North State Journal Vol. 9, Issue 21

The presidential campaign — and the nation — came to a grinding halt Saturday when a 20-year-old man attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet, but he was otherwise unharmed.

A U.S. Secret Service sniper killed the gunman, who red from the roof of a nearby building, moments after the initial shots rang out in Butler, about an hour north of Pittsburgh.

See photos and reaction on A3.

Trump picks Ohio’s Vance to be GOP running mate

Milwaukee Former President Donald Trump has selected Ohio Sen. JD Vance to be his running mate in the Republican’s bid to reclaim the White House. Trump, who survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, made the announcement public during the rst day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Vance, a vocal critic of the billionaire real estate mogul during his rst term as president, has said his opinion of Trump changed after seeing what he was able to accomplish in his four years in o ce. Vance received Trump’s endorsement during his 2022 U.S. Senate campaign and was a nalist with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be chosen as running mate. The 39-year-old senator rose to prominence after the release of his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” which has been credited with explaining the mindset of white workingclass voters who have embraced Trump.

RFK Jr.’s We The People Party will be on N.C. ballot

Raleigh The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted to certify the We The People Party — with candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. — while denying candidate Cornell West’s Justice For All Party during its meeting Tuesday. The NCBSE voted 4-1 to approve the We The People Party but voted 3-2 along party lines to deny the Justice For All Party. The NCSBE rst voted not to certify the parties at a meeting on June 26; the vote was 3-2 down party lines. The votes denying certi cation came from the three Democrats. At its July 9 meeting, NCSBE Chair Alan Hirsch refused to bring a vote to certify the status of the two parties and postponed certi cation again. At the July 9 meeting, the NCSBE did certify one party, unanimously reversing its June 26 decision to keep the Constitution Party o the ballot. The failure to certify the remaining two parties drew national attention and accusations that the Democratic members of the NCSBE were protecting President Joe Biden by keeping other presidential candidates o the ballot.

Longtime legislator Saine resigning seat

“I think for me, from a personal standpoint, I could never have hoped for such a great experience of really getting to know other people.”

State Rep. Jason Saine

The state House Republican from Lincoln County plans to remain involved in politics

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Longtime Republican House Rep. Jason Saine will resign from the North Carolina General Assembly e ective Aug. 12.

“After much contemplation and consideration, I am choosing to step from public life to pursue several unique professional opportunities that have presented themselves,” wrote the 50-year-old from Lincoln County in his resignation letter to House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain). “These roles will allow me to continue advocating for the policies I am passionate about, including consulting on several key issues that are close to my heart. I remain open to exploring avenues where I can contribute to policy development within North Carolina and beyond.”

It’s the second announced departure from the legislature by a Republican in recent weeks. In late June, Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) announced he would resign ahead of the November election.

Saine, the House Conference chair and a Senior Appropriations chair who has served in the legislature for 13 years, expressed his “deepest gratitude” to his constituents for their “unwavering support and trust.”

See SAINE, page A10

Sanford in Lee County and Wake County’s Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs will receive water supply funds

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The Local Government Commission gave the green light last week to several signi cant spending projects across North Carolina, including $368 million for a joint project to increase town water supplies for Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs in Wake County, and Sanford in Lee County. The water supply project aims to expand the Sanford Water Treatment Plant to accommodate an additional water ow of 18 million gallons daily, addressing both the present

and expected future growth in the area.

The Local Government Commission’s (LGC) breakdown for the approval of the joint project includes $76 million in revenue bonds and $88.4 million loan for Sanford and $75 million in revenue bonds each for Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.

The LGC also approved several housing-related projects, including $38.5 million for Inlivian Housing in Charlotte to develop a 238-unit multifamily rental complex, and $16 million for the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to rehabilitate 381 apartment units across 14 rural communities.

Other notable high-dollar gure approvals included $70 million for Charlotte to refund an older bond, resulting in $4.1 million in interest savings, and $47.5 million for Greensboro to fund various city improve-

The North Carolina House Oversight and Reform Committee asked about the nonpro t’s spending, purpose and project selection

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The North Carolina House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing July 10 looking for more details on the activities of the nonpro t NCInnovation.

In the most recently passed state budget, NCInnovation (NCI) received $500 million in the form of two endowments of $250 million each to fund and support the commercialization of public university research conducted in the state. The appropriation was put forth for inclusion by the Senate for $1.4 billion. The Senate and House later agreed to $500 million.

mittees in either chamber prior to the appropriation.

Waters outlined that NCI plans to use only investment returns from the $500 million corpus to fund grants, not the principal itself. Waters also said NCI has ful lled its statutory responsibilities and awarded initial grants without spending state funds.

“I’m here as long as you’d like to ask us questions because we’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Having received $250 million in state funds in January, we immediately invested those dollars with an independent third party to generate high-interest income,” Waters told lawmakers. “With the receipt of the second tranche of funding, the NCInnovation corpus will stand at just over $506 million. In other words, the endowment is working exactly as we committed.”

J. Bennett Waters, NCInnovation CEO

NCI CEO J. Bennet Waters testi ed before the committee for approximately three hours, explaining the organization’s mission and use of funds in his prepared remarks. He also spent time addressing committee members’ issues arising that drew from a concern over a lack of vetting by com-

$611.1M

Approximate total approved by the Local Government Commission

ments without expecting a tax increase. A $228 million nancing application from Cabarrus County did not move forward due to concerns over the debt structure and will likely be dealt with at a later date following the lack of a motion to vote on the item.

Of note, nancial control was returned to the Cumberland County town of Spring Lake by the LGC, which rst assumed control of the town’s nances in

The organization is required to raise $25 million in private funds for administrative expenses, which Waters said was successfully done “without spending a single state dollar.” He also said solicitation for private philanthropic donations is an ongoing task.

Eight projects have been selected in the rst round of grants. Funding will be released in tranches along an agreed-upon timeline once contracts are nalized.

See HEARING, page A10

October 2021 due to scal mismanagement. Other LGC approvals for various projects around the state included:

• $38.5 million: Inlivian Housing (Mecklenburg County) for conduit revenue bonds

• $30 million: Lincoln County for limited obligation bonds • $16 million: North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for conduit revenue bonds

• $13.5 million: Leland (Brunswick

See LGC, page A2

GENE J. PUSKAR / AP PHOTO

LGC from page A1

County) for installment purchase

• $2.3 million: Aqua North Carolina for loan from State Revolving Fund

• $1.48 million: Valdese (Burke County) for loan from State Revolving Fund

• $170,000: Andrews (Cherokee County) for installment purchase

More information on LGC activities can be found on the NC Treasurer’s website under Divisions.

The Bible recounts some interesting stories of lions.

We all remember the story of Daniel — how he was cast into the den of lions, and how during the long watches of the night he sat there in their den unharmed. What was expected to be the tragedy of his life proved to be his most glorious victory. The expected triumph of his enemies was turned into their utter defeat — and Daniel, stronger and more courageous than ever, came forth to continue his service to God.

Samson too had an experience with a lion. As he was going along the road one day he met a lion, and it attacked him. He had no weapons — yet he met it courageously. We are told in Judges 14, “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.” Later he was passing that way and found a swarm of bees had entered the dried carcass of the lion and made their abode there, and he took of the honey and went on his way.

In the thirteenth chapter of 1 Kings we nd another lion story. Here a prophet sent of God went to Samaria and prophesied as God had commanded him, and according to the commandment he started back on his way to Judea. God told him not to eat or drink there, but to go back immediately by a di erent way from that by which he came. He started to obey, but sat down to rest by the wayside. While he was here, another prophet came and persuaded him to go back and dine with him. Then, as he went upon his way, a lion met him and slew him.

The lions of these stories may be likened to our trials. We meet trials every now and then in life, and some of them seem very much like lions. Sometimes we try to run away from a trial, but as surely as we do, we meet another in the pathway in which we go. We are certain to have trials but must meet them properly. Good people still have trials through no fault. Daniel was not thrown into the lions’ den due to lack of faith or unrighteousness. No, his faithfulness resulted in his meeting the lions. It will be that way in our lives. If we are true and loyal to God, that loyalty is sure to bring us trials. Daniel had his choice in the matter. He could have been disloyal and escaped the lions but he chose loyalty and the full consequences, whatever they might be. God wants us to be Daniels too. He does not want us to swerve an inch from the truth in order to evade any sort of trial. If we are true, and as a result of that truth,

a great trial like being thrown into a den of lions comes upon us, and every earthly hope seems shut o , and there is no help from anywhere then what shall we do? Despair? Ah, no. God will send his angel and shut the lion’s mouth for us, just as he did for Daniel. Dare to be true. God will stand by you even in the most trying and desperate hour.

It was not a test of his standing true, that brought Samson face to face with the lion. He met the beast just by accident. He got into trouble unwittingly. The rst thing he knew, he was face to face with the lion. That is just the way it happens with us sometimes — we get into a trial without any seeming reason for it; we are not expecting anything of the kind.

If the prophet in Samaria had gone in the way that God commanded him — then he would not have met the lion that slew him. It was his disobedience that caused the trouble. Sometimes trials are our own fault.

Regardless of the cause, trials come, and we must meet them. We have no choice in the matter. The important thing is to meet them right.

Daniel knew he had done right and

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.

Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon prior request by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.

pleased God. He met his trial with a calm peace and full assurance that God would take care of him, and God did take care of him. He came through because God was his helper.

Trials can make or mar us. Either we come out of them stronger than we went in — or we come out of them weaker. We have either joy or sorrow from them. We should meet our trials as Samson met the lion. Face them boldly. Do not run or shrink. If you seem to have no adequate weapon to use against them, trust in God and meet them boldly anyway.

Con ict must always precede victory. The lion must be killed before the honey. Face your trials boldly and overcome them. Then you may taste the sweets of victory. If you will believe it and do your part — then God will do his, and you will triumph.

Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most proli c and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and over 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.

Chinese farmland ownership eyed in NC 1st District race

A New York Post article focused on incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A recent article in the New York Post highlighting the tight race for North Carolina 1st Congressional District between incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis and Republican Laurie Buckhout focuses on land owned by the Chinese Communist Party. The article delves into Davis’ past connections to the Chinese Communist Party, such as taking an all-expenses-paid trip to China funded by an a liated organization in 2013 and speaking to Wuhan University exchange students on health care topics in 2014. Chinese in uence when it comes to property and farmland purchases near U.S. military bases has become a rising national concern.

“North Carolina is home to one of the country’s largest concentrations of Chinese-owned farmland,” the New York Post reported, later citing that Davis’ district contains 6,500 acres of Chinese-owned farmland and as the “vice ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee,” Davis has

been “mum on the issue.” Davis is one of 16 vulnerable House Democrats seeking reelection this year who made 133 trips combined to the White House over the past three years, per Fox News. Davis was cited in the White House visitor logs as having made four visits.

Fox News also reported that President Joe Biden — who has been on the defensive during his reelection campaign regarding his alleged declining mental acuity — was present for “roughly 75% of those meetings or gatherings during each visit.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched an ad buy targeting Democrats in key swing states who met with Biden, including a 30-second ad targeting Davis titled “Cover Up.”

“The scandal of the century. Our president lacks the mental tness for o ce, and Don Davis covered it up,” the ad states. “Davis met privately with Joe Biden. He witnessed Biden’s mental failures up close but allowed crises to rage under Biden’s frail leadership.”

The ad shows of a clip of Davis striding through the halls of Congress attempting to avoid answering a question from a campaign tracker on whether Biden should still be the Democratic nominee.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

Samson Slaying the Lion” by Peter Paul Rubens (1628) is a painting in the collection of Fondo Cultural Villar Mir, Madrid.

Shooting in Pennsylvania

Chaos and tragedy stuck at former President Donald Trump’s political rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, attempted to assassinate Trump, shooting the Republican presidential candidate in the ear and killing a person in the crowd. The U.S. Secret Service shot and killed Crooks immediately after he opened re minutes into Trump’s speech.

Politicians of all stripes and from around the world condemned the attack, praised the actions of the Secret Service, and exhibited relief that Trump wasn’t more seriously injured.

President Joe Biden: “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper: “Violence has no place in our politics or communities. I am grateful for the quick response by law enforcement today and hope former President Trump is not seriously injured.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Budd: “Praying for President Trump and everyone at the Pennsylvania rally. Pray for our country.”

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis: “This was a heinous assassination attempt and thank God that President Trump is safe. Keep praying for those who were shot. Violence in our political system can never be tolerated.”

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson: “We’re praying for his speedy recovery and that all involved in the incident will be well. We see what’s happening in America right now. Passions are in amed on both sides of the aisle, but please, let’s all remember who we are. We are Americans, and let’s unify in the fact that violence has no place in political discourse. We must remain calm. We must remain steadfast, and we must remain uni ed on at least that point.”

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein: “I am outraged by what happened tonight at President Trump’s rally. Political violence is abhorrent and has no place in America. I pray for his health and am grateful he was able to walk o the stage tonight. I appreciate the secret service and law enforcement for their immediate response. I am also praying for our deeply divided country. People should be able to have di ering opinions without fear of violence or threats.”

U.S. Secret Service agents cover former President Donald Trump following gun re at Saturday’s campaign rally.

U.S. Secret Service agents surround the stage at Saturday’s

U.S. Rep. Je Jackson: “Whoever did this must be held fully accountable. Political violence indelibly stains countries. It must always, always be rejected. Our sincere appreciation to the Secret Service, and may our former president recover quickly and fully.”

North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore: “My prayers are with President Trump and everyone in attendance at his rally today.”

North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger: “Praying for President Trump and our nation.”

Vice President Kamala Harris: “Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting. ... We must all condemn this

abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: “Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be ne after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics.”

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren: “Political violence is wrong and I condemn it. I hope everyone who attended the rally is ok and I am glad the former president is safe.”

Former President Bill Clinton: “Violence has no place in America, especially in our political process. Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those a ected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service.”

Former President Barack Obama: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. ... We should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics.”

Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador: “This should horrify every freedom loving American. … Violence against presidential candidates must never be normalized.”

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham: “Thank God President Trump seems to be okay. Just another reminder of the times in which we live. We need to pray fervently for anyone who may have been injured at the rally.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know rsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”

Former Congresswoman Gabby Gi ords: “Political violence is terrifying. I know. I’m holding former president Trump, and all those a ected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable — never.”

Ivanka Trump: “Thank you for your love and prayers for my father and for the other victims of today’s senseless violence in Butler, Pennsylvania. I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement o cers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country. I love you Dad, today and always.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: “We are shocked by the scenes at President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. We condemn all forms of political violence in the strongest terms and we send our best wishes to President Trump and his family at this time.”

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT VIA AP

Thomas Matthew Crooks, in 2021.

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump raises his st while surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents after being shot in the ear at Saturday’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

rally.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Words matter

The Democratic pollster admitted that Donald Trump would never be a monster like Hitler, nor would he ever be able to “destroy democracy” even if he wanted to — “but so what?”

IF THERE EVER was the right time to talk about civil discourse and peaceful free speech, now is the time.

Politicians, consultants, pollsters and political hacks have made a career ― and a lot of money ― doing focus groups and polling on word choice to motivate voters for decades. A Democratic pollster told me in early 2022 they only had three issues on which to run for the upcoming mid-term congressional elections: abortion rights; Jan. 6 and Donald Trump is “a dictator like Hitler” who is an “existential threat to democracy.”

“Existential” is not a commonly used word in America today. But campaign wordsmiths found that when combined with “threat to democracy,” it worked really well to scare average voters about Trump.

Democratic campaigns discovered these words hit the human amygdala ― the part of the brain that signals fear and triggers a ightor- ght response ― absolutely perfectly. They scared voters into voting for Democrats in the o -year congressional campaigns even though not one of them had anything to do with the real issues facing all Americans on a daily basis such as in ation, crime or the economy.

The Democratic pollster admitted that Trump would never be a monster like Hitler, nor would he ever be able to “destroy democracy” even if he wanted to ― “but so what?”

The Democrats cheated history and did far better in the elections than expected. Their use of carefully researched words gave them political victory.

Highly charged vindictive political rhetoric can sometimes trigger mentally unstable people to assassinate a U.S. president. At least a dozen attempts have been made on our nation’s

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

commanders in chief in our nation’s history. Public gures and their campaign consultants — and every media talking head and commentator — need to remember that words matter and take responsibility for their part in fostering discord.. Politics has been infected by character assassination and truth distortions since the beginning of our Republic. Campaign operatives on both sides have long known how to use “buzzwords” and dynamite-loaded political dog whistles to motivate their voters to vote against the dastardly “other guy” so “their guy” will win.

James Callender was a pamphleteer and self-described junkyard dog who had a air for the written and spoken word in the early days of the Republic. He led Republican attacks on Federalist President John Adams at the behest of Thomas Je erson. Callender charged Adams was a “mentally deranged” monarchist (dictator?) who wanted to crown his son, John Quincy, as king in the White House one day (so he could destroy democracy?).

Callender called Adams, one of the key heroic gures in passing the Constitution less than a decade previous, a “hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force of a man nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.”

Methods of communication may have changed over the centuries, but the use of divisive language has not.

Callender didn’t care what he said or wrote about his political opponents ― as long as he got paid and his candidates won. He drowned in the James River in Richmond in 1803; drunk, friendless and penniless after having alienated every friend or client he ever had before.

Democrats including Joe Biden have no business calling Trump “Hitler” or a “threat to democracy” any more than Trump had when he

Trump assassination attempt both shocking and predictable

“We’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bull’s-eye.”

THE ATTEMPTED assassination Saturday of Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, sent shockwaves across America in part due to the brazen nature of the act and also considering the level of security detail a orded to the former president.

Trump was just getting started during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when shots rang out. Video showed Trump touching his hand to his right ear before ducking low behind the podium as rally attendees also crouched down in confusion.

Secret Service agents swarmed Trump at that point as, moments later, he stood up, raised his st to the crowd and displayed a proud “I’m still here” stance as blood trickled from the right side of his face, traveling across his cheek to his lips.

Trump’s display was de ant, with the imagery being some of the most iconic America will ever see in its history. But the heinous act committed by the shooter — who was reportedly shot dead by a Secret Service sniper — was in many ways entirely predictable. It was at least the fourth time since 2017 that a Republican political gure had either been openly targeted for attack or outright attacked.

There was the June 14, 2017, Congressional baseball practice mass shooting during which four people were shot, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was nearly killed by a deranged Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter who speci cally targeted Republicans for assassination.

In June 2022, a disturbed individual allegedly armed with a gun, knife and “burglary tools” including zip ties was arrested outside the home of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in what the suspect himself admitted was an assassination attempt ahead of an anticipated ruling that ultimately spelled the end of Roe v. Wade.

