly strong. How terrifying. The Biden with the demonstrably worst judgment in the family, a convicted felon and an object of ridicule — is this who Biden is listening to?

Or are we only being told this by an insider who is afraid to speak out publicly about why Biden should step aside so they are telling us who he is listening to instead? It hardly helps Biden. It makes him look weaker, not stronger.

I understand blind public loyalty. I’ve

been there and done that. It is misplaced. Politics is too important for personal loyalty at the expense of country. The reason the party rallied around Biden in the rst place — when some of those who knew him best must have seen up close what had happened to him over the course of four years, must have seen the decline we all witnessed in Atlanta — was clearly because of the conventional wisdom that challenging an incumbent president would only weaken him in the general election.

That was, on the face of things, the lesson of the 1980 election, when Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter, who used the power of the presidency adroitly to defeat him and then lost to Ronald Reagan. But that’s just plain wrong. I was there, too. The reason Kennedy ran in the rst place was because he was convinced, rightly, that Carter could not defeat Reagan.

Could Kennedy have done better? He could not have done worse.

It would have been better if someone had taken on Biden. We would have seen him on a debate stage earlier than we did. Every delegate to the convention would not have been pledged to Biden. We would have a stronger candidate right now.

But it is not too late. Rank-and- le Democrats may not be able to do much, but Democratic leaders and donors can make their voices heard. This is a cause that demands courage. Biden needs not only to hear it privately but to hear it publicly. It is not too late for him to avoid more public humiliation — and for us to preserve our democracy.

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | JOYCE KRAWIEC

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Forsyth SPORTS

Post-pandemic Paris Olympics signal return to ‘normal’ for athletes, fans, venues

For the rst time since 2018, Olympic venues will be lled with crowds

By Eddie Pells and Howard Fendrich

The Associated Press

ANY ATHLETE with Olympic dreams knows the feeling of lungs burning, arms and legs turning to jelly, as they near the closing moments of another grueling race or excruciatingly close match. For that last shot of adrenaline, they often tap into the energy provided by the roaring crowd.

At the last two Olympics — one summer, one winter — that crowd did not exist due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Paris this summer, once again, all those fans, family members and the burst of energy they bring to all the fun and games will be back.

The Paris Games will celebrate the return to “normal” after a stretch when host cities turned into closed-o shells of themselves, depriving those who had earned their way inside the so-called Olympic “bubble” of a true Olympic experience.

“I had a lot of athletes tell me that Tokyo was one of their worst Games,” said American

Backdropped by empty seats due to COVID restrictions, Dominican Republic starting pitcher Cristopher Mercedes throws against Japan during a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

skateboarder Jagger Eaton, who made his Olympic debut in 2021 and will return this year. “And I was like, ‘I love it here.’ I didn’t know any better.”

No more empty seats

At the Winter Games in China two years ago, hundreds of fans were bused ve hours away to the action-sports venue to watch snowboarders while banging together noisy “thundersticks” and wearing masks in the 0-degree chill. Almost no fans living outside China could attend.

The year before at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the spectators were mostly coaches, o cials and volunteers, and they lled only a small fraction of the seats.

When Marcell Jacobs of Italy earned the title of “World’s Fastest Man” by winning the 100 meters, you could hear his celebratory shouts echoing across the near-empty 68,000-seat Olympic Stadium.

For decades, athletes have told stories about how having fans in the stands have helped them push to the nish. Rower Michelle Sechser calls thenal 250 meters of her race, with the fans roaring from the grandstand, “the nal crescendo of the

sprint.”

“When it’s time to hit the sprint for the race, knowing that roar of the crowd will be there — it’s always extra motivation when you hear them,” Sechser said.

Fun o the eld

Once the action is over, one rite of passage for Olympic athletes is going to other venues to cheer on friends in other sports. That will be back in Paris. Same with the camaraderie and, yes, sometimes debauchery that goes along with living in, and celebrating in, the athletes’ village.

“I grew up hearing you got like a swag bag and you get free McDonald’s the whole time,” U.S. canoeist Evy Leibfarth said. “And I’m not, like, a big fast-food girl, but I’m excited for that. Apparently, the line is huge.”

They’ll have friends and family to travel with, too.

“I almost get choked up thinking about it because my parents are the two people that have seen me from Day 1 when I rst put an oar into my hand,” Sechser said. “I’m so excited to have my mom and dad there watching, to know that if there is a special moment at the end of the race, they’ll be there for it.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ian Pask

East Forsyth, soccer

Ian Pask was a senior on the East Forsyth boys’ soccer team.

He nished third on the Eagles in assists and fth in goals scored. He plans to continue playing in college at Randolph. Pask helped lead the Piedmont Triad Football Club to a state cup in May, and he just added an honor to his resume during the summer.

He was selected to the West roster for the East-West All-Star soccer game in Greensboro, which will be held on July 16.

Bowman wraps up a spot in the Cup Series playo s

eighth career

and rst

By Jay Cohen The Associated Press

CHICAGO — At long last, Alex Bowman got a win. And a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s.

So yeah, he was ready to party.

“We’re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight, it’s going to be a bad deal,” a jubilant Bowman said. “I’m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom oor again. That’s just part of this deal sometimes.” Bowman held o Tyler Reddick on a rainy street course in downtown Chicago on Sunday, stopping an 80-race winless drought.

It was his rst victory since Las Vegas in March 2022 and No. 8 for his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four remaining spots in the playo s with six races left in the regular season.

After his Vegas victory two years ago, Bowman, 31, was sidelined by a concussion. He injured his back in a short-track accident in April 2023.

“You start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again,” he said.

Not anymore.

The Cup Series’ second street race in Chicago was stopped for more than 100 minutes be -

cause of rain, and NASCAR set a cuto time of 8:20 p.m. CDT because of the fading sunlight. When Bowman crossed the start- nish line after that time, the white ag came out, followed by the checkered. Tyler Reddick made a late charge, but he got into a wall while trying to run down Bowman. Ty Gibbs was third, followed by Joey Hand and Michael McDowell.

“I got the opportunity to run him down,” Reddick said. “Just obviously couldn’t get the job done. A clean lap was all I had to do and couldn’t even do that.”

Bowman closed it out on wet weather tires in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out. During the cool-down lap, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Bubba Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.

“I have to apologize again to the 23 guys,” Bowman said. “Just messed up, trying to get my windshield wiper on, missed a corner and ruined their day. I hate that. I’m still embarrassed about it.”

Larson slammed into the tire barrier in Turn 6 on Lap 34, bringing out a caution. He was trying for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start.

“As soon as I hit the brakes, I knew I was in trouble,” said Larson, who has an 11-point lead over Chase Elliott in the driver standings. Van Gisbergen was clipped by Chase Briscoe going into Turn 6 on Lap 25. Briscoe slid into a tire barrier, but van Gisbergen crashed into the temporary wall — causing heavy damage to the right side of

Alex Bowman stands with his team and his trophy after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Chicago.

his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

“I just sort of turned in. It looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s gutting.” Shortly after the wreck, the race was stopped to give NASCAR time to clear standing water from the makeshift track. The drivers returned to their cars about an hour later, but the delay continued when another cell passed over the course.

Gibbs was in front when the race resumed, followed by Christopher Bell and Larson.

JAE C. HONG / AP PHOTO

The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s

win

since March 2022 came on the Chicago street course

ERIN HOOLEY / AP PHOTO

SIDELINE REPORT

WWE Cena announces retirement from professional wrestling in 2025

Toronto

John Cena has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after two decades in the ring. The wrestler-turnedactor told World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of dates and an epic nal ght. Cena assured fans he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career. He told reporters after the event that he feels physically “at my end” but that doesn’t mean he needs to distance himself from the sport he loves. Cena is a 16time WWE champion and action movie star.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson assistant coach, former RB Spiller selected for ring of honor

Clemson, S.C.

College Football Hall of Famer C.J. Spiller was selected to Clemson’s ring of honor for its Death Valley stadium. The award is the highest honor given by the school’s athletic department. Spiller played running back from 2006 to 2009 and set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 7,588 all-purpose yards. He was selected to the College Football Hall in 2021. Spiller was picked No. 9 overall by Bu alo in the 2010 draft and spent eight seasons in the pros. He is entering his fourth season as Clemson’s running backs coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Kipyegon breaks own world record in 1,500 meters

Paris Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Diamond League track and eld meeting in Paris. Kipyegon nished in 3:49.04, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year. The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Before Sunday, she had only run twice in 2024, in the 1,500 and 5,000, to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics at the Kenyan trials in June.

NBA

Banned NBA player Porter to be charged in betting case, court papers indicate New York Court papers indicate that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will be charged with a federal felony connected to the sports betting scandal that spurred the NBA to ban him for life. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn led what’s known as a criminal information sheet. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges. But it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four gamblers charged with conspiring to cash in on tips from a player about his plans to exit two games early.

Looking like dad, James makes NBA Summer League debut

LeBron

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Once that second-quarter layup went in and he nally had his rst NBA points after a trio of misses, Bronny James could exhale and everything began to slow down.

“The atmosphere, it was more than I expected,” a grinning James said. “It’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know the people of Golden State would come and rep for me, so that was pretty nice to see.”

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut Saturday, the rookie looked so much

like his famous father, LeBron, it caused some at Chase Center to do a double-take.

Bronny James took his place in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers and his professional career was formally underway, with plenty of scouts in the building to witness it as he wore jersey No. 9.

“Every rst game that I step on the next level there’s always some butter ies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”

The younger James wound up 2 for 9 for four points, missing all three of his 3s, with a pair of assists, two rebounds and a steal in just under 22 minutes of court time — 21:43 to be exact — as the Lakers lost 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his rst action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game. James scored his rst NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

“Moments like that can slow the game down for you especially because I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to beforehand,” he said. “... I couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but all the reps it’s going to come more smooth.”

At one point during his warmup routine, the 6-foot-2 guard stood with hands on hips in a resemblant position to one of his father. And during the game, the son leaned over by the baseline 3-point corner, gripping his knees while waiting for the offensive possession to begin.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the

55th overall selection in the second round out of the University of Southern California.

If all goes as planned, the 19-year-old James and his dad would become the rst father-son pair to play in the NBA at the same time — and on the same team no less.

“What he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well,” LeBron James said at USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas. “I just want him to continue to grow, practices, lm sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything as far as stat wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”

Goodbye Big 12, hello growing SEC

Texas and Oklahoma party as their conference move becomes o cial

By Cli Brunt and Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma nally got the chance to celebrate its long-awaited move to the Southeastern Conference.

As the switch from the Big 12 became o cial last Monday, the school nally was letting loose.

Festivities started Sunday night and stretched to events statewide on Monday. There were pep rallies in Norman on Monday afternoon. In the evening, the free “Party In The Palace” at Memorial Stadium included music, a brew garden, a basketball court, a gaming trailer, a mechanical bull and a photo booth.

“Today is a celebration,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “It’s about engaging our fans and our stakeholders. That’s what this is, rather than having a quick press conference and an announcement and moving on. We’ve tried to really bring our fan base into it because we were very, very strident about not trying to celebrate it before the o cial day would come.”

There was no downplaying it on Monday. The SEC logo was plastered all over Oklahoma’s stadium and the campus — even painted on the sidewalks.

Not to be outdone, Texas made its long-awaited conference switch at the same time and celebrated with campus parties, carnivals, concerts and reworks.

Now Oklahoma and Texas, rival programs that were co-founders of the Big 12 in 1996, nally are in the SEC. And

Gage Sisco holds his daughter Harper as they pose for photos at the University of Texas campus event in Austin to celebrate the school moving from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.

their celebrations t the conference mantra: “It Just Means More.”

At Texas, thousands poured onto campus in near 100-degree heat Sunday for a carnival and concert with pop star Pitbull under the iconic campus clock tower.

At the Texas party, children played on bounce houses, rock walls and slides. Misters cooled their parents who waited in long lines for autographs from Longhorns coaches, photographs with the Longhorn mascot Bevo, and packed into merchandise tents for gear with the SEC logo.

“This is a day we have been building toward for years,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “Our fans our really

excited about this. You can tell by the turnout.”

It’s a moment college sports in general has been building toward in the era of major realignment. The Texas and Oklahoma break from the Big 12 helped trigger myriad conference shifts with more on the way. By the rst kicko of the 2024 season, 11 so-called Power 4 programs will be in new conferences. Oklahoma and Texas originally planned to join the SEC in 2025, but ultimately reached a nancial deal with the Big 12 for an early exit.

“Texas brings more tradition, more talent, more passion and more ght,” to the SEC, the school said on its athletics website.

Oklahoma’s celebration start-

ed Sunday night with a “Race to the SEC” 5k race through the heart of campus, with midnight sales of SEC merchandise and reworks.

Monday morning, former Sooners coach Barry Switzer co-hosted a celebration breakfast in Tulsa.

Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz said the move will improve the experience for students and enhance the school athletically and academically.

“We want our students to not just come here and participate, we want them to feel like they belong,” Harroz said. “Intercollegiate athletics provides that. And today, we celebrate a move to the SEC that ensures we accomplish both of those goals. It puts us with the best.”

JIM VERTUNO / AP PHOTO

Bronny James debuts for Lakers as he prepares to team up with

NIC COURY / AP PHOTO

Looking very similar to his famous father, LeBron, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James waits during a break in the rst half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the Sacramento Kings.

New British PM seeks to improve trade deal with EU

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party decisively won last week’s election

By Brian Melley

The Associated Press

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad.

During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh — that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales — Starmer said he would seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union.

“I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the U.K. with,” he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit.

Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his rst visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden.

With two of Starmer’s ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO

meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the U.K. following his party’s landslide victory last week.

Starmer, who said he has a “mandate to do politics di erently,” met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an e ort to “turn disagreement into cooperation.”

“We will serve every single

person in Scotland,” Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters. “Performance, self-interest: they’re the politics of the past. The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind’s eye the people who elected us into government.”

While each of the devolved nations in the U.K. elects mem-

bers to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments. Starmer’s Labour Party trounced Swinney’s Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

Swinney said after meeting the prime minister that he believed there is an opportunity to work together to make a di erence for the Scottish people.

The trip to build better working relations across the U.K. comes as Starmer’s government faces a mountain of problems.

The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and scal missteps. It also faces a public disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and scal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer has declared broken.

Starmer said he wants to transfer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities.

After his two-day tour, he’ll return to England where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying he would engage with politicians regardless of their party.

“There’s no monopoly on good ideas,” he said “I’m not a tribal political.”

Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease- re in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.

He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the “undeniable right of Palestinians” and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the longterm conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuringnancial means for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to operate effectively.

Labour’s initial refusal to call for a cease re last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday’s election.

In advance of Starmer’s attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated an “unshakeable” commitment to the alliance during his rst trip abroad. Lammy said that the U.K. government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.

“European security will be this government’s foreign and defense priority,” Lammy said in Poland. “Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defenses.”

After

chaotic election, Macron keeps France’s PM in place

The French president refused Gabriel Attal’s o er to resign

By Sylvie Corbet and Lori Hinnant

The Associated Press

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France’s prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo.

Voters split the legislature on the left, center and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy. Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a “moment of

clari cation,” but the outcome showed the opposite less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics when the country will be under an international spotlight.

The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in o ce if needed but o ered his resignation Monday morning. Macron, who named him just seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s top political allies joined the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which ended after about 90 minutes.

On Sunday, Attal made clear that he disagreed with Macron’s decision to call the surprise election. The results of two rounds of voting left no obvious path to form a government for

the leftist coalition that came in rst, Macron’s centrist alliance or the far right.

Newly elected and returning lawmakers on Monday gathered at the National Assembly to begin negotiations over a new government in earnest. Macron himself will leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

Talks over who should form a new government — and who should lead the foreign, interior and nance ministries among others — are expected to be extremely di cult and lengthy given that political parties negotiating a deal have diametrically opposing policies and contempt for one another.

“We are in a situation that is totally unprecedented,” said Jean-Didier Berger, a newly elected lawmaker from the conservative Republicans party.

Aurélien Rousseau, a newly elected lawmaker from the New Popular Front and former minister in Macron’s government,

acknowledged disagreements within the leftist alliance over the government formation but said the alliance could eventually reach an agreement.

“We need to build compromises, but we need to take time to discuss, to know what we agree on or disagree within the left,” Rousseau said.

Another New Popular Front lawmaker, Jérôme Guedj of the French Socialists party, said the leftist alliance won’t buckle under pressure to name its candidate for the next prime minister who could govern alongside Macron.

“This is a confusing moment (and) we’re not going to add anxiety, unnecessary division at a moment when we need to nd the right path,” Guedj said.

Political deadlock could have far-ranging implications for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability.

Still, at least one leader said the result was a relief.

“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, posted on X late Sunday.

According to o cial results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the most powerful of France’s two legislative chambers. The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed rst, to beat Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. The far-right National Rally part of Marine Le Pen and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022.

Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, leave a voting booth in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, France, on Sunday.

SCOTT HEPPELL / AP PHOTO

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday as part of a two-day tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

STATE & NATION

Persistent heat wave in the US shatters records

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in several East Coast cities

By Christopher Weber and Margery A. Beck

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A

long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip.

An excessive heat warning — the National Weather Service’s highest alert — was in e ect for about 36 million people Sunday, or about 10% of the population, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records.

That was certainly the case over the weekend: Many areas in Northern California surpassed 110 degrees, with the city of Redding topping out at a record 119. Phoenix set a new

daily record Sunday for the warmest low temperature: it never got below 92. A high temperature of 128 was recorded Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died Saturday

from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized, ofcials said.

The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died was not identi ed. The other motorcyclist was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said.

The other four members of the party were treated at the scene.

Park o cials warned that heat illness and injury are cumulative and can build over the course of a day or days.

“High heat like this can pose real threats to your health,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” the statement said.

The soaring temperatures didn’t faze Chris Kinsel, a Death Valley visitor who said it was “like Christmas day for me” to be there on a record-breaking day. Kinsel said he and his wife typically come to the park during the winter when it’s still plenty warm — but that’s nothing compared with being at one of the hottest places on Earth in July.

“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, who was visiting Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area from Las Vegas.

Kinsel said he planned to go to the park’s visitor center to have his photo taken next to the digital sign displaying the current temperature.

Across the desert in Nevada, Natasha Ivory took four of her eight children to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas, which on Sunday set a record high of 119.

“They’re having a ball,” Ivory told Fox5 Vegas said. “I’m going to get wet too. It’s too hot not to.”

Triple-digit temperatures were common across Oregon, where several records were toppled — including in Salem, where on Sunday it hit 103, topping the 99 mark set in 1960. On the more humid East Coast, temperatures above 100 degrees were widespread, though no excessive heat advisories were in e ect for Sunday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” read a weather service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

Biden assails Project 2025, Trump claims to be unaware of it

The conservative think tank’s plan has become an election issue

By Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former o cials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to re as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.

an Karoline Leavitt was featured in one of Project 2025’s videos.

John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel O ce in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser. McEntee told the conservative news site The Daily Wire earlier this year that Project 2025’s team would integrate a lot of its work with the campaign after the summer when Trump would announce his transition team.

Trump’s comments on Project 2025 come before the Republican Party’s meetings this coming week to begin to draft its party platform.

“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”

gested their transition-in-waiting e orts were unhelpful.

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tari s on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and sug-

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last Tuesday that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia hosted the show for Bannon, who is serving a four-month prison term.

“We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,” Roberts said.

Those comments were widely circulated online and assailed by Biden’s campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”

Some of the people involved in Project 2025 are former senior administration o cials.

The project’s director is Paul Dans, who served as chief of sta at the U.S. O ce of Personnel Management under Trump. Trump’s campaign spokeswom-

Project 2025 has been preparing its 180-day agenda for the next administration that it plans to share privately, rather than as part of its public-facing book of priorities for a Republican president. Russ Vought, a key Trump ally who contributed to Project 2025 and is drafting this nal pillar, is also on the Republican National Committee’s platform writing committee.

Project 2025 said in a statement it is not tied to a speci c candidate or campaign.