The arrest came following weeks of disturbing and in some cases violent attacks on churches and pro-life centers across the country as well as illegal “protests” outside of the homes of some of the conservative Supreme Court justices after they were doxed, with their addresses shared on social media by radical proabortion groups.

Per a DOJ a davit, the suspect’s ultimate goal was to kill three conservative justices so they wouldn’t overturn the 1973 landmark abortion ruling.

I should note that all those pro-abortion “protests” including the ones that turned into violence, were encouraged by the Biden White House under the guise of “respecting the First Amendment.”

There was also the July 2022 attack on New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Lee Zeldin, who was holding a rally when a man walked up onto the stage and “raised his arm toward Zeldin as he held a keychain with two sharp points,” as reported by The Associated Press.

There was a scu e between the two and

was demeaning everyone and anyone on both sides who opposed him. It is time for all adults to turn away from Callender-esque attacks and follow the lead of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan and become positive, uplifting, inspirational statesmen-leaders we can all follow whether we fully agree with them on every issue or not.

One of the greatest things that could come out of this whole calamitous near-disaster would be if Biden and Trump would jointly address the American people to say they are going to focus solely on the merits of each issue before us as a nation and withhold salacious ad hominem attacks on each other for the rest of this campaign.

“Here’s my position on such-and-such an issue. If you like it, vote for me. If you don’t like it and don’t vote for me, that will not hurt my feelings” each candidate should say in all seriousness.

Trump may have just had the sort of close encounter with his mortality which could change his entire outlook on life, even at age 79. Forty-one million people voted against him in 2020 even though they probably agreed with him on most issues because they did not like or appreciate his boorish behavior.

If he comes out of this tragic event with the attitude of charity toward others and malice toward none for the rest of this campaign, he will have done the nation a great public service at this critical time.

fortunately the man was subdued and later arrested.

And now we have the attempted assassination of Trump ahead of this week’s Republican National Convention.

While the motivations of the shooter have not been established, the incidents mentioned above and others follow a pattern of brazen attacks and threats against Republicans, which happened after incendiary rhetoric was repeatedly tossed around by Democratic o cials and their a liated special interest groups.

For instance, just days before the attack on Trump, President Joe Biden was on a phone call with panicked donors.

Per a story from Politico, he told them “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bull’s-eye.”

After years of lecturing Republicans on the alleged use of so-called “violent rhetoric,” it’s time for Democrats and the media to look in the mirror and do some soul-searching.

The accusation was always like the pot calling the kettle black, but in the aftermath of the attempt on Trump’s life, it is now undeniable.

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.

Were more people killed in the name of God or in the name of equality?

During the thousand-year Muslim rule in India alone, at least a hundred million Hindus were killed.

ALMOST ANYONE who has graduated from college in the last 50 years has repeatedly heard the statement, “More people have been killed in the name of God than in the name of anything else.” And most of them believe it.

It would take a long essay to respond to this claim. I will therefore only note here that if by “God” the people who make this statement are referring to the God of the Bible, and therefore to Christians (Jews rarely had enough numbers or power to persecute anyone), the statement is simply not true.

Yes, Christians killed Jews (though it was never o cial church doctrine to do so). For example, whole communities of Jews were slaughtered by Christians on their way to ght in the Crusades. And tens of millions of indigenous people in the Americas were killed as a result of Christian invasion and settlement — though most of those deaths were caused by European diseases to which people in the Americas had no immunity. And Christians killed fellow Christians who had a di erent theology. Between 1618 and 1648, in what became known as the Thirty Years’ War — a war between Europe’s Catholics and Protestants — somewhere between 5 million to 8 million people were killed.

But there are few other examples of large-scale killings by Christians as Christians (as opposed to people who happened to be Christian killing people, as in the two world wars). For example, during one of the most widely cited examples of Christian killing, the Inquisition, no more than 5,000 people were killed — a number both Jewish and non-Jewish historians agree upon.

The number of people killed by Christians in the 2,000-year history of Christianity is far exceeded by the number of people killed in the Mongol invasions of Europe and China in the 13th century alone — approximately 40 million and 60 million respectively.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

It is also dwarfed by the number of people killed by Muslims, mostly Arabs, from the advent of Islam in the seventh century. During the thousand-year Muslim rule in India alone, at least 100 million Hindus were killed. (The Indian government rarely speaks of this for fear of introducing civil strife between its Hindu and Muslim populations.)

With regard to the staggering number of Hindus killed by Muslims, historian Will Durant, in his magisterial 11-volume “The Story of Civilization” wrote: “The Mohammedan conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history.”

Given that those who say, “More people have been killed in the name of God than in the name of anything else,” are referring to Christians, it is not intellectually honest to include the Muslim murder of Hindus as those who have killed “in the name of God” without specifying that most of that killing was done by Muslims.

Finally, and most importantly, there is something in whose name more people have been killed — in the last century alone — than in the name of anything (except Allah). And that thing is “equality.”

Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and other communist tyrants killed at least 100 million noncombatants and enslaved a billion others. All in the name of “equality.”

And that is inevitable. While “all men are created equal,” as the American Declaration of Independence put it, based upon the biblical, Judeo-Christian origins of the American Revolution, it is not possible to achieve equality without violence. That is why the French Revolution, rooted in “equality,” led to the guillotine, while the American Revolution, which was not rooted in equality, led to the freest country ever created.

Why egalitarianism is a monstrous ideology is the subject of my next column.

Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host and columnist.

The case for draining the swamp is stronger than ever

A recent Federal News Network survey of federal workers nds only 6% are working full time in the o ce.

THE LATEST OFFICIAL employment report nds, once again, that the federal government and state-local hiring spree is still in full gear. Over the past year, health care and government hiring has outpaced every private sector industry. It isn’t just the IRS bringing on thousands of new workers. The bloat is everywhere. So even though there are a lot more government workers, good luck nding them or getting them on the phone. This is because so few of them are actually physically on the job.

What’s happening in the federal government (“Club Fed”) these days borders on the absurd — or should I say the obscene. A recent Federal News Network survey of federal workers nds only 6% are working full time in the o ce. Thirty percent are full-time remote. Washington o ce buildings have become city block-long zombies. Especially on Fridays.

While exact comparisons between public and private employees are tricky and inexact, best estimates are that in 2023 roughly 30% of private workers were working from home or remotely either some or all the time. In the private sector, the percentage of employees working from home has actually declined from about 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that, according to FNN, federal employees are three times more likely to be working remotely either some or all the time.

Full-time remote

— Federal government: 30% — Private workers: 12%

Full-time or hybrid remote

— Federal government: 94% — Private workers: 30%

BE IN TOUCH

I’m all for employees working remotely a few days a week. I do it myself, and it’s likely to become more common in the information and digital age.

But one has to wonder how many of these workers are really necessary. And how many of these remote government workers, who can almost never get red for bad performance, are putting in an honest day’s work?

My suspicion is very few.

The irony is that three years ago the federal government issued an order for federal employees to return to work postCOVID-19. Many thousands have blatantly ignored the order.

Remember, government workers have some of the cushiest and least stressful jobs on the planet. And they get paid roughly 30% to 40% more than comparably skilled private workers — when taking into account exorbitant bene ts.

Here is my solution: Uncle Sam is losing almost $2 trillion a year. Stop hiring new people. Every federal agency, including the biggest bureaucracy in the world, the Pentagon, should impose a hiring freeze — except for extraordinary circumstances — until the budget is balanced. Then impose, across the board, a 30% reduction in force. Finally, if the government needs more revenues, start by selling federal buildings that are less than half-occupied. Many buildings are less than 20% occupied.

Former President Donald Trump’s most popular rallying cry in 2016 was to “drain the swamp.” But today the swamp is deeper than ever, and the deep state swamp creatures are even more numerous after four years of Biden-Harris. If Trump wins, he and Republicans should get draining.

Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a senior economic adviser to Donald Trump.

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Voting by noncitizens is a real problem

SINCE 2003, according to the Government Accountability O ce, federal programs have made at least $2.7 trillion in “improper payments,” meaning money paid out to scammers and cheaters.

The GAO says a full accounting would show even more fraud. Such fraud is pervasive across all programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the SBA, HUD, SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and dozens of others. In nearly every instance of fraud, someone signed a form claiming they were entitled to the money, under penalty of perjury.

However, only a small fraction of this money (maybe 11%) is recovered through investigations and prosecutions.

Yet we American citizens are asked to believe that a voting process conducted mostly on the honor system operates almost completely fraud-free. Democrats and left-leaning groups consistently oppose election integrity measures, saying they are unnecessary because in this sphere of our public life, unlike all others, fraud is rare.

Especially ripe for fraud is voting by noncitizens, who are ineligible to vote in federal elections.

At least 30 million noncitizens live in the U.S., including an estimated 10 million who have entered illegally during the Biden administration. What’s to stop them from registering and voting?

Nothing but the honor system. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the “Motor Voter” law prohibits states from requiring proof of citizenship when processing federal voter registration forms. Everyone who obtains a driver’s license (or signs up for public bene ts) is provided a registration form. If they ll it out and check the box saying they are a citizen, then — presto! — they are registered to vote. Every state issues driver’s licenses to noncitizens and 19 states issue them to illegal aliens.

Congressional Republicans tried to remedy this with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act). This bill would require states to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and identity when registering individuals to vote in a federal election. It would also require states to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Last week, this bill passed the House 221-198. All but ve Democrats voted against it. The bill is considered DOA in the Senate, and President Joe Biden has already said he would veto it. Democrats and their media allies say the bill is unnecessary because it’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. It’s also illegal to speed, but does that mean we don’t need speed bumps on certain roads? It’s also illegal to sneak over the U.S. border or to lie on an asylum application. But we’re asked to believe that no one who did those things would lie on a voter registration form. Democrats probably don’t believe that themselves.

The Immigration Accountability Project notes that in all the Democrats’ proposed amnesty bills, illegal voting is one of the crimes they list that would not prevent an alien from receiving amnesty.

Why should Democrats discourage noncitizens from voting? D.C. now permits noncitizens to vote in local elections. In their recent primary, more than 500 noncitizens voted and only 28 were Republican. Under a 2021 Biden executive order, U.S. Marshals are required to provide everyone in their custody, including illegal aliens, with voter registration information.

Shortly before the 2016 election, President Barack Obama was asked by an interviewer whether “Dreamers and undocumented citizens” should fear that voting records would be used to carry out deportations. Obama assured her that voting does not trigger immigration investigations.

Obama was talking about ICE. But his assurance would also apply to election authorities.

When a close election results in a recount, many people assume there is a vote-by-vote investigation of voter eligibility. Not so. Elections boards simply recount the votes that have been previously tabulated. Investigations of alleged illegal voting — rare as they are — take months or years, and few prosecutors want to tackle them.

Just to make sure that no inquisitive election board should try to investigate voter eligibility in Michigan, Democrat Gov. Whitmer just signed into law a ban on any recount or audit assessing the quali cation of voters or whether mail-in ballots were properly applied for.

In 2017, a North Carolina State Board of Elections audit determined that 700 noncitizens had registered and 136 of them had voted in the 2016 election. That seems like a small number out of nearly 5 million votes cast.

But remember that the 2020 election for Supreme Court Chief Justice was decided by 401 votes. Moreover, the 2017 audit likely failed to identify all noncitizens who voted. The DHS database to which NCSBE compared their voter list only included people to whom DHS had assigned an alien identi cation number because of agency contact with them. Illegal aliens who have never been detected would not be included.

The 2020 presidential election was decided by about 44,000 votes in three states. Does anyone believe that in an election conducted on the honor system, fewer than 0.14% of our nation’s 30 million noncitizens will nd a way to vote in 2024?

Our elections must be made more secure.

John Bruce is a former counsel with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and lives in Wake County.

Trails Carolina contests closure after camper death

Transylvania County

A camp for troubled teens is ling an appeal contesting their forced closure after the death of a camper. Last week, representation for Trails Carolina led paperwork requesting a “contested case hearing” within Transylvania County courts. In the ling, the group indicated the belief that NCDHHS “acted erroneously,” “exceeded its authority of jurisdiction” and “acted arbitrarily.” NCDHHS pulled Trails Carolina’s license after the death of a 12-year-old camper in early February.

NSJ

Expelled high schooler to perform with country stars

Gaston County A rising Gaston County senior who was recently expelled after a venue controversy will join Eric Church and Morgan Wallen at the inaugural Field & Stream Music Fest in South Carolina later this year. Bailey Griggs, known by her stage name Bailey Marie, was expelled from Cramerton Christian Academy after she performed at a venue that serves alcohol. Griggs said she believes “when one door closes, another opens.”

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

The Associated Press RALEIGH —Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday pardoned four ex-o enders and commuted the sentences of four others convicted of crimes to the time they’ve already served. Three of the four receiving commutations have been serving decades-long sentences for armed robbery and conspiracy convictions related to robbing members of a Mitchell County church on a Sunday morning in 2008. Those convicted in the Ridgeview Presbyterian Church robberies — brothers Josiah Deyton and Andrew Deyton as well as Jonathan Koniak — are now

Man shoots coworker at plant Guilford County A dispute between two employees at a food packaging company in Greensboro led to a shooting early Monday morning, according to police. Ricky Williams, 44, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in icting serious injury and possession of a rearm by a felon in the shooting at Pactiv Evergreen. Police said other charges may be pending. The victim was in stable condition and their injuries did not appear life-threatening. No other employees were injured.

WFMY

911 operator, wife of police

o cer, charged with arson

Man wielding ax charged with kidnapping, assault Randolph County

A man is in custody after allegedly arming himself with an ax during a disturbance, the Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce says. According to a report, RCSO found Bobby Lee Hall, 48, of Trinity, wielding an ax at a residence with a victim being held inside on Saturday. Hall was arrested and taken to the Randolph County Detention Center where he was charged with felony rst-degree kidnapping and multiple misdemeanors, including assault charges, resisting arrest and communicating threats.

NSJ

Davidson County A woman who is a High Point 911 master telecommunicator and is the wife of a High Point police o cer is facing charges for intentionally setting a house re that destroyed her home and damaged two more. The Thomasville Police Department said it was dispatched to a structure re last Wednesday on Grace Drive. An investigation by multiple local agencies found the re was deliberately set. Theresa Allison Varner, 39, of Thomasville, has been charged with two counts of rst-degree arson, second-degree arson, felonious burning of personal property, and two counts of felonious cruelty to animals. The family’s dog and cat were killed in the re. TPD said there is no evidence to indicate Varner’s husband was aware of her plans. Neighbors told reporters they didn’t know Varner well and she kept to herself, and they were shocked by what happened. Varner is currently being held in the Davidson County Jail and was given no bond.

WBTV

Great white shark tracked o OBX

Dare County A great white shark tagged and tracked by the nonpro t research organization Ocearch recently surfaced in the Atlantic Ocean o North Carolina’s Outer Banks. According to Ocearch data, a 12.3-footlong, 1,644-pound adult male white shark named Scot last pinged in the waters o Bodie Island at 10:56 p.m. Friday. He started pinging in the area shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday and surfaced several times, with the last one coming late at night.

NSJ

Man dead after hit-and-run at RTP

Durham County

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle at Research Triangle Park in Durham County early Sunday morning.

Oscar Avila Santos, 22, of Benson, was identi ed as the victim of the collision, according to the Durham County Sheri ’s O ce. Deputies responded to a report of a pedestrian being struck in a parking lot in Research Triangle Park just after midnight. Durham County EMS provided life-saving measures to the victim before transporting him to the hospital, where he died.

WNCN

Beloved stray dog being sent to therapy instead of being put down Lenior County Duplin, a stray that was seen walking around Kinston with a plastic jug over its head for several weeks, will not be euthanized, according to reports. The Lenoir County SPCA said last Friday the dog had severe behavioral issues that were deemed dangerous to humans and was going to be put down. Many members of the community were upset with the decision and took to social media to advocate for Duplin and urge the shelter to explore alternatives to euthanizing the stray. On Monday, SPCA o cials announced Duplin would be headed to a rescue shelter in Tennessee called It Takes a Village Rescue which has a certi ed canine behavioralist who works with feral dogs in a therapeutic setting. Since Duplin could not legally be adopted or released back out onto the streets due to safety concerns related to his behavioral issues, the SPCA said that this was the best option.

WITN

“Brian has a proven track record of negotiating, making deals, and nding solutions,” Dundon said in the release. “We want to set the standard in sports and entertainment, and Brian has the background to

us

that

Fork’s

comes a

days after Dundon named

president Doug Warf as

Holdings president. The Hurricanes’

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also included the

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Tulsky as general manager. The three hirings ll a void left by the departure of longtime president and GM Don Waddell, who left for Columbus. In a separate news release, Berger praised Fork: “His ability to build trusting relationships with legislators and sta members in the General Assembly is a model for us all to emulate.” Berger will announce a new chief of sta in the coming weeks, his o ce said.

NATION & WORLD

Former re chief who died at Trump rally used body to shield family from gun re

The Associated Press

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania — The former re chief who was killed at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump spent his nal moments diving down in front of his family, protecting them from the gun re that rang out Saturday during an assassination attempt against the former president.

Corey Comperatore’s quick decision to use his body as a shield against the bullets ying toward his wife and daughter rang true to the close friends and neighbors who loved and respected the proud 50-yearold Trump supporter, noting that the Butler County resident was a “man of conviction.”

“He’s a literal hero. He shoved his family out of the way, and he got killed for them,” said Mike Morehouse, who lived next to Comperatore for the last eight years. “He’s a hero that I was happy to have as a neighbor.”

Comperatore died Saturday during an attempt to kill Trump at Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At least two other people were injured: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday. As support for Comera-

SUE OGROCKI / AP PHOTO

Helmets rest on the locker of re ghter Corey Comperatore

— who was killed during a shooting at Saturday’s campaign rally for former President Donald Trump — at the Bu alo Township Fire Company 27 in Bu alo Township, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.

tore’s family began to pour in from across the country, President Joe Biden and rst lady Jill Biden also extended their “deepest condolences.”

“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being red and he lost his life, God love him,” said Biden, who added he was praying for the full recovery of the wounded.

Separately, Texas U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson said in a statement Sunday that his nephew was injured but “thankfully his injury was not serious.”

“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out.”

Randy Reamer, president of the Bu alo Township volunteer re company, on shooting victim

Corey Comperatore

at least ve shots were red. Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly huddled in a shield around him. When he stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his st to cheering supporters as he was whisked o stage by Secret Service agents.

Trump later extended his condolences to Comperatore’s family.

Randy Reamer, president of the Bu alo Township volunteer re company, called Comperatore “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the re service.” He said Comperatore served as chief of the company for about three years but was also a life member, meaning he had served for more than 20 years.

“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He de nitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone. … He was a really good guy.”

A crew was power-washing the front of the Bu alo Township Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday with plans to install memorial drapery to honor the slain former chief.