“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” it said. “But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement.”

the stream

The Stream: Dunaway tells all in ‘Faye,’

‘The

Bachelorette’ returns to ABC

“Faye” is an authorized but candid portrait of singular screen legend Faye Dunaway

The Associated Press

THIS WEEK, the “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken” docu-series is available on Paramount+, the long-awaited Faye Dunaway documentary comes to Max, and Megan Moroney drops her sophomore album.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Laurent Bouzereau’s “Faye” (streaming beginning 8 p.m. Saturday on Max) is an authorized but candid portrait of the singular screen legend Faye Dunaway. In it, the 83-year-old Dunaway frankly discusses her bipolar disorder diagnosis and her history of alcoholism, along with her long string of classic lms, including “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Chinatown” and “Network.” Not many lms come with instructions to wear headphones while watching, but Sam Green’s “32 Sounds” is not your average documentary, either. Green’s movie, which was shortlisted for best documentary by the Academy Awards earlier this year, explores 32 wildly disparate auditory experiences — the heartbeat of a fetus, a whoopee cushion at work, Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” — to contemplate all the many ways that sound resonates in our lives. The movie was rst a “live documentary” experience that handed out headphones to its audience members and is streaming on the Criterion Channel.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Last year, country musician Megan Moroney’s debut album, “Lucky,” was named one of AP’s top albums for 2023 for its sharp writing and friendly delivery — a Gen Z songwriter I previously described possessing Taylor Swift-level acuity. Her pen continues to be her weapon on “Am I Okay?” a heartbreak- lled rollercoaster ride of a sophomore album, lled with quotable kiss-o s and evolved compositions. It will be released Friday. Hardy (real name Michael Wilson Hardy) has been celebrated for his hybrid approach to country music, weaving elements of anthemic rock and even nu-metal into his compositions. (Kid Rock has left a massive vacancy, it could be pointed out.) On his third studio album, “Quit!!,” Hardy contin-

ues to push the boundaries of his chosen genres. “Rockstar” sounds like something that would’ve found a home on the Van’s Warped Tour, delivered through his signature twang; the line between rock and country has never been thinner. We’re living in a prosperous period of music documentaries about Memphis (and no, we’re not only including HBO and Max’s “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A” in that statement, but it is certainly up there.) A new documentary will become available via video-on-demand: “The Blues Society,” which gleans new insight into the Memphis Country Blues Festival, held between 1966 and 1970. The lm, released Tuesday, examines the relationship between the festival and ’60s counterculture, Memphis blues and race — particularly looking at the white organizers who put it on and the black musicians who played it. It’s appointment viewing for music and American history fans alike.

Paramount+ released a new, two-part docuseries, “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken.” It follows the Grammy-award-winning Etheridge as she organizes a special concert at a women’s prison in Kan-

sas, the Topeka Correctional Facility. Five women incarcerated there wrote letters to Etheridge, inspiring her to compose an original song for them and throw the event. Throughout is also an addiction narrative, which Etheridge can relate to. In 2020, her son Beckett Cypher died at age 21 from causes related to opioid addiction.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Jenn Tran, who competed for Joey Graziadei’s heart on the last season of “The Bachelor,” is ABC’s new “Bachelorette.” Tran, a physician’s assistant student, is the rst Asian American to lead the series. Watch her meet her suitors on ABC. Episodes also stream on Hulu.

Rashida Jones stars in a new mystery for Apple TV+ centering around one of the hottest topics of late: arti cial intelligence. In “Sunny,” Jones plays a woman living in Japan whose husband and son go missing after a plane crash. She’s gifted with a domestic robot to keep her company and help through her grief.

Dakota and Elle Fanning are behind a new true crime docuseries for Hulu. “Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer” intro -

duces viewers to Dr. Ann Burgess, a pioneer in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, who changed the way authorities investigate serial killers. Burgess’ story isn’t just fascinating and inspiring, as she earned respect in the male-dominated FBI. The three-part series dropped on Thursday. With the success of “Love Island USA” and “The Traitors,” Peacock has two hit reality competition shows on its roster. Next, hungry bears are the stars of a new nonscripted series for the streamer. “The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” tracks Alaskan brown bears as they seek to eat enough food (approximately three million calories) to sustain them through winter slumber. The hangry bears must battle Mother Nature and each other to do so. As the title suggests, “The Hungry Games” is presented like a competition show. The games started Thursday. Not to be outdone, the godfather of natural history programs, Sir David Attenborough, has a new wildlife docuseries dedicated to various mammals.

“Planet Earth: Mammals” looks at, you guessed it, mammals big and small adapting to their evolving natural habitat due to

human activity and the e ects of climate change. The six-part series premieres Saturday on BBC America and AMC+.

A new original for MGM+ explores the world of politics and academia against the backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard. “Emperor of Ocean Park” is a thriller mystery series based on a novel of the same name and debuts Sunday. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and Grantham Coleman star.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

There aren’t enough games where you get to kick your enemies, so thank goodness for Devolver Digital’s Anger Foot. Sure, it lets you arm yourself with standard weapons like ries and crossbows, but for upclose brawling, nothing beats a shoe to the face. The visuals look like something you might see after too many Red Bulls, the bass-heavy soundtrack will wake up your neighbors, and the shoe collection should satisfy any sneakerhead. South African developer Free Lives is known for raunchy, ultraviolent comedy, and it doesn’t take the foot o the gas pedal here. You can kick out the jams starting Thursday on PC.

VIANNEY LE CAER / AP PHOTO

Faye Dunaway poses for photographers at the “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” premiere at the 77th International Film Festival 2024.

“Emperor of Ocean Park,” “The Bachelorette” and “The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” all stream this week.

Randolph record

Only in America

The Independence Day Parade in Millboro featured nearly every type of vehicle imaginable, from tractors and trucks to four-wheelers and … more trucks. The parade, a two-decade tradition, runs for three miles from Faith Temple Baptist Church, down Mack Lineberry Road to Tom Brown Road before ending at Bethany United Methodist Church.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Filing period opens for Archdale, Trinity

In Archdale, Mayor Lewis Dorsett led Friday to keep his seat as his two-year term ends, while three four-year seats are on the ballot for Archdale City Council.

Those are Ward 2 (with incumbent Roger Blackwell), Ward 3 (with incumbent Trey Gray III) and at-large (with incumbent Tim Williams). Blackwell and Gray made rst-day lings, while Alvin Battle entered the race for the at-large council race.

In Trinity, three four-year council spots are on the board. Those are Ward 1 (with incumbent Bob Hicks), Ward 3 (with incumbent Jack Carico) and at-large (with incumbent Tommy Johnson). Carico led to keep her spot, while Deborah Jacky put her name in for the at-large seat.

The ling runs through noon July 19. Shane Whitaker of Climax was the only candidate to le for the Randolph Soil and Water Conservation district supervisor position.

NC paves the way for digital driver’s licenses

A new law signed this week will see digital driver’s licenses on North Carolina driver’s smartphones beginning on July 1, 2025. Under the law, digital licenses will be legally equivalent to physical licenses, containing the same all the same information. They’ll be limited to display only on mobile devices owned by the license holder.

The DMV will publish a study by January 1 that will address costs, security concerns, and potential impacts on law enforcement practices.

A dozen states already support digital licenses, with a majority of states in the process of legalizing and developing them.

Plans set for Acme McCrary Hosiery Mill building

Historic preservation is a large part of the project in downtown Asheboro

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The 1909 Acme McCrary Hosiery Mill building at 159 North St. will become a market-rate luxury apartment building with mixed-use commercial space.

Downtown Asheboro Inc. purchased the building from the City of Asheboro at the appraised value for the purpose of historic preservation and has sold the structure to Clachan Properties.

“We know they do great work and have a great track record,” said Downtown Asheboro Inc. executive director Addie Corder.

The mill shut down operations nearly a decade ago. From there, a manufacturing distribution company sought to occupy the building, but city o cials

were concerned about truck trafc in that part of the city. So the city purchased the building with grant funding from the North Carolina General Assembly.

Petty says camp for seriously ill children is family’s true legacy

‘The King’ of NASCAR is proud of what Victory Junction Camp has achieved

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

RICHARD PETTY, with a record 200 Cup Series wins, seven championships and a rst-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame, is considered NASCAR’s greatest driver. He is spending the season celebrating 75 years of NASCAR participation by his famous family — basically since the inception of the stock car series in 1948 — and re ecting on the legacy that will be left behind. As he approached his 87th

“I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.” Richard Petty, stock car racing legend

birthday, celebrated Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race at Chicago, Petty has realized his family should be hailed for something far bigger than anything it did in NASCAR. He pointed to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was opened in 2004 for chronically ill children as a way to honor his late grandson.

Adam Petty was 19 when he was killed in a 2000 crash practicing for a race at New Hampshire. Not too many years be -

fore, he’d made a motorcycle visit to Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek and became interested in creating a similar camp in North Carolina. Petty said the family following through on Adam’s dream will be its lasting legacy.

“This is for seriously ill kids who can’t go to camp, so it’s a very special deal,” Petty said.

“The kids come from all over the country and they don’t charge them anything. We make sure they get there and

While the city was preparing the structure for preservation — including rezoning the property for o ce and residential uses, landmarking the building with the Randolph County Historic Landmark Preservation Commission, removing a 20,000-gallon furnace oil tank and conducting subsequent lings with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality — Downtown Asheboro Inc. formed a strategy for attracting a developer for the property.

That process took about 2½ years.

The Downtown Asheboro Inc. board of directors sought a partner who would provide additional commercial market opportunities. Since 2021, the vacancy rate for commercial properties downtown has been less than 5%. Corder said Clachan Properties was selected based on its experience executing historic preservation projects.

“With Randolph County expected to grow by 100,000 res-

get them home. So when I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play, and I think the bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.

“Racing put us in a position to come out and do something, and it was always one of Adam’s dreams,” he added. “When we lost Adam, the family got together and said we’d go pursue that deal.” Adam Petty was the oldest son of Kyle Petty, Richard’s only son. Petty family patriarch Lee started the racing team, and Richard’s engine-building

MILL, page 2 See JUNCTION, page 6

COURTESY PHOTO

The site of the Acme McCrary Hosiery Mill in downtown Asheboro.

Neal

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

Editor

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager Published

Water comes under scrutiny at Farmer Elementary School

The district has until August to resolve the issues

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Randolph County School System superintendent Stephen Gainey advised against drinking the water at Farmer Elementary School after chemicals were found in the supply.

Sta members are advised to avoid drinking the water after a report released by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. There are no classes because of summer break and only about a half-dozen sta mem-

CRIME LOG

July 2

• Derwyn Andre Mixon, 36, of Indian Trail, was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) for trafficking in cocaine.

• Twain Patrick Johnson, 40, of Asheboro, was arrested by the Asheboro Police Department (APD) for resisting a public officer, second-degree trespass, and misuse of the 911 system.

July 3

• Derek Wayne Clodfelter, 38, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for resisting a public officer, possession of controlled substance on prison/jail premises, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession of Schedule II controlled substance.

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

July 4

• Ricardo Javier Palacios, 25, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for misdemeanor larceny and felony possession of stolen goods.

bers are working at the school for the next several weeks.

Gainey noted that bottled water is available at the school, and the goal is to have the situation recti ed by the start of the new school year in August.

The DEQ’s statement said that testing on small samples has been ongoing for three years and the data is preliminary.

“DEQ’s sampling of a small system west of Asheboro showed signi cantly elevated levels in well water,” the DEQ statement said. “DEQ also contacted the nearby elementary school and tested PFAS (poly- and per uoroalkyl substances) levels in their two wells and onsite drinking water. Preliminary data on the

July 5

• Daniel James Albright, 25, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for multiple counts of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods, and injury to real property.

July 6

• Victoria White Appel, 32, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for shoplifting by concealment of goods, attempted larceny, and larceny of a motor vehicle.

• Skylar Jordan Payne, 34, of Lexington, was arrested by the NC Highway Patrol for driving while impaired. He was also charged by RCSO for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.

July 7

• Nathan Ray Rich, 46, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for resisting a public officer, misdemeanor larceny, and possession of stolen goods.

samples at the school con rm signi cantly elevated levels of some PFAS compounds in one of the school’s two wells, as well as lower but still elevated levels of PFAS compounds, including soon-to-be regulated compounds PFOS and PFOA, at a tap (or faucet) at the school.” Residents in the immediate area also have been contacted.

Meanwhile, RCSS is sending a letter with additional information and resources to the homes of students and sta in the Farmer Elementary School zone. Gainey said that Randolph County Public Health and state-level health professionals are assisting in providing guidance on the topic.

July 8

• Raleigh David McDuffie, 55, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver Schedule I controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/ place for controlled substances, simple possession of Schedule II and IV controlled substances, carrying a concealed weapon, driving while license revoked, resisting a public officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Andrew Sanchez, 21, of High Point, was arrested by RCSO for three counts of statutory rape of a child 15 years old or younger.

• Cameron Len Davis, 41, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Randolph Guide

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

July 12

Asheboro Rock’n the Park

6:30 p.m.

Doug Brewin’s Tribute to Alan Jackson will perform with opening act Zinc Kings. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the music. Asheboro’s Bicentennial Park.

July

13

Asheboro ZooKeepers Baseball

7 p.m.

Just six games remain on the ZooKeepers’ schedule. The July 13 game against the Uwharrie Wampus Cats is “Christmas in July” sponsored by Brightspeed.

July 14

Hike to Russell Gold Mine

1:30 p.m.

SUNDAY JULY 14

MONDAY JULY 15

TUESDAY JULY 16

WEDNESDAY JULY 17

idents over the next 5-10 years, this development provides an excellent opportunity to create more residential units in the city while honoring Asheboro’s heritage rooted in the textile industry,” she said. Founded in 2003, Clachan Properties specializes in the acquisition, renovation and management of historic properties. While the company’s headquarters is in Richmond, Virginia, its portfolio includes properties in Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Burlington. Clachan Properties manages more than 1,000 rental units in settings ranging from single-family homes to large luxury apartment communities.

“While there are still a number of historic and other approvals required before we can start construction, we’re eager to start clearing those hurdles,” Clachan Properties president Hugh Shytle said in a statement. “When construction is complete, we’ll be bringing much-needed market-rate housing to join an already vibrant downtown.”

May Hosiery Lofts, a redeveloped mill turned into apartments that opened prior to the pandemic in downtown Burlington, is Clachan Prop

erties’ closest project to Asheboro. Corder said she has seen the company’s project in Winston-Salem.

The Acme McCrary Hosiery Mill building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and was landmarked locally by the city council upon the recommendation of the Randolph County Historic Landmark Preservation Commission in 2023.

According to Downtown Asheboro Inc., special care will be taken in the renovation project to preserve architectural elements that are original to the building, including the low-pitch gable roof, double-thickness wood oors and multipane wood sash windows. This $25 million investment by Clachan will rehabilitate the last vacant building on the Acme McCrary campus.

“The city council very much wants to see this iconic building preserved,” Mayor David Smith said. “Hearing that it will also be repurposed in a way that supports downtown’s revitalization is the de nition of a win-win in my book.”

Corder said there’s no hard deadline for Clachan Properties to complete the project, though there are guidelines set to be achieved.

The development is in the

early design phase, and details, such as the ratio of nonresidential to residential space, the number of apartments and parking provisions, are yet to be determined. The conveyance includes the surface parking lot on North Street next to the Asheboro Recreation Center.

Mill 133 project

Corder said private investors have navigated various stages to secure funding for Mill 133, located behind The Table restaurant.

The project, at 133 South Church St., potentially involves historic designation tax credits. It was built in 1917 as Asheboro Hosiery Mill and Cranford Furniture Company.

Downtown Asheboro Inc. is assisting with that. It’s a smaller now-former mill with less than 50,000 square feet.

Corder said downtown preservation is part of the planning stages for the Mill 133 project. That site might be more suitable for something other than apartments, she said.

“(Other projects) further increases demand for hotels,” she said. “There’s some hospitality-related development that could come from that.”

Uwharrie National Forest hike to Russell Gold Mine. Meet at the Downtown Farmer’s Market at 1:30 p.m. to carpool to the site of the hike or meet at the site at 2 p.m. For more information, call 336-963-2715.

July 21

Asheboro Summer Sunday Concerts 6 p.m.

The Special Occasion Band will perform at Asheboro’s Bicentennial Park as part of the Sunday Concerts Series.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@ randolphrecord.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Guide THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

A tale of two debates

One possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies.

THE DEBATE FEATURED “an extraordinarily aggressive, top-to-bottom attack,” Politico wrote. “Over and over,” one candidate’s “tactic of choice was a gut-level punch.” An “alpha-male display,” Britain’s left-wing Guardian headlined. The dominant candidate’s style, CNN agreed, was “put your head down, charge forward, and don’t stop.”

No, those were not comments about the earliest-in-history presidential debate. They were analyses made nearly 12 years ago after the Oct. 2012 vice presidential debate between Paul Ryan and his much more aggressive opponent, Joe Biden.

Biden was then the incumbent vice president, determined to o set former President Barack Obama’s indolent performance against Mitt Romney in the campaign’s rst presidential debate eight days before. His forceful, often mocking approach obscured his frequent misstatements and factual errors, but he reversed the Democratic ticket’s downward plunge in the polls.

The contrast between Biden’s 2012 and 2024 performances is glaring and a reminder of the ravages of age. But the two debates may also turn out to represent a turning point in the politics of, and the balance between, the two parties.

Going into the 2012 debate, Ryan at age 42 looked to me like the future of Republican politics.

As House budget chairman, he had gotten his colleagues to back his package of tax cuts and entitlement reforms while looking favorably on free trade and legalization of worthy illegal immigrants.

But the bombast and ridicule Biden in icted on Ryan in the 2012 debate was a foretaste of the bombast and ridicule former President Donald Trump in icted on multiple rivals in presidential primary debates in 2015 and ‘16 —

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Blind loyalty

Are rank-andle Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that?

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM says he has President Joe Biden’s back. It’s almost enough for me to take him o my list of possible successors to the incumbent president. Having Biden’s back is not a matter of loyalty.

Biden has been a ne president. He inherited a country in crisis, roiled by the pandemic, and righted the ship of state. The economy recovered. We beat back the pandemic. Important bipartisan bills were passed, including the infrastructure bill and major legislation on climate change. We would have passed immigration reform, with bipartisan support, if Donald Trump hadn’t scuttled the e ort by calling on his Republican friends to abandon the bill to save him an issue to campaign on. He led the Democratic Party to a surprisingly successful midterm election. He would go down in history as a very successful president if he doesn’t go down, as seems increasingly likely, as a sel sh leader who stayed too long and endangered our democracy as much as the man he is running against. We’ve been to that movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Trump court. Make no mistake, if he doesn’t step aside, that will be his legacy. The polls say that as many as 78% of the American people don’t want him to run again.

and which he in icted on the (to many voters) surprisingly inert Biden last week.

As speaker of the House for 38 months from Oct. 2015, Ryan helped shape and pass Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. But from the time he came down the Trump Tower escalator, Trump repudiated Ryan’s stands on entitlements, trade and immigration. By now, almost all Republican o ceholders have followed his lead.

Meanwhile, under Biden, Democrats moved sharply left on key issues, with an open borders policy, vast spending increases (on top of Trump’s) sparking rst-time-in-fourdecades in ation, and ninth-month abortions. Trump hit Biden hard on such leftward lunges last week.

Will the 2024 debate in which Biden got shellshocked have a politics-altering e ect like that of the 2012 debate in which he administered the shellshocking?

Of course we don’t yet know the fallout of this year’s debate. Thoughtful liberals like polling analyst Nate Silver, issues advocate Ezra Klein, and the gifted reporter Joe Klein are pleading that Biden withdraw and Democrats nominate someone stronger than his handpicked vice president, Kamala Harris.

But Democratic politicians have, as the younger Klein writes, a “collective action” problem: Retribution awaits the rst dissenters from the public Biden-should-stay consensus. And as shown in Biden’s 36 years of commuting from the Senate home to Delaware and his nearly 300 days there as president (according to CBS’s Mark Knoller), he’s never been close to Washington insiders. He has relied instead largely on family members, all of whom are reportedly strongly against withdrawal.

It’s still possible he could win. Silver gives that a 31% likelihood, just above the 29% he

gave Trump of winning going into the 2016 election. Things that likely tend to happen about one-third of the time.

But two-thirds of the time they don’t. Trump was ahead going into the debate, initial polling suggests his lead has grown since, and he seems to have signi cant leads in states (including Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which he lost in 2020) with 268 electoral votes, two short of a majority. Add Pennsylvania or Michigan or Wisconsin or Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and he’s president again. And probably with a Republican House and Republican Senate. Democrats looking back on the last three decades brag that they’ve won ve of the last eight presidential elections and have carried the popular vote in seven. A Trump presidency, if it were as successful with voters as the pre-COVID rst Trump term was, could be followed by a second and possibly two-term Republican presidency.

Possible Trump VP nominees Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) or Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), or Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), whom he shoved aside this year, look to me at least as gifted at politics and policy as any Democrat I’ve seen mentioned as national nominees. So one possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies, something achieved only once since 1952, in Ronald Reagan’s 1980s. That would represent success for the Republican politics of Trump and would surely, sooner or later, prompt a rethink of the Democratic politics of Biden. Is that too much to extrapolate from a single debate? Probably. But it would be poetic justice if the devastation Biden in icted on Ryan’s ideas were in icted in turn by Trump on Biden’s.

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

They aren’t kidding. And I’m not kidding when I wonder if those who do are only looking for a candidate so thoroughly discredited that he’s the only one Trump could beat.

We all know what we saw on television. It was not just an o night. It was a man who had no business being on that stage.

Dear Gavin: Who are you being loyal to? How about being loyal to the future of our democracy? Biden himself has recognized that’s what is at stake in this election. It is. And Biden is the one who is threatening to take it down because of his stubborn determination to hold onto power past his time. He has clearly emerged as the Democrat least likely to defeat Trump. Are rank-and- le Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that? It can’t be. Where is Biden’s inner circle? Where are the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party? Are they telling him what he needs to hear or what he wants to hear?

The New York Times has reported that Biden met with his family to seek their advice. The family, it is reported, urged him to stay in the race. Hunter was particularly strong. How terrifying. The Biden with the demonstrably worst judgment in the family, a convicted felon and an object of ridicule — is this who Biden is listening to?