Venice nets $2.2M in day-tripper tax pilot

Venice, Italy

Venice on Sunday wrapped up a pilot program charging day-trippers an entrance fee, more than 2 million euros ($2.2 million) richer and determined to extend the levy, but opponents called the experiment a failure. Several dozen activists gathered on Saturday to protest the 5-euro ($5.45) levy that they say did little to dissuade visitors from arriving on peak days, as envisioned. Over the rst 11 days of the trial period, an average of 75,000 visitors were recorded in the city.

Mass. secures $1B in federal funds to replace Cape Cod bridges

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue.

The former president was showing o a chart of border-crossing numbers when

“My family was sitting in the front, near where the president was speaking,” Jackson said. “They heard shots ringing out — my nephew then realized he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut his neck. He was treated by the providers in the medical tent.”

Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as very outgoing and full of life.

“He never had a bad word,” Heasley said.

And in the front yard of the Comperatores’ two-story home in Butler County, a small memorial had sprung up of a U.S. ag and small bunches of owers.

Boston Massachusetts is making headway on putting together the funding needed to replace two aging bridges that connect Cape Cod to the rest of the state. Gov. Maura Healey announced Friday that nearly $1 billion in additional federal dollars have been secured for the replacement bridges over the Cape Cod Canal. The funding was included in a bipartisan bridge investment program. It brings the total amount of federal funding secured for the project to nearly $1.72 billion, in addition to the $700 million in state funding pledged by the Healey administration. The full cost to replace both bridges is estimated at around $4.5 billion.

Corey Comperatore, 50, lived in Sarver, Pennsylvania

catastrophe

questions about when normal

we begin to get back to 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

WALTER E. WILLIAMS

How China will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe

The 3 big questions nobody

The comfort

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.

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.

The cavalier manner in virus, covered up its spread

business & economy

Cooper stated during know yet” if the asked as to the vague ones like “we of this state who undetermined thousands of cases asked and then questions about asked, there is 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

Fixing college corruption

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.

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

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.

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.

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.

Global cochlear implant rm headquartered in Durham announces partnership

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.

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.

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.

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

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.”

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

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

MED-EL, a global medical technology company specializing in hearing implants with its American headquarters located in Durham, and Starkey, a hearing aid manufacturing company, announced a collaboration to bring Bluetooth technology to MED-EL cochlear implant (CI) and Starkey hearing aid users. The partnership was unveiled at CI2024, the 17th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies in Vancouver.

The collaboration initially focuses on enhancing Bluetooth connectivity between MED-EL CIs and Starkey hearing aids, enabling users to utilize Bluetooth streaming technology fully.

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.”

under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

“Last year, at my rst ACIA meeting with MED-EL, we committed to listening more to our customers’ needs,” John Sparacio, president and CEO of MED-EL USA, said of customer feedback driving the innovation. “By announcing this exciting collaboration with Starkey today, we aim to co-develop solutions that enhance the binaural hearing experience for MED-EL patients, as our customers have requested.”

Starkey’s president and CEO, Brandon Sawalich, highlighted the collaboration’s potential impact.

“Today marks the beginning of a partnership between two global technology leaders dedicated to helping more people achieve optimal hearing,” he said. “Partnering with MED-EL aligns with Starkey’s commitment to continuously push achievable boundaries.”

Delta earned $1.31 billion from April through June, down from $1.83 billion

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

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

By David Koenig

The Associated Press

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

AMERICANS ARE traveling in record numbers this summer. Still, Delta Air Lines said Thursday that its second-quarter pro t dropped 29% due to higher costs and discounting of base-level fares across the industry.

The airline also predicted a lower pro t than Wall Street expected for the third quarter.

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

The partnership will expand Bluetooth connectivity solutions speci cally for individuals utilizing bimodal hearing technology.

MED-EL Medical Electronics, based in Austria, introduced the world’s rst micro-electronic multichannel cochlear implant in 1977. The innovation paved the way for modern CI technology, contributing to MED-EL’s growth into a global company with more than 2,700 employees serving patients in 30 locations worldwide.

Starkey, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a privately held hearing technology company.

On a call, Delta CEO Ed Bastian sent a clear message to low-cost carriers: Slow your growth to end the oversupply of seats on domestic routes.

Delta shares tumbled 6%

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

Approximately 109 million customer accounts were impacted

By Michelle Chapman The Associated Press

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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.

Established in 1967, Starkey has 29 facilities serving more than 100 markets worldwide.

giant AT&T said Friday that the data of nearly all its customers was downloaded to a third-party platform in a security breach. Cyberattacks against small and large businesses, schools and health systems continue to spread worldwide.

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 security breach, which mainly occurred over ve months in 2022, a ected AT&T’s cellular customers, customers of mobile virtual network operators using AT&T’s wireless network, and landline customers who interacted with those cellular numbers. According to AT&T, the breach impacted approximately 109 million customer accounts. The company believes the data has yet to become publicly available.

“The data does not contain the content of calls or texts,

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The result: a reduction in expected hospitalization

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

north STA

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

The comfort and hope

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.”

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

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

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

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

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.

ers. Others that cater to budget-conscious leisure travelers, including Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit, have posted losses and cut prices to ll seats.

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.”

in midday trading Thursday, and the shares of other carriers were also dragged down. JetBlue, American, United and Southwest fell between 3% and 6%.

Delta said it earned $1.31 billion from April through June, down from $1.83 billion a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to nearly $16.66 billion — a company record for the quarter. That is not surprising to anyone who has been in an airport recently. The Transportation Security Administration screened more than 3 million travelers Sunday, a single-day high.

“Our more a uent customers are contributing meaningfully to our growth, and that’s why we continue to bring more and more product to them,” Bastian said.

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.

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.

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.

Bastian, however, disputed any notion that middle-class travelers are pulling back on spending. He said it is simply supply and demand — the airline industry, including lowfare carriers, is adding ights even faster than demand is growing, leading to lower fares.

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.

“Demand has been strong,” Bastian said in an interview. “International, business (travel), our premium sector all outperformed.”

tinuing divide between passengers who sit in the front of the plane and those in economy class. Revenue from premium passengers jumped 10%— about $500 million—but sales in the main cabin were at compared to a year earlier. According to economists, wealthier Americans bene t from solid gains in stock prices and the value of their homes. At the same time, middle-class families are more likely to hold back on spending because high in ation over the last three years has eroded their paychecks.

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

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

“The discounting is in the lower-fare bucket,” he said.

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.

Delta’s results showed a con-

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.

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

Not one little bit.

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

Delta’s passenger-carrying capacity grew 8% in the second quarter, but it plans to throttle back to between 5% and 6% growth in the third quarter. Bastian said other, less profitable airlines should do the same.

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

“You cannot, if you are on the lower end of the indus -

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

Delta and United — with their focus on premium customers, a bigger share of business travel and extensive international routes — have emerged from the pandemic as the most pro table U.S. carri-

AT&T said it has launched an investigation and engaged cybersecurity experts to understand the nature and scope of its data breach.

personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identi able information,”

AT&T said Friday. The company said that the compromised data also does not include some information typically seen in usage details, such as the time stamp of calls or texts or customer names.

AT&T, however, said that there are often ways to use publicly available online tools to nd the name associated with a speci c telephone number.

Cyber security experts concurred that such data can be used to trace users.

“While the exposed information doesn’t have sensitive information, it can be used to

piece together events and who may call who. This could impact people’s private lives as private calls and connections could be exposed,” Thomas Richards, principal consultant at Synopsys Software Integrity Group, said in an emailed statement. “The business phone numbers will be easy to identify, and private numbers can be matched to names with public record searches.”

An internal investigation determined that compromised data includes AT&T records of calls and texts between May 1, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2022.

AT&T identi ed the third-party platform as Snowake and said the incident was limited to an AT&T workspace on the cloud company’s platform and did not impact its network.

AT&T’s investigation is ongoing, and it has engaged with cybersecurity experts to understand the nature and scope of the criminal breach. According to the company, at least one person has been apprehended. Compromised data includes a few customers’ records from Jan. 2, 2023. The records identify the telephone numbers as AT&T or MVNO cellular numbers interacted with during these periods. A subset of records includes one or more cell site identi cation number(s)

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Jason

Nor th State Journa l for Wednesday, Apr il 15, 2

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior

MARK LENNIHAN / AP PHOTO

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Delta Air Lines said its second-quarter pro t is down 29% from a year earlier, giving a disappointing outlook for the third quarter.

In his remarks, Waters also addressed the selection criteria and multiphase review process for the pilot grant program as “carefully designed to ensure rigorous evaluation and prioritization of projects with the highest potential for commercialization.”

He went on to say projects that “met or exceeded the established criteria” were then forwarded on to the NCI board for approval. Waters told lawmakers the grant recipients will receive their funds “in tranches provided they meet speci c project milestones” that are outlined in cooperative agreements, and that regional directors regularly monitor the projects.

Some committee members expressed doubts about NCI’s projected investment returns and whether this is the best use of state funds given other priorities.

Rep. Maria Cervania (D-Wake), among other committee members, questioned the grant awards.

“We are having a problem with the separation of the private and the integrity of awarding money,” Cervania said. “So I’m going to ask: When the information out of the outcomes of these review processes are complete and presented to your

He said his resignation is “bittersweet,” noting the sacrices his family made while he served, and said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and son.

Saine characterized his time at the legislature serving Lincoln County as an “unparalleled honor.”

“To my colleagues, past and present, thank you for the camaraderie and the collaborative spirit that we shared,” Saine wrote. “Working alongside each of you has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

In his resignation letter and accompanying press release, Saine said his reason for departing was “to embrace new professional opportunities.”

In an interview Monday with North State Journal, Saine hinted at a possible lobbying opportunity in the mental health space but did not go into specifics, citing his Aug. 12 o cial resignation date.

Saine was rst appointed to the House in September 2011 to replace Rep. Jonathan Rhyne, who resigned, and has won reelection to the seat by wide margins throughout his tenure.

He ran unopposed in 2016 and 2022, and he was to be unopposed again in November’s election.

Saine said he has an idea of who will ll his seat but didn’t reveal a name, saying, “It’s someone that is already involved, engaged politically locally” and a “dear friend” who is “very quali ed.”

Saine recalled a conversation with former House Speaker Harold Brubaker from Randolph County, who had been a mentor to Saine prior to becoming a lawmaker, about his resig-

board, do they have the right, the board members or the board, to change that outcome and decision in awarding a grant?”

“I want to be clear, the separation of the private and the public money,” Waters replied. “So the private money is all philanthropic contribution under 501, and it funds only administration and overhead. None of those monies go into grants. None of those monies can be invested in anything. And we have absolute rewalls between any of our benefactors and the future outcomes.”

The NCI CEO found himself defending the mission of the organization and explaining multiple times that North Carolina was behind other states in this type of research acceleration funding.

Waters described a situation he termed the “valley of death,” in which, without adequate funding, projects that could be brought to market either stall out or are taken to other states where they can get funds for development.

Some of the questioning turned toward the 13-mem-

ber NCI board, with Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) questioning if there was information that was not being given to board members or processes that would keep information from those members.

“We have provided timely and accurate information to reasonable requests of every board member,” Waters told Cunningham, “and I am not aware of broad concerns by the board.”

Cunningham’s line of questioning about the board tied in with Waters’ earlier remarks addressing tensions between NCI executives and some board members appointed by the legislature, particularly regarding oversight and information requests. Waters did not name names but was likely referring to the audit request controversy involving NCI Board Member Art Pope.

North State Journal later learned Pope sent his request by email to the auditor while he was sitting in a February NCI board meeting presentation explaining nancial statement corrections and NCI’s compliance with GAAP.

In his opening remarks, Waters had also addressed critics of NCI.

“Some have suggested that public funding of public university applied research is tantamount to corporate welfare, and I’d like to address that claim

nation. Saine asked him when he knew it was time to leave the General Assembly, and Brubaker replied, “I’d imagine you’re probably like me. Just gonna wake up one morning and you realize it’s time to move on to something di erent.”

“That’s kind of what happened to me,” said Saine. “It just kind of came over me as an idea.”

He added he had been mulling it over for several months and had discussed it with his family.

Some of Saine’s notable accomplishments include the earning the “Humane State Legislator” award in 2013 from the Humane Society of the United States for his work ghting puppy mills in North Carolina.

The following year, the American Legislative Exchange Council named him “Legislator of the Year.”

try’s food chain, continue to post losses, particularly given the health of the demand set we have all seen over these last couple of years,” he told analysts. “There is a lot of other work that others need to lift. … There is only so much more we can do on our own.”

The signal to other airlines about capacity was remarkable. During the Obama administration, the Justice Department investigated whether U.S. carriers colluded by signaling each other during events such as conference calls to raise prices by reducing the number of seats for sale. That investigation ended without charges, although Southwest and American later paid to settle private

AT&T from page A9

associated with the interactions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it has worked collaboratively with AT&T and the Justice Department “through the rst and second delay process, all while sharing key threat intelligence to bolster FBI investigative equities and assist AT&T’s incident response work.”

In an email, Aaron Walton, threat intel analyst at Expel, said the attack on AT&T is part of a series of possible breaches due to “weak security controls around data storage.”

“Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the accounts could have mitigated the breach in many cases or made them substantially more di cult to carry out,” Walton said. The Department of Justice

The Lincoln County representative has consistently backed school choice, and his 16-year-old son attends a charter school. Saine was presented with the “2015 Charter Champion Award” by the North Carolina Public Schools Association. The same year, Saine’s work on reforming taxes earned him a “Legislator of the Year” honor from the North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.

On his top accomplishments while a lawmaker, Saine cited broadband expansion in 2017, his work with child advocacy centers, sports betting legislation and his work supporting re ghters — in the past, he served as a volunteer re ghter — in his county and across the state.

Saine cited the 5G legisla-

lawsuits that made similar accusations.

Delta’s revenue increase was more than o set by higher costs. Expenses jumped 10%, with labor, jet fuel, airport fees, airplane maintenance and even the cost of running its oil re nery all rising sharply.

head-on,” Waters said. “NCInnovation’s research grants only go to public universities that support research that has actual real-world impact. That is exactly what universities should be focusing on. Some of the most important discoveries in the modern era were born on university campuses and then commercialized by the private sector.”

Of the 13 NCI board members, eight were appointed by the legislature; four from each chamber. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) appointed Pope. The other ve are private appointees elected via the bylaws of NCI.

As the hearing stretched on, Waters told committee members, “I’m here as long as you’d like to ask us questions because we’ve got nothing to hide.”

“We are here for the benet of the regional residents of this state and the researchers that are counting on us to assist them in bringing their life’s work to fruition,” added Waters.

Co-chair Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) closed out the meeting by saying he thought private dollars funding public university research was a “better solution” and doubted “whether or not this is really the best use of taxpayer dollars” with other state priorities on the table like transportation, education and health care.

State Rep. Jason Saine, (R-Lincoln), right, speaks with Rep. Terence Everitt (D-Wake) after a House Commerce Committee at the Legislative O ce Building in March 2023. Saine announced Monday he will be resigning his seat next month.

tion in House Bill 319 as a bill the General Assemble “really got it right.” He added that one of the FCC chairs had used the legislation as a model for the national footprint of 5G.

“If you look at any national digital footprint map of 5G connectivity, it shows we were right,” said Saine.

“Work with child advocacy centers has been huge for me,” Saine said, adding it is not something his family has dealt with but said that child abuse and child molestation “reads like a horror story, and it is.”

Saine described getting city o cials and county commissioners to fund child advocacy centers when sequestration hit, and he later took it as a “personal mission” to get funding into the state budget.

Saine said the COVID-19 pandemic was the most serious issue he dealt with as a legislator. He described meeting in February 2020 to discuss budget items, the surplus and what the legislature was going to act on when the “world came to a screeching halt.”

He described the scramble to gure out what it all meant and how to keep the state moving forward, saying he and his colleagues worked to “put our state in the best possible position,” saying it was “a lot of work … (and) a lot of Zoom calls.”

On a lighter note, Saine said one of his fondest memories was when the House oor broke into ts of laughter after his joke about his tattoos. Another member asked him what his tattoo was, and Saine replied, “Elvis.” Former Rep. David Lewis then asked if it was skinny or fat Elvis.

“My response was, ‘Well, when I got the tattoo it was of a skinny Elvis, and now it’s a fat Elvis,” Saine said while laughing.

Saine said his time in the General Assembly was lled with many “victories and losses,” but it was overall a “great experience.”

“But every day is a new challenge,” Saine said. “And you’re working with people from all sides of the aisle who’ve come from very di erent perspective. … And so I think for me, from a personal standpoint, I could never have hoped for such a great experience of really getting to know other people.”

“It’s just one of the things that I’ve just been very passionate about, and it’s a huge victory there,” said Saine. “And we took them from, I think like an initial $1 million in funding to an annual $12 million in funding statewide; that, I would say, is huge.”

Spending on labor grew 9% over last year. The airline hired thousands of new workers when travel began recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, but hiring now is limited mainly to replacing workers who leave or retire. Delta laid o an undisclosed number of nonunion o ce employees last fall, indicating that management considered the company oversta ed. Delta said its earnings, excluding one-time items, were

said Friday it became aware of the breach early this year but met the security standard for a delayed ling by AT&T with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. This ling was made public Friday.

The DOJ said an earlier breach disclosure would “pose a substantial risk to national security and public safety.”

Several major data breaches, including an earlier attack on AT&T, have already

marked the year. In March, AT&T said that a dataset on the “dark web” contained information such as Social Security numbers for about 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. Some auto dealerships still use pens and paper to close deals after a company that supplies them with software was attacked twice last month. CDK Global is still attempting

$2.36 per share, a penny less than the average forecast among analysts in a FactSet survey. The airline said its adjusted pro t in the third quarter will be between $1.70 and $2 per share, below analysts’ forecast of $2.04 per share. Delta repeated its previous prediction that full-year pro t would be $6 to $7 per share.

to reestablish normal operations after the breach.

Cybersecurity experts warn that hospital systems around the country, which have already been targeted, are at risk for more attacks and that the United States government is doing too little to prevent breaches of this magnitude. AT&T customers can visit att.com/DataIncident for more information. Shares of AT&T Inc. fell slightly on Friday.

DELTA from page A9

SAINE from page A1

PHOTO COURTESY NCGA

NCInnovation

CEO J. Bennet Waters testi ed before the North Carolina House Oversight and Reform Committee on July 10.

GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO

Protecting yourself against SIM swapping

Thieves take over your phone number; calls or texts go to them, not to you

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — SIM-swapping is a growing form of identity theft that goes beyond hacking into an email or social media account. In this case, the thieves take over your phone number. Any calls or texts go to them, not to you.

Experts say these scams will only increase and become more sophisticated, while the data show they are rising. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that SIM-swapping complaints have increased more than 400% from 2018 to 2021, with associated personal losses estimated to be more than $68 million.