Or are we only being told this by an insider who is afraid to speak out publicly about why Biden should step aside so they are telling us who he is listening to instead? It hardly helps Biden. It makes him look weaker, not stronger. I understand blind public loyalty. I’ve been

there and done that. It is misplaced. Politics is too important for personal loyalty at the expense of country. The reason the party rallied around Biden in the rst place — when some of those who knew him best must have seen up close what had happened to him over the course of four years, must have seen the decline we all witnessed in Atlanta — was clearly because of the conventional wisdom that challenging an incumbent president would only weaken him in the general election. That was, on the face of things, the lesson of the 1980 election, when Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter, who used the power of the presidency adroitly to defeat him and then lost to Ronald Reagan. But that’s just plain wrong. I was there, too. The reason Kennedy ran in the rst place was because he was convinced, rightly, that Carter could not defeat Reagan.

Could Kennedy have done better? He could not have done worse.

It would have been better if someone had taken on Biden. We would have seen him on a debate stage earlier than we did. Every delegate to the convention would not have been pledged to Biden. We would have a stronger candidate right now.

But it is not too late. Rank-and- le Democrats may not be able to do much, but Democratic leaders and donors can make their voices heard. This is a cause that demands courage. Biden needs not only to hear it privately but to hear it publicly. It is not too late for him to avoid more public humiliation — and for us to preserve our democracy.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

RandolpH SPORTS

Petty embraces spot in East-West All-Star Game

The Randleman guard had a heightened role during the past season

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — Being part of an elite group of girls’ basketball players is special for Randleman’s Audra Petty.

She’ll play in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game.

“It means a lot to be selected for the East-West Game because some of the best players in the state will be there,” Petty said. “I thought maybe I had a chance with my states from this season.”

Petty’s 17.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game were huge for the Tigers as they maintained their perch as the top team in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Since then, she has been preparing for Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum’s eld house, which is home to the Greensboro Swarm. She’ll be on the West team.

For Petty, this comes in advance of playing collegiately for Division III Lynchburg. She’ll

“It helped my preparation for college. This year I had to do a little bit of everything.”

Audra Petty, guard from Randleman

major in exercise science.

Petty, a 5-foot-9 guard, played a big role for Randleman, which went undefeated again in PAC play and posted a 20-7 overall record. She was the only senior for the Tigers and the lone returning starter from the 2022-23 team until Gracie Beane was back on the court following an injury. It marked Petty’s fourth year as a starter, but this wasn’t the same situation.

“It was a lot di erent than the three previous years,” she said. “I knew that from the beginning I would have to step up in that leadership role. It helped my preparation for college. This year I had to do a little bit of everything.”

Petty said she improved men-

tally in adjusting from primarily being a shooting threat to more of an all-around player.

Maintaining the perch atop the PAC was important.

“It meant a lot to keep the conference championship,” Petty said. “A lot of people probably thought we might be in the middle of the pack in the league.”

Petty, 18, has been going through workout programs sent to her from the Lynchburg coaching sta .

It’s the second year in a row that a Randleman player will be in the East-West All-Star Game for girls’ basketball. Last July, Gracyn Hall played in the event.

For Petty, there will be players she’s familiar with on the West team based on her time as a member of the Greensboro Lady Gaters travel team. Also picked for the summer game were Hattie Sloyan of Greensboro Page, Jasmine Harris of Northern Guilford and Maslyn Mosbacher of Northwest Guilford.

The girls’ game begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the boys’ game. Asheboro’s Jerquarius Stanback has withdrawn from the boys’ game because of an injury.

The four-year soccer starter will compete in summer showcase

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

TRINITY — Maggie Messner had a huge impact for Wheatmore’s historic success in girls’ soccer. She was a bit under the radar with the Warriors, so she’s excited about the recognition that comes with a spot in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game.

“For me, the best part is that because I’m not getting to play at the next level, I get to showcase myself and show what I can do and how I’ve developed,” Messner said. “I get to do it one last time.

… The game is a chance to get my personal recognition.”

That’s appropriate in Wheatmore coach Rick Maness’ mind.

“I’m happy for her,” he said. “Only certain ones are going to get attention. Now she is able to get in the spotlight.”

The N.C. East-West All-Star Game is for seniors from the Class of 2024. Messner will be a defender on the West team Tuesday night in Greensboro.

Messner was a four-year starter at outside left back for the Warriors, who won the 2022 Class 2A state championship, were 2023

RECORD FILE

RANDOLPH

Wheatmore’s Maggie Messner, left, makes a play against Wilkes Central’s Riley Hu man during the 2023 state playo s.

state runners-up and played this year in the West Region nal. The state title marked the rst in any sport at Wheatmore.

“We were the rst to ever do it,” Messner said. “Just getting to represent my school and it just all came together.” Huge attention tended to be focused on Wheatmore classmate Ellie Garrison, who became the career scoring leader for girls’ soccer in North Carolina. Messner came up through youth leagues as an o ensive player. When she arrived at Wheatmore, Maness had other ideas.

“When Maggie got there as a freshman, she had always been a

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Noelle Swaim

Providence Grove girls’ soccer, tennis

Swaim participated in three sports for the Patriots and made big impacts.

Last fall, she was a member of the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion girls’ tennis team. That included a spot on the All-PAC team. As a senior, she was part of the conference’s third-place doubles tandem.

Swaim played key roles for Providence Grove’s girls’ soccer team during the spring. The Patriots made a big jump, nishing second in the PAC and posting an overall 14-5-2 record.

She lled a variety of roles on the soccer eld. She was credited with eight goals and two assists.

Swaim also was a member of Providence Grove’s girls’ swimming team. She was a member of a relay in the Class 1A-2A Central Regional.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

“I’m happy for her. Only certain ones are going to get attention. Now she is able to get in the spotlight.”

Rick Maness, Wheatmore soccer coach

forward,” he said. “I needed a defender in the back … and she fell in love with it.”

There was never a reason to have her play in other positions.

“She’s got a lot of IQ,” Maness said. “She just knew how to play ’em.” It worked out.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

Messner, 18, is going to Appalachian State, but won’t be playing soccer. She’s planning to study sports broadcasting and journalism.

This summer, she has a game day job with the Carolina Core, which is a rst-year minor league men’s soccer team in High Point.

Messner will be Wheatmore’s rst player in the N.C. East-West All-Star Game. That will be held at Jamieson Stadium on the Greensboro Grimsley campus – a di erent venue than recent years. The girls’ game begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a boys’ game.

An injury stemming from late in Asheboro’s season ares up

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Jerquarius

Stanback of Asheboro won’t play in next week’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game because of an injury stemming from late in the basketball season.

Stanback, an Appalachian State signee, is dealing with a wrist injury that might require surgery, Asheboro coach Brian Nance said.

“He fell in that playo game and just landed on it,” Nance said. “There’s something in the wrist.”

Stanback was injured in a violent tumble during a rstround game of the Class 3A state playo s vs. visiting Carson. He su ered a concussion and other ailments and missed Asheboro’s second-round loss to Asheville Reynolds.

Nance said Stanback, a 6-foot-7 forward, was sidelined for nearly two months before resuming workouts in late April. He had been wearing a wrist brace.

“Then in June it started bothering him again,” Nance said, leading to an examination last week when it was determined he’ll miss the N.C. East-West Game.

Stanback ranks as one of

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE

Jerquarius Stanback

the top players in Asheboro’s history. He’s the rst boys’ basketball player for the Blue Comets to sign with a Division I team in 34 years, Nance said.

“In my 18 years, he’s obviously the best,” Nance said. “He was kind of a do-it-all player and he became a good leader.”

He averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior, when the Blue Comets went 23-4 and won the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament.

Stanback was one of 10 players selected to represent the West team in the allstar event Monday night in Greensboro. Nance said the player had plans to report to Appalachian State later this month.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Audra Petty of Randleman takes a shot during a game against Uwharrie Charter Academy during the past season.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE

Noelle Swaim of Providence Grove res a shot against Randleman during this spring’s girls’ soccer season.

Asheboro’s Miller looks for next baseball stop

The in elder has made conditioning a priority to improve his stock

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

BURLINGTON — Gage Miller’s winding baseball path has taken him to the Burlington Sock Puppets this summer.

The in elder from Asheboro is still trying to carve out a stable college career.

“I love baseball every single day,” Miller said. “I’m trying to get back into that groove. I knew once I got in the groove, I’ll be ne.” Miller left Asheboro High School’s team to play his senior season for Pro5 Baseball Academy based in Holly Springs, where he was slowed at times by a tendon foot injury. By then, the one-time North Carolina State commit realized it wasn’t going to work out for him there as the Wolfpack recruited over him and reduced his scholarship.

But Queens, a newcomer on the Division I scene in Charlotte, came calling.

“A big, old juicy o er I couldn’t pass up,” Miller said.

Before things barely got started for him there, Queens had a coaching sta change last summer. The new sta arrived and replenished the roster, causing Miller to sense his path had been detoured with incoming transfer upperclassmen. He redshirted in 2024 and entered the trans-

fer portal.

“I was going to save my eligibility,” he said. “It has helped me with my recruiting.” Miller, 19, has been in contact with junior colleges in addition to Division I and Division II teams.

Sock Puppets manager Anthony Essien players on the summer team are in various stages of their college journeys with di erent objectives during the season. In Miller’s case, that’s trying to boost his stock.

“One thing I tell players, there’s a pressure of playing for a scholarship,” Essien said.

Along the way, Miller played last summer for the Old North State League’s High Point Hushpuppies. He was coveting a chance to play with Burlington in the Appalachian League, which is a summer collegiate circuit overseen by Major League Baseball.

“Now I’m looking for a place I can go make a di erence and call home.”

Gage Miller, baseball player from Asheboro

He’s logging time mostly as a rst baseman and third baseman on a Sock Puppets club with players who’ve been on college teams in NCAA regionals.

“Third base is where I want to play,” he said, though noting that shortstop is also a possibility.

Miller said he dedicated himself to conditioning in the past year, after his weight went from 205 pounds to 250.

“I was just fat,” he said. “I worked my butt o to get down to 190. I got a lot quicker.”

There have been signs of Miller cranking up production. He drove in three runs in front of a July 4 crowd of more than 4,000 fans when the Sock Puppets defeated the visiting Danville Otterbots 9-5.

In a game before that, Essien said Miller turned a two-strike situation into a broken-bat single.

“Sometimes it takes an at-bat to get you going,” Essien said.

Now, Miller is awaiting his next stop.

“I’m still a little young,” he said. “Now I’m looking for a place I can go make a di erence and call home.”

Close games prove costly for ZooKeepers

Asheboro ended a four-game losing streak prior to schedule break

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers were involved in a bunch of close games heading into the Coastal Plain League’s all-star break.

Not all of those outcomes worked out well for the ZooKeepers.

So when play resumed this week, the ZooKeepers were in sixth place in the eight-team West Division with a 5-6 second-half record in the split season. The ZooKeepers ended last week with a pair of games with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms.

Asheboro out elder Owen

Blackledge was dubbed the top hitter in the CPL for Saturday’s games when he went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double and drove in two runs as ZooKeepers topped the HiToms 8-7 at Finch Field in Thomasville. That result snapped Asheboro’s four-game losing streak.

Zach Evans, who like Blackledge plays for Lenoir-Rhyne, hit a solo home run.

Pitcher Nic Schutte appeared in his nal game for the ZooKeepers and logged four innings and allowed two runs. Richie Cimpric and Zach Taylor worked out of the bullpen before Danny Thompson notched the save with ve strikeouts.

A night earlier, the HiToms won 8-6 at McCrary Park.

Last Thursday night, the Florence City Flamingos edged the visiting ZooKeepers 8-7 despite four hits from Evans and three hits from Dylan Driver.

Pitcher nds his Way to Liberty

The PAC Player of the Year from Randleman changed his route to college

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — Seth Way has changed his college destination, but he’ll still be joining a Division I program in the state of Virginia. Way, who has been a standout two-way player for Randleman, announced a commitment to Liberty last week.

“I knew as soon as I got on campus that’s where I wanted to go,” said Way, who had a standout high school career for Randleman.

The right-handed pitcher had signed in November with Virginia Tech, but was released in May from that national letter of intent. He was Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

The notion to change directions became clear to Way by spring before he nally made the request to select another spot. He said he was wrapped up in Randleman’s season and didn’t want to be distracted by the recruiting process.

“I had my mind set on Tech for a while,” he said. “Nothing against Tech, it just wasn’t going to be a great t for me. I’ve got nothing bad to say about V-Tech. I think I was caught all up with the Power 5 thing.” Way’s older brother, Trey Way, spent parts of the past two years with the Virginia Tech program, but never played a game for the Hokies.

Back in the recruiting mix for the past month-plus wasn’t a normal path. Seth Way had been in contact with High Point, Radford and UNC Wilmington.

“It was kind of a tough situation because I waited so long,” he said. “It was just meant to be (to end up at Liberty).” Way moved in at the Lynchburg, Va., campus during the past weekend.

He joins a team where Asheboro’s Tanner Marsh just nished his freshman season as the starting shortstop for the Flames, who are coached by former North Carolina assistant Scott Jackson. Way said he knows several other Liberty players through travel ball.

In the past, Way had been part of the South Charlotte Panthers travel program. He hasn’t played this summer, guring his extensive pitching workload on the mound for Randleman resulted in the need for a layo from games prior to entering a college program.

In the meantime, Way said he’s working on expanding his pitching skills. His fastball has clocked in the 87-90 mph range.

“I’ve been developing my change-up,” he said. “I’ve picked up some velo. My goal is to continue to put on velo. I’ve always had the fastball and slider. I really want to develop that third pitch.”

While he was an accomplished batter in the Randleman lineup since his sophomore season, he frequently talked about embracing his role on the mound. He was the left elder on the 2022 state championship team.

Since then, he logged lots of time in center eld when he wasn’t pitching in 2023, while this year he lled in as a third baseman, shortstop and rst baseman. But he said he’s not interested in going to the plate in college.

“If I wanted to hit in college, I would not like it,” he said. “I know where my bread is buttered. I’ve put down the bat and I’ve picked up the golf clubs.”

At 6-foot-3 and 188 pounds, he said he’s interested in getting into Liberty’s weight-training program and tacking on about 10 pounds.

Randleman won Class 2A state championships in 2021 and 2022 and made a deep playo run in 2023. Way said it was important to maintain the high standards., and the Tigers went 21-6 this season with a PAC regular-season championship.

“We were kind of doubted the whole season,” he said. “I think we showed that Randleman baseball is very, very good.”

Meanwhile, former Randleman standout Trey Cooper said he’s leaving Liberty after two seasons. Cooper, a pitcher, is back with the Burlington Sock Puppets this summer for the second go-around in three years with the Appalachian League team for summer college baseball.

The Boone Bigfoots nipped the ZooKeepers 4-3 last Wednesday night at McCrary Park. Blackledge and Evans both produced three hits and Sal Laimo homered for Asheboro.

Overall, four of the ZooKeepers’ nal ve games prior to the break were one-run results, with the other decided by two runs.

Asheboro’s Chase Heath drove in 11 runs across his past nine games.

After a home game Thursday night against the HiToms, the ZooKeepers play their next three CPL games on the road until a July 18 visit from the Martinsville Mustangs. Aside from those CPL games comes Saturday night’s nonleague home matchup with the Uwharrie Wampus Cats of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Gage Miller signs a baseball for a young Burlington Sock Puppets game after a game.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Pitcher Seth Way, right, confers with coach Jake Smith during a game this year.

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Gage Miller

SIDELINE REPORT

WWE

Cena announces retirement from professional wrestling in 2025

Toronto John Cena has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after two decades in the ring. The wrestler-turnedactor told World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of dates and an epic nal ght. Cena assured fans he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career. He told reporters after the event that he feels physically “at my end” but that doesn’t mean he needs to distance himself from the sport he loves. Cena is a 16-time WWE champion and action movie star.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson assistant coach, former RB Spiller selected for ring of honor

Clemson, S.C. College Football Hall of Famer C.J. Spiller was selected to Clemson’s ring of honor for its Death Valley stadium. The award is the highest honor given by the school’s athletic department. Spiller played running back from 2006 to 2009 and set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 7,588 allpurpose yards. He was selected to the College Football Hall in 2021. Spiller was picked No. 9 overall by Bu alo in the 2010 draft and spent eight seasons in the pros. He is entering his fourth season as Clemson’s running backs coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Kipyegon breaks own world record in 1,500 meters

Paris Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Diamond League track and eld meeting in Paris. Kipyegon nished in 3:49.04, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year. The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a twotime Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Before Sunday, she had only run twice in 2024, in the 1,500 and 5,000, to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics at the Kenyan trials in June.

Labonte surges to race victory at Caraway

High-pro le drivers helped deliver multiple nights of drama at the track

Randolph Record

SOPHIA — Former NA-

SCAR Cup Series driver Bobby Labonte won the SMART Modi ed Tour’s feature Saturday night at Caraway Speedway.

Labonte overcame Danny Bohn and Jimmy Blewett for the victory in the 99-lap race.

The race came on a card that capped a couple of nights of high-pro le drivers visiting the track to race during the past week.

The racing card for Rusty Harpe Memorial was dripping with drama, with the Revolutionary 99 delivering. The SMART Modi ed Tour race took 2 hours, 7 minutes.

“That was pretty exciting at the end,” Labonte said.

Bohan placed second, followed by Brandon Ward, Burt Myers and Micheal Ritch, who secured his best nish on the circuit.

Tom Buzze Jr., Cody Norman, Anthony Bello, Jason Myers and Joey Coulter comprised the next ve. Ryan Newman, another former Cup series driver, was 13th, one spot ahead of Blewett.

• In the 602 Mods, Dean Lowder had the best qualifying mark and made that hold up by securing the early lead and going on to win the 50-lap race.

Slate Myers placed second, followed by Ryan Kuhithau, Dylan Ward and Mitchell Wright.

• In the Challengers feature, Ross Dalton was declared the winner in the 71-lap event, moving up from runner-up when Lane Woods’ car failed a postrace inspection because of the tires. The next three spots went to

JUNCTION from page 1

brother, Maurice, are all considered the foundation of the team’s success. The trio are all members of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty is “The King” and he remains a larger-thanlife gure in retirement, his cowboy hat and sunglasses a beloved and familiar sight at the track, where even at 87 he shows up to every NASCAR weekend and is currently an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club. That team, co-owned by fellow seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, is the backbone of Petty Enterprises.

Kyle Petty never equaled his father in on-track success, but

Chase Robertson, Cody Gri n, Dalton Ledbetter and Connor Branch.

• In Mini Stocks, Johnny Warr was the winner in front of Jessica Coulter in a race reduced from 30 laps to 15 laps because of time concerns.

Firecracker 265

On last Wednesday night at the speedway, Brent Crews captured the CARS Tour Late Models Stocks race, slipping past Connor Hall on the nal corner of the 125-lap feature.

Adam was considered to be a future NASCAR star at the time of his fatal crash. Although winless at the national series level when he was killed, he’d made one Cup start and had won two races in the ARCA Series feeder system when he was 17.

Had he not died so young, Adam Petty likely would have moved to the Cup level to drive for Petty Enterprises and kept that team a oat and competitive for several decades.

Instead, his death helped the family create its proudest achievement.

Located across 84 acres in the Petty hometown of Randleman, the camp notes that “Adam’s passion for racing was equaled only by his compassion

Trinity’s Jared Fryar, the defending champion, held the lead brie y at the start of the race before Carson Kvapil and Hall later held the front spot. William Byron became one of the contenders following a late caution. But it was Crews who roared to the victory amidnal-lap bumping.

“That’s hard racing, that’s short track racing,” Crews said.

“I got moved up to the third groove probably more times than I can count on my hand.”

Byron, who was February’s winner in the Daytona 500,

for others, especially children” and that he often visited children in pediatric hospitals. The camp is largely funded through donations and money-raising events that include both a fan walk and the annual “Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.” The motorcycle trip began in 1995, long before the camp, but proceeds now go to Victory Junction.

Richard Petty said it thrills him that Victory Junction began long before foundations and charities started by drivers became the norm.

“We had a grandson that we loved, but look at the thousands of kids — I think we’ve seen 30,000 kids and this is our 20th year, and Kyle always says when

pulled into second place in his rst CARS Tour race since 2015.

“It’s bound to get physical at the end, especially at a track like this,” Byron said. “It’s kind of like Martinsville.” He said he was cautious in some ways because of unfamiliarity with other drivers.

“Looking back at it, I wish I had just chose the bottom,” Byron said. “The top was getting rough and there was no grip up there because of the marbles. I didn’t get the grip I wanted to, fell back to third and just watched those guys push each other around. It was fun, though.”

Byron said returning to grassroots type of racing provides a certain thrill.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to do some more,” he said. “… It’s fun to come mid-week and run something like this.”

Hall ended up third, followed by Fryar and Kvapil, who was third last year in the circuit’s stop at Caraway.

The next ve were Layne Riggs, Connor Zilisch, Dylan Ward, Ronnie Bassett Jr and Ryan Millington. Riggs crossed the line rst last year, but was later disquali ed because of the size of sway bars on his car.

There were 26 drivers in the eld. Heath Causey of Snow Camp was at the back, making it only about halfway through the race.

Corey Heim, a regular in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, had his car put in an upside-down position on the frontstretch early in the race, causing an extended delay. He walked away under his own power.