Rachel Tobac, CEO of online security company SocialProof Security, says the numbers are a vast underestimate because most identity thefts are not reported.

How does the scheme work?

Criminals use personal information about their victims — phone numbers, addresses, birthdays and Social Security numbers — obtained through data breaches, leaks, dark web purchases or phishing scams to impersonate the victims as they contact their mobile carriers. They will claim the original phone and SIM card were damaged, lost or sold accidentally and ask for the number to be associated with a new SIM, or eSIM, card in their possession. Once this is done, the phone number and the ability to receive text messages or calls to verify accounts belong to the criminals.

Prevention is the best form of protection, according to cybersecurity experts. The tricks and habits security experts say help prevent SIM-swapping, which they have long been recommending for online security in general. They include the following:

associated personal losses estimated at more than $68 million.

password habits

Better

If your credentials are caught in a cyber breach, the hackers could try using the stolen passwords to access other services and gather the personal data they need to pull o a SIM swap.

Change it if you’ve been using the same or similar login information for multiple websites or online accounts. If criminals steal your password from one service, they can try it on your other accounts and quickly get into all of them. Consider a password manager if you need help to memorize your various credentials. Also, use strong passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols. The longer they are, the better.

Multifactor authentication without texts

Add biometrics or multifactor authentication apps and devices that do not involve texting. These methods often use separate login methods and encryption not tied to your phone’s identity, making them

Ukrainian startups create low-cost robots to ght Russia

Engineers take inspiration from articles in defense magazines to produce cut-price platforms

By Derek Gatopoulos and Anton Shtuka

The Associated Press

NORTHERN UKRAINE

— Struggling with manpower shortages, overwhelming odds and uneven international assistance, Ukraine hopes to nd a strategic edge against Russia in an abandoned warehouse or factory basement. An ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops is leveraging innovation to create a robot army that Ukraine hopes will kill Russian troops and save its wounded soldiers and civilians.

Defense startups across Ukraine — about 250, according to industry estimates — are creating the killing machines at secret locations that typically resemble rural car repair shops. Employees at a startup run by entrepreneur Andrii Denysenko can put together an unmanned ground vehicle called the Odyssey in four days at a company shed. Its most important feature is the price tag: $35,000, or roughly 10% of the cost of an imported model.

Denysenko asked that The Associated Press not publish location details to protect the infrastructure and the people working there.

The site is partitioned into small rooms for welding and bodywork. This includes mak-

ing berglass cargo beds, spray-painting the vehicles gungreen and tting basic electronics, battery-powered engines, o -the-shelf cameras and thermal sensors.

The military is assessing dozens of new unmanned air, ground and marine vehicles produced by the no-frills startup sector. These vehicles’ production methods are far removed from those of giant Western defense companies.

A fourth branch of Ukraine’s military — the Unmanned Systems Forces — joined the army, navy and air force in May.

Engineers take inspiration from articles in defense magazines or online videos to produce cut-price platforms. Weapons or smart components can be added later.

“We are ghting a huge country, and they don’t have any resource limits. We understand that we cannot spend a lot of human lives,” said Denysenko, who heads the defense startup UkrPrototyp. “War is mathematics.”

One of its drones, the carsized Odyssey, spun on its axis and kicked up dust as it rumbled forward in a corn eld in the north of the country last month.

The 1,750-pound prototype that looks like a small, turretless tank with its wheels on tracks can travel up to 18.5 miles on one charge of a battery the size of a small beer cooler.

The prototype acts as a rescue-and-supply platform but can be modi ed to carry a remotely operated heavy machine gun or sling mine-clearing charges.

more di cult for criminals to access.

AT&T also advises contacting your carrier to set up a unique passcode to prevent signi cant account changes, such as porting phone numbers to another carrier. Your carrier may already have other protections against SIM swapping, so it’s worth calling them to ask.

Watch out for phishing schemes (especially at work)

Criminals will use email or text messages to try to trick you into giving them your personal and nancial information or to expose your workplace to possible attacks, and it’s incredibly e ective.

In its annual State of the Phish report, the cybersecurity rm Proofpoint found that the majority of data breaches worldwide still involve human lapses.

If you suspect you have received a possible phishing message or email, report it. Most of the popular email platforms have buttons or functions speci cally for reporting phishing attempts. If you’re at work, follow the advice from your company’s information security team.

Steps to take if you’re a victim

All major U.S. carriers have web pages advising victims how to report SIM fraud.

However, an Associated Press reporter who recently was hit by such an attack advises that victims should be diligent in working with the carrier to x the issue. Filing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or their state attorneys general can expedite recovery e orts.

If card payment numbers were stolen, inform your bank or credit card company, explaining that your card is at risk of fraud and asking the company to alert you to suspicious activity.

You can also notify credit agencies, including the three leading rms: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They can freeze your credit, restrict access to your credit report, and make it hard to open new accounts or issue a fraud alert. They will also add a warning to your credit report, encouraging lenders to contact you before lending money.

“Squads of robots … will become logistics devices, tow trucks, minelayers and deminers, as well as self-destructive robots,” a government fundraising page said after Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces launched. “The rst robots are already proving their e ectiveness on the battle eld.”

Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister for digital transformation, encourages citizens to take free online courses and assemble aerial drones at home. He wants Ukrainians to make a million ying machines a year. “There will be more of them soon,” the fundraising page said. “Many more.”

Denysenko’s company is working on projects including a motorized exoskeleton that would boost a soldier’s strength and carrier vehicles to transport a soldier’s equipment and even help them up an incline. “We will do everything to make unmanned technologies develop even faster. (Russia’s) murderers use their soldiers as cannon fodder, while we lose our best peo-

OpenAI whistleblowers ask SEC to investigate NDAs

New York OpenAI whistleblowers have led a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission and asked the agency to investigate whether the company illegally restricted workers from speaking out about the risks of its arti cial intelligence technology. A letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler representing “one or more anonymous and con dential” whistleblowers asks the agency to swiftly and aggressively enforce its rules against nondisclosure agreements that discourage employees or investors from raising concerns with regulators. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says OpenAI’s policies and practices appear to “cast a chilling e ect” on whistleblowers’ right to speak up.

Bolivian president announces natural gas “mega eld” discovery

La Paz, Bolivia Bolivia’s embattled president has announced the discovery of vast natural gas reserves just north of the capital, describing it as the most signi cant nd in nearly two decades. This discovery could potentially help the cash-strapped country reverse its falling production and bring about a new era of prosperity.

President Luis Arce calls the nd a “mega eld,” saying it has some 1.7 trillion cubic meters of gas at a likely market value of $6.8 billion. He says the Mayaya X-1 trove is a way to revive Bolivia’s gas industry, which was the engine of robust growth in the early 2000s, a period of booming exports and declining poverty that experts have called Bolivia’s “economic miracle.”

Biden will call for 5% rent cap on annual increases to tame in ation

ple,” Fedorov wrote in an online post. Ukraine has semi-autonomous attack drones and counter-drone weapons endowed with AI, and the combination of low-cost weapons and arti cial intelligence tools is worrying many experts who say low-cost drones will enable their proliferation.

Technology leaders worry that the use of drones and AI in weapons could reduce the barrier to killing and dramatically escalate con icts.

Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups are calling for a ban on weapons that exclude human decision-making, a concern echoed by the U.N. General Assembly, Elon Musk and the founders of the Google-owned, London-based startup DeepMind.

“Cheaper drones will enable their proliferation,” said Toby Walsh, professor of arti cial intelligence at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “Their autonomy is also only likely to increase.”

Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden is ready to propose a 5% cap on annual rent increases for tenants of signi cant landlords. This policy, if implemented, could signi cantly impact housing costs for many Americans. That’s according to a person familiar with the plan who insisted on anonymity when discussing the upcoming announcement. Biden was expected to unveil the plan during a visit to Nevada on Tuesday. Biden proposes to show voters that he is working to constrain housing costs. However, the plan would require solid Democratic control of Congress to become law. Most policymakers say the best way to limit housing costs would be through more construction.

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 12

Beginning Cash $2,567,131,445

Receipts (income)

$84,166,508

Disbursements

$149,916,715 Cash Balance

$2,501,396,235

KELVIN CHAN / AP PHOTO

SIM swapping is a growing form of identity theft with

ANTON SHTUKA / AP PHOTO

Andrii Denysenko, CEO of design and production bureau UkrPrototyp, stands by Odyssey, a 1,750-pound ground drone prototype.

Ford wants your next car to be as smart as your phone screening process

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

ANN ARBOR, Mich — The 2025 Ford Explorer isn’t just another SUV. It’s a rolling computer, signaling a fundamental shift in how we interact with our vehicles. By adopting Android Automotive into its infotainment system, Ford is attempting to transform the Explorer into a device as clever and connected as the smartphone in your pocket.

Android Automotive isn’t an extension of your phone, like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which e ectively transforms your car’s touchscreen into a display for your phone. Instead, it’s a full operating system embedded within the vehicle itself. This means the car becomes a standalone smart device, capable of running apps, receiving updates, and integrating deeply with the vehicle’s systems.

The Ford Digital Experience integrates a suite of familiar apps and abilities directly into the dashboard. Google Maps o ers real-time tra c updates, intelligent rerouting, and voice-activated searches that feel natural and intuitive. The ability to seamlessly send destinations from your phone to your car bridges the gap between devices, creating a more cohesive ecosystem.

Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of this system is the inclusion of the Google Play Store. This opens up a world of possibilities for expanding your car’s capabilities over time. Want to use Waze instead of Google Maps for your daily commute? You’ll be able to download it directly to your Explorer and use it as if it were the native mapping app. This feature has the potential to keep vehicles feeling fresh and capable long after they’ve left the showroom oor, although it remains to be seen how extensively this feature will be utilized by consumers and supported by developers. The promise is there, but the execution is wait and see.

Ford isn’t alone in this push toward software-de ned vehicles. Other major brands including GM, Honda, Volvo and Nissan have also adopted Android Automotive with Google Automotive Services, while BMW, Stellantis and Porsche are using the platform without Google’s suite of apps. This convergence

could lead to a more ful lling experience across brands and potentially allow for greater innovation as developers can create apps for a wider audience. As vehicles become more connected, privacy concerns naturally arise. One particular point of concern is the potential for data sharing between automakers and third parties, such as insurance companies. Ford and other manufacturers will need to navigate these waters carefully, ensuring transparency in how data is collected and used. While many users have shown a willingness to trade data for convenience in other aspects of their digital lives, vehicle location and data like speed and driving style

feel more intimate. Expect things like vehicle location and speed data to increasingly become a topic of divorces, car crash investigations and the like over the next few years. We’ve already had automotive black boxes sharing information, but this is a whole new world of transparency and vulnerability. The risks around cyberattacks — imagine ransomware locking millions of car owners out of their vehicles — are immense, and it remains to be seen if carmakers are ready for this threat.

Ford’s move toward a more software-centric vehicle experience comes as a direct response to Tesla’s success in this area. Tesla is more a tech com-

pany than a carmaker, with a Silicon Valley ethos rather than one focused on Detroit iron. As a result, it’s long emphasized the importance of software and frequent updates, and traditional automakers are struggling to play catch-up more than a decade after the Model S rst came out. However, it’s worth noting that while Ford’s system will allow for relatively easy updates to the infotainment system, it doesn’t extend to the entire vehicle in the same way Tesla’s does. Ford will be able to update its screens with relative ease, but complex updates are trickier because of how its tech works.

The shift toward software-dened vehicles (an awkward name

that basically means screens and apps) presents both opportunities and challenges for the automotive industry. On one hand, it allows for greater customization and ongoing improvement of vehicles post-purchase. On the other, it requires automakers to develop competencies far, far outside their traditional wheelhouse.

The biggest risk for Ford is not in adopting these technologies but in screwing them up. A buggy, unintuitive interface can be far worse than a simple, reliable one. This is why many automakers are partnering with Google and Apple, tech giants who have spent literally tens of billions of dollars — likely greater than the entire R&D budget for most of the car industry — developing user interfaces and studying user experiences.

Interestingly, Ford is maintaining support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside its new Android Automotive system, emphasizing user choice. This stands in contrast to crosstown-rival GM’s decision to phase out these systems in their new EVs. It remains to be seen which approach will resonate more with consumers, but Ford’s strategy allows them to hedge their bets while still pushing forward with more integrated solutions.

The venerable Explorer represents a future where our cars are not just boxes to move from point A to point B but extensible platforms that can grow and adapt to our needs over time (as we move from point A to point B).

For consumers, this means the software experience should soon become as important a factor in car-buying decisions as traditional metrics like horsepower or fuel e ciency. For the automotive industry, it represents both a challenge and an opportunity — a chance to redene what a car can be in the digital age but also a chance to really screw it up. The history of smartphones is littered with epic failures, even from huge brands like Microsoft or former success stories like Palm and BlackBerry. There’s no reason to expect companies like Ford or GM to pull this o on their own.

Ford’s hiring of Doug Field, a former Apple and Tesla exec, to run its software is a good sign, however. The more carmakers adopt Silicon Valley smarts and, more importantly, culture, the better o they’ll be.

The road ahead is sure to have its bumps, but one thing is clear: The car of the future is as much about bits and bytes as it is about nuts and bolts. And with the new Explorer, Ford isn’t quite the trailblazer it was with the Model T, but it’s not (yet) falling far behind either.

Former Wolfpack coach dies, B4

Tar Heels look to change narrative post-Maye era

MLS Westwood rst Charlotte player to post 3 assists in 1 match

Cincinnati Ashley Westwood had a club -record three assists, sparking Charlotte FC to a 3-1 victory Saturday over FC Cincinnati. Rookies Iúri Tavares and Liel Abada scored two minutes apart in the rst half as Charlotte (10 -8-5) earned its rst win over Cincinnati. Charlotte played without top scorer Patrick Agyemang (6 goals, 3 assists), who is serving a one-match suspension for a red card he received against Inter Miami.

MLB Seager from host Rangers added to AL All-Star roster Arlington, Texas

Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager was added to the American League All-Star roster as a replacement for injured Minnesota shortstop Carlos Correa. Seager, a Charlotte native and graduate of Northwest Cabarrus High, is going to his fth All-Star Game. He joins teammates Marcus Semien and reliever Kirby Yates, a former Durham Bull, on the AL squad for Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Hurley agrees to 6-year, $50 million deal with UConn month after spurning Lakers

Storrs, Conn. UConn and men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract through the 2029-30 season, nearly a month after he turned down a lucrative o er to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Hurley will receive $6.375 million next season, in addition to his $400,000 base annual salary, which includes compensation from speaking, consulting and media obligations. Hurley is 141-58 in six seasons with the Huskies, including winning back-to-back national titles.

UNC will roll out a new quarterback and hope for an improved defense

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

CHAPEL HILL — In the last ve years of North Carolina football under Mack Brown, it seems as if success in any aspect of the game comes with a price.

To have an explosive o ense means to have a lackluster defense.

To have a top-20 recruiting class means to nish the season unranked.

To have one of the best quarterbacks in the country means to not have an ACC title.

The Tar Heels have notoriously teased their fans with hot starts to the season, only to have meaningful postseason hopes ushed due to inconsistency and the lack of complementary football.

In many ways, 2024 ushers in a new era for the Tar Heels, who will look to put together a complete team and a complete season.

Last year

Quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, returned for his sophomore season alongside a talented corps of weapons at the receiver, tight end and running back positions. Although they went without transfer receiver Tez Walker for the rst four games of the season, the Tar Heels started 6-0, including a 41-31 home victory over No. 25 Miami that made an ACC title and possible College Football Playo bid seem somewhat in reach.

It all changed in the next week when No. 10 UNC lost to a 1-5 Virginia team at home and followed that with a loss to unranked Georgia Tech. With chances to redeem the season

against Clemson and NC State also slipping away, UNC ended up losing four out of its last six regular season games to nish 8-4. The Tar Heels lost to West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Changes and newcomers

With Maye moving on to the NFL, the biggest change for the Tar Heels will be at quarterback.

Conner Harrell, a sophomore, and Max Johnson, a graduate transfer from Texas A&M, were originally just competing with each other for the QB1 title in the spring, but Jacolby Criswell’s return from Arkansas should shake things up ahead of week one.

UNC also parted ways with defensive coordinator Gene Chizik and defensive line coach Tim Cross, replacing them with Geo Collins and Ted Monachino, respectively.

While UNC lost some skill

Consecutive losses to NC State in the rivalry game that traditionally ends UNC’s regular season

players to the transfer portal — including running backs Elijah Green and George Pettaway, tight end Kamari Morales and linebacker Sebastian Cheeks — the Tar Heels are also bringing in four o ensive linemen: Austin Blaske (Georgia), Howard Sampson (North Texas), Zach Greenberg (Muhlenberg) and Jakiah Leftwich (Georgia Tech).

Players to watch UNC’s experienced receiving corps of Nate McCollum, Kobe Paysour, J.J. Jones and tight end Bryson Nesbit should be in for a huge year, especially with the need to replace Walker’s production. The Tar Heels will also return 2023 Doak Walker

See UNC, page B3

The Deacs became the second team with three top-10 picks

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Cowtown Coliseum is normally home to rodeo events as the premiere attraction of the Fort Worth Stockyards, but, as host of the 2024 MLB Draft, it became Winston-Salem West.

Wake Forest was the consensus preseason No. 1 last season. While that may not have resulted in a national championship for the Demon Deacons, the talent that packed Wake’s roster caught the attention of Major League Baseball.

Wake Forest had three players chosen in the top 10 of the MLB Draft, including the highest selection in program history.

Deacs went second, fourth and 10th overall in the draft. Only Rice University, which had three players taken in the top eight of the 2004 draft, has had a better performance in the history of the event. After the Cleveland Guard-

ians took Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana rst overall, the spotlight shifted to Wake. The Cincinnati Reds selected righthander Chase Burns with the second pick. Burns, who transferred to Wake last year for his junior season, was the consensus top pitcher in the draft. He was chosen before 2024 player of the year Charlie Condon, a slugger out of Georgia, possi-

bly because Condon is expected to demand a higher signing bonus.

Cincinnati is certainly familiar with the products of Wake’s vaunted pitching lab. The Reds took Rhett Lowder seventh overall in last year’s draft, and he has already advanced to Double-A. Lowder also was selected for the MLB Futures Game, a showcase of baseball’s top prospects which

took place at All-Star weekend the day before the draft.

Burns became the highest-drafted Deac in program history, topping pitcher Kyle Sleeth, taken third overall by the Tigers in 2003. Burns won ACC Pitcher of the Year and led the nation in strikeouts with 169.

“Chase Burns has the chance to be a true No. 1 (starter) for the Cincinnati Reds,” Wake coach Tom Walter said in a draft-night statement. “Between his electric arm and compete gene the Reds got what I believe is the best arm in the class, and Chase will be a valuable addition to the Reds sta for years to come. I’m so happy that he gets to join Rhett Lowder in the Cincinnati organization and look forward to watching that duo come up together.”

It didn’t take long for Wake to make another appearance. After the Rockies took Condon third overall, the Oakland Athletics went back to the Winston-Salem well. Oakland, soon to relocate to Sacramento and then Las Vegas, chose

KREST / NORTH

video board at Fort Worth’s Cowtown Coliseum announces

Reds’ selection of Wake Forest’s Chase Burns with the second overall pick in the MLB Draft.

KARL B DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

Mack Brown asks for a timeout during UNC’s loss to NC State to end the 2023 regular season. The Tar Heels have lost the last three rivalry games to the Wolfack, one of several narratives Brown and Carolina will be looking to change this year.

TRENDING

Adam Thielen:

The Carolina Panthers wide receiver took a one-point lead over former tennis player Mardy Fish after Friday’s rst round of the American Century Championship. Thielen had an eagle and three birdies at Edgewood Tahoe in a 24-point round under the modi ed Stableford scoring system. Fish rallied to win the three-day event which features celebrity and athlete golfers. Thielen nished in seventh place.

Jacoby Jones:

The former NFL receiver died at age 40. Jones’ 108-yard kicko return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history and helped the Ravens win the title. His family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Ravens, Chargers and Steelers.

Matt James:

The former Wake Forest football player went deep in the MLB Celebrity Softball Game on All-Star Saturday at Globe Life Field. James, a Sanderson High graduate and Raleigh native, played receiver for the Deacs from 2011-14. He’s best known as the rst African American selected as “The Bachelor” and has also appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” and run two New York Marathons.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“You

played so

well. Enjoy the win.”

Kate, the Princess of Wales, to Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz. She presented him the trophy in a rare public appearance for the princess.

“Past is past, can’t do nothing about that.”

Former NC State forward Caleb Martin on turning down a ve-year, $65 million deal from Miami. He signed with Philadelphia for half that.

PRIME NUMBER

$76B

Total value of the 11-year media deal agreed to by the NBA with NBC, Amazon and ESPN. The deal, which sets records for length and total value, still must be approved by the league’s board.

NASCAR

Ryan Blaney returned to Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second victory in the last ve races this season. Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske. Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway. Blaney won the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more top 10- nishes heading into Pocono.

Gregg Berhalter was red as U.S. men’s national team coach. Berhalter, a former UNC Tar Heels player from 1991 to 1994, saw his second term as coach cut short after 10 months. The U.S. — which begins Olympic play July 24 against host country France — was 7-6-1 in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44-17-13.

Panthers vice president of player personnel and former Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson was arrested in Arizona on June 1 on misdemeanor charges of assault, property damage and disorderly conduct related to domestic violence. The Panthers said the High Point native and former NC State standout is no longer employed.

Former Down East Wood Duck and Hickory Crawdad Emiliano Teodo got the start in the MLB Futures Game that kicked o All-Star weekend at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Teodo, a Rangers prospect, threw two scoreless innings, striking out two. Albemarle native Rhett Lowder, now with the Reds organization also threw a scoreless inning in the game, striking out one.

MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

CHARLES KRUPA / AP PHOTO

DERIK HAMILTON / AP PHOTO

CHITOSE SUZUKI / AP PHOTO

Draft picks, undrafted players, vets compete for NBA roster spots

Local

talent is trying

to impress NBA teams in the summer leagues

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

FOR NORTH CAROLINA’S former college and high school basketball favorites seeking the glory and prestige of the NBA, the time is now.

NBA Summer League play began this month, giving former local basketball stars an opportunity to showcase what they can provide at the game’s highest level.

The race for a roster spot started with the California Classic from July 6-10 while the Salt Lake City league simultaneously ran from July 8-10. The NBA 2K25 Summer League, hosted in Las Vegas, began Friday and will run until Monday.

Here’s a look at how some former North Carolina basketball standouts, both fresh and experienced, have done so far in Summer League play as of Sunday:

Jared McCain Duke, Philadelphia 76ers

The 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft is o to a rough shooting start in summer league play. In three games in the Salt Lake City summer league, McCain averaged just 9.7 points per game while shooting an average of 29.4% from the eld and 18.8% from 3. The shooting struggles carried over into the NBA 2K25 schedule as he made just one of six 3-point attempts and scored 11 points in the 76ers’ 94-81 win over Detroit Saturday.

Kyle Filipowski Duke, Utah Jazz

In three Salt Lake City games in which he played an average of 17.2 minutes, early second-round pick Filipowski averaged just 2 points per game while shooting 20% from the oor. Filipowski played much better in the Jazz’s 90-89 win over Dallas in Las Vegas on Saturday. In that game,

Award nalist Omarion Hampton. Defensively, it should be interesting to see how linebacker Power Echols will lead the Tar Heels after the departure of last year’s tackles leader, Cedric Gray. Edge rusher Kaimon Rucker is also returning after leading UNC with 8.5 sacks last year.

Best case

Collins nds harmony between the talent on UNC’s defense and scheme, and the Tar Heels become more serious ACC contenders at the end of the season than it has in the past. Consistency will be more of a key than ever this year, especially with a new quarterback taking the reins and putting more pressure on the defense to impact winning.

Worst case

The defense performs the same or worse than last year, making the tough games ugly, and the other ones too close for comfort. A miss at the starting quarterback position or a nonconference slip-up also derails the season before ACC play.

WAKE FOREST from page B1

Wake’s slugging rst baseman Nick Kurtz with the fourth pick.

Wake Forest became the fth school with two picks in the draft’s top ve, joining LSU, who had the top two picks last year — Paul Skenes, who will pitch in this year’s All-Star Game, and Nationals out eld prospect Dylan Crews. Prior to that, the last time it happened was 2011, when UCLA had Gerrit Cole taken rst overall and Trevor Bauer third. Kurtz is second all-time in

Filipowski scored 10 points while shooting 50% from the oor and grabbing six rebounds.

Harrison Ingram UNC, San Antonio Spurs

Ingram, the second-round pick, is having one of the better summers out of the rookie local players so far, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds while shooting an average of 41.4% from the eld in three California Classic games. His numbers have dropped in the Spurs’ two games in Las Vegas games, however. Ingram’s best game came against China in the California Classic when he recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Bobi Klintman Wake Forest, Detroit Pistons

Klintman, another second-round pick, had an impressive showing in his one game in the NBA 2K25 Summer League

so far. In the Pistons’ 94-81 loss to the 76ers on Saturday, Klintman recorded 13 points, ve rebounds and ve assists on 50% shooting, including 42.9% from 3-point range.

DJ Horne NC State, San Antonio Spurs

California Classic: 2 games, 4.5 points, 3 rebounds, 30% FG% NBA 2K25: 1 game, 7.0 points, 28.6% FG%

DJ Burns NC State, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA 2K25 (averages): 2 games, 13.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 55% FG%

Mohamed Diarra NC State, Los Angeles Lakers

California Classic: 1 game, 13.7 minutes, 1.0 point, 6.0 rebounds

Key games

UNC has a favorable nonconference schedule, but the quest for a trip to the ACC title game in December won’t be easy. Sept. 21 vs. James Madison — This has “trap game” written all over it as it’s the third straight home game following bouts with Charlotte and FCS opponent NC Central. JMU has gone 19-6 since joining FBS in 2022. Nov. 2 vs. Florida State — Should the start of ACC play go well for UNC, this will be a chance to make a statement and strengthen its resume for postseason purposes. Nov. 30 vs. NC State — This game could be for a spot in the ACC championship game, or it could just be for school pride as the Wolfpack have beaten the Tar Heels three straight times.

Outlook

While it’s hard to replace the impact of Maye, UNC still has plenty of pieces on both sides of the ball that can make for a very good football team. This year should be about getting over the hump and nally reaping the bene ts of the talent and coaching that has come through Chapel Hill.

Wake history with 61 career home runs and is the program’s career and single-season leader in walks. He was the only active college player with a .500 career on-base percentage. “A true pro,” Walter said of Kurtz. “The Oakland Athletics drafted someone who’s work ethic, ability to make those around him better and his consistency (make him) a sure- re big leaguer. He hits the ball to all elds for power and average while also being an elite defender.”

Shortstop Seaver King rounded out Wake’s invasion of

Rob Dillingham Kentucky, Hickory native, Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA 2K25: 2 games, 24.6 minutes, 9.0 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 28% FG%, 25% 3-point %

Armando Bacot North Carolina, Utah Jazz

Salt Lake City: 1 game, 7.3 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 block, 25% FG%

Leaky Black UNC, Charlotte Hornets

California Classic: 3 games, 20.4 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 45.5% FG%, 20% 3-point %

NBA 2K25: 1 game, 24.3 minutes, 6.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 50% FG%, 50% 3-point %

Pete Nance UNC, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA 2K25: Two games, 19.7 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 56.3% FG%, 50% 3-point %

Marques Bolden Duke, Golden State Warriors

California Classic: 3 games, 20.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 9.0 rebounds

NBA 2K25: One game, 4.9 minutes, 3.0 points

AJ Gri n Duke, Houston Rockets

NBA 2K25: 2 games, 27.8 minutes, 10.5 points, 2.0 steals

Dariq Whitehead Duke, Brooklyn Nets

NBA 2K25: 2 games, 25.5 minutes, 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals

DJ Steward Duke, Chicago Bulls

NBA 2K25: 2 games, 31.4 minutes, 12.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 41% FG%

Terquavion Smith NC State, Portland Trailblazers

NBA 2K25: 1 game, 8.4 minutes, 3.0 points, 20% FG%, 25% 3-point %

Jarkel Joiner NC State, Atlanta Hawks

NBA 2K25: 2 games, 15.8 minutes, 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 57.1% FG%

Jake LaRavia Wake Forest, Memphis Grizzlies

Salt Lake City: 1 game, 35.6 minutes, 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 35.7% FG%, 25% 3-point %

NBA 2K25: 1 game, 34.1 minutes, 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 steals, 46.7% FG%, 33.3% 3-point %

Isaiah Miller UNC Greensboro, Memphis Grizzlies

Salt Lake City: 1 game, 16.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists NBA 2K25: 1 game, 15.0 minutes, 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 50% FG%

the top 10, getting selected by the Washington Nationals with the 10th overall pick. He transferred to Wake this past season after two years at Wingate and led the Deacs with 78 hits.

“The Nationals got a dynamic personality and a dynamic athlete in Seaver King,” Walter said. “His bat speed, raw athleticism and upside put him in a class by himself. This guy is going to be in the big leagues very quickly.”

Wake wasn’t the only North Carolina school to have players taken in the rst round. East Carolina righthander Trey Ye -

savage, considered the No. 3 pitcher in the draft, went to the Blue Jays with the 20th pick. He became the second-highest drafted Pirate in program history, behind Je Ho man, also drafted by Toronto back in 2014 with the ninth overall pick. Yesavage was the AAC Pitcher of the Year last season.

The consensus is that Yesavage was a late rst-round steal for Toronto, and he’s projected to be one of the rst picks from the 2024 class to reach the big leagues. UNC’s Vance Honeycutt rounded out the state’s partic -

ipation in the rst round. The out elder went to the Baltimore Orioles with the 22nd pick. A two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year and postseason hero for the Tar Heels with his clutch hitting, Honeycutt joins an organization that has produced some of baseball’s top prospects in recent years. The second round saw Duke and NC State join the party. Blue Devils pitcher Jonathan Santucci went to the Mets with the 46th pick, while Wolfpack catcher Jacob Cozart was taken by the Guardians two picks later.

RICK BOWMER / AP PHOTO

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) passes the ball in an NBA summer league game against Memphis in Salt Lake City.

UNC from page B1

REINHOLD MATAY / AP PHOTO

UNC tight end Bryson Nesbit, left, catches a touchdown pass during a September game against Appalachian State last season. The senior may be on the verge of a breakout season for the Tar Heels.

Former Wolfpack coach Ki n dies at 84

A longtime NFL assistant, his only head coaching job was at NC State

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Monte Kifn, the longtime NFL and college assistant coach whose Tampa Bay defenses routinely ranked among the league’s best, died Thursday. He was 84.

One of the architects of the ultra successful Tampa 2 defensive scheme, Ki n spent 13 seasons as defensive coordinator of the Bucs under former coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden from 1996 to 2008 and helped the franchise win the rst of its two Super Bowl titles.

The University of Mississippi football program announced on the social media platform X that Ki n, once the head coach at NC State, died surrounded by family and friends in Oxford, Mississippi, where Ki n’s son Lane is coach of the Rebels.

“As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who got the best out of his players and helped create one of the signature defenses of the early 2000s,” the Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers and inducted Ki n into the team’s Ring of Honor three years ago, said in a statement.

“His passionate and energetic leadership style resonated with all his players, and he was instrumental in our rst Super Bowl win and the success of Hall of Famers such as War-

ren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber,” the Glazers added. “O the eld, Monte was kind, genuine, gracious and always had a positive attitude. He was very special to the Buccaneers organization and our family.”

Sapp was voted NFL defensive player of the year in 1999 and Brooks earned the honor in 2002, when Tampa Bay had the league’s top-ranked defense and dominated the Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl.

During his stint with the Bucs, Tampa Bay’s defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (17.5), ranked second in takeaways (293) and yards allowed per game (286.8), third in interceptions (249) and 10th in sacks (503).

With Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Barber and Simeon Rice leading the way, the 2002 Bucs defense became the rst unit since the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears to lead the league in fewest points allowed (196), yards allowed per game (252.8), and interceptions (31) in the same season.

From Lexington, Nebraska, Ki n played tackle at the University of Nebraska and was a defensive assistant under Bob Devaney for the Cornhuskers’ 1970 and 1971 undefeated national championship teams.

In a career that spanned more than ve decades, Ki n also worked at Arkansas and as an NFL assistant for the Green Bay Packers, Bu alo Bills, Min-

“As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who got the best out of his players and helped create one of the signature defenses of the early 2000s.”

Glazer Family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

nesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.

After leaving the Bucs, he mostly worked for Lane in college stops at Tennessee, Southern California, Florida Atlantic and Mississippi.

Ki n’s only career stint as a head coach was at NC State. He led the Wolfpack from 1980 to 1982. He went 6-5 in 1980, after replacing Bo Rein. NC State

went 3-3 in the ACC, beating Duke but losing to UNC and Wake Forest. The season also saw the Wolfpack beat in-state foes App State and East Carolina at home and lose on the road at Penn State in a high-pro le nonconference game.

In 1981, State fell to 4-7, 2-4 in the ACC. The Pack opened 3-0, including a win over ECU and a road win at Wake. They won just one of their next

ThenTampa Bay

coordinator

looks on during a playo game against the New York Giants in 2008. Ki n, who coached NC State in the early 1980s, died last week at 84.

eight, including losses to UNC, Duke, Miami and Penn State.

In 1982, Ki n went 6-5, 3-3 in the ACC, with nonconference losses to Miami and Penn State, both on the road. State again lost to Carolina and Duke but posted wins over ECU and Wake.

The amboyant Ki n earned attention for the program with his antics, including stepping in the ring with heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier, dressing as the Lone Ranger and riding into an on-campus concert on a horse, and jumping from a helicopter hovering a few feet o the ground.

Shawn Krest contributed to this report.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers a pitch against the New York Mets earlier this month. After a dominant start to his rookie year, he earned a start in the All-Star Game.

Skenes gets starting role for National League All-Stars as rookie

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

ARLINGTON, Texas — The MLB All-Star Game changed its rules a few years ago to make it easier for two-way players to showcase all of their skills. The rule was made to accommodate Shohei Ohtani, who pitched and hit in that game, but Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes saw a way to take advantage of it.

“I’ve gotten a couple bats over the last couple days,” Skenes said, “and they sent a couple batting gloves too. I’m itching to use them.”

Skenes getting a couple of swings in during the All-Star Game is not outside the realm of possibility. He won the John Olerud Award as the best twoway player in college baseball while he was a star pitcher and catcher at the Air Force Academy.

Then he transferred to LSU, and a funny thing happened on the way to the national championship.

They stopped putting me in BP (batting practice) groups,” he said. “Yeah, I don’t know. I went to LSU and I stopped catching, but I was hitting still. And I wanted to keep hitting as long as I could, but the upside on the mound, I think, was a lot better than the upside hitting.”

So, after hitting 24 home runs and turning in an OPS of 1.121 in 100 games with Air Force, Skenes hasn’t batted in a game since. And the All-Star Game wasn’t going to break that streak.

“(Pirates GM) Ben Cherington and (Pirates manager Derek Shelton), that ain’t gonna happen,” said Torey Lovullo, the manager of the National League All-Star team. “I promise.”

OK, anti-fun police, ne. Maybe we could just see Skenes for a couple of innings instead of the one inning that has become the tradition, as teams want to limit the amount of wear on their star pitchers’ arms during the All-Star exhibition.

After all, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was scheduled to bat fourth in the American League lineup. If Skenes got a

quick one-two-three inning, maybe he could come back out for a power-versus-power showdown.

“Yeah, that would be cool,” said Skenes.

“I would love to,” said Lovullo. “I’d love to watch him for two. Actually, I’d love to tire him out enough so he can’t make one of his next starts because it will be against the Diamondbacks (the team Lovullo manages). I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

It’s natural to speculate on just what Skenes might do because he’s already done more than anyone could have reasonably expected. The All-Star Game is played two days after the MLB Draft, which takes place in the same city that hosts the game. Last year, that was Seattle, and Skenes was drafted rst overall. Now, just barely a year later, he will be at center stage, starting the All-Star Game for the National League. (Note: The game was played Tuesday night, after our press deadline.)

He’s just the fth rookie to start the game and the rst since 1995. He’s the rst No. 1 draft pick to start the game as a rookie. In a 368-day span,

Skenes has gone from being the top college player to perhaps the best pitcher on the planet and a rapidly rising star who could end up being the face of baseball.

Skenes skyrocketed through the minors, allowing just over two runs per nine innings and fewer than a baserunner an inning while jumping from rookie ball to Triple-A in a matter of months.

Since getting promoted to the Pirates in early May, he’s been even better. He’s allowing 1.90 runs per nine (0.22 better than his minor league numbers) and 0.920 baserunners an inning (0.021 better), while striking out 12.1 batters per nine innings. He also has yet to lose a game as a professional, sporting a 6-0 record.

He put an exclamation point on his case be the All-Star starter in his last game before the break, pitching seven nohit innings against the rstplace Brewers and striking out 11 before being removed from the game by an overly cautious manager.