In the CARS Tour Pro Late Models, Tristan McKee won for the second time in his career on the circuit, edging Conner Jones. McKee won from the pole position, overcoming Jones’ bid to pass from the outside on the nal restart.

Caden Kvapil placed third, followed by Jimmy Renfrew Jr. and T.J. DeCaire among 17 entrants.

In the Legends race, Keeland Harvick claimed the victory ahead of Austin Thompson. The Bandolero race went to Jay Hemenway.

he sees one of them smile, he sees Adam smile,” Richard Petty said.

Petty is adamant that the family never would have been able to launch Victory Junction without the success of Petty Enterprises, which was NASCAR’s winningest team until 2021. Once they decided to start the camp, drivers, industry veterans and fans were all eager to contribute in any way they could.

“Everybody wants to leave a legacy of some kind,” Petty said. “I think that, racing over a period of time, will go away or be di erent. I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

Bobby Labonte celebrates the SMART Modi ed Tour victory at Caraway Speedway.

Margie Boone Sink

May 17, 1927 – July 5, 2024

Margie Boone Sink, “Mother”, age 97, quietly passed from this earthly home to her heavenly home on Friday, July 5, 2024 at Cross Road Retirement Community in Asheboro, NC. She was under the care of Hospice of Randolph and the Cross Road Care sta . She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Benson Sink of 51 years, sons, Markus Benson Sink and Timothy Ralph Sink. Her parents and six other siblings have passed, only one sister, Jacksie Boone Poe remains. Margie is survived by her daughter, Donna Sink Allen (Doug), daughter-in-law, Trudy Sink (Tim’s widow), grandchildren, Jason Sink (Stephanie), Anna Lowe (Todd), Gina McKee (Derek), Cory Gri ths (Scott), Emily Arroyo, Brian Sink (Cecilly), Jill Wade (Hunter), great grandchildren, Max Lowe, Maggie Lowe, Colton McKee, Beckett Arroyo, Tate McKee, Charlotte Wade and Molly Wade.

Margie was born May 17, 1927 in Seagrove, North Carolina. She went to grade school at Seagrove School and after high school, she started working in the mill sewing parachutes for the military. In 1947 she married her childhood sweetheart, JB Sink and they moved to Asheboro to be near his job. Her career included working at Acme McCrary, Becky’s Handbags, Bride & Groom Formals and then working at the Suit Outlet with her sister, Jacksie Poe, doing alterations for the public. She was famous for re-making or re-designing old wedding gowns for people that were heirlooms from their mother or grandmother. She and her sister, Jacksie Poe worked in Alterations until they both retired.

Mom was active in several churches, Union Grove Baptist Church in her early years, Oakhurst Baptist Church and in 1978, she and seven other couples helped start the church Cross Road Baptist Church here in Asheboro. Margie and JB were very active, singing in the choir, keeping the nursery, and teaching children about Jesus. She had a love for making biscuits and she even taught the teenagers at her church how to make her recipe. She went on several mission trips where she was the Head Cook for all the workers. She was quite a wonder in the kitchen!

She was passionate about civic work and her community. She was a member of the Ladies Civitan Club and was named Civitan of the Year. She also loved traveling with JB as he shared the gospel through his Christian music group called “The Carolinians Quartet”. Her greatest love was spending time with and cooking her famous southern dishes for her grandchildren and great-grands. Her sweet spirit and gentleness kept them begging to go see her.

She lived independently until her health nally took a toll on her body. She and her sister came to Cross Roads Retirement in 2015 and she truly loved her time there. We will all miss you “Mother” you have touched so many lives with your smile and endless love of Jesus. You showed us what it meant to put Jesus rst. People know exactly where you were going and that is such a great example to us all!

A celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Cross Road Baptist Church, 1566 Old Cox Road, Asheboro, NC 27205. Visitation will be at 2:00 PM and the service will be held at 3:00 PM. Memorial donations can be made to Cross Road Retirement Community (Dream Makers) 1302 Old Cox Road, Asheboro, NC 27205, Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203, and Cross Road Baptist Church, 1566 Old Cox Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Rebecca Ruth Russell Morris

July 26, 1932 – July 5, 2024

Rebecca Ruth Russell Morris, age 91, of Asheboro passed away on July 5, 2024 at the Randolph Hospice House.

Mrs. Morris was born in Thomasville, NC on July 26,1932 to Walser and Margaret Welch Russell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Russell McQueen and brother, Marshall Russell. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Terry Jackson (Jack) Morris to whom she was married for 60 years. Rebecca was an active member of First E&R United Church of Christ, where she loved attending Sunday services and weekly Bible study. She made many chicken pies and cakes for church functions. Rebecca loved her family and prayed for them daily. Rebecca loved cooking and prepared Sunday dinner for her family weekly for over 40 years. She loved gardening, reading and sitting on the front porch visiting with her family and neighbors. She volunteered many years for Contact of Randolph County, a crisis helpline where she would listen to troubled people who needed a loving and caring person to share their troubles to.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Sawyer (John) of Asheboro; sons, Terry Morris of Asheboro and Thomas Morris (Cindy) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Haley Pugh (Aaron) of Asheboro, Anna Kelly of Randleman, Daniel Morris (Betsy) of Asheboro, and David Morris (Elizabeth) of Clarks Summit, PA; and great grandchildren, Sawyer, Jackson, Sadie, Audrey, Norah, Rosalie, and Caleb.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 8, 2024 from 10:0011:00 am at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Monday at 11:00 am at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dave Cash o ciating. Interment will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery.

The family request memorial gifts be made to the First E&R Church of Christ, PO Box 1002, Asheboro, NC 27204 or to Hospice of Randolph County, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.

Kathy Hunt

February 13, 1954 – July 3, 2024

Kathryn “Kathy” Grace Lewis Hunt, age 70, of Asheboro went to be with the Lord July 3, 2024 while surrounded by her family and friends. She was born February 13, 1954 in Banner Elk, North Carolina the daughter of the late John Stanley Lewis and Verda Bailey Lewis. She is also preceded in death by her son, Je ery Glenn Hunt.

Kathy was a lady of faith, the rst lady of Christian Fellowship Church of Asheboro who loved her church family. She was a compassionate, giving and heartfelt person who cared for those around her. Family was important to her and she cherished spending time in the company of all she loved.

Left to celebrate her memory are her beloved husband of 52 years, David R. Hunt; daughter, Kimberly Dawn Hunt Cox and husband Kevin; son, Brian D. Hunt and wife Jennifer; grandchildren, Ethan A. Hunt, Hannah Grace Hunt, Jordan Leigh Cox, Amara Naomi Cox, Henley Grace Cox, Charles Gabriel Cox, Ethan Cole Hunt, Cheyanne Elizabeth Hunt and Camryn Elise Hunt; daughter-in-law, Crystal Dawn Wall Hunt; sister, Rachel Lewis; and numerous other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held 2 PM on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the Christian Fellowship Church of Asheboro, 3232 Walker Dr, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Lise Forbes

November 15, 1960 – July 2, 2024

Lise Dawn Forbes, born on November 15, 1960, in Asheboro, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2024, at Moses Cone in Greensboro, NC at the age of 63.

Lise dedicated over 30 years of her life to a ful lling career at Energizer Battery, where she built lasting relationships and contributed signi cantly to her workplace. Lise’s true joy came from spending cherished moments with her beloved grandchildren. She found immense pleasure in simple joys such as trips to the beach, hunting for treasures at yard sales and thrift shops and the thrill of riding motorcycles with her husband, Je .

A compassionate soul, Lise had a profound love for animals, particularly her dear dogs, Molly and Rusty.

Her dream was to start a farm and rescue all unwanted dogs, a testament to her kind and giving nature.

Lise was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Lydia Susan Fields. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Je Forbes; daughter, Miranda York; sons, Lance York (Erica), Evan York, Jon Forbes (Stacy).

Grandchildren, Maci York, Mason Riggs, Melanie Forbes, Alexa Forbes, Jon D. Forbes, Jackson Forbes, Nolan Forbes, and Lily Owens.

The family will hold a private service to honor the life of Lise at a later date. Lise will be deeply missed by all who knew her and remembered for her warmth, generosity, and the profound love she had for her family, friends, and animals. Midstate Cremation & Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Lise Dawn Forbes.

DEATH NOTICES

• Maria Shaw Dombrowski (March 19, 1961 – July 1, 2024), 63, of Farmer passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by those she loved on Monday, July 1, 2024.

• Gerald “Jerry” Fritzges Heidecker (March 29, 1947 – July 1, 2024), 77, of Asheboro received his homegoing July 1, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.

• Lonnie Milton Rousey (Aug. 28, 1969 – June 30, 2024), 54, of Randleman passed away at home on Sunday, June 30, 2024.

pen STATE & NATION

Persistent heat wave in the US shatters records

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in several East Coast cities

By Christopher Weber and Margery A. Beck

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A

long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip.

An excessive heat warning — the National Weather Service’s highest alert — was in e ect for about 36 million people Sunday, or about 10% of the population, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records.

That was certainly the case over the weekend: Many areas in Northern California surpassed 110 degrees, with the city of Redding topping out at a record 119. Phoenix set a new

daily record Sunday for the warmest low temperature: it never got below 92. A high temperature of 128 was recorded Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died Saturday

from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized, ofcials said.

The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died was not identi ed. The other motorcyclist was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said.

The other four members of the party were treated at the scene.

Park o cials warned that heat illness and injury are cumulative and can build over the course of a day or days.

“High heat like this can pose real threats to your health,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” the statement said.

The soaring temperatures didn’t faze Chris Kinsel, a Death Valley visitor who said it was “like Christmas day for me” to be there on a record-breaking day. Kinsel said he and his wife typically come to the park during the winter when it’s still plenty warm — but that’s nothing compared with being at one of the hottest places on Earth in July.

“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, who was visiting Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area from Las Vegas.

Kinsel said he planned to go to the park’s visitor center to have his photo taken next to the digital sign displaying the current temperature.

Across the desert in Nevada, Natasha Ivory took four of her eight children to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas, which on Sunday set a record high of 119.

“They’re having a ball,” Ivory told Fox5 Vegas said. “I’m going to get wet too. It’s too hot not to.”

Triple-digit temperatures were common across Oregon, where several records were toppled — including in Salem, where on Sunday it hit 103, topping the 99 mark set in 1960. On the more humid East Coast, temperatures above 100 degrees were widespread, though no excessive heat advisories were in e ect for Sunday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” read a weather service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

Biden assails Project 2025, Trump claims to be unaware of it

The conservative think tank’s plan has become an election issue

By Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former o cials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to re as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.

an Karoline Leavitt was featured in one of Project 2025’s videos.

John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel O ce in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser. McEntee told the conservative news site The Daily Wire earlier this year that Project 2025’s team would integrate a lot of its work with the campaign after the summer when Trump would announce his transition team.

Trump’s comments on Project 2025 come before the Republican Party’s meetings this coming week to begin to draft its party platform.

“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”

gested their transition-in-waiting e orts were unhelpful.

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tari s on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and sug-

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last Tuesday that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia hosted the show for Bannon, who is serving a four-month prison term.

“We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,” Roberts said.

Those comments were widely circulated online and assailed by Biden’s campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”

Some of the people involved in Project 2025 are former senior administration o cials.

The project’s director is Paul Dans, who served as chief of sta at the U.S. O ce of Personnel Management under Trump. Trump’s campaign spokeswom-

Project 2025 has been preparing its 180-day agenda for the next administration that it plans to share privately, rather than as part of its public-facing book of priorities for a Republican president. Russ Vought, a key Trump ally who contributed to Project 2025 and is drafting this nal pillar, is also on the Republican National Committee’s platform writing committee.

Project 2025 said in a statement it is not tied to a speci c candidate or campaign.

“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” it said. “But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement.”

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ‘Catcher in the Rye’ published; Bastille prison stormed

Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California

The Associated Press

“This Week” looks back at the key events from this week in history

JULY 11

1798: The U.S. Marine Corps was formally reestablished by a congressional act that created the U.S. Marine Band.

1804: Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton during a pistol duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day.

1859: Big Ben, the great bell inside the famous London clock tower, chimed for the rst time.

1914: Babe Ruth made his major league baseball debut, pitching the Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over Cleveland.

1960: Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published.

JULY 12

1543: England’s King Henry VIII married his sixth and nal wife, Catherine Parr.

1862: President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor during the Civil War.

1962: The Rolling Stones played their rst show at the Marquee Club in London.

JULY 13

1923: A sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out “HOLLYWOODLAND” was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949).

1985: The Live Aid bene t rock concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, raising millions for famine relief in Ethiopia.

JULY 14

1789: Known as Bastille Day, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution, citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille prison and released the seven prisoners inside.

1798: Congress passed the Sedition Act, making it a federal crime to publish false, scandalous or malicious writing about the United States government.

1881: Outlaw William H. Bonney Jr., alias Billy the Kid, was shot and killed by Sheri Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in present-day New Mexico.

1945: Italy formally declared war on Japan, its former Axis partner during World War II.

JULY 15

1799: The Rosetta Stone, a key to deciphering ancient

Egyptian scripts, was found at Fort Julien in the Nile Delta during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt.

1834: The Spanish Inquisition was abolished more than 350 years after its creation.

1916: The Boeing Company, originally known as Paci c Aero Products Co., was founded in Seattle.

1997: Fashion designer Gianni Versace, 50, was shot dead outside his Miami Beach home by suspected gunman Andrew Phillip Cunanan.

2006: Twitter (now known as X) was launched publicly.

JULY 16

1945: The United States exploded its rst experimental atomic bomb in the desert of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

1790: A site along the Potomac River was designated the permanent seat of the United States government; the area became Washington, D.C.

1862: Flag O cer David G. Farragut became the rst rear admiral in the United States Navy.

1951: J.D. Salinger’s novel

“The Catcher in the Rye” was rst published by Little, Brown and Co.

1969: Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida on the rst manned mission to the moon’s surface.

JULY 17

1955: Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California, after its $17 million, yearlong construction; the park drew a million visitors in its rst 10 weeks.

1902: Willis Carrier produced designs for the world’s rst modern air-conditioning system.

1918: Russia’s Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed

AP PHOTO

The outlaw Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sherri Pat Garret on July 14, 1881.

AP PHOTO

British and Irish singers perform at Live Aid at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1985.

Red Scare era murder, intrigue in Quinn’s ‘The Briar Club’

Quinn creates characters readers will care about and root for

The Associated Press

THE REIGNING QUEEN

of historical ction is back with a novel set in 1950s Washington, D.C., where women from various backgrounds rent rooms at a boarding house during Sen. Joe McCarthy’s Red Scare. The characters allow Quinn to comment on some aspects of the decade, and the author even has short chapters written from the point of view of the house itself.

If you’ve never read a Kate Quinn novel, there’s no time like the present. Or like the 1950s in Washington, D.C. That’s the setting for Quinn’s “The Briar Club,” which is a murder mystery wrapped up in the stories of multiple women who rent rooms at a boarding house during the height of McCarthy’s Red Scare.

The characters are all in-

teresting but too numerous to sketch in this short review.

Each allows Quinn to comment on some aspect of the decade — from the development of the birth control pill to organized crime corrupting the D.C. police force to the demise of a professional women’s softball league after World War II. All the women’s stories serve the novel’s greater plot, which opens with a murder in the house on Thanksgiving Day in 1954. It then ips backward and forward in time, crashing the characters together and creating plenty of suspects before ending with a delightful twist.

At the center of the plot is Grace March, who moves into the third- oor attic of the Briarwood boarding house and, over the objections of the stern landlady, Mrs. Nilsson, begins to make the place a real home. She paints owers and vines on her ceiling that eventually creep down the staircase, a metaphor for Grace’s role in the boarders’ lives. She starts a Thursday night supper club,

inviting everyone to bring a dish to warm up on her hot plate and share. Quinn tosses in a couple of cute wrinkles that make the book even more fun. One includes recipes for the dishes and drinks the women bring to the supper club. In promotional interviews before the novel’s release, Quinn admitted that her husband prepared all the food and drink for her to taste before publication. Also unique to the story are short chapters written from the point of view of the house itself. As a detective moves to split up the women for interrogation following the Thanksgiving Day murder, Quinn writes: “He moves into the kitchen, at once the object of all eyes, and just to be spiteful the house rucks the edge of the carpet so he trips.”

It all makes for a delightful read. Quinn creates characters readers will care about and root for while also keeping them guessing until the end about who murdered whom in Briarwood House.

‘Mind Games (The Ultimate Collection)’: How much is too much?

The best disc of the John Lennon collection is the “Raw Studio Mixes”

By Scott Bauer The Associated Press

THE NEW REMIXED and expanded “Mind Games: The Ultimate Collection” is for John Lennon fans who really love his inconsistent 1973 record of the same name.

The problem is that many Lennon fans would rank the original “Mind Games” fourth or fth among his most beloved records. Not that the fourthbest Lennon album is bad or anything; it’s just that “Mind Games” has to have a special place in your heart to make the new “Ultimate Collection” worth it, which is available in two- or six-disc editions.

Most Lennon fans will be more than satis ed with the two-disc version, which o ers the original album remastered plus a disc of outtakes.

And for those rare few who may pick “Mind Games” over, say, “Imagine” or “Plastic Ono Band” as their favorite Lennon album, there’s the “Super Deluxe Edition” that was limited to just 1,100 copies for a cool $1,350. It includes extras such as a hologram-engraved EP and

bespoke I-Ching coins.

Are you thinking about buying that one? It’s too late; it’s long sold out.

But there are the more economical six- or two-disc collections for the rest of us. The sixdisc version has all of the music included on the two-disc version, with additional CDs o ering listeners multiple ways to experience “Mind Games,” including an audio documentary and an expansive book that goes deep into the songs and what was happening in Lennon’s life and the world at this time.

There’s the original recording remixed “from the ground up” by Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon dubbed “The Ultimate Mixes.” “The Elemental Mixes” presents the songs stripped down from post-production enhancements but with Lennon’s voice at the forefront.

The best disc of the bunch is the “Raw Studio Mixes,” which delivers “Mind Games” as it was recorded in the studio before overdubs and other post-production e ects. This one, more than any of the others, really puts the listener on the studio oor with Lennon and the other musicians.

Disc three, titled “The Elements Mixes,” not to be confused with “The Elemental

All of it may have the more casual fan throwing their hands in the air and shouting the Lennon lyric, “Gimme some truth!”

Mixes,” goes in the opposite direction and removes Lennon’s vocals altogether. That’s a bold move that will likely become the least-played one in this set for most.

“The Evolution Documentary” delivers just what it promises — mini-audio documentaries showing how each song evolved. That’s kind of fantastic, especially for those who like to hear how the songs changed during recording without listening to every single take. The studio banter from Lennon and Yoko Ono is a fun bonus.

The outtakes, rounding out the set on disc six or disc two of the slimmed-down release, are the best. Whew.

All of it may have the more casual fan throwing their hands in the air and shouting the Lennon lyric, “Gimme some truth!”

It’s unlikely that anyone listening to all ve-plus hours of “The Ultimate Collection” will be shouting “Gimme more ‘Mind Games’!”

Ronstadt speaks at the 2020 Movies For

MARTIN MEISSNER / AP PHOTO

David Hasselho poses at the 2022 European MTV Awards in Dusseldorf, Germany.

“Jeopardy” announcer Johnny Gilbert turns 96, Richard Simmons is 76, the “Ho ” hits 72

The Associated Press

July 11: Actor Susan Seaforth Hayes (“Days of Our Lives”) is 81. Singer Je Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 77. Actor Bruce McGill (“My Cousin Vinny,” “Animal House”) is 74. Guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) is 65. Rapper Lil’ Kim is 50.

July 12: Actor Denise Nicholas (“In the Heat of the Night”) is 80. Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 76. Actor Cheryl Ladd (“Charlie’s Angels”) is 73.

July 13: Game show announcer Johnny Gilbert is 96. Actor Patrick Stewart is 84. Actor Harrison Ford is 82. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn of The Byrds is 82. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 78. Actor Didi Conn is 73. Actor Gil Birmingham (“Twilight” lms) is 71. Country singer Louise Mandrell is 70. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 67.

July 14: Music executive Tommy Mottola is 75. Actor Jane Lynch is 64. Actor Nancy Olson (“Sunset Boulevard”) is 96. Football player-turned-actor Rosey Grier is 92. Actor Vincent Pastore (“The Sopranos”) is 78. Actor Matthew Fox (“Lost,” ″Party of Five”) is 58.

July 15: Singer Linda Ronstadt is 78. Actor Forest Whitaker is 63. Actor Patrick Wayne is 85. Singer Millie Jackson is 80. Drummer Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is 77. Actor Terry O’Quinn (“Lost,” ″West Wing,”) is 72. Singer-guitarist David Pack (Ambrosia) is 72. Drummer Marky Ramone (The Ramones) is 72. Guitarist Joe Satriani is 68. Actor Brian Austin Green “ Beverly Hills: 90210”) is 51.

July 16: Actor Phoebe Cates is 61. Actor Will Ferrell is 57. Actor Corey Feldman is 53. Singer William Bell is 85. Drummer Stewart Copeland of The Police is 72. Dancer Michael Flatley (“Lord of the Dance”) is 66.

July 17: Actor David Hasselho is 72. Singer Luke Bryan is 48. Bassist Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is 75. TV producer Mark Burnett (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”) is 64

JORDAN STRAUSS / AP PHOTO Harrison Ford poses in the press room during the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.

RICHARD SHOTWELL / AP PHOTO

Linda

Grownups Awards.

JORDAN STRAUSS / AP PHOTO Will Ferrell poses at the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards.

the stream

The Stream: Dunaway tells all in ‘Faye,’

‘The Bachelorette’ returns to ABC

“Faye” is an authorized but candid portrait of singular screen legend Faye Dunaway

The Associated Press

THIS WEEK, the “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken” docu-series is available on Paramount+, the long-awaited Faye Dunaway documentary comes to Max, and Megan Moroney drops her sophomore album.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Laurent Bouzereau’s “Faye” (streaming beginning 8 p.m. Saturday on Max) is an authorized but candid portrait of the singular screen legend Faye Dunaway. In it, the 83-year-old Dunaway frankly discusses her bipolar disorder diagnosis and her history of alcoholism, along with her long string of classic lms, including “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Chinatown” and “Network.”

Not many lms come with instructions to wear headphones while watching, but Sam Green’s “32 Sounds” is not your average documentary, either. Green’s movie, which was shortlisted for best documentary by the Academy Awards earlier this year, explores 32 wildly disparate auditory experiences — the heartbeat of a fetus, a whoopee cushion at work, Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” — to contemplate all the many ways that sound resonates in our lives. The movie was rst a “live documentary” experience that handed out headphones to its audience members and is streaming on the Criterion Channel.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Last year, country musician Megan Moroney’s debut album, “Lucky,” was named one of AP’s top albums for 2023 for its sharp writing and friendly delivery — a Gen Z songwriter I previously described possessing Taylor Swift-level acuity. Her pen continues to be her weapon on “Am I Okay?” a heartbreak- lled rollercoaster ride of a sophomore album, lled with quotable kiss-o s and evolved compositions. It will be released Friday. Hardy (real name Michael Wilson Hardy) has been celebrated for his hybrid approach to country music, weaving elements of anthemic rock and even nu-metal into his compositions. (Kid Rock has left a massive vacancy, it could be pointed out.) On his third studio album, “Quit!!,” Hardy contin-

ues to push the boundaries of his chosen genres. “Rockstar” sounds like something that would’ve found a home on the Van’s Warped Tour, delivered through his signature twang; the line between rock and country has never been thinner. We’re living in a prosperous period of music documentaries about Memphis (and no, we’re not only including HBO and Max’s “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A” in that statement, but it is certainly up there.) A new documentary will become available via video-on-demand: “The Blues Society,” which gleans new insight into the Memphis Country Blues Festival, held between 1966 and 1970. The lm, released Tuesday, examines the relationship between the festival and ’60s counterculture, Memphis blues and race — particularly looking at the white organizers who put it on and the black musicians who played it. It’s appointment viewing for music and American history fans alike.

Paramount+ released a new, two-part docuseries, “Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken.” It follows the Grammy-award-winning Etheridge as she organizes a special concert at a women’s prison in Kan-

sas, the Topeka Correctional Facility. Five women incarcerated there wrote letters to Etheridge, inspiring her to compose an original song for them and throw the event. Throughout is also an addiction narrative, which Etheridge can relate to. In 2020, her son Beckett Cypher died at age 21 from causes related to opioid addiction.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Jenn Tran, who competed for Joey Graziadei’s heart on the last season of “The Bachelor,” is ABC’s new “Bachelorette.” Tran, a physician’s assistant student, is the rst Asian American to lead the series. Watch her meet her suitors on ABC. Episodes also stream on Hulu.

Rashida Jones stars in a new mystery for Apple TV+ centering around one of the hottest topics of late: arti cial intelligence. In “Sunny,” Jones plays a woman living in Japan whose husband and son go missing after a plane crash. She’s gifted with a domestic robot to keep her company and help through her grief.

Dakota and Elle Fanning are behind a new true crime docuseries for Hulu. “Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer” intro -

duces viewers to Dr. Ann Burgess, a pioneer in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, who changed the way authorities investigate serial killers. Burgess’ story isn’t just fascinating and inspiring, as she earned respect in the male-dominated FBI. The three-part series dropped on Thursday. With the success of “Love Island USA” and “The Traitors,” Peacock has two hit reality competition shows on its roster. Next, hungry bears are the stars of a new nonscripted series for the streamer. “The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” tracks Alaskan brown bears as they seek to eat enough food (approximately three million calories) to sustain them through winter slumber. The hangry bears must battle Mother Nature and each other to do so. As the title suggests, “The Hungry Games” is presented like a competition show. The games started Thursday. Not to be outdone, the godfather of natural history programs, Sir David Attenborough, has a new wildlife docuseries dedicated to various mammals.

“Planet Earth: Mammals” looks at, you guessed it, mammals big and small adapting to their evolving natural habitat due to

human activity and the e ects of climate change. The six-part series premieres Saturday on BBC America and AMC+.

A new original for MGM+ explores the world of politics and academia against the backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard. “Emperor of Ocean Park” is a thriller mystery series based on a novel of the same name and debuts Sunday. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and Grantham Coleman star.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

There aren’t enough games where you get to kick your enemies, so thank goodness for Devolver Digital’s Anger Foot. Sure, it lets you arm yourself with standard weapons like ries and crossbows, but for upclose brawling, nothing beats a shoe to the face. The visuals look like something you might see after too many Red Bulls, the bass-heavy soundtrack will wake up your neighbors, and the shoe collection should satisfy any sneakerhead. South African developer Free Lives is known for raunchy, ultraviolent comedy, and it doesn’t take the foot o the gas pedal here. You can kick out the jams starting Thursday on PC.

VIANNEY LE CAER / AP PHOTO

Faye Dunaway poses for photographers at the “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” premiere at the 77th International Film Festival 2024.

“Emperor of Ocean Park,” “The Bachelorette” and “The Hungry Games: Alaska’s Big Bear Challenge” all stream this week.

HOKE COUNTY

Basketball jones

Hoke boys’ basketball head coach Sakellie Daniels hosted the team’s rst Fighting Bucks Co-Ed Basketball Camp.

ran

for nearly a decade but decided ot hold one with the team this year. About 30 kids between third and ninth grade participated in the

the high school boys’ basketball team assisting. The camp was held at Hoke County High School in Raeford.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

More Hoke Schools

sta transitions announced

A number of additional sta transitions and promotion announcements were made following the Hoke School Board’s meeting in late June. Franklin Bowden is the new principal at Sandy Grove Middle School, having previously served as assistant principal at West Hoke Middle School.

Angel Baker will be principal of Upchurch Elementary School, moving up from assistant principal at Rock sh Hoke Elementary. Finally, Erika Holmes was named interim chief nance o cer. Previously, she was programs assistant with the district.

NC paves way for digital driver’s licenses

A new law signed this week will see digital driver’s licenses on North Carolina driver’s smartphones beginning on July 1, 2025.

The legislation de nes a mobile driver’s license as a supplemental digital version of a valid physical license, approved by the commissioner and issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Under the law, digital licenses will be legally equivalent to physical licenses, containing the same same information. They’ll be limited to display only on mobile devices owned by the license holder.

The DMV will publish a study by Jan. 1 that will address costs, security concerns and potential impacts on law enforcement practices.

A dozen states already support digital licenses, with a majority of states in the process of legalizing and developing them.

Autopsy details released on gunman who killed four o cers in Charlotte

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, had THC in his system

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — More details on the death of the Charlotte gunman who carried out the deadliest attack on law enforcement o cers since 2016 were released in state autopsy and toxicology reports. Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, opened re with an assault rie on o cers attempting to serve an arrest warrant on April 29, killing four o cers and injuring another four. He eventually was shot 12 times after a lengthy stando and

died from his injuries, according to a North Carolina medical examiner’s report obtained by local media outlets.

The report showed Hughes was shot both on his upper and lower body. THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, was also found in his system, but other substances such as alcohol were not, according to a toxicology report.

The shooting in the residential neighborhood in east Charlotte eventually ended when Hughes jumped from a second- oor window into the front yard and was killed, according to police. At least 12 o cers shot their guns during the stando , police said.

There was initial confusion on whether Hughes acted alone in shooting at o cers from the home’s second oor, as police oated the idea that there may have been a second shooter. That possibility was dispelled in a May 31 news conference when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington said Hughes was the sole gunman in the attack. There were two females inside the home during the shooting, but police said they were not involved in the gunre. Hughes also had a lengthy criminal record dating back

Petty says camp for seriously ill children is family’s true legacy

‘The King’ of NASCAR is proud of what Victory Junction Camp has achieved

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

RICHARD PETTY, with a record 200 Cup Series wins, seven championships and a rst-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame, is considered NASCAR’s greatest driver. He is spending the season celebrating 75 years of NASCAR participation by his famous family — basically since the inception of the stock car series in 1948 — and re ecting on the legacy that will be left behind. As he approached his 87th birthday, celebrated Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race at Chicago, Petty has realized his family should be hailed for something far bigger than any-

“I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

Richard Petty, stock car racing legend

thing it did in NASCAR. He pointed to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was opened in 2004 for chronically ill children as a way to honor his late grandson.

Adam Petty was 19 when he was killed in a 2000 crash practicing for a race at New Hampshire. Not too many years before, he’d made a motorcycle visit to Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek and became interested in creating a similar camp in North Carolina.

Petty said the family following through on Adam’s dream will be its lasting legacy.

“This is for seriously ill kids who can’t go to camp, so it’s a

very special deal,” Petty said. “The kids come from all over the country and they don’t charge them anything. We make sure they get there and get them home. So when I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play, and I think the bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.

“Racing put us in a position to come out and do something, and it was always one of Adam’s dreams,” he added. “When we lost Adam, the family got together and said we’d go pursue that deal.”

more than a decade, with state records showing charges such as breaking and entering, eluding arrest and illegal possession of a rearm by someone convicted of a felony.

The four o cers killed by Hughes were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg O cer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. In the shooting’s aftermath, the o cers were commemorated in memorials around the state. President Joe Biden also visited North Carolina to privately meet with the o cers’ families.

Adam Petty was the oldest son of Kyle Petty, Richard’s only son. Petty family patriarch Lee started the racing team, and Richard’s engine-building brother, Maurice, are all considered the foundation of the team’s success. The trio are all members of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty is “The King” and he remains a larger-thanlife gure in retirement, his cowboy hat and sunglasses a beloved and familiar sight at the track, where even at 87 he shows up to every NASCAR weekend and is currently an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club. That team, co-owned by fellow seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, is the backbone of Petty Enterprises.

See PETTY, page 2

Daniels

her own camp

camp with

THURSDAY

“Join the conversation”

State awards $112M to connect 26K rural homes, businesses

The money, half from the federal government, is spread across 19 counties

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

ALBEMARLE — Last week, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity announced that 19 counties have been awarded funding for broadband expansion.

As part of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan “to close the digital divide,” NCDIT’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program is granting $112 million to connect 25,903 households and businesses to high-speed internet — some $4,300 per connection.

“We are excited that so many counties and internet service providers have partnered with us on the CAB program,” NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity Nate Denny said in a July 1 press release. “These awarded

projects will help us make signi cant progress on closing the state’s digital divide.”

The CAB program is funded by more than $61 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, as well as $25 million from counties and nearly $26 million from various broadband providers.

The program is designed to identify locations that lack broadband access and to award funding to prequali ed internet service providers who agree to provide high-speed service of at least 100 megabits

per second to those locations.

“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access a ordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our increasingly digital world,” Cooper said in an NCDIT press release. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”

The awards add to the $404 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB funding awarded that will connect nearly 161,000 statewide households and businesses to broadband.

Last month, the NCDIT announced a $67 million broadband grant for expanded internet access in 15 counties.

Kyle Petty never equaled his father in on-track success, but Adam was considered to be a future NASCAR star at the time of his fatal crash. Although winless at the national series level when he was killed, he’d made one Cup start and had won two races in the ARCA Series feeder system when he was 17.

Had he not died so young, Adam Petty likely would have moved to the Cup level to drive for Petty Enterprises and kept that team a oat and competitive for several decades.

Instead, his death helped the family create its proudest achievement.

Located across 84 acres in the Petty hometown of Randleman, the camp notes that “Adam’s passion for racing was equaled only by his compassion for others, especially children” and that he often visited children in pediatric hospitals. The camp is largely funded through donations and money-raising events that include both a fan walk and the annual “Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.” The motorcycle trip began in 1995, long before the camp, but proceeds now go to Victory Junction. Richard Petty said it thrills him that Victory Junction began long before foundations and charities started by drivers became the norm.

“We had a grandson that we loved, but look at the thousands of kids — I think we’ve seen 30,000 kids and this is our 20th year, and Kyle always says when he sees one of them smile, he sees Adam smile,” Richard Petty said.

Petty is adamant that the family never would have been able to launch Victory Junction without the success of Petty Enterprises, which was NASCAR’s winningest team until 2021. Once they decided to start the camp, drivers, industry veterans and fans were all eager to contribute in any way they could.

“Everybody wants to leave a legacy of some kind,” Petty said. “I think that, racing over a period of time, will go away or be di erent. I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

PETTY

THE CONVERSATION

Are rank-andle Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that? WEDNESDAY

VISUAL VOICES

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

| MICHAEL BARONE

A tale of two debates

One possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies.

THE DEBATE FEATURED “an extraordinarily aggressive, top-to-bottom attack,” Politico wrote. “Over and over,” one candidate’s “tactic of choice was a gut-level punch.” An “alpha-male display,” Britain’s left-wing Guardian headlined. The dominant candidate’s style, CNN agreed, was “put your head down, charge forward, and don’t stop.”

No, those were not comments about the earliest-in-history presidential debate. They were analyses made nearly 12 years ago after the Oct. 2012 vice presidential debate between Paul Ryan and his much more aggressive opponent, Joe Biden.

Biden was then the incumbent vice president, determined to o set former President Barack Obama’s indolent performance against Mitt Romney in the campaign’s rst presidential debate eight days before. His forceful, often mocking approach obscured his frequent misstatements and factual errors, but he reversed the Democratic ticket’s downward plunge in the polls.

The contrast between Biden’s 2012 and 2024 performances is glaring and a reminder of the ravages of age. But the two debates may also turn out to represent a turning point in the politics of, and the balance between, the two parties.

Going into the 2012 debate, Ryan at age 42 looked to me like the future of Republican politics.

As House budget chairman, he had gotten his colleagues to back his package of tax cuts and entitlement reforms while looking favorably on free trade and legalization of worthy illegal immigrants.

But the bombast and ridicule Biden in icted on Ryan in the 2012 debate was a foretaste of the bombast and ridicule former President Donald Trump in icted on multiple rivals in presidential primary debates in 2015 and ‘16 —

Blind loyalty

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM says he has President Joe Biden’s back. It’s almost enough for me to take him o my list of possible successors to the incumbent president.

Having Biden’s back is not a matter of loyalty.

and which he in icted on the (to many voters) surprisingly inert Biden last week.

As speaker of the House for 38 months from Oct. 2015, Ryan helped shape and pass Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. But from the time he came down the Trump Tower escalator, Trump repudiated Ryan’s stands on entitlements, trade and immigration. By now, almost all Republican o ceholders have followed his lead.

Meanwhile, under Biden, Democrats moved sharply left on key issues, with an open borders policy, vast spending increases (on top of Trump’s) sparking rst-time-in-fourdecades in ation, and ninth-month abortions. Trump hit Biden hard on such leftward lunges last week.

Will the 2024 debate in which Biden got shellshocked have a politics-altering e ect like that of the 2012 debate in which he administered the shellshocking?

Of course we don’t yet know the fallout of this year’s debate. Thoughtful liberals like polling analyst Nate Silver, issues advocate Ezra Klein, and the gifted reporter Joe Klein are pleading that Biden withdraw and Democrats nominate someone stronger than his handpicked vice president, Kamala Harris.

But Democratic politicians have, as the younger Klein writes, a “collective action” problem: Retribution awaits the rst dissenters from the public Biden-should-stay consensus. And as shown in Biden’s 36 years of commuting from the Senate home to Delaware and his nearly 300 days there as president (according to CBS’s Mark Knoller), he’s never been close to Washington insiders. He has relied instead largely on family members, all of whom are reportedly strongly against withdrawal.

It’s still possible he could win. Silver gives that a 31% likelihood, just above the 29% he

gave Trump of winning going into the 2016 election. Things that likely tend to happen about one-third of the time.

But two-thirds of the time they don’t. Trump was ahead going into the debate, initial polling suggests his lead has grown since, and he seems to have signi cant leads in states (including Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which he lost in 2020) with 268 electoral votes, two short of a majority. Add Pennsylvania or Michigan or Wisconsin or Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and he’s president again. And probably with a Republican House and Republican Senate. Democrats looking back on the last three decades brag that they’ve won ve of the last eight presidential elections and have carried the popular vote in seven. A Trump presidency, if it were as successful with voters as the pre-COVID rst Trump term was, could be followed by a second and possibly two-term Republican presidency.

Possible Trump VP nominees Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) or Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), or Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), whom he shoved aside this year, look to me at least as gifted at politics and policy as any Democrat I’ve seen mentioned as national nominees.

So one possible result of the Biden debate debacle could be 12 years of Republican popular vote victories and presidencies, something achieved only once since 1952, in Ronald Reagan’s 1980s. That would represent success for the Republican politics of Trump and would surely, sooner or later, prompt a rethink of the Democratic politics of Biden. Is that too much to extrapolate from a single debate? Probably. But it would be poetic justice if the devastation Biden in icted on Ryan’s ideas were in icted in turn by Trump on Biden’s.

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

They aren’t kidding. And I’m not kidding when I wonder if those who do are only looking for a candidate so thoroughly discredited that he’s the only one Trump could beat.

We all know what we saw on television. It was not just an o night. It was a man who had no business being on that stage.

Dear Gavin: Who are you being loyal to? How about being loyal to the future of our democracy? Biden himself has recognized that’s what is at stake in this election. It is. And Biden is the one who is threatening to take it down because of his stubborn determination to hold onto power past his time. He has clearly emerged as the Democrat least likely to defeat Trump. Are rank-and- le Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that? It can’t be. Where is Biden’s inner circle? Where are the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party? Are they telling him what he needs to hear or what he wants to hear?

The New York Times has reported that Biden met with his family to seek their advice. The family, it is reported, urged him to stay in the race. Hunter was particularly strong. How terrifying. The Biden with the demonstrably worst judgment in the family, a convicted felon and an object of ridicule — is this who Biden is listening to?

Biden has been a ne president. He inherited a country in crisis, roiled by the pandemic, and righted the ship of state. The economy recovered. We beat back the pandemic. Important bipartisan bills were passed, including the infrastructure bill and major legislation on climate change. We would have passed immigration reform, with bipartisan support, if Donald Trump hadn’t scuttled the e ort by calling on his Republican friends to abandon the bill to save him an issue to campaign on. He led the Democratic Party to a surprisingly successful midterm election. He would go down in history as a very successful president if he doesn’t go down, as seems increasingly likely, as a sel sh leader who stayed too long and endangered our democracy as much as the man he is running against. We’ve been to that movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Trump court. Make no mistake, if he doesn’t step aside, that will be his legacy. The polls say that as many as 78% of the American people don’t want him to run again.

there and done that. It is misplaced. Politics is too important for personal loyalty at the expense of country. The reason the party rallied around Biden in the rst place — when some of those who knew him best must have seen up close what had happened to him over the course of four years, must have seen the decline we all witnessed in Atlanta — was clearly because of the conventional wisdom that challenging an incumbent president would only weaken him in the general election. That was, on the face of things, the lesson of the 1980 election, when Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter, who used the power of the presidency adroitly to defeat him and then lost to Ronald Reagan. But that’s just plain wrong. I was there, too. The reason Kennedy ran in the rst place was because he was convinced, rightly, that Carter could not defeat Reagan.

Could Kennedy have done better? He could not have done worse.

It would have been better if someone had taken on Biden. We would have seen him on a debate stage earlier than we did. Every delegate to the convention would not have been pledged to Biden. We would have a stronger candidate right now.

But it is not too late. Rank-and- le Democrats may not be able to do much, but Democratic leaders and donors can make their voices heard. This is a cause that demands courage. Biden needs not only to hear it privately but to hear it publicly. It is not too late for him to avoid more public humiliation — and for us to preserve our democracy. COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Or are we only being told this by an insider who is afraid to speak out publicly about why Biden should step aside so they are telling us who he is listening to instead? It hardly helps Biden. It makes him look weaker, not stronger. I understand blind public loyalty. I’ve been

COLUMN

HOKE SPORTS

Hoke 12U baseball heads to Mount Holly

The team will be playing for a trip to Louisiana

North State Journal sta

LAST WEEK, we reported on the Hoke 12U All Stars winning the district championship. As the Hoke kids get ready to play for the state crown, we take a closer look at the team.

The Hoke County 12 and under All Stars took the Diamond Youth championship for District 11 with a win over Coats County, 15-3. On their way to the championship, Hoke also beat Dunn 13-0 with starting pitcher Justin Womack and relief pitcher Gri y Getty combining for a perfect game.

Hoke also beat Nash County twice, 12-0 and 14-2, giving them a four-game combined score of 54-5.