It did cause his All-Star manager to throw caution to the wind on at least one front. Tra-

ditionally, the All-Star starting pitchers are named at a Monday press conference, the day before the game. Instead, last week, Lovullo called Dan Patrick’s nationally syndicated radio show, interrupting an interview with Skenes to break the news that the gig was his.

“As I watched him throw seven no-hit innings, it became something I couldn’t wait to tell the world,” Lovullo said. Skenes has remained humble amidst the hype. When asked if he was baseball’s version of the NBA’s Victor Wembanyana, he said, “I don’t know that I agree or disagree with that. I don’t watch the NBA at all. I know who he is, but I don’t know a whole lot about him.”

A generational talent.

“It’s an honor, but I’m 11 starts in. And here we are now. Hopefully, there’s a lot more time that I can play this game.”

Still, he’s got a couple of brand new bats. He’s got some batting gloves. And the world will be watching him on Tuesday night.

“There’s no batting helmet in my locker,” Skenes said. “So that’s not happening.” Maybe next year.

The Pirates phenom has been dominant in his rst year in MLB

STEVE NESIUS / AP PHOTO

Buccaneers defensive

Monte Ki n

GENE J. PUSKAR / AP PHOTO

‘The Shining,’ ‘Popeye’ star Shelley Duvall dies at 75

Duvall’s run in the 1970s was remarkably versatile

By Jake Coyle The Associated Press

SHELLEY DUVALL, the intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in Robert Altman’s lms and who costarred in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, has died. She was 75.

Duvall was attending junior college in Texas when Altman’s crew members, preparing to lm “Brewster McCloud,” encountered her at a Houston party in 1970. They introduced the 20-year-old to the director, who cast her in “Brewster McCloud” and made her his protege.

Duvall would go on to appear in Altman lms, including “Thieves Like Us,” “Nashville, “Popeye,” “Three Women” and “McCabe & Ms. Miller.”

“He o ers me damn good roles,” Duvall told The New York Times in 1977. “None of them have been alike. He has great con dence in me, trust and respect for me, and he doesn’t put any restrictions on me or intimidate me.”

At her peak, Duvall was a regular star in some of the dening movies of the 1970s. In “The Shining” (1980), she played Wendy Torrance, who watches in horror as her husband,

Jack (Jack Nicholson), goes crazy while their family is isolated in the Overlook Hotel. Duvall’s screaming face comprised half of the lm’s most iconic image, along with Jack’s axe coming through the door.

A famous perfectionist,

Kubrick was notoriously hard on Duvall in making “The Shining.” His methods of pushing her through countless takes in the most anguished scenes took a toll on the actor. One scene was reportedly performed in 127 takes. The entire shoot took

13 months. In a 1981 interview with People magazine, Duvall said she cried “12 hours a day for weeks on end” during the lm’s production.

“I will never give that much again,” said Duvall. “If you want to get into pain and call it art, go ahead, but not with me.”

Duvall disappeared from movies almost as quickly as she arrived in them. By the 1990s, she began retiring from acting and retreated from public life.

“How would you feel if people were nice, and then, suddenly, on a dime, they turn on you?”

Duvall told the Times earlier this year. “You would never believe it unless it happens to you. You get hurt because you can’t believe it’s true.”

Duvall married the artist Bernard Sampson in 1970. They divorced four years later. Duvall was in a long-term relationship with the musician Paul Simon in the late ’70s after meeting during the making of Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall.” (Duvall played the rock critic who keeps declaring things “transplendent.”) She also dated Ringo Starr. During the making of the 1990 Disney Channel movie “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Duvall met the musician Dan Gilroy of the group Breakfast Club, with whom she remained until her death.

Duvall’s run in the 1970s was remarkably versatile. In the rugged Western “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” (1971), she played the mail-order bride Ida. She was a groupie in “Nashville” (1975) and Olive Oyl, opposite Robin Williams in “Popeye” (1980).

In “3 Women,” co-starring Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule, Duvall played Millie Lammoreaux,

a Palm Springs health spa worker, and won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

In the 1980s, Duvall produced and hosted several children’s TV series, including “Faerie Tale Theatre,” “Tall Tales & Legends,” and “Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories.”

She returned to Texas in the mid-1990s. Around 2002, after making the comedy “Manna from Heaven,” she retreated from Hollywood completely. Her whereabouts became a favorite topic of internet sleuths. One favorite but incorrect theory was that it was residual trauma from the grueling shoot for “The Shining.”

To those living in the Texas Hill Country, where Duvall lived for some 30 years, she was neither in “hiding” nor a hermit. But her circumstances were a mystery to the media and many of her old Hollywood friends. That changed in 2016 when producers for the “Dr. Phil” show tracked her down and aired a controversial hourlong interview with her in which she spoke about her mental health issues. “I’m very sick. I need help,” Duvall said on the program, which was widely criticized as exploitative.

THR journalist Seth Abramovitch wrote that he went on a pilgrimage to nd her because “it didn’t feel right for McGraw’s insensitive sideshow to be thenal word on her legacy.”

Duvall attempted to restart her career, dipping her toe in the indie horror “The Forest Hills,” lmed in 2022 and premiered quietly in early 2023.

“Acting again — it’s so much fun,” Duvall told People then. “It enriches your life.”

‘Despicable Me 4’ stays on top, moviegoers ock to ‘indie’ horror ick

“Longlegs” scored this year’s best opening for an R-rated lm

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

GRU AND THE MINIONS celebrated a second week in rst place at the North American box o ce this weekend, while a small horror movie called “Longlegs” upset the starry $100 million “Fly Me to the Moon.” The supremacy of “Despicable Me 4” was hardly a surprise, as the Universal and Illumination franchise added $44.7 million and pushed the lm over $200 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. But the big upset came further down the charts with “Longlegs,” more than doubling the debut of the

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum romantic comedy

“Fly Me to the Moon.”

“Longlegs,” an original horror about a serial killer starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, made an estimated $22.6 million from 2,510 theaters. That’s the best start for indie out t Neon (most famous for releasing the Oscar-winning “Parasite”), which acquired the $10 million lm for distribution. Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, “Longlegs” scored this year’s best opening for an R-rated movie.

Neon deployed several innovative marketing strategies for the lm, including touches like placing cipher messages in local newspapers and posting a Los Angeles billboard with a phone number that played an “unnerving” message. In its rst 48 hours, the number received

over 250,000 calls from fans of the genre.

“Longlegs” was well-received by critics, with an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, some audiences were less enthusiastic, giving it a C+ CinemaScore.

“Fly Me to the Moon,” an Apple Original Films production, launched with only $10 million over the weekend. It trailed holdovers “Inside Out 2,” in third with $20.8 million, and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” in fourth place with $11.8 million.

Sony distributed “Fly Me to the Moon,” the Greg Berlanti-directed lm about a marketing executive brought in to sell the space race to the American public and, later, stage a fake moon landing just in case. Apple has yet to announce when it will debut on its streaming service.

The movie opened in 3,356 locations this weekend, attracting an audience of mostly over 45. In this case, the audience was kinder than the critics, giving it an A CinemaScore against a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that word-of-mouth may work in its favor over the long run.

The year-to-date gap between box o ce performance this year and last is gradually decreasing. The di erence is now 16.1%

lower than in 2023 thanks to a string of recent hits. However, the current performance still falls short of pre-pandemic levels. On July 14, 2019, the annual box o ce revenue reached $6.2 billion, while this year, it stands at $4.1 billion so far.

“A very unpredictable summer movie season continues,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “And after a slow start in May (it) has continued to surprise and impress with expected and unexpected hits, adding bottom-line dollars to the industry’s most important season.”

In a limited release, A24 opened “Sing Sing,” an early Oscar contender, in four New York and Los Angeles theaters. With sellouts in both locations, it made $137,119, one of the best-limited openings of the year. The lm from director Greg Kwedar is about an arts program at the prison and features many real-life participants, including Clarence Maclin in his lm debut. “Sing Sing” will continue playing on four screens through July and expand nationwide in August.

Finally, “Twisters,” which opens in North America on Thursday, began its internation-

al rollout this weekend, earn-

ing a remarkable $11.5 million from 38 markets. These markets include Australia, Mexico and Brazil. Fans of the movie from these countries came out in large numbers to enjoy the thrilling experience brought to theaters by “Twisters.” In its wake comes “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the rst Marvel release of the summer. According to Comscore, estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters.

1. “Despicable Me 4,” $44.7 million 2. “Longlegs,” $22.6 million 3. “Inside Out 2,” $20.8 million 4. “A Quiet Place: Day One,”

DOUG PIZAC / AP PHOTO

Shelley Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the lms of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining,” has died. She was 75.

NEON VIA AP

Maika Monroe stars in writer and director Osgood Perkins’ indie horror lm “Longlegs.”

Durham indie label Merge Records turns 35

Merge is among the country’s most in uential independent music labels

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

IT ALL BEGAN when Mac McCaughan, a young musician who had moved to Durham as a teenager and spent his college years between Colombia University and Chapel Hill, started a band called Chunk with his then-girlfriend, bassist Laura Ballance. The band became Superchunk, which lit the fuse for Merge Records. That was 35 years ago, and today, Merge is easily one of the country’s most in uential independent music labels. At a time when DIY meant doing it yourself without the internet, streaming platforms, social media and modern recording technology, the term “indie” carried a more punk-like ethos and hadn’t yet been fabricated and co-opted going the way of “grunge.”

In the 1980s, North Carolina became known as a breeding ground for music. The “jangle pop” sound, popular on college radio, was dominated by bands like The dB’s, led by Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey from Winston-Salem. Around the same time, producer Mitch Easter worked on records for renowned “alternative” groups such as R.E.M. and Pavement. By the early 1990s, Chapel Hill and the surrounding area were seen as “the next Seattle,” with McCaughan and Merge Records evolving from making cassettes to signing a growing number of artists.

Some scholars among the highest echelons of independent music claim more than one musical renaissance has occurred in North Carolina. College radio or “left of the dial” stations ushered in a new era of independent music, authenticity and a trueto-form attitude. Record stores

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Archers of Loaf performs at Kings in Raleigh in May 2012. Archers of Loaf and its singer, Eric Bachmann, have both released albums on Merge Records. Merge, an independent label based in the Triangle, is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

like Schoolkids and venues such as Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro and the Village Underground in Raleigh served as incubators for the state’s exploding independent music scene. In the center of it all, Merge Records thrived.

“I think that a few things had fed into the great music scenes in N.C.: a geographical point between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, lots of bands came through and played here even before it was known as a musical hotspot,” McCaughan said. “Universities attract young people and want record stores, clubs and bars; universities also are home to alternative radio stations like WXYC, WXDU, WKNC and WUAG.”

A simple principle powered

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 OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 21 SP 435

NORTH CAROLINA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

BRADFORD SCOTT HANCOX, ADMINSTRATOR

C.T.A. OF THE ESTATE OF CHARLES LINDBERG UNDERWOOD, Deceased, Petitioner, VS. UNKNOWN HEIRS OF MARTHA A. UNDERWOOD, KENNETH SHAW-UNDERWOOD, LYNETTE UNDERWOOD SMITH a/k/a SAUDA UNDERWOODSMITH, JILLENE UNDERWOOD a/k/a JILLENE UNDERWOOD-CASTANG, KIM SHAW a/k/a KIM WILLIAMS, WARREN LEE TAYLOR JR., PATRICIA BUSHROD IRONS, CHARLES MATTHEW BUSHROD a/k/a MATT JOHNSTON, ASHLEY VICTORIA CARIELLO, MARK BUSHROD, ANDREA BUSHROD, ALEXANDRIA BUSHROD, JOSEPH BUSHROD, REBEKAH BUSHROD, DAHLENIE BUSHROD, ANTHONY C. DOUGLAS, AUDREY MCRAE RAY, TANYA L. DOUGLAS, CHARLES J. DOUGLAS, MADELINE THIBODEAUX a/k/a MADELINE RAMEY, and L.W. BLAKE, as Trustee Under that Certain Inter Vivos

the label’s expansion and ascension to legendary status by signing bands they liked and knew, not bands that moved more product — songs over sound. Indie darlings The Magnetic Fields, Chapel Hill’s Polvo, and Lambchop, a collective out of Nashville anchored by Kurt Wagner, joined the Merge label.

“One uniting feature of people making records on Merge is that they tend to be artists making music because that’s who they are; they would be writing songs and making music whether they were on a label or not,” McCaughan said. “We’ve also always valued songs over ‘a sound’ because I think songs outlive recording trends or guitar sounds.”

As the label grew and its repu-

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF IDA LEE BELL AUTMAN

ESTATE FILE NO. 996589977

All Persons, rms and corporations having claims against Ida Lee Bell Autman, deceased of Cumberland County, N.C., are noti ed to present their claims to Wanda L. Autman-Vaughn, Administrator, at 108 Villa Drive, Fayetteville,N.C.28311, on or before the 27th by of September 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are required to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This is the 27th day of June, 2024.

Wanda L. Autman-Vaughn

Administrator of the Estate of Ida Lee Bell Autman Run dates: 6/27, 7/4, 7/11, 7/18 Publication dates

NOTICE

State of North Carolina In The General Court Of Justice

Superior Court Division County of Cumberland Estate File # 24E964

Administrator/Executor’s Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Azam U Baqai, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim on or before the 27 day of September 2024 (which date is three months after the day of 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 the 18 day of June 2024 Fauzia Baqai

Administrator/Executor 4342 Ferncreek Dr Fayetteville, NC 28314 Administrator of the Estate of Azam U Baqai

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland

Superior Court Division Estate File# 24E986

Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator/ Executor of the estate of Irene M Cruz, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, Firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 26th 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 27th day of June, 2024 Alicia Kidd Administrator/Executor 524 Donovan Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 4127799799 Of the Estate of Irene M Cruz, Deceased

tation for nurturing independent artists spread, success on a larger scale followed. McCaughan was introduced to a band from Montreal that was rising in popularity: Arcade Fire. Their 2010 record, “The Suburbs,” released on Merge, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won three Grammy Awards. While garnering awards and status, the Durham label serves North Carolina and the Triangle’s music scene, promoting local artists like Hiss Golden Messenger, Rosali and H.C. McEntire with a platform to reach new generations of audiences.

“I think the fact that we started when we did — a time when a small 7-inch release could garner music reviews, allow you to

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

NOTICE

In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #24 E 850 STATE of NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having quali ed As Executors of the Estate of Mary Alice Doby, 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 4th day of October, 2024, (which date is three months after the day of rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons Indebted to the estate will be please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 4th day of July, 2024. Executor’s of the Estate of Mary Alice Doby Barbara J. Almendarez 1004 Anarine Rd Fayetteville NC 28303 Email: bjaaz7129@gmail. com Phone: 910-309-6527 Catherine Irene Bell 4176 Ferncreek Dr. Fayetteville NC 28314 Phone: 910-3231337 Of the Estate of Mary Alice Doby, deceased

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E899 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Co-Executor’s of the Estate of Harold Lacy Godwin, 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 2225 Winterlochen Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305, on or before October 11, 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 11th day of July, 2024. Christopher Bolton Godwin and Harold Prescott Godwin Co-Executor’s of the Estate of Harold Lacy Godwin, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 07/11/2024, 07/18/2024, 07/25/2024 and 08/01/2024

book a tour and get your attention in a record store — has a lot to do with our survival,” McCaughan said. “We made a lot of fans back then who stayed with us.”

Merge Records is celebrating 35 years by hosting a summer music festival in Carrboro from July 24-27 as a thank-you to their loyal artists and fans. The four-day event will showcase the label’s history with bands from Merge’s humble beginnings to its latest acts. Fans can expect “more bands than they can count, hearing songs they’ve known for a long time and hopefully having their minds blown by artists they’ve not heard before. Also, it will be sweaty.” McCaughan said.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 24-E-1040 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Virgil Raymond Jones, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before October 18, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 18th day of July, 2024. Jennifer Bradford, Administrator of the Estate of Virgil Raymond Jones NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY, CRAVEN & CORLEY, L.L.P. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of Kathleen S. Davis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim

7.25.24, and 8.1.24

CORY LAVALETTE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

COURTESY OONA MCCAUGHAN Mac McCaughan Merge Records co-founder

COURTESY MICKIE WINTERS

Kurt Wagner Lambchop frontman

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION

ESTATE FILE 24E983 State of North Carolina Cumberland County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of Michael Kennedy Smith, 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 416 Devane Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305, on or before October 11, 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 11th day of July, 2024. Allen D. Smith Administrator of the Estate of Michael Kennedy Smith, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305

07/11/2024, 07/18/2024, 07/25/2024 and 08/01/2024

NOTICE

In the GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE #24E1026 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Anita Fountain Oliver, deceased, late of Cumberland County North Carolina the undersigned does herby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claim against the estate basis decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 104 Greenway Overlook Cary NC, 27518 on or before October 11, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned Dated this 11th day of July 2024. Charles Oliver, Executor of the Estate of Anita Fountain Oliver, 104 Greenway Overlook Cary NC 27518.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF JOSEPH LEE PAGE

Cumberland County Estate File No. 24 E 914

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Joseph Lee Page, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Elijah Garrett, Executor, at 3102 Harrison Hollow Ln, Herndon, VA 20171, 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 Executor named above. This the 20th day of June, 2024. Elijah Garrett Executor of the Estate of Joseph Lee Page 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

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrators of the Estate of Charles Lynwood Thaggard, 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 18th day of October, 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 the 10th day of July, 2024. Administrators of the Estate of Charles Lynwood Thaggard: Geneva Thaggard Burcham Charles Lynwood Thaggard, Jr. 3409 Cornell Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28306

NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice

Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate le # 24E1034

State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Lewis Edward Thompson Jr.,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 5th day of October 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 4th day of July, 2024.

Shirley Ann Thompson Administrator/Executor 1106 Magnolia Church Road Stedman NC 28391

Executor of the Estate of Lewis Edward Thompson Jr., Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE’S

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In Re The Estate of Marthell Peltz, Deceased

Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of Marthell Peltz, Deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, corporations and/or other legal entities having claims against the estate to present them to the undersigned at the address given below on or before October 14, 2024 -- or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment.

On this day, July 11, 2024.