The Hoke County team will now travel to Mt. Holly for the Diamond Youth State Tournament. Only one team will advance to the Diamond Youth National World Series in Louisiana. Teams that are in the state tournament along with Hoke County include West Robeson, Leland, Stanly County, Columbus County, Tryon County, Burgaw, Clinton and Mt. Holly. Leland is the defending state champion. Hoke County plays Saturday July 13 at 10am, at the Tuckaseege Park in Mt Holly. The tournament is Double Elimination.

Stars 12U district

Hoke County 12U All Stars, baseball

Justin Womack is a pitcher on the Hoke County 12U All Stars.

The All Stars won the Diamond Youth district championship for District 11 and will now play for the state title, and a trip to the nationals in Louisiana, this weekend.

On their way to the district crown, Hoke beat a team from Dunn, 13-0, and Womack was on the mound as starting pitcher. He teamed up with reliever Gri y Getty to shut down Dunn, throwing a combined perfect game.

Bowman wraps up a spot in the Cup Series playo s

The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s eighth career win and rst since March 2022 came on the Chicago street course

By Jay Cohen

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — At long last, Alex Bowman got a win. And a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s.

So yeah, he was ready to party.

“We’re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight, it’s going to be a bad deal,” a jubilant Bowman said. “I’m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom oor again. That’s just part of this deal sometimes.”

Bowman held o Tyler Reddick on a rainy street course in downtown Chicago on Sunday, stopping an 80-race winless drought.

It was his rst victory since Las Vegas in March 2022 and No. 8 for his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four remaining spots in the playo s with six races left in the regular season.

After his Vegas victory two years ago, Bowman, 31, was sidelined by a concussion. He injured his back in a shorttrack accident in April 2023.

“You start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again,” he said.

Not anymore.

The Cup Series’ second street race in Chicago was stopped for more than 100 minutes be -

cause of rain, and NASCAR set a cuto time of 8:20 p.m. CDT because of the fading sunlight.

When Bowman crossed the start- nish line after that time, the white ag came out, followed by the checkered.

Tyler Reddick made a late charge, but he got into a wall while trying to run down Bowman. Ty Gibbs was third, followed by Joey Hand and Michael McDowell.

“I got the opportunity to run him down,” Reddick said. “Just obviously couldn’t get the job done. A clean lap was all I had to do and couldn’t even do that.”

Bowman closed it out on wet weather tires in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out.

During the cool-down lap, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Bubba Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.

“I have to apologize again to the 23 guys,” Bowman said. “Just messed up, trying to get my windshield wiper on, missed a corner and ruined their day. I hate that. I’m still embarrassed about it.”

Larson slammed into the tire barrier in Turn 6 on Lap 34, bringing out a caution. He was trying for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start.

“I just sort of turned in. It looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s gutting.”

Shortly after the wreck, the race was stopped to give NASCAR time to clear standing water from the makeshift track. The drivers returned to their cars about an hour later, but the delay continued when another cell passed over the course.

Gibbs was in front when the race resumed, followed by Christopher Bell and Larson.

“As soon as I hit the brakes, I knew I was in trouble,” said Larson, who has an 11-point lead over Chase Elliott in the driver standings. Van Gisbergen was clipped by Chase Briscoe going into Turn 6 on Lap 25. Briscoe slid into a tire barrier, but van Gisbergen crashed into the temporary wall — causing heavy damage to the right side of his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

HOKE

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Hoke All

champions pose for a team photo.

SIDELINE REPORT

WWE

Cena announces retirement from professional wrestling in 2025

Toronto

John Cena has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after two decades in the ring. The wrestler-turnedactor told World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of dates and an epic nal ght. Cena assured fans he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career. He told reporters after the event that he feels physically “at my end” but that doesn’t mean he needs to distance himself from the sport he loves. Cena is a 16time WWE champion and action movie star.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson assistant

coach, former RB Spiller selected for ring of honor

Clemson, S.C.

College Football Hall of Famer C.J. Spiller was selected to Clemson’s ring of honor for its Death Valley stadium. The award is the highest honor given by the school’s athletic department. Spiller played running back from 2006 to 2009 and set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 7,588 all-purpose yards. He was selected to the College Football Hall in 2021. Spiller was picked No. 9 overall by Bu alo in the 2010 draft and spent eight seasons in the pros. He is entering his fourth season as Clemson’s running backs coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Kipyegon breaks own world record in 1,500 meters

Paris

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Diamond League track and eld meeting in Paris. Kipyegon nished in 3:49.04, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year. The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Before Sunday, she had only run twice in 2024, in the 1,500 and 5,000, to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics at the Kenyan trials in June.

NBA

Banned NBA player Porter to be charged in betting case, court papers indicate New York Court papers indicate that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will be charged with a federal felony connected to the sports betting scandal that spurred the NBA to ban him for life. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn led what’s known as a criminal information sheet. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges. But it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four gamblers charged with conspiring to cash in on tips

Looking like dad, James makes NBA Summer League debut

like his famous father, LeBron, it caused some at Chase Center to do a double-take.

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Once that second-quarter layup went in and he nally had his rst NBA points after a trio of misses, Bronny James could exhale and everything began to slow down.

“The atmosphere, it was more than I expected,” a grinning James said. “It’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know the people of Golden State would come and rep for me, so that was pretty nice to see.”

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut Saturday, the rookie looked so much

Bronny James took his place in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers and his professional career was formally underway, with plenty of scouts in the building to witness it as he wore jersey No. 9.

“Every rst game that I step on the next level there’s always some butter ies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”

The younger James wound up 2 for 9 for four points, missing all three of his 3s, with a pair of assists, two rebounds and a steal in just under 22 minutes of court time — 21:43 to be exact — as the Lakers lost 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his rst action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game. James scored his rst NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

“Moments like that can slow the game down for you especially because I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to beforehand,” he said. “... I couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but all the reps it’s going to come more smooth.”

At one point during his warmup routine, the 6-foot-2 guard stood with hands on hips in a resemblant position to one of his father. And during the game, the son leaned over by the baseline 3-point corner, gripping his knees while waiting for the offensive possession to begin.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the

55th overall selection in the second round out of the University of Southern California.

If all goes as planned, the 19-year-old James and his dad would become the rst father-son pair to play in the NBA at the same time — and on the same team no less.

“What he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well,” LeBron James said at USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas. “I just want him to continue to grow, practices, lm sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything as far as stat wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”

Goodbye Big 12, hello growing SEC

Texas and Oklahoma party as their conference move becomes o cial

By Cli Brunt and Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma nally got the chance to celebrate its long-awaited move to the Southeastern Conference.

As the switch from the Big 12 became o cial last Monday, the school nally was letting loose.

Festivities started Sunday night and stretched to events statewide on Monday. There were pep rallies in Norman on Monday afternoon. In the evening, the free “Party In The Palace” at Memorial Stadium included music, a brew garden, a basketball court, a gaming trailer, a mechanical bull and a photo booth.

“Today is a celebration,”

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “It’s about engaging our fans and our stakeholders. That’s what this is, rather than having a quick press conference and an announcement and moving on. We’ve tried to really bring our fan base into it because we were very, very strident about not trying to celebrate it before the o cial day would come.”

There was no downplaying it on Monday. The SEC logo was plastered all over Oklahoma’s stadium and the campus — even painted on the sidewalks. Not to be outdone, Texas made its long-awaited conference switch at the same time and celebrated with campus parties, carnivals, concerts and reworks.

Now Oklahoma and Texas, rival programs that were co-founders of the Big 12 in 1996, nally are in the SEC. And

Gage Sisco holds his daughter Harper as they pose for photos at the University of Texas campus event in Austin to celebrate the school moving from the Big 12

Conference.

their celebrations t the conference mantra: “It Just Means More.”

At Texas, thousands poured onto campus in near 100-degree heat Sunday for a carnival and concert with pop star Pitbull under the iconic campus clock tower.

At the Texas party, children played on bounce houses, rock walls and slides. Misters cooled their parents who waited in long lines for autographs from Longhorns coaches, photographs with the Longhorn mascot Bevo, and packed into merchandise tents for gear with the SEC logo.

“This is a day we have been building toward for years,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “Our fans our really

excited about this. You can tell by the turnout.”

It’s a moment college sports in general has been building toward in the era of major realignment. The Texas and Oklahoma break from the Big 12 helped trigger myriad conference shifts with more on the way. By the rst kicko of the 2024 season, 11 so-called Power 4 programs will be in new conferences.

Oklahoma and Texas originally planned to join the SEC in 2025, but ultimately reached a nancial deal with the Big 12 for an early exit.

“Texas brings more tradition, more talent, more passion and more ght,” to the SEC, the school said on its athletics website. Oklahoma’s celebration start-

the

ed Sunday night with a “Race to the SEC” 5k race through the heart of campus, with midnight sales of SEC merchandise and reworks.

Monday morning, former Sooners coach Barry Switzer co-hosted a celebration breakfast in Tulsa.

Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz said the move will improve the experience for students and enhance the school athletically and academically.

“We want our students to not just come here and participate, we want them to feel like they belong,” Harroz said. “Intercollegiate athletics provides that. And today, we celebrate a move to the SEC that ensures we accomplish both of those goals. It puts us with the best.”

JIM VERTUNO / AP PHOTO

to

Southeastern

Bronny James debuts for Lakers as he prepares to team up with LeBron

NIC COURY / AP PHOTO

Looking very similar to his famous father, LeBron, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James waits during a break in the rst half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the Sacramento Kings.

New British PM seeks to improve trade deal with European Union

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party decisively won last week’s election

By Brian Melley

The Associated Press

LONDON — British Prime

Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad.

During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh — that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales — Starmer said he would seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union.

“I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the U.K. with,” he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit.

Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his rst visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden.

With two of Starmer’s ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the U.K. following his party’s landslide victory last week.

Starmer, who said he has a “mandate to do politics di erently,” met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an e ort to “turn disagreement into cooperation.”

“We will serve every single person in Scotland,” Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters. “Performance, self-interest: they’re the politics of the past. The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind’s eye the people who elected us into government.” While each of the devolved nations in the U.K. elects members to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments.

Starmer’s Labour Party trounced Swinney’s Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

Swinney said after meeting the prime minister that he believed there is an opportunity to work together to make a di erence for the Scottish people.

The trip to build better working relations across the U.K.

comes as Starmer’s government faces a mountain of problems.

The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and scal missteps. It also faces a public disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and scal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer has declared broken.

Starmer said he wants to trans-

fer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities.

After his two-day tour, he’ll return to England where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying he would engage with politicians regardless of their party.

“There’s no monopoly on good ideas,” he said “I’m not a tribal political.”

Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease- re in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.

He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the “undeniable right of Palestinians” and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuring nancial means for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to operate e ectively.

Labour’s initial refusal to call for a cease re last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday’s election.

In advance of Starmer’s attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated an “unshakeable” commitment to the alliance during his rst trip abroad.

Lammy said that the U.K. government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.

“European security will be this government’s foreign and defense priority,” Lammy said in Poland. “Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defenses.”

After chaotic election, Macron keeps France’s PM in place

The French president refused Gabriel Attal’s o er to resign

By Sylvie Corbet and Lori Hinnant

The Associated Press

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France’s prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo.

Voters split the legislature on the left, center and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy.

Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a “moment of clari cation,” but the

outcome showed the opposite less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics when the country will be under an international spotlight.

The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in o ce if needed but o ered his resignation Monday morning. Macron, who named him just seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s top political allies joined the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which ended after about 90 minutes.

On Sunday, Attal made clear that he disagreed with Macron’s decision to call the surprise election. The results of two rounds of voting left no obvious path to form a government for the leftist coali-

tion that came in rst, Macron’s centrist alliance or the far right.

Newly elected and returning lawmakers on Monday gathered at the National Assembly to begin negotiations over a new government in earnest. Macron himself will leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

Talks over who should form a new government — and who should lead the foreign, interior and nance ministries among others — are expected to be extremely di cult and lengthy given that political parties negotiating a deal have diametrically opposing policies and contempt for one another.

“We are in a situation that is totally unprecedented,” said Jean-Didier Berger, a newly elected lawmaker from the conservative Republicans party.

Aurélien Rousseau, a newly elected lawmaker from the New Popular Front and former minister in Macron’s gov-

ernment, acknowledged disagreements within the leftist alliance over the government formation but said the alliance could eventually reach an agreement.

“We need to build compromises, but we need to take time to discuss, to know what we agree on or disagree within the left,” Rousseau said.

Another New Popular Front lawmaker, Jérôme Guedj of the French Socialists party, said the leftist alliance won’t buckle under pressure to name its candidate for the next prime minister who could govern alongside Macron.

“This is a confusing moment (and) we’re not going to add anxiety, unnecessary division at a moment when we need to nd the right path,” Guedj said.

Political deadlock could have far-ranging implications for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability. Still, at least one leader said the result was a relief.

“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, posted on X late Sunday.

According to o cial results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the most powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.

The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed rst, to beat Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. The far-right National Rally part of Marine Le Pen and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022.

Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.

SCOTT HEPPELL / AP PHOTO

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday as part of a twoday tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

Joyce Vernell (Lane) Davis

October 23, 1934 –July 3, 2024

Ms. Joyce Davis, age 89, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on July 3, 2024. Joyce was born in Escambia County, AL. on October 23, 1934. She was married H. Hoover Davis of Goodway, AL on July 18, 1952. Joyce was preceded in death by Cli ord Lane (Father), Bessie Mae Lane (Mother), H. Hoover Davis (Spouse), nine siblings, and Ryan Loughran (grandson).

Joyce is survived by a brother; Jack Lane, daughters; Jacqueline, Marilyn (Richard), and Sharon, son; Garry, grandchildren; Brandy (Tony), Samantha (Kensey), Ashley (Johnny), Matthew (Amanda), Great-Grandchildren; Davis, Spencer, Hannah, Riley, Joshua, Aidan, Jax, Tony, Dro and Aurie.

Visitation and services will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024, beginning at 10:00 AM at Arran Lake Baptist Church, 1130 Bingham Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28304. Service will start at 11:00 AM with Dr. Je Isenhour o ciating. Interment will follow at Cumberland Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville North Carolina. In lieu of owers, donations can be made to Arran Lake Baptist Church, 1130 Bingham

Grafton (Jr.) Creekmore

August 6, 1956 – July 1, 2024

Grafton Creekmore of Raeford passed away in his home on Monday, July 1, 2024, at the age of 67. Grafton was born on August 6, 1956, to the late Grafton, Sr. and Ruby Coley Creekmore. After completing high school, Grafton entered the insurance business, where he worked for over 30 years as an insurance agent. In 1994, he met his wife, Janice. Grafton was an avid golfer and had a strong passion for the game. Along with his parents, Grafton is preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Richard Ferguson. He is survived by his wife, Janice Pendergrass of Raeford; his sister, Irene Ferguson of Spring Hope; Judy Carroll (David) of Bailey; and his nephew, Chris Ferguson of Bailey. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on July 20, 2024, in the Family Cemetery in Spring Hope, NC.

Ronald Allen Highsmith

May 13, 1955 – July 4, 2024

Ronald Allen Highsmith, 69 of Aberdeen, passed away on July 4, 2024 at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst. Born on May 13, 1955 in Germany to the late Gale and Margaret Highsmith. Ronald proudly served in the US Army Special Forces for over 20 years retiring as a Master Sergeant. During his honorable service in the green berets he became a Special Forces instructor. After his military service, Ronald owned and operated Sandhill’s Lock and Key for over 30 years. He was a member of the NC Locksmith Association. Standing at 6’5 he was a tall man with the gentlest of hearts. Often referred to as a gentle giant by his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Shirley Highsmith; two children, Mitcheal Wood and Sharon Styers; also survived by two grandchildren, Rylee and Regan Styers and Chase Hudson.

No services are planned at this time to follow Ronald’s wishes. In lieu of owers memorial donations may be made to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation 150 Applecross Road Pinehurst, NC 28374. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

STATE & NATION

Persistent heat wave in the US shatters records

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in several East Coast cities

By Christopher Weber and Margery A. Beck

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip.

An excessive heat warning — the National Weather Service’s highest alert — was in e ect for about 36 million people Sunday, or about 10% of the population, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records.

That was certainly the case over the weekend: Many areas in Northern California surpassed 110 degrees, with the city of Redding topping out at a record 119. Phoenix set a new

daily record Sunday for the warmest low temperature: it never got below 92. A high temperature of 128 was recorded Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died Saturday

from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized, ofcials said.

The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died was not identi ed. The other motorcyclist was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said.

The other four members of the party were treated at the scene.

Park o cials warned that heat illness and injury are cumulative and can build over the course of a day or days.

“High heat like this can pose real threats to your health,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” the statement said.

The soaring temperatures didn’t faze Chris Kinsel, a Death Valley visitor who said it was “like Christmas day for me” to be there on a record-breaking day. Kinsel said he and his wife typically come to the park during the winter when it’s still plenty warm — but that’s nothing compared with being at one of the hottest places on Earth in July.

“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, who was visiting Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area from Las Vegas.

Kinsel said he planned to go to the park’s visitor center to have his photo taken next to the digital sign displaying the current temperature.

Across the desert in Nevada, Natasha Ivory took four of her eight children to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas, which on Sunday set a record high of 119.

“They’re having a ball,” Ivory told Fox5 Vegas said. “I’m going to get wet too. It’s too hot not to.”

Triple-digit temperatures were common across Oregon, where several records were toppled — including in Salem, where on Sunday it hit 103, topping the 99 mark set in 1960. On the more humid East Coast, temperatures above 100 degrees were widespread, though no excessive heat advisories were in e ect for Sunday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” read a weather service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

Biden assails Project 2025, Trump claims to be unaware of it

The conservative think tank’s plan has become an election issue

By Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former o cials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to re as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.

an Karoline Leavitt was featured in one of Project 2025’s videos.

John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel O ce in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser. McEntee told the conservative news site The Daily Wire earlier this year that Project 2025’s team would integrate a lot of its work with the campaign after the summer when Trump would announce his transition team.

Trump’s comments on Project 2025 come before the Republican Party’s meetings this coming week to begin to draft its party platform.

“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”

gested their transition-in-waiting e orts were unhelpful.

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tari s on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and sug-

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last Tuesday that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia hosted the show for Bannon, who is serving a four-month prison term.

“We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,” Roberts said.

Those comments were widely circulated online and assailed by Biden’s campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”

Some of the people involved in Project 2025 are former senior administration o cials.

The project’s director is Paul Dans, who served as chief of sta at the U.S. O ce of Personnel Management under Trump. Trump’s campaign spokeswom-

Project 2025 has been preparing its 180-day agenda for the next administration that it plans to share privately, rather than as part of its public-facing book of priorities for a Republican president. Russ Vought, a key Trump ally who contributed to Project 2025 and is drafting this nal pillar, is also on the Republican National Committee’s platform writing committee.

Project 2025 said in a statement it is not tied to a speci c candidate or campaign.

“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” it said. “But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement.”

MOORE COUNTY

Only in America

Pinehurst gathered on Thursday to celebrate Independence Day, with patriotic parades full of people and pets heading through the center of the village. Above, a patriotic pup greets a photographer on the ground, along with a few of our favorite parade vehicles.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

NC paves the way for digital driver’s licenses

A new law signed this week will see digital driver’s licenses on North Carolina driver’s smartphones beginning on July 1, 2025.

The legislation de nes a mobile driver’s license as a supplemental digital version of a valid physical license, approved by the Commissioner and issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Under the law, digital licenses will be legally equivalent to physical licenses, containing the same all the same information. They’ll be limited to display only on mobile devices owned by the license holder.

The DMV will publish a study by Jan. 1 that will address costs, security concerns, and potential impacts on law enforcement practices.

A dozen states already support digital licenses, with a majority of states in the process of legalizing and developing them.

Littering penalties increased in new law

North Carolina has signi cantly toughened its littering laws with a new bill set to take e ect in December.

The legislation reduces the weight threshold for the lowest tier of o enses from 15 pounds to 10 and increases nes across all categories.

For instance, the minimum ne for littering under 10 pounds has doubled to $500 for rst o enses and $1,000 for repeat o enses. The bill also enhances community service requirements, with some categories seeing minimum hours more than doubled. Commercial littering is now explicitly de ned and subject to felony charges regardless of amount, and littering in state waters will be punished as severely as littering on land.

Autopsy details released on gunman who killed four o cers in Charlotte

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, had THC in his system

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — More details on the death of the Charlotte gunman who carried out the deadliest attack on law enforcement o cers since 2016 were released in state autopsy and toxicology reports.

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, opened re with an assault rie on o cers attempting to serve an arrest warrant on April 29, killing four o cers and injuring another four. He eventually was shot 12 times after a lengthy stando and

died from his injuries, according to a North Carolina medical examiner’s report obtained by local media outlets.

The report showed Hughes was shot both on his upper and lower body. THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, was also found in his system, but other substances such as alcohol were not, according to a toxicology report.

The shooting in the residential neighborhood in east Charlotte eventually ended when Hughes jumped from a second- oor window into the front yard and was killed, according to police. At least 12 o cers shot their guns during the stando , police said.