Karlynn O’Shaughnessy, Personal Representative c/o The Rodgers Law Firm, PLLC 1213 Culbreth Drive # 395 Wilmington, NC 28405

County, North Carolina, to wit: All that certain parcel of land lying and being situated in the County of CABARRUS, State of NC, to-wit: BEING LOTS NOS. 77, 78, 79 AND PART OF LOT NO. 76 AS SHOWN ON THE MAP OF MATTHEWS HILLS IN NO. 4 TOWNSHIP, CABARRUS COUNTY, N. C., A PART OF THE W. F. WINECOFF ESTATE AS SURVEYED BY G. SAM ROWE, APRIL, 1950, AND IS ABOUT 1 1/2 TO 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KANNAPOLIS, N. C., AND IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT AN IRON STAKE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN INTERSECTION OF FRANKLIN AVENUE AND DAVIS STREET AT THE NORTHWESTERN FRONT CORNER OF LOT NO. 79 AND RUNS THENCE WITH THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF FRANKLIN AVENUE, SOUTH 82-30 EAST 80 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE; A NEW CORNER IN THE FRONT LINE OF LOT NO. 76; THENCE ALONG A NEW LINE THROUGH LOT NO. 76, SOUTH 00-52 EAST 150 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE REAR LINE OF LOT NO. 76; THENCE WITH THE NORTHERN LINE OF LOT NO. 80, NORTH 82-30 WEST 80 FEET TO DAVIS STREET AND THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF LOT NO. 79; THENCE WITH THE EASTERN EDGE OF DAVIS STREET AND THE WESTERN LINE OF LOT NO. 79, NORTH 0-52 WEST

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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-E568), 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

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Donald Ray Davis aka Donald Ray Davis Sr., late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned Djuana Davis Young at P.O. Box 1134 Oxford, NC 27565 on or before the 02th day of October 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 4th day of July 2024.

Djuana Davis Young Administrator of the Estate of Donald Ray Davis P.O. Box 1134, Oxford NC 27565

150 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING.

Being that parcel of land conveyed to RALPH E. SMITH, JR. AND WIFE, SANDY C. SMITH, AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY from DENNIS M. MILLER AND WIFE, ANNIE M. MILLER by that deed dated 10/19/1977 and recorded 10/20/1977 in deed book 484, at page 52 of the CABARRUS County, NC Public Registry.

Being that parcel of land conveyed to RALPH E. SMITH, JR. from SANDY C. SMITH (LEGALLY SEPARATED) by that deed dated 11/16/1981 and recorded 12/02/1981 in deed book 540, at page 247 of the CABARRUS County, NC Public Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1313 Bailey Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

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.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Anthony Alan Anderson, late of Wake County, North Carolina (24E002286-910), the undersigned

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 AMANDA ALLEN. An Order for possession of the

BEING ALL OF LOT 537 IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS DEVONWOOD, SECTION ONE, PART THREE ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 38, PAGE 76 CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, REGISTRY.

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

Said property is commonly known as 337 Mcfadyen Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314. A certi ed check only (no personal checks)

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 31, 2024 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, TOWNSHIP OF SEVENTY-FIRST

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. 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 Constance D. King AKA Dale King.

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

CABARRUS CUMBERLAND

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 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 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 o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE

SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO THE GRANTOR BY DEED RECORDED IN BOOK 439, PAGE 693 DURHAM COUNTY REGISTRY, TO WHICH DEED REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROPERTY.

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 414 REYNOLDS AVE

PARCEL ID: 134790

And being more particularly described on said Deed as follows: Being all of Lot 76, Block D, Section I as shown on a map entitled “Hope Valley Forest” property of the Westminster Company as surveyed by George O. Love, Jr., Registered Land Surveyor dated 5-30-72 and recorded in Plat Book 75, page 61, Durham County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description.

county courthouse for conducting the 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: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot(s)

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

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

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),

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 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 §105228.30, 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. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements 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, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bernice Lane. The property to be o ered pursuant to this

in the County of FORSYTH, State of NC, and is described as follows:

Being all of Lot 147 as shown on a map entitled, “British Woods, Section 1-G,” as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 23 Pages 54 and 69 in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth. County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2153 New Castle Drive, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Being the same property as conveyed from Ronald Hartzler (unmarried) to Ronald Hartzler (unmarried) and Julie White (unmarried) as joint tenants with rights of survivorship as set forth in Deed Book 3430 Page 1998 dated 10/04/2018, recorded 10/19/2018, FORSYTH County, NORTH CAROLINA.

Being the same property as conveyed from Sing Van Pham and spouse, Phuong Thi Doan, to Ronald Hartzler (unmarried) as set forth in Deed Book 3428 Page 406 dated 10/04/2018, recorded 10/04/2018, FORSYTH County, NORTH CAROLINA.

Being the same property as conveyed from Christiana Trust, a division of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Trustee for Normandy Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 20132014, to Sing Van Pham as set forth in Deed Book 3394 Page 3129 dated 03/14/2018,

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),

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

Said property is commonly known as 414 Reynolds Ave, Durham, NC 27707. 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. 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,

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 owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Max B. Pearlstein.

An Order for possession of the property may

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 sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice

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

recorded 03/15/2018, FORSYTH County, NORTH CAROLINA. Tax ID: 6824030003000 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

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 CAROLYN MCCULEY TORIAN.

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

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

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 §45-21.16A(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 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: 866-535-8589

FORYSTH

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

23SP001345-500

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James Martin and Peggy M. Martin (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James Martin and Peggy M. Martin) to Craig A. Williamson, Trustee(s), dated March 27, 2002, and recorded in Book No. 2206, at Page 871 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Smith eld, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales,

Bianca The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Cheri Biance and Peter Bianca.

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.

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 o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE

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

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

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

upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will

and

recorded on

by

2,

RB6517, Page 2574 of the

Hanover County Public Registry by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O cial Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina, in Book RB 6699, Page 1562, 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 New Hanover County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of New Hanover, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): R07512-005-020-000 ADDRESS: 757 SILVER LAKE ROAD, WILMINGTON, NC 28412 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): LORI P. DEMPSEY AND JOHN S. DEMPSEY THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 5050, PAGE 1452 AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE CITY OF WILMINGTON IN THE COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 09/25/1998 AND RECORDED 09/28/1998, AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE, INC DEED VOLUME 2441 AND PAGE 333.

TAX MAP OR PARCEL ID NO.: R07512-005020-000 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

situated thereon, in New Hanover County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Robert N. Cappiello II, dated October 5, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $160,000.00, and recorded in Book 5094 at Page 406 of the New Hanover 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: 4320 Wyn eld Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405 Tax Parcel ID: R02611-003-035-000 Present Record Owners: Robert N. Cappiello II The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Robert N. Cappiello II. The property to be o ered pursuant to this

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, 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; thence South 16 degrees East 860 feet to beginning corner, containing 3.40/100 acres more or less. For further reference, see map recorded in Register of Deeds o ce made by W.A. Walton, 17 day of June, 1941.

Department of

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. 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 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

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,

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%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale. The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law. This the ___ day of June, 2024.

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,

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 SingleFamily Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS

all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is June 17, 2024.

Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031

except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

LOGS.com Posted: By: 17-089154

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RANDOLPH

ONSLOW

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 303 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by BRENDA F. THOMPSON AND WANDA K. HICKS payable to BENEFICIAL MORTGAGE CO. OF NORTH CAROLINA, lender, to DAVID L BRUNK, Trustee, dated September 25, 2003, and recorded in Book 1836, Page 915 of the Randolph County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O cial Records of Randolph County, North Carolina, in Book 2875, Page 892, 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 Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24SP000022 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RANDOLPH IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JIMMY DALE ISLEY DATED JULY 6, 2021 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 2761, AT PAGE 510 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE OF SALE

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at

following real estate situated in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 771682-1157 ADDRESS: 4770 MILLER MILL RD., TRINITY, NC 27370 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): UNKNOWN

HEIRS OF BRENDA F. THOMPSON, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF WANDA K. HICKS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 1836, PAGE 915 AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF TRINITY IN THE COUNTY OF RANDOLPH AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 01/24/1997 AND RECORDED 01/24/1997, AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE, IN DEED VOLUME 1486 AND PAGE 934.

TAX MAP OR PARCEL ID NO: 7716-82-1157

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 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 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

bids

at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 1:00 PM on July 23, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jimmy Dale Isley, dated July 6, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $104,000.00, and recorded in Book No. 2761, at Page 510 of the Randolph 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.

24SP000718-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Madge Harris-Eure a/k/a Madge Harris Eure and Larry S. McCurry to Richard G. Singer, Trustee(s), which was dated January 8, 2004 and recorded on January 8, 2004 in Book 010622 at Page 01094, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the

Address of property: 520 #5B Cooper St, Asheboro, NC 27203 Tax Parcel ID: 7750589515 The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Jimmy Dale Isley.

County courthouse at 1:00PM on August 1, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Union County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Wayne E. Whitt and Faye Whitt, dated May 2, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $147,000.00, and recorded in Book 4156 at Page 843 of the Union 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: 4421 Pageland Hwy, Monroe, NC 28112 Tax Parcel ID: 04036018 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Wayne E. Whitt The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Wayne E. Whitt. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer

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 24, 2024 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING all of Lot(s) 382, Inglenook at Willow Creek Subdivision, Phase 2, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2002, Page 1725, Wake County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1712 Johste Ct, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526.

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

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. This sale will be held open ten days for upset

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 DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default

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 Matthew Joseph Biggie.

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

and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is July 12, 2024.

Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Aaron Gavin, NCSB# 59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal

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 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.: 24-07483-FC01

Reaton Homes, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company) to Whiteaker & Hamer, PLLC, Trustee(s), dated February 27, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 019272, at Page 00866 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on July 22, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following

real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 2, Squire Estates Subdivision, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1983, page 41, Wake County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more complete description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3117 Banks Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 3117 Banks Road, Raleigh, NC 27603 PARCEL ID: 0127592 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 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 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 SingleFamily Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which

WHAT’S HAPPENING

N.C. falls to 2nd in CNBC best for business rankings

North Carolina is the second-best state for business, according to a ranking and survey from CNBC. Virginia moved into rst, with N.C. falling after two years in the No. 1 spot. According to the survey, the state ranked in the top 10 for business friendliness, workforce, education and access to capital. Ranking second best for business friendliness and the third best for workforce as people keep moving to the area, North Carolina saw growing pains, dropping the state to 20th place for infrastructure.

Aetna set to run N.C. state worker health plans

Aetna is poised to administer health coverage plan bene ts for North Carolina state workers and teachers next year because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina won’t appeal a judge’s decision that upheld Aetna as the next contract winner. Blue Cross had held the job for more than 40 years. The next contract begins in January. The administrator handles health care expenses for several hundred thousand state employees, teachers, their family members and retirees.

DNC sending $1.2 million to N.C. campaign operations

The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday it’s transferring $15 million to state parties, meant to help them open more eld o ces and bolster sta ng numbers. The funding will let the state parties add to the 217 existing coordinated campaign o ces already employing more than 1,100 sta ers across seven swing states. The NC state Democrat party is earmarked for a cash infusion of $1.2 million.

Amid chaos and

gun

re, Trump’s raised st projected characteristic image of de ance

For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press

NEW YORK — He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage.

But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.

Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the

air before pumping his st.

“Fight!” he mouthed to the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many rising to their feet.

“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted.

The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photographs and video that are sure to become an indelible part of history.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er

Downtown Albemarle to host inaugural Restaurant Week

The Duke’s Feast is set between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — Hosted by the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation, a new dining event is setting its roots in Stanly County next month.

Three participating Albemarle restaurants — Christine’s Wood Fire, Five Points Public House, and The Courthouse Tavern and Table — will o er dine-in dinner specials between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11 for The Duke’s Feast, Albemarle’s rst-ever Restaurant Week promotional event.

“Mark your calendars for downtown Albemarle’s inau-

gural Restaurant Week, The Duke’s Feast, happening August 5-11, 2024,” Albemarle Downtown announced in a social media post. “We love working with local businesses to create fun and unique experiences in downtown.”

“The Duke’s Feast will feature nightly dine-in dinner specials at Christine’s Wood Fire, Five Points Public House, and The Courthouse Tavern and Table,” Albemarle Downtown added. “Each restaurant will feature a unique threecourse dinner menu with a variety of delicious options for each course.”

Located at 197 North Second Street, Christine’s is a downtown eatery that specializes in wood Fire pizzas, steaks and seafood.

assurance and project strength.

“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.

Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.

The mug shot he took in Atlanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.

During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led

Five Points — a local favorite at 304 East Main Street — o ers an upscale pub atmosphere with a rotating selection of craft, draft and local beer. Formerly known as O The Square, The Courthouse (at 114 South Second Street) provides southern dining staples as well as craft cocktails and a wide wine selection.

“Our friends at Albemarle Downtown have come up with a plan for a feast! Treat yourself to a fantastic time and a magni cent culinary feast in beautiful downtown Albemarle,” the Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau said in an advertisement. “Even if you cannot come between August 5-11, you can plan a trip to enjoy these great restaurants any other time. Be sure to come and check us out! Start your adventure here!” With each restaurant featuring three-course menus with nearly a dozen items to select through, Christine’s Duke’s Feast meal is $40 (available at 5 p.m.), while Five Points’ is $30 (available at 4 p.m.) and The Courthouse’s is $45 (available at 4 p.m.).

in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.

After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps.

On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American ags arranged behind him.

Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that

The specialized Restaurant Week menus are accessible at albemarledowntown.com.

The Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation (ADDC) is a North Carolina Main Street Community in collaboration with the NC Department of Commerce Main Street and Rural Planning Center. As a Main Street America Accredited program, the ADDC is tasked with the administration and coordination of the Main Street program at the local level. Main Street America consists of over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that aim to create stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

See TRUMP, page 2

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd while surrounded by Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Jesse Deal, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

1201

We stand corrected

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TRUMP from page 1 THURSDAY

he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he “heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later. He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him.

When they gave the allclear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety, While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again — so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he was helped down the steps.

The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!”

As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bulletproof door behind him.

For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.

Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experience one of his rallies. She and a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the bleachers behind Trump. Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.

She watched as Trump grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.

“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”

Reagan survived an assassination attempt; his response changed the trajectory of his presidency

Shooter John Hinckley said he wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster

By Del Quentin Wilber The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The would-be assassin got o six shots in 1.7 seconds, nearly taking the life of a president and changing the trajectory of a presidency. It happened on a dreary March afternoon in 1981. President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union group when John W. Hinckley Jr. opened re with his .22-caliber revolver. At the sound of the gunshots, Secret Service agents swarmed, and one of them shoved the president into the waiting limousine — but not before one of the bullets struck Reagan in his side. What transpired over the next few hours became the stu of presidential and political legend. The life of the 70-year-old president was saved by the quick actions of his lead Secret Service agent, as well as the skill of medical personnel at George Washington University Hospital. Reagan’s courage over those tense hours further cemented his relationship — and political standing — with the American public and changed the way he approached the job over the next eight years.

On the surface, the parallels between 1981 and what happened Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman red shots at former President Donald Trump, are striking. A gunman got o several

shots as Trump was addressing a rally crowd, and Trump was struck in the right ear. Trump ducked behind a lectern as agents piled on top of him as human shields. In what is sure to be an iconic moment, a bloodied Trump raised a deant st to the crowd as agents whisked the presumptive Republican presidential candidate o the stage.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump’s campaign said he was doing “ ne” after being checked out at an area medical facility. Authorities are working to gure out what happened in Butler.

As the public learned in the hours after the Reagan assassination attempt, early reports can be wrong. Only much later did the public realize how close Reagan came to dying that day — his life had hung in the balance of a split-second decision and an inch.

It was just 70 days into Reagan’s rst term when he left the Washington Hilton on March 30 after a speech to a trade union and approached his waiting limousine at 2:27 p.m. Hinckley couldn’t believe his luck. A troubled 25-yearold, Hinckley had been hoping to kill the president to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had now somehow found himself standing behind a rope line in a crowd of spectators and journalists — all unscreened by the Secret Service — just 15 feet from the president.

He pulled out his revolver and opened re. His rst bullet struck White

House Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and his second hit D.C. Police Ocer Thomas Delahanty in the back.

At the sound of the shots, Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr grabbed Reagan and shoved him toward the open door of the armored limousine. Hinckley’s third bullet ew high. The fourth hit Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy in the chest as he stood between the president and the gunman. The fth shot hit the armored window of the limousine. Hinckley’s nal bullet ricocheted o the side of the limousine, attening into the shape of a dime and striking Reagan ve inches below his left armpit. Parr dove in behind the president, and the door slammed shut. Parr ordered the limousine to head to the White House.

Parr didn’t know Reagan had been shot. But when the president complained of pain in his chest and Parr noticed frothy blood on his lips, the agent ordered the limousine to head to George Washington University hospital. There, Reagan insisted on walking into the hospital under his own power but collapsed like a dead weight in the hallway.

Doctors and nurses located his wounds. They could not stem Reagan’s bleeding, however, forcing surgeons to operate to staunch it. Reagan lost more than half his blood volume that day before the bleeding was brought under control. Surgeons removed the bullet lodged just an inch from the president’s heart.

As laid out in my book,

“Rawhide Down: The Near

Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” the shooting generated massive sympathy from the American public for Reagan, who spent 13 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. But it did something else — it built a bond between the president and the public. They had seen a president who acted with grace and courage. They would hear that he had cracked jokes with his doctors and nurses as they fought to save his life and sought to ease the anxiety of loved ones.

Lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube draining blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip. “Honey, I forgot to duck,” he told her, borrowing a line that boxer Jack Dempsey delivered to his own wife after losing the 1926 heavyweight championship.

He joked with advisers as he was being wheeled into the operating room. And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”

Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”

The White House wasted little time in ensuring those lines were delivered to the press. As David Broder, a Washington Post political journalist, would write two days later: “What happened to Reagan on Monday is the stu of which legends are made.”

Three decades later, Broder stood by that assessment. “He was politically untouchable from that point on,” Broder said in an interview. “He became a mythic gure.”

CRIME LOG

July 10

• Stephanie Jade Sides, 38, was arrested for rstdegree trespassing.

July 9

• Corry Savalas Tolliver, 48, was arrested for conspiracy to commit armed robbery of a business or person.

July 10

• Stephanie Jade Sides, 38, was arrested for rstdegree trespassing.

July 11

• James Dakota Martin, 35,

was arrested for seconddegree sexual exploitation of a minor.

• Marshall Wayne Steen, 58, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in icting serious injury.

• Jonathan Lawson Woody, 36, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretenses.

July 12

• Randy David Brown, 40, was arrested for statutory rape of a child 15 years old or younger.

July 13

• Christy Jane Fraley, 39, was arrested on a civil order for arrest related to child support.

• Christy Lynn Helms, 39, was arrested for indecent liberties with a child.

July 14

• David Adam Hathcock, 37, was arrested for felony larceny.

July 15

• James Ston Byrd, 51, was arrested for indecent liberties with a child.

• Steven Donnell Harris, 37, was arrested for driving while impaired.

• Tyler Matthew Hatley, 27, was arrested for discharging a weapon into occupied property.

• Amanda Danielle Long, 45, was arrested for breaking and entering.

• Eric Orlando Poole, 40, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.

• Jonathan William Biles, 36, was arrested for driving while license revoked after impaired driving revocation.