There was initial confusion on whether Hughes acted alone in shooting at o cers from the home’s second oor, as police oated the idea that there may have been a second shooter. That possibility was dispelled in a May 31 news conference when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington said Hughes was the sole gunman in the attack. There were two females inside the home during the shooting, but police said they were not involved in the gunre. Hughes also had a lengthy criminal record dating back

Petty says camp for seriously ill children is family’s true legacy

‘The King’ of NASCAR is proud of what Victory Junction Camp has achieved

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

RICHARD PETTY, with a record 200 Cup Series wins, seven championships and a rst-ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame, is considered NASCAR’s greatest driver. He is spending the season celebrating 75 years of NASCAR participation by his famous family — basically since the inception of the stock car series in 1948 — and re ecting on the legacy that will be left behind. As he approached his 87th birthday, celebrated Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s race at Chicago, Petty has realized his family should be hailed for

“I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.”

Richard Petty, stock car racing legend

something far bigger than anything it did in NASCAR. He pointed to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was opened in 2004 for chronically ill children as a way to honor his late grandson.

Adam Petty was 19 when he was killed in a 2000 crash practicing for a race at New Hampshire. Not too many years before, he’d made a motorcycle visit to Paul Newman’s Camp Boggy Creek and became interested in creating a similar camp in North Carolina.

Petty said the family following through on Adam’s dream will be its lasting legacy.

“This is for seriously ill kids who can’t go to camp, so it’s a very special deal,” Petty said. “The kids come from all over the country and they don’t charge them anything. We make sure they get there and get them home. So when I look at the Pettys’ 75 years of racing, I think it brought the camp into play, and I think the bigger legacy, what it will hopefully be, is more about the Victory Junction Camp than anything about racing.

“Racing put us in a position to come out and do something, and it was always one of Adam’s dreams,” he added. “When

more than a decade, with state records showing charges such as breaking and entering, eluding arrest and illegal possession of a rearm by someone convicted of a felony.

The four o cers killed by Hughes were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg O cer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. In the shooting’s aftermath, the o cers were commemorated in memorials around the state. President Joe Biden also visited North Carolina to privately meet with the o cers’ families.

we lost Adam, the family got together and said we’d go pursue that deal.”

Adam Petty was the oldest son of Kyle Petty, Richard’s only son. Petty family patriarch Lee started the racing team, and Richard’s engine-building brother, Maurice, are all considered the foundation of the team’s success. The trio are all members of NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty is “The King” and he remains a larger-thanlife gure in retirement, his cowboy hat and sunglasses a beloved and familiar sight at the track, where even at 87 he shows up to every NASCAR weekend and is currently an ambassador for Legacy Motor Club. That team, co-owned by

See PETTY, page 2

PHOTOS

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North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

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PETTY from page 1

fellow seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, is the backbone of Petty Enterprises.

Kyle Petty never equaled his father in on-track success, but Adam was considered to be a future NASCAR star at the time of his fatal crash. Although winless at the national series level when he was killed, he’d made one Cup start and had won two races in the ARCA Series feeder system when he was 17.

Had he not died so young, Adam Petty likely would have moved to the Cup level to drive for Petty Enterprises and kept that team a oat and competitive for several decades.

Instead, his death helped the family create its proudest achievement.

Located across 84 acres in the Petty hometown of Randleman, the camp notes that “Adam’s passion for racing was equaled only by his compassion for others, especially children” and that he often visited children in pediatric hospitals.

The camp is largely funded through donations and money-raising events that include both a fan walk and the annual “Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.” The motorcycle trip began in 1995, long before the camp, but proceeds now go to Victory Junction.

Richard Petty said it thrills him that Victory Junction began long before foundations and charities started by drivers became the norm.

“We had a grandson that we loved, but look at the thousands of kids — I think we’ve seen 30,000 kids and this is our 20th year, and Kyle always says when he sees one of them smile, he sees Adam smile,” Richard Petty said.

Petty is adamant that the family never would have been able to launch Victory Junction without the success of Petty Enterprises, which was NASCAR’s winningest team until 2021. Once they decided to start the camp, drivers, industry veterans and fans were all eager to contribute in any way they could.

“Everybody wants to leave a legacy of some kind,” Petty said. “I think that, racing over a period of time, will go away or be di erent. I think the notoriety of the camp is going to be around a lot longer than anything I’ve accomplished in racing.” THURSDAY

MONDAY

State awards $112M to connect 26K rural homes, businesses

The money, half from the federal government, is spread across 19 counties

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

ALBEMARLE — Last week, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity announced that 19 counties have been awarded funding for broadband expansion.

As part of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan “to close the digital divide,” NCDIT’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program is granting $112 million to connect 25,903 households and businesses to high-speed internet — some $4,300 per connection.

“We are excited that so many counties and internet service providers have partnered with us on the CAB program,” NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equi-

ty Nate Denny said in a July 1 press release. “These awarded projects will help us make signi cant progress on closing the state’s digital divide.”

The CAB program is funded by more than $61 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, as well as $25 million from counties and nearly $26 million from various broadband providers.

The program is designed to identify locations that lack broadband access and to award funding to prequali ed internet service providers who agree to provide high-speed service of at least 100 megabits per second to those locations.

“Through these awards, more North Carolinians will be able to access a ordable and reliable high-speed internet so they can participate in our increasingly digital world,” Cooper said in an NCDIT press release. “I appreciate the partnership among NCDIT, county leaders and broadband providers in helping close our state’s digital divide.”

The awards add to the $404

million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB funding awarded that will connect nearly 161,000 statewide households and businesses to broadband.

Last month, the NCDIT announced a $67 million broadband grant for expanded internet access in 15 counties.

“By partnering directly with county leaders, we can focus on their individual community needs and together make decisions that will bene t their constituents,” NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Ofcer Jim Weaver said. “Thanks to our extensive mapping, previous prequali cation process and internet service providers’ responsiveness, we posted these counties’ scopes of work in March and April and worked with them to make awards for new broadband projects in less than three months.”

Additional information regarding the progress of the NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity project is available at ncbroadband.gov.

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

July 10-31

Hastings Art Gallery: “2024 Fine Arts Exhibit”

7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Enjoy the summer art showcase featuring the works of the talented art students of the Personal Enrichment and Lifelong Learning Institute. Works include paintings, sculptures, ceramics and drawings. The exhibit will be on display through Wednesday, July 31. For more information, please contact Tammy Stewart, Dean of Learning Resources at stewartt@ sandhills.edu or at 910-695-3821.

July 13

Sandhills Bogeys Baseball

July 2

• Omari Ade Grant, 36, was arrested by the Moore County Sheri ’s O ce (MCSO) for tra cking in cocaine.

July 3

• Thomas Monroe Shipman, 40, was arrested by MCSO for eeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.

• Zavionne Tirrell Davis, 29, was arrested by the Lee County Sheri ’s O ce for felony probation violation.

July 4

• Savannah Lynn Ayers, 25, was arrested by MCSO for violating a domestic violence protection order.

July 5

• Joshua Glenn Woodcock, 25, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.

• Tatyana Alexis Marley, 22, was arrested by the Aberdeen Police Department (APD) for

misdemeanor domestic violence.

• Dominique Letrell Byrd, 24, was arrested by APD for misdemeanor domestic violence.

July 6

• Scott Dale Prewitt, 55, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.

• Terry Gene Lucas, 63, was arrested by the Whispering Pines Police Department for felony probation violation.

• Misty Deaton Anderson, 45, was arrested by MCSO for possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.

July 7

• Anderson Lee McLaughlin, 71, was arrested by the Southern Pines Police Department (SPPD) for second-degree trespass.

• James Llewllyn McDowell, 75, was arrested by SPPD for second-degree

trespass.

• Janice She eld Lester, 34, was arrested by the Robbins Police Department (RPD) for simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.

July 8

• Angel Sanchez-Cruz, 18, was arrested by the Fox re Village Police Department for eeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.

• Sean Michael Collins, 49, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.

• Joseph Lee Barber, 57, was arrested by MCSO for attempted tra cking of opioids by transport.

• Michael Alston, 61, was arrested by RPD for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.

• Jessica Marie Abernathy, 37, was arrested by the Davidson County Sheri ’s O ce for failure to appear on child support charges.

7 p.m.

With just ve games remaining in the regular season schedule, the homestanding Sandhills Bogeys host the Hope Mills Rock sh at Dempsey Diamond at Bogey Ballpark, 3395 Airport Rd. in Pinehurst.

July 14

Sandhills Bogeys Baseball

6 p.m.

The Bogeys take on the Sanford Spinners for the nal time of the 2024 campaign at Dempsey Diamond at Bogey Ballpark, 3395 Airport Rd. in Pinehurst.

July 16

Sandhills Bogeys Baseball

7 p.m.

The Sandhills Bogeys host the Tar Heel Kings at Dempsey Diamond at Bogey Ballpark, 3395 Airport Rd. in Pinehurst.

July

20

Christmas in July 10 a.m.

Santa will be visiting the Carthage Historical Museum again this year. The event features a craft station, yard games and some Christmas tunes to set the mood. There will be a good old-fashioned bake sale. Big Dippers Ice Cream Truck will be parked out front with the best ice cream you’ll have all summer. Carthage Historical Museum, 202 Rockingham St. in Carthage.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

PBMs drive progress in health care a ordability

North Carolina residents save hundreds of dollars per year on out-of-pocket medication costs thanks to pharmacy bene t managers.

THE RISING COST OF HEALTH

CARE ranks among the most pressing issues nationwide, and North Carolina is no exception. A recent Forbes study labeled our state as the worst in the entire country for health care costs and the third worst for health care overall. If there were ever a time for state leaders to address this crisis, it is now.

Unfortunately, some legislators are wrongfully placing blame on a critical player in the ght for a ordable healthcare: pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs). Misunderstanding the role and impact of PBMs undermines e orts to tackle the real drivers of high health care costs.

PBMs have a crucial function in our health care system. By leveraging their bargaining power, they negotiate rebates and discounts on prescription drugs, signi cantly reducing costs for patients.

The return on investment is remarkable: every dollar spent on their services leads to roughly $10 in savings.

North Carolina residents save hundreds of dollars per year on out-of-pocket medication costs thanks to PBMs. For those with chronic conditions, these savings can be even more substantial, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars annually.

While securing lower prices on medications might be the most well-known

Blind loyalty

Are rank-andle Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that?

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM says he has President Joe Biden’s back. It’s almost enough for me to take him o my list of possible successors to the incumbent president.

Having Biden’s back is not a matter of loyalty.

Biden has been a ne president. He inherited a country in crisis, roiled by the pandemic, and righted the ship of state. The economy recovered. We beat back the pandemic. Important bipartisan bills were passed, including the infrastructure bill and major legislation on climate change. We would have passed immigration reform, with bipartisan support, if Donald Trump hadn’t scuttled the e ort by calling on his Republican friends to abandon the bill to save him an issue to campaign on. He led the Democratic Party to a surprisingly successful midterm election. He would go down in history as a very successful president if he doesn’t go down, as seems increasingly likely, as a sel sh leader who stayed too long and endangered our democracy as much as the man he is running against. We’ve been to that movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Trump court. Make no mistake, if he doesn’t step aside, that will be his legacy.

The polls say that as many as 78% of the American people don’t want him to run again. They aren’t kidding. And I’m not

bene t of PBMs, they also contribute to better health care outcomes through the ability to tailor programs to t a patient’s medical needs. Through medication adherence, for instance, they ensure patients follow their doctor’s orders, reducing hospital readmissions and avoiding costly complications. With PBMs, it truly does go beyond just lower costs. It’s a holistic approach that allows them to have such a big impact.

Meanwhile, more than 1 million small businesses in North Carolina rely on PBMs to manage health plans e ciently, helping them remain competitive and support their workforce’s well-being. These employers need PBMs to provide quality health plans without breaking the bank — something small businesses know all too well. No wonder more than 9-in-10 employers report satisfaction with their PBM.

Despite these noteworthy bene ts, critics are still eyeing PBMs as a primary target in health care reform proposals. While there is always room for improvement, lawmakers must recognize that without the negotiating power of PBMs, drug prices would be considerably higher, placing an unbearable nancial burden on consumers and patients. The common-sense solution, therefore, is not to disrupt PBMs but rather build on their progress toward a ordable health care.

Ultimately, North Carolina’s sky-high health care costs stem from a variety of factors, including the soaring cost of medical procedures and ine ciencies in the health care delivery system. Focusing solely on PBMs diverts attention from these broader issues and endangers one of the few mechanisms working to control costs. Sadly, some anti-PBM proposals in the legislature would make matters worse by imposing more fees and eroding the competition essential to a vibrant health care market. One draft bill would mandate a $10.24 fee on the vast majority of prescriptions. Why would we raise costs on patients at a time when it’s already prohibitively expensive to visit the pharmacy counter?

North Carolinians have every right to be dissatis ed with our state’s poor health care system. As legislators in Raleigh debate policy solutions, they should understand the unintended consequences of targeting PBMs, ultimately harming the very people they aim to protect. By strengthening the role of PBMs while pursuing broader health care reforms, we can make strides toward making our state a leader in health care a ordability.

Glenn Lancaster is a resident of Moore County.

kidding when I wonder if those who do are only looking for a candidate so thoroughly discredited that he’s the only one Trump could beat.

We all know what we saw on television. It was not just an o night. It was a man who had no business being on that stage.

Dear Gavin: Who are you being loyal to? How about being loyal to the future of our democracy? Biden himself has recognized that’s what is at stake in this election. It is. And Biden is the one who is threatening to take it down because of his stubborn determination to hold onto power past his time. He has clearly emerged as the Democrat least likely to defeat Trump. Are rank-and- le Democrats — we who feel powerless — the only ones to see that? It can’t be. Where is Biden’s inner circle? Where are the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party? Are they telling him what he needs to hear or what he wants to hear?

The New York Times has reported that Biden met with his family to seek their advice. The family, it is reported, urged him to stay in the race. Hunter was particularly strong. How terrifying. The Biden with the demonstrably worst judgment in the family, a convicted felon and an object of ridicule — is this who Biden is listening to?

Or are we only being told this by an insider who is afraid to speak out publicly about why Biden should step aside so they are telling us who he is listening to instead? It hardly helps Biden. It makes him look weaker, not stronger.

I understand blind public loyalty. I’ve

been there and done that. It is misplaced. Politics is too important for personal loyalty at the expense of country. The reason the party rallied around Biden in the rst place — when some of those who knew him best must have seen up close what had happened to him over the course of four years, must have seen the decline we all witnessed in Atlanta — was clearly because of the conventional wisdom that challenging an incumbent president would only weaken him in the general election.

That was, on the face of things, the lesson of the 1980 election, when Ted Kennedy challenged Jimmy Carter, who used the power of the presidency adroitly to defeat him and then lost to Ronald Reagan. But that’s just plain wrong. I was there, too. The reason Kennedy ran in the rst place was because he was convinced, rightly, that Carter could not defeat Reagan.

Could Kennedy have done better? He could not have done worse.

It would have been better if someone had taken on Biden. We would have seen him on a debate stage earlier than we did. Every delegate to the convention would not have been pledged to Biden. We would have a stronger candidate right now.

But it is not too late. Rank-and- le Democrats may not be able to do much, but Democratic leaders and donors can make their voices heard. This is a cause that demands courage. Biden needs not only to hear it privately but to hear it publicly. It is not too late for him to avoid more public humiliation — and for us to preserve our democracy.

COLUMN | GLENN LANCASTER

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

MOORE SPORTS

Allred prepares for college baseball with Sandhills Bogeys in ONSL

The shortstop will play at Brunswick Community College next spring

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

FOR FORMER Chatham

Charter baseball standout

Aidan Allred, this summer has been an early introduction to what the college level looks like.

Allred, an incoming freshman at Brunswick Community College, has spent his summer playing for the Sandhills Bogeys in the Old North State League, a summer league for college baseball players with 22 teams all over North Carolina.

As of Sunday, Allred has played in 18 games primarily at the shortstop position. From the plate, he has batted an average of .222 and recorded 12 hits and seven RBIs.

“I’ll describe (this season) as an adjustment,” Allred said. “It’s a lot di erent than high school.”

Although the level of competition and skill wasn’t the same as it is in the ONSL, Allred’s high school stats looked much more impressive.

In his four years at Chatham Charter, Allred achieved a .504 batting average and recorded 124 hits, 111 RBIs, 16 home runs, a career elding percentage of .957 and 101 putouts, according to MaxPreps. Allred’s senior campaign in 2024 was one of the best hitting seasons in the state as he recorded a .612 batting average (second in NCHSAA), 52 hits, 46 RBIs (fourth in NCHSAA) and seven home runs (tied fourth in NCHSAA).

However, against other college talent, those numbers don’t come nearly as easily. Allred said the biggest adjustment to

the college game has been the speed.

“The pace of the game is a lot faster,” Allred said. “Everybody is stronger, bigger and faster, so you have to adjust your timing whether it’s in the box, throwing across the in eld or whatever it may be.”

Fortunately for Allred, the two men who created the ONSL are in his corner as he gets accustomed to the next level.

Allred’s brother, Alec, and father, Reggie founded the ONSL in 2018. The ONSL website says Alec Allred, who played professional baseball overseas and in the MLB farm system, called his father on the way home from playing independent professional ball in Michigan. With Allred inspired by the league he was returning from, the conversation to pass the time brought the idea of a new college summer baseball league, and not long after, the ideas shared between the two men were put into motion.

The ONSL played its inaugural season in 2019, starting with just four teams that all played at Craven Stadium in Ramseur. In 2023, the ONSL became the rst partner league of the The Players League, a league established to “unite college baseball summer leagues around the country for the better of the player” which is also the current owner and operator of the ONSL.

“I’m de nitely thankful because not many people have a brother and dad that do that,” Allred said. “It’s pretty special. My brother and dad always wanted to prepare me the best. And, with my brother playing professional baseball and college, he knows what it takes.”

Said Allred, “(Alec) sets everything up for me to succeed the best he can.”

From game one to now, Allred feels his biggest improvement is his mentality and his ability to stay mentally strong through the ups and downs of the season.

In three games from June 26 to Saturday, Allred went 0-for7 from the plate combined, but in the two games before that stretch, he went 3-for-9 and recorded three RBIs in the two wins.

“You don’t have the success rate that you have in high school,” Allred said. “Being able to handle failure, I’d say I’ve gotten better at it.”

Said Allred, “But also, my coaches are really good at knowing that I’m young, and I’m learning. They help me go through it because they’ve all been through it.”

Allred’s best game of the season so far was in the Bogeys’ 10-2 win over the Danville Dairy Daddies on June 24. Allred recorded two season-highs in hits (two) and RBIs (two), and one of his hits was his second double of the season. Out of three chances, Allred also contributed two putouts from the in eld.

“I was seeing the ball,” Allred said about the June 24 game. “That was the rst game that I had switched to a 33-inch bat to just try to speed up my hands. I just put good swings on the ball.”

Regardless of the outcomes or his performances with the Bogeys, Allred’s experience with the Bogeys is doing what it’s supposed to do.

“I feel like I’m getting the jitters of college ball out of the way before I actually get there,” Allred said. “I’ve made big jumps even though (my stats) don’t add up to what I did in high school yet. I feel like I’ll de nitely get back to more of that level once I get to school.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Caden Petrey

Caden Petrey is a third baseman for the Sandhills Bogeys of The Old North State League. He’s was also rst-team all-conference, a gold glove winner and an NAIA scholar-athlete during his sophomore year at the University of the Cumberlands. He seems to be nding his groove with the wooden bats in summer college baseball as well. He’s second on the Bogeys in hits (21), RBIs (12) and home runs (3) while hitting .288 with .829 OPS.

Bowman wraps up a spot in the Cup Series playo s

The Hendrick Motorsports driver’s eighth career win and rst since March 2022 came on the Chicago street course

By Jay Cohen The Associated Press

CHICAGO — At long last, Alex Bowman got a win. And a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playo s.

So yeah, he was ready to party.

“We’re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight, it’s going to be a bad deal,” a jubilant Bowman said. “I’m probably going to wake up naked on

the bathroom oor again. That’s just part of this deal sometimes.” Bowman held o Tyler Reddick on a rainy street course in downtown Chicago on Sunday, stopping an 80-race winless drought. It was his rst victory since Las Vegas in March 2022 and No. 8 for his career. He is the 12th Cup Series driver to win this year, leaving four remaining spots in the playo s with six races left in the regular season. After his Vegas victory two years ago, Bowman, 31, was sidelined by a concussion. He injured his back in a short-track accident in April 2023.

“You start to second-guess if you’re ever going to get a chance to win a race again,” he said. Not anymore. The Cup Series’ second street race in Chicago was stopped for more than 100 minutes because of rain, and NASCAR set a cuto time of 8:20 p.m. CDT because of the fading sunlight. When Bowman crossed the start- nish line after that time, the white ag came out, followed by the checkered. Tyler Reddick made a late charge, but he got into a wall while trying to run down Bowman. Ty Gibbs was third, followed by Joey Hand and Michael McDowell.

“I got the opportunity to run him down,” Reddick said. “Just obviously couldn’t get the job done. A clean lap was all I had to do and couldn’t even do that.”

Bowman closed it out on wet weather tires in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after pole-sitter Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen were knocked out.

During the cool-down lap, Bowman was bumped into the wall by Bubba Wallace. Bowman spun out Wallace early in the race.

“I have to apologize again to the 23 guys,” Bowman said. “Just messed up, trying to get my windshield wiper on, missed a corner and ruined their day. I hate that. I’m still embarrassed about it.” Larson slammed into the tire barrier in Turn 6 on Lap 34, bringing out a caution. He was trying for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start.

“As soon as I hit the brakes, I knew I was in trouble,” said Larson, who has an 11-point lead over Chase Elliott in the driver standings. Van Gisbergen was clipped by Chase Briscoe going into Turn 6 on Lap 25. Briscoe slid into a tire barrier, but van Gisbergen crashed into the temporary wall — causing heavy damage to the right side of his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.

“I just sort of turned in. It looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s gutting.” Shortly after the wreck, the race was stopped to give NASCAR time to clear standing water from the makeshift track. The drivers returned to their cars about an hour later, but the delay continued when another cell passed over the course.

Gibbs was in front when the race resumed, followed by Christopher Bell and Larson.

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ERIN HOOLEY / AP PHOTO

Alex Bowman stands with his team and his trophy after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Chicago.

SIDELINE REPORT

WWE

Cena announces retirement from professional wrestling in 2025

Toronto

John Cena has announced his retirement from professional wrestling after two decades in the ring. The wrestler-turnedactor told World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of dates and an epic nal ght. Cena assured fans he would remain involved with the wrestling franchise that launched his career. He told reporters after the event that he feels physically “at my end” but that doesn’t mean he needs to distance himself from the sport he loves. Cena is a 16time WWE champion and action movie star.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson assistant

coach, former RB Spiller selected for ring of honor

Clemson, S.C. College Football Hall of Famer C.J. Spiller was selected to Clemson’s ring of honor for its Death Valley stadium. The award is the highest honor given by the school’s athletic department. Spiller played running back from 2006 to 2009 and set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 7,588 all-purpose yards. He was selected to the College Football Hall in 2021. Spiller was picked No. 9 overall by Bu alo in the 2010 draft and spent eight seasons in the pros. He is entering his fourth season as Clemson’s running backs coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Kipyegon breaks own world record in 1,500 meters

Paris

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke her own world record in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Diamond League track and eld meeting in Paris. Kipyegon nished in 3:49.04, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year. The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Before Sunday, she had only run twice in 2024, in the 1,500 and 5,000, to secure her spot for the Paris Olympics at the Kenyan trials in June.

NBA

Banned NBA player Porter to be charged in betting case, court papers indicate New York Court papers indicate that former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter will be charged with a federal felony connected to the sports betting scandal that spurred the NBA to ban him for life. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn led what’s known as a criminal information sheet. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges. But it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four gamblers charged with conspiring to cash in on tips

Looking like dad, James makes NBA Summer League debut

like his famous father, LeBron, it caused some at Chase Center to do a double-take.

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Once that second-quarter layup went in and he nally had his rst NBA points after a trio of misses, Bronny James could exhale and everything began to slow down.

“The atmosphere, it was more than I expected,” a grinning James said. “It’s a big game for me, but I didn’t know the people of Golden State would come and rep for me, so that was pretty nice to see.”

Oversized headphones on his ears and dressed in full Lakers gold as he geared up for his NBA Summer League debut Saturday, the rookie looked so much

Bronny James took his place in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers and his professional career was formally underway, with plenty of scouts in the building to witness it as he wore jersey No. 9.

“Every rst game that I step on the next level there’s always some butter ies in my stomach, but as soon as the ball tips and we go a couple times down it all goes away and I’m just playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always going to be there but get through it.”

The younger James wound up 2 for 9 for four points, missing all three of his 3s, with a pair of assists, two rebounds and a steal in just under 22 minutes of court time — 21:43 to be exact — as the Lakers lost 108-94 to the Sacramento Kings.

James missed his initial two shots while playing nearly six minutes in his rst action — grabbing a defensive rebound 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game. James scored his rst NBA points on a driving layup 5:51 before halftime.

“Moments like that can slow the game down for you especially because I wasn’t as productive as I wanted to beforehand,” he said. “... I couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall, but all the reps it’s going to come more smooth.”

At one point during his warmup routine, the 6-foot-2 guard stood with hands on hips in a resemblant position to one of his father. And during the game, the son leaned over by the baseline 3-point corner, gripping his knees while waiting for the offensive possession to begin.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers with the

55th overall selection in the second round out of the University of Southern California.

If all goes as planned, the 19-year-old James and his dad would become the rst father-son pair to play in the NBA at the same time — and on the same team no less.

“What he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well,” LeBron James said at USA Basketball’s training camp in Las Vegas. “I just want him to continue to grow, practices, lm sessions, his individual workouts. You can’t take anything as far as stat wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days.”

Goodbye Big 12, hello growing SEC

Texas and Oklahoma party as their conference move becomes o cial

By Cli Brunt and Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma nally got the chance to celebrate its long-awaited move to the Southeastern Conference.

As the switch from the Big 12 became o cial last Monday, the school nally was letting loose.

Festivities started Sunday night and stretched to events statewide on Monday. There were pep rallies in Norman on Monday afternoon. In the evening, the free “Party In The Palace” at Memorial Stadium included music, a brew garden, a basketball court, a gaming trailer, a mechanical bull and a photo booth.

“Today is a celebration,”

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. “It’s about engaging our fans and our stakeholders. That’s what this is, rather than having a quick press conference and an announcement and moving on. We’ve tried to really bring our fan base into it because we were very, very strident about not trying to celebrate it before the o cial day would come.”

There was no downplaying it on Monday. The SEC logo was plastered all over Oklahoma’s stadium and the campus — even painted on the sidewalks. Not to be outdone, Texas made its long-awaited conference switch at the same time and celebrated with campus parties, carnivals, concerts and reworks.

Now Oklahoma and Texas, rival programs that were co-founders of the Big 12 in 1996, nally are in the SEC. And

Gage Sisco holds his daughter Harper as they pose for photos at the University of Texas campus event in Austin to celebrate the school moving from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.

their celebrations t the conference mantra: “It Just Means More.”

At Texas, thousands poured onto campus in near 100-degree heat Sunday for a carnival and concert with pop star Pitbull under the iconic campus clock tower.

At the Texas party, children played on bounce houses, rock walls and slides. Misters cooled their parents who waited in long lines for autographs from Longhorns coaches, photographs with the Longhorn mascot Bevo, and packed into merchandise tents for gear with the SEC logo.

“This is a day we have been building toward for years,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said. “Our fans our really

excited about this. You can tell by the turnout.”

It’s a moment college sports in general has been building toward in the era of major realignment. The Texas and Oklahoma break from the Big 12 helped trigger myriad conference shifts with more on the way. By the rst kicko of the 2024 season, 11 so-called Power 4 programs will be in new conferences.

Oklahoma and Texas originally planned to join the SEC in 2025, but ultimately reached a nancial deal with the Big 12 for an early exit.

“Texas brings more tradition, more talent, more passion and more ght,” to the SEC, the school said on its athletics website. Oklahoma’s celebration start-

ed Sunday night with a “Race to the SEC” 5k race through the heart of campus, with midnight sales of SEC merchandise and reworks.

Monday morning, former Sooners coach Barry Switzer co-hosted a celebration breakfast in Tulsa.

Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz said the move will improve the experience for students and enhance the school athletically and academically.

“We want our students to not just come here and participate, we want them to feel like they belong,” Harroz said. “Intercollegiate athletics provides that. And today, we celebrate a move to the SEC that ensures we accomplish both of those goals. It puts us with the best.”

JIM VERTUNO / AP PHOTO

Bronny James debuts for Lakers as he prepares to team up with LeBron

NIC COURY / AP PHOTO

Looking very similar to his famous father, LeBron, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James waits during a break in the rst half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the Sacramento Kings.

New British PM seeks to improve trade deal with EU

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party decisively won last week’s election

By Brian Melley

The Associated Press

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad.

During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh — that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales — Starmer said he would seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union.

“I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the U.K. with,” he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit.

Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his rst visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden.

With two of Starmer’s ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the U.K. following his party’s landslide

victory last week.

Starmer, who said he has a “mandate to do politics di erently,” met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an e ort to “turn disagreement

into cooperation.”

“We will serve every single person in Scotland,” Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters. “Performance, self-interest: they’re the pol-

itics of the past. The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind’s eye the people who elected us into government.”

While each of the devolved nations in the U.K. elects members to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments.

Starmer’s Labour Party trounced Swinney’s Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

Swinney said after meeting the prime minister that he believed there is an opportunity to work together to make a difference for the Scottish people.

The trip to build better working relations across the U.K. comes as Starmer’s government faces a mountain of problems.

The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and scal missteps. It also faces a public disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and scal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer has declared broken.

Starmer said he wants to transfer power from the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what’s best for their communities.

After his two-day tour, he’ll return to England where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying he would engage with

politicians regardless of their party.

“There’s no monopoly on good ideas,” he said “I’m not a tribal political.”

Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease- re in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.

He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the “undeniable right of Palestinians” and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the long-term conditions for a twostate solution, including ensuring nancial means for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to operate e ectively.

Labour’s initial refusal to call for a cease re last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday’s election.

In advance of Starmer’s attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated an “unshakeable” commitment to the alliance during his rst trip abroad.

Lammy said that the U.K. government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.

“European security will be this government’s foreign and defense priority,” Lammy said in Poland. “Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defenses.”

After chaotic election, Macron keeps France’s PM in place

The French president refused Gabriel Attal’s o er to resign

By Sylvie Corbet and Lori Hinnant

The Associated Press

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France’s prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo.

Voters split the legislature on the left, center and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy. Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a “moment of clari cation,” but the

outcome showed the opposite less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics when the country will be under an international spotlight.

The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in o ce if needed but o ered his resignation Monday morning. Macron, who named him just seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s top political allies joined the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which ended after about 90 minutes.

On Sunday, Attal made clear that he disagreed with Macron’s decision to call the surprise election. The results of two rounds of voting left no obvious path to form a government for the leftist coali-

tion that came in rst, Macron’s centrist alliance or the far right.

Newly elected and returning lawmakers on Monday gathered at the National Assembly to begin negotiations over a new government in earnest. Macron himself will leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

Talks over who should form a new government — and who should lead the foreign, interior and nance ministries among others — are expected to be extremely di cult and lengthy given that political parties negotiating a deal have diametrically opposing policies and contempt for one another.

“We are in a situation that is totally unprecedented,” said Jean-Didier Berger, a newly elected lawmaker from the conservative Republicans party.

Aurélien Rousseau, a newly elected lawmaker from the New Popular Front and former minister in Macron’s gov-

ernment, acknowledged disagreements within the leftist alliance over the government formation but said the alliance could eventually reach an agreement.

“We need to build compromises, but we need to take time to discuss, to know what we agree on or disagree within the left,” Rousseau said.

Another New Popular Front lawmaker, Jérôme Guedj of the French Socialists party, said the leftist alliance won’t buckle under pressure to name its candidate for the next prime minister who could govern alongside Macron.

“This is a confusing moment (and) we’re not going to add anxiety, unnecessary division at a moment when we need to nd the right path,” Guedj said.

Political deadlock could have far-ranging implications for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability. Still, at least one leader said the result was a relief.

“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, posted on X late Sunday. According to o cial results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the most powerful of France’s two legislative chambers. The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed rst, to beat Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. The far-right National Rally part of Marine Le Pen and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022. Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.

SCOTT HEPPELL / AP PHOTO

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday as part of a two-day tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

obituaries

Patrick John Moore

November 11, 1954 –July 6, 2024

Patrick John Moore, 69 of West End, passed away Saturday, July 6, 2024 at his residence.

He was born November 11, 1954 in Wetzel County, WV to the late Arthur Lee Moore, Sr. and Beatrice Noel Moore.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Veronica Moore Aaronson and greatgranddaughter Sadie Leigh Akers; brothers, Arthur Moore Jr., Donnie Moore, Bob Moore, Jim Moore; and sister, Shirley Titus.

He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Beverly Moore Brown (Art), and Ti any Moore Burns (Jonathan); son in law William Aaronson; grandchildren, Arthur W. Brown, III, Megan Leigh Brown, Breanna Paige Brown, Andrew Logan Moore, Carleigh Pearl, Burns, Haden Madison Barker and Mason Lee Turner; great-grand daughter Rylee Grace Akers. He is also survived by a sister, Eva Roton, brother, Bill Moore (Judy), and his ex-wife and caregiver Pearl Locklear.

Pat grew up in West Virginia, moving to NC at the age of 21. He worked as a bridge builder with Sanford Construction. He attended New Beginning Church in Hamlet, NC. He enjoyed reading his bible, shing and gardening, but most of all he loved his family and spending time with them.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 11, beginning at 1:00 PM at Boles Funeral Home in Seven Lakes, 221 McDougall Drive, West End, NC 27376. A funeral service, o ciated by Pastor Gene Williams will begin at 2:00PM and burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Laurinburg, NC.

In lieu of owers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes.

Lawrence Stephen Lalor

November 8, 1932 –July 5, 2024

Lawrence Stephen Lalor, 91, passed away on July 5 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He was born on November 08, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, the third child of four to Stephen and Sheila (Hyland) Lalor. Larry was married to Moya (Turley) Lalor, in 1955 in Brooklyn and retired to Pinehurst in 1996.

Larry grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School. After high school, he attended City University of New York and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1954. Upon graduating, he served as a Specialist in the United States Army Chemical Corps as a Statistician. After the army, his career was in Quality Assurance, where he held positions in Corning Glass Works, NY, and Keu el and Esser in New Jersey and Michigan. He then held management positions in the pharmaceutical industry, rst at Merck Sharp & Dohme in West Point, PA and then 22 years at Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL. He retired from Abbott as Director of Quality Assurance in 1995.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Moya (2019), parents, and brothers and sister, John, Richard and Claire. Larry was also preceded in death by his son Lyle Fintan Lalor (2023)

Larry will be remembered fondly by all those that survive him : daughter, Gregorie (Jack) Lule of PA, son, Paul Lalor of RI, and daughter, Cecily (Daniel) Lalor of MA, his 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

His family would also like to thank the kind and loving neighbors who watched out for him for many years. Thanks also to his home health aide, Sylvia Vivero, who attended him for years.

The family will receive friends at Boles Funeral Home, Parker Lane, Pinehurst, NC on Wednesday, July 10, from 6-8PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dundee RD. Pinehurst, NC at 11AM Thursday, July 11. Burial will be held at a later date at Pinelawn in Southern Pines, NC In lieu of owers the family requests memorial donations in Lawrence Lalor’s name be made to Meals on Wheels. Service arrangements are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.

Ronald Allen Highsmith

May 13, 1955 – July 4, 2024

Ronald Allen Highsmith, 69 of Aberdeen, passed away on July 4, 2024 at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst.

Born on May 13, 1955 in Germany to the late Gale and Margaret Highsmith. Ronald proudly served in the US Army Special Forces for over 20 years retiring as a Master Sergeant. During his honorable service in the green berets he became a Special Forces instructor. After his military service, Ronald owned and operated Sandhill’s Lock and Key for over 30 years. He was a member of the NC Locksmith Association. Standing at 6’5 he was a tall man with the gentlest of hearts. Often referred to as a gentle giant by his family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Shirley Highsmith; two children, Mitcheal Wood and Sharon Styers; also survived by two grandchildren, Rylee and Regan Styers and Chase Hudson.

No services are planned at this time to follow Ronald’s wishes.

In lieu of owers memorial donations may be made to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation 150 Applecross Road Pinehurst, NC 28374. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Thomas Myris

August 2, 1939 – July 4, 2024

Thomas Myris, 84 of Pinehurst, passed away on July 4, 2024 at Quail Haven in Pinehurst.

Born on August 2, 1939 in Michigan to the late Frank and Ann Myris. Thomas was a hospital volunteer for many years. He was an avid golfer and traveler.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Russell Myris; sister, Margaret Dysarz and her husband, Leo.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ann Myris; two children, Kevin Myris and Kimberly Myris; sister-in-law, Cheryl K. Miller; also survived by two grandchildren, Reid Smith and Prince Hammons.

The family will receive friends on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 10:30-11:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a funeral mass following at 11:00AM. Burial at a later date in Illinois.

In lieu of owers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Betty Craig White

September 18, 1924 –July 4, 2024

Betty Craig White, 99, of Pinehurst, passed peacefully at her home on Thursday, July 4th, 2024.

Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, Sept. 18, 1924, she was the daughter of the late John Press Craig and Carrie Berryhille Craig. While volunteering as a USO hostess in Memphis, Betty met the love of her life, soldier James Robert White. They later married and moved to Cortland, NY where Bob nished his Bachelor’s degree, and later his Masters in Education.

Betty and Bob were dedicated to, and active in the Catholic Church. They were members of St. Anthony of Padua in Southern Pines.

Betty was a devoted wife and “the best mom in the world!” Betty and Bob were devoted to one another, their family, and their faith. Their home was always a peaceful, loving, and caring place to be. All who met Betty expressed that she was beautiful inside and out and a great blessing to have known. She will be greatly missed. Betty was the wife of the late James Robert White. She is survived by her son Robert Craig White and his wife Cathy, and daughter Terry White DeFoor. Betty was the grandmother of Melissa, Mary Katherine, and James A. DeFoor III, and Craig Robert White as well as her step grandsons Jonathan and Jeremy Simpson and great grandson Vincent Simpson. She is also survived by her 2 great-grandchildren, Isaac and Anaia Woods.

A family Celebration of Life is planned for what would have been Betty’s 100th birthday in September. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

STATE & NATION

Persistent heat wave in the US shatters records

Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees in several East Coast cities

By Christopher Weber and Margery A. Beck

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A long-running heat wave that has already shattered previous records across the U.S. persisted on Sunday, baking parts of the West with dangerous temperatures that caused the death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley and held the East in its hot and humid grip.

An excessive heat warning — the National Weather Service’s highest alert — was in e ect for about 36 million people Sunday, or about 10% of the population, said NWS meteorologist Bryan Jackson. Dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records.

That was certainly the case over the weekend: Many areas in Northern California surpassed 110 degrees, with the city of Redding topping out at a record 119. Phoenix set a new

daily record Sunday for the warmest low temperature: it never got below 92. A high temperature of 128 was recorded Saturday and Sunday at Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died Saturday

from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized, ofcials said.

The two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area amid scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died was not identi ed. The other motorcyclist was transported to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said.

The other four members of the party were treated at the scene.

Park o cials warned that heat illness and injury are cumulative and can build over the course of a day or days.

“High heat like this can pose real threats to your health,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” the statement said.

The soaring temperatures didn’t faze Chris Kinsel, a Death Valley visitor who said it was “like Christmas day for me” to be there on a record-breaking day. Kinsel said he and his wife typically come to the park during the winter when it’s still plenty warm — but that’s nothing compared with being at one of the hottest places on Earth in July.

“Death Valley during the summer has always been a bucket list thing for me. For most of my life, I’ve wanted to come out here in summertime,” said Kinsel, who was visiting Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area from Las Vegas.

Kinsel said he planned to go to the park’s visitor center to have his photo taken next to the digital sign displaying the current temperature.

Across the desert in Nevada, Natasha Ivory took four of her eight children to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside Las Vegas, which on Sunday set a record high of 119.

“They’re having a ball,” Ivory told Fox5 Vegas said. “I’m going to get wet too. It’s too hot not to.”

Triple-digit temperatures were common across Oregon, where several records were toppled — including in Salem, where on Sunday it hit 103, topping the 99 mark set in 1960. On the more humid East Coast, temperatures above 100 degrees were widespread, though no excessive heat advisories were in e ect for Sunday.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” read a weather service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

Biden assails Project 2025, Trump claims to be unaware of it

The conservative think tank’s plan has become an election issue

By Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

MIAMI — Donald Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, a massive proposed overhaul of the federal government drafted by longtime allies and former o cials in his administration, days after the head of the think tank responsible for the program suggested there would be a second American Revolution.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to re as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.

an Karoline Leavitt was featured in one of Project 2025’s videos.

John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel O ce in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser. McEntee told the conservative news site The Daily Wire earlier this year that Project 2025’s team would integrate a lot of its work with the campaign after the summer when Trump would announce his transition team.

Trump’s comments on Project 2025 come before the Republican Party’s meetings this coming week to begin to draft its party platform.

“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”

gested their transition-in-waiting e orts were unhelpful.

Trump has outlined his own plans to remake the government if he wins a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tari s on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned outside allies not to presume to speak for the former president and sug-

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast last Tuesday that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.” Former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia hosted the show for Bannon, who is serving a four-month prison term.

“We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,” Roberts said.

Those comments were widely circulated online and assailed by Biden’s campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”

Some of the people involved in Project 2025 are former senior administration o cials.

The project’s director is Paul Dans, who served as chief of sta at the U.S. O ce of Personnel Management under Trump. Trump’s campaign spokeswom-

Project 2025 has been preparing its 180-day agenda for the next administration that it plans to share privately, rather than as part of its public-facing book of priorities for a Republican president. Russ Vought, a key Trump ally who contributed to Project 2025 and is drafting this nal pillar, is also on the Republican National Committee’s platform writing committee.

Project 2025 said in a statement it is not tied to a speci c candidate or campaign.

“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” it said. “But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement.”