RON EDMONDS / AP PHOTO

President Ronald Reagan is shoved into the president’s limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot outside a Washington, D.C., hotel on March 30, 1981.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Preserving the strength of our nation starts at home

These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children.

STRONG FAMILIES are the cornerstone of strong communities that build a stronger nation. Unfortunately, our families are in peril.

Widespread divorce rates, the erosion of traditional marriage, radical ideologies, attacks on faith and government interference in our daily lives are breaking down the family and the country we love.

As I discussed with former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on a recent episode of “Newt’s World,” America does not have to be like this. In his new book, “The Perilous Fight,” Carson o ers inspiration and the answers needed to restore the family unit as America’s key foundation. Like many, Carson said he fears we are losing the country we love. He encouraged readers to return to the biblical and familial values on which our country was founded.

During our conversation, Carson said three simple steps make the greatest di erence in a young person’s chances of escaping or avoiding poverty. It was shockingly simple. These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children. Citing a Brookings Institution survey, Carson said if each of these steps is followed, the likelihood of living in poverty drops to 2% or less.

Biden in the bunker

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.

This statistic should not surprise any Americans. Earlier in our nation’s history, there was a time when education, marriage and hard work were valued. As Carson said, “Those are the kind of values that frequently are passed on through the family. However, when you have the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, you are not getting those kinds of values passed on.”

It was once well known that having children out of wedlock was a poor decision for parents and children. The lack of stable mother and father gures has severely negative consequences on children’s lives. Carson shared that, “Children who come from broken homes are 2.3 times as likely to be homeless — think about that — and twice as likely to get in trouble with the police or end up in jail, twice as likely to experience educational underachievement, to experience alcoholism, drug abuse, or teen pregnancy.”

Alarmingly, Carson said he believes that our enemies seek to destroy America from within. Those who want to fundamentally change our country and replace it with a radically di erent one have been scratching away at our traditional family-focused foundation for decades.

The goals of 1960s communism included gaining control of the schools and teachers

unions for indoctrination. They also involved controlling college newspapers to indoctrinate and encourage rioting among college students — and normalizing aberrant sexuality. In many parts of America, these goals have succeeded — and degraded our morality and national identity.

In a recent poll, America’s New Majority Project found that 84% of Americans believe that parents have the right to know what is happening in the classroom. Yet, the teachers unions are bitterly opposed. The teachers unions spend about $5 billion a year on politics to get state legislatures to restrict parental oversight in schools.

As a result of radicalism in the classroom, many parents have turned to homeschooling. Homeschooling has doubled since 2020, and many families wait years to get their children into private or religious schools. As Carson said, “That tells you that the American people know what’s happening.” The pandemic opened a window into the world of classroom indoctrination. Parents are rejecting this false education and seeking alternatives. We must reestablish America’s core biblical and familial values before the whole system collapses. This e ort starts at home. The future of our nation hinges on the health of our families and communities.

HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.

Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.” No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.

This is about saving our democracy.

Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault.

Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward. They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.

And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.

What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.

What that episode revealed is what the press has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.

He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.

Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move.

But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win.

I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.

I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing.

What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.

But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

STANLY SPORTS

Pfei er softball wins NCAA Statistical Champion Award

The Falcons’ 1.11 team ERA was the lowest in the entire NCAA

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

MISENHEIMER — After wrapping up the 2024 season with a 1.11 team ERA, the Pfei er Falcons softball team has been honored with its rst-ever NCAA Statistical Champion Award for Lowest Team Earned Run Average.

Not only did the Falcons notch the lowest team ERA among NCAA Division III schools, but the team also had the lowest among all three divisions of NCAA competition; Boston University led all Division I schools with a 1.41 ERA as the University of Tampa nished with a 1.15 ERA atop Division II.

Pfei er posted a 45-4 overall record as it won its second-straight USA South Championship and achieved its

second-consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearance. On May 18, the Falcons’ postseason came to an end with a 6-4 loss to Christopher Newport in the NCAA Division III Regional; Pfei er went 2-2 in the NCAA Tournament, defeating John Jay and Ramapo but also picking up losses to Ramapo and Christopher Newport. Despite the playo losses, the Falcons still had their best season so far in the team’s Division III era. The elite pitching sta of senior Kali Morton and juniors Emma Bullin, Gracie Gri n and Kenzi Lyall each performed their own role in keeping the team’s ERA down to the 1.11 mark.

In 32 appearances, Morton — the 2024 USA South Softball Tournament MVP — was dominant for Pfei er as she excelled to a 25-2 overall record, 1.13 ERA, and 26 earned runs in 161 innings pitched.

In June, Morton was named as one of 56 players on the Na-

tional Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-America Team.

“I love my team so much. I’m so proud of them and I think we did a great job this year,” Morton said after two-straight wins over Greensboro in the USA South Championship Series. “The team as a whole is great. I love our dynamic and our chemistry is wonderful… Our pitching sta is lights out and I think we’re the complete package.”

As the ace pitcher on the team’s roster, Morton had some valuable assistance from the rest of the Falcon pitchers.

Bullin had a 7-1 record, teambest four saves and 1.46 ERA in 52.2 innings, while Gri n allowed no runs and only one hit in her single appearance of the season.

With a 13-1 record, Lyall completed the season with a 0.88 ERA in 21 appearances.

Head coach Monte Sherrill is set to return for his 10th season with the Falcons in 2025.

er

Cassidy Smith

South Stanly, softball

Cassidy Smith was a senior third baseman on the South Stanly girls’ softball team and previously won Athlete of the Week in early May.

Smith led the Rowdy Rebel Bulls to a 14-6 mark and the Yadkin Valley Conference Tournament title. Smith was named to the All-Tournament team and led the team in batting, homers, RBIs and slugging while nishing second in runs, hits, doubles and on-base percentage.

Earlier this summer, she was named to the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association’s alldistrict team for District 6 in the 1A classi cation. She then topped that with a spot on the NCSCA’s all-state team for 1A.

Blaney wins in return to Pocono Raceway

Team Penske completed a weekend sweep of NASCAR-IndyCar events

By Dan Gleston The Associated Press

LOND POND, Pa.— Ryan

Blaney returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second in the last ve races this season.

Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske — Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for the 87-year-old Roger Penske. The 2023 NASCAR cham-

pion, Blaney won the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more top-10 nishes headed into Pocono. The Team Penske driver’s summer success in the No. 12 Ford has stamped him a legitimate threat to win a second straight championship.

“I de nitely think we’re in a better spot at this time than where we were last year,” Blaney said. “I feel like our speed’s better. Our execution’s great.” Blaney was dialed in on the 2.5-mile track and was never seriously challenged over thenal 10 laps by runner-up Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Hamlin holds the Pocono record with seven career wins; Bow-

man won last’s week Chicago Street Race.

Bowman and Hamlin were fast.

Just not fast enough to catch Blaney in front of another packed house at Pocono.

Hamlin, last year’s winner, was in hot pursuit over the nal six laps, but the three-time Daytona 500 champion could never nip at Blaney’s Ford.

“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said.

No win, of course, in NASCAR is ever guaranteed, and there were some ashbacks to the cruel nish when Blaney ran out of fuel in early June while coming to the white ag at

World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I was de nitely more nervous today,” crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You lose one on the last lap, and you certainly get an appreciation for, it’s not over till you take the checkered.”

Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric won that race in Illinois and fellow Penske driver Joey Logano won four races later at Nashville Superspeedway. Throw in Blaney’s two wins and Penske drivers have won four of the last seven Cup races.

The 30-year-old Blaney, son of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou

Blaney, led the nal 44 laps and now has 12 career Cup wins dating back to the rst one when he took the checkered ag for the Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.

“It’s awesome to be back” in Victory Lane, Blaney said. “It was super special to win here seven years ago with the Wood Brothers. It’s just as special to win here today.”

Blaney already knows the importance of getting hot late in the season. Blaney turned up his performance last season in the No. 12 Ford in the playo s. Over the nal six weeks, Blaney racked up two wins, two runner-ups and didn’t nish lower than 12th.

Blaney’s rst career title was the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske and 44th overall for the storied organization. William Byron was fourth and Logano fth.

COURTESY PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Pfei

softball pitchers (left-to-right) Kenzi Lyall, Kali Morton, Emma Bullin and Gracie Gri n.

SIDELINE REPORT

NBA

NBA releases pools for this season’s NBA Cup in-season tournament

Las Vegas

Myles Turner thinks part of the reason why the Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep playo run this past season was because of the in-season tournament. And he can’t wait for Round 2. Group play pools for the second edition of tournament — now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup — were released by the NBA last Friday. The event will start Nov. 12 and runs through a championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 17. Charlotte is in East Group A with New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

NFL Belichick joining ‘Inside the NFL’ for upcoming season

Los Angeles The CW Network announced Thursday that Bill Belichick will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” this season.

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 24 years at the helm. He will also appear this season on the Manningcast during “Monday Night Football.” Belichick joins Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long. Johnson and Long each played one season for Belichick in New England. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” Belichick said in a statement.

GOLF

Els wins Kaulig Companies Championship for rst senior major title Akron, Ohio

Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship for his rst senior major title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Y.E. Yang. A stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker entering the round, Els rebounded from a bogey on the par-5 16th to par the nal two holes. Yang bogeyed the par-4 18th in a 66. Els became the PGA Tour Champions’ rst three-time winner this season, winning for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old South African nished at 10-under 270, earning $525,000 and a spot in The Players Championship in March.

NCAA BASKETBALL

NCAA women’s selection committee to reveal full seeding of tournament teams next season

Austin, Texas The NCAA women’s selection committee will release the seeding for the entire tournament eld for the rst time next season. The change means the full seed list for all 68 teams will be revealed on Selection Sunday as it has been with the men. NCAA Division I Basketball Committee chair Derita Dawkins says the change will provide additional transparency. The committee also announced that the rst- and secondround games will continue to be hosted by the top 16 seeds on March 19-24, 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will then host eight-team regionals.

Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in straight sets

The 21-year-old repeated as champion and now has four grand slam titles

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s nal for the second straight year, getting a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory for his fourth Grand Slam title in all. And to think: He is still just 21. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month and, after receiving Wimbledon’s gold trophy from Kate, the Princes of Wales, is now just the sixth man to triumph on the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.” Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in

major nals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got o to a better start to a career among men, going 7-0.

“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 11⁄2 months ago yet was hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the rst player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a ve-point stretch that took him from the verge of victory to close to a collapse. It happened when he was a point from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all.

Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue. But only brie y. Alcaraz regrouped, got to the tiebreaker, then closed things out. Against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly when he landed after serving or stepped gingerly — as if barefoot on a beach’s hot sand — between points. Missing volleys he usually makes, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points when he went to the net. After netting a volley to close one early 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked to his sideline seat to grab a purpleand-green towel for dabbing at sweat. Alcaraz was outstanding in pretty much every way, from the basic to the sorts of shots no one else would even try. Once, he leaped and wrapped his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net, al-

though Djokovic did put an overhead away to get that point. Alcaraz ran wide of the doubles alley for forehand winners. Claimed points via drop shots. Smacked serves at up to 136 mph. Accumulated 14 break points, converting ve, and faced just three. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova won her second major with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the women’s nal.

“Well, who knows what I can do? And what I cannot do? I mean, I don’t know,” the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic said. “Before Roland Garros, I didn’t know I can win a Slam. Before here, I didn’t know that I can win another Slam. So who knows what I’m capable of? For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. To be happy on the court. To have fun. And to combine all this — to feel good and to be happy.”

US appeals court says NCAA athletes may qualify as employees

Federal wage and hour laws could qualify some athletes as employees

By MaryClaire Dale The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — College athletes whose e orts primarily bene t their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wageand-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a setback to the NCAA. The court said that a test should be developed to di erentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work.”

“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.” A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difculty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact nding.

The ruling follows a 2021 Supreme Court decision that led the NCAA to amend its

A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to di erentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work” that bene ts the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.

rules to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. In May, the NCAA announced a nearly $2.8 billion revenue-sharing plan that could steer millions of dollars directly to athletes by next year.

The Division I athletes and former athletes behind the suit in Philadelphia are seeking more modest hourly wages similar to those earned by their peers in work-study programs. They argue that colleges are violating fair labor practices by failing to pay them for the time they dedicate to their sports, which they say can average 30 or more hours per week.

Lawyer Paul McDonald, representing the plainti s, has

suggested that athletes might make $2,000 per month or $10,000 per year for participating in NCAA sports. He said that many students need the money for everyday expenses.

“This notion that college athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campuses,” McDonald said Thursday. “It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees.”

A district judge had refused to throw out the case, prompting the Indianapolis-based NCAA to ask the appeals court to stop it from going to trial. Defendants include the

NCAA and member schools including Duke University, Villanova University and the University of Oregon.

The NCAA, in a statement, said it has been expanding core bene ts for athletes, from health care to career preparation, and wants to help schools steer more direct nancial bene ts to their athletes.

However, it noted what it called student concerns that the employment model could “harm their experiences and needlessly cost countless student-athletes opportunities in women’s sports, Olympic sports, and sports at the HBCU and Division II and Division III levels.” The statement was issued by NCAA spokesperson Meghan Durham Wright.

The unanimous Supreme Court decision that spawned the NIL payments lifted the ban on college compensation beyond full-ride scholarships. Schools recruiting top athletes now can o er tens of thousands of dollars in education-related bene ts such as study-abroad programs, computers and graduate scholarships.

“Traditions alone cannot justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. “The NCAA is not above the law.”

But that case did not resolve whether college athletes are employees entitled to direct pay — the key issue before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court panel.

MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he holds up his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles nal at the Wimbledon tennis championships

MICHAEL CONROY / AP PHOTO

Iran’s new president warns US his country won’t be pressured

Masoud Pezeshkian wants to have “balance in relations with all countries”

By Amir Vahdat

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create “balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”

Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country’s stateowned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” ‘

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5’s runo election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

He said in his message his administration would “prioritize strengthening relations with our neighbors” and urged Arab

countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease- re in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started Oct.7.

Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country’s relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government

would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.

The president also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.

Pezeshkian said he looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries “based on principles of mutual respect” despite a rela-

tionship that has known “its ups and downs.”

In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — a nuclear agreement that also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Since then, Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of expanding its nuclear program and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level, near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has issued severe, mainly economic, sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian accused the European countries of reneging on commitments made, following the U.S. withdrawal, to ensure “e ective banking transactions, e ective protection of companies from U.S. sanctions, and the promotion of investments in Iran.” However, he added there were still many opportunities for collaboration between Iran and Europe.

He then addressed the U.S., underscoring his country’s refusal to “respond to pressure,” adding that Iran “entered the JCPOA in 2015 in good faith and fully met our obligations.”

Pezeshkian said the U.S. backing out has in icted “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to our economy” and caused “untold su ering, death and destruction on the Iranian people — particularly during the Covid pandemic” due to sanctions.

Pezeshkian said Western countries “not only missed a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region and the world, but also seriously undermined the Non-Prolifera-

tion Treaty.” He emphasized that “Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons.”

Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement toward constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pezeshkian also accused the U.S. administration in his open letter of escalating “hostilities” by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military activities, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in 2020. Besides regional turmoil and tense relations over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s president faces many challenges locally. He must now convince an angry public — many undernancial duress due to sanctions, stubbornly high in ation and unemployment — that he can make the changes promised while dealing with an administration still largely governed by hard-liners.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist gures since his Presidential campaign. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached the 2015 JCPOA. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as the head of the Strategic Council for the transition period of the administration. The council, comprised of experts and advisors, will focus on assessing potential candidates for key cabinet positions and ensuring a seamless handover of leadership.

Son of Asia’s richest man marries in extravagant wedding

The ceremony and reception cost millions of dollars

By Ra q Maqbool and Rajnish Kakade

The Associated Press

MUMBAI, India — A wedding reception on Sunday wrapped up the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend with a price tag running into the millions.

The newlyweds were cheered by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive -- a convention center built and owned by the Ambani family — as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (a festival of Bliss), which marked what many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.

Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and walking around the sacred re, began Friday and were completed early Saturday.

Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, American wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi blessed the newlyweds at a Saturday reception organized by the Ambanis,

highlighting the billionaire’s rising clout.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” The Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani. The Ambanis didn’t say how much they spent on the festivities that have been going on for months.

During a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March, Rihanna and Akon performed for a star-studded 1,200-person guest list.

A four-day European cruise in May featured on-deck concerts from the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball where Katy Perry sang. At last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai, Justin Bieber belted out his music hits.

The groom’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate report-

ing over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.

The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160car garage and a private movie theater.

The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a

3,000-acre animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.

The bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.

Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Modi’s rule since 2014.

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES VIA AP

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, last Friday.

OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER VIA AP

Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, left, sits next to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a ceremony Friday.

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

Bruce Nance

November 7, 1931 –July 14, 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.

Bruce C. Nance, 92, of Stan eld passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in his home. His funeral service will be at 3 PM on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Love’s Grove Methodist Church with Pastors David Sanders and Mike Burnette o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:30 until 3 PM prior to the hour of the service.

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.

Born November 7, 1931 in Stanly County, NC, he was the son of the late Crawford Miller Nance and Nezzie Long Nance. He was a member of Coyle Baptist Church and was a farmer and former textile worker.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lula Belle Nance and by his son Bruce Ray Nance and daughter Kay Trull. Survivors include many nieces and nephews, son-in-law Gary Trull, and his loving church family at Coyle Baptist Church. He was also preceded in death by his 9 brothers and sisters: Gad Nance, Joe Nance, Gene Nance, Earl Nance, James Roy Nance, Mildred Goodman, Marie Hinson, Charlie Nance, and Jackie Nance.

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.

DEATH NOTICES

• Hartsell “Lea” Lee Osborne Kendall, 89, of Cottonville, died July 9, 2024

• Newell Earl Trull, 65, of Albemarle, died July 7, 2024

• Sandra Beaman, 82, of Albemarle died July 6, 2024

• Chad McDonald Cook, 44, of Murrells Inlet, SC, formerly of Albemarle, died July 10, 2024

• Marie Ann Smith, 81, of Albemarle, died July 8, 2024

• Wesley Emory Womack, 34, of Albemarle died June 29, 2024

Dwight Farmer

James Roseboro

Kelly Calloway Burgess

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

July 18, 1961 – July 8, 2024

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

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.

Kelly Calloway Burgess, 62, of Albemarle, passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024, surrounded by her close friends and family. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 1 PM in the chapel at Stanly Funeral Home in Albemarle, with Rev. Ron Lo in o ciating. Visitation will be before the service from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.

He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.

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.

Kelly was born July 18, 1961, in Stanly County to Lewis “Red” Calloway and the late Lucille Smith Calloway. Kelly achieved her associate’s degree and was a registered nurse. She worked at Bethany Woods in Albemarle for many years. She enjoyed caring for her granddaughters and being around her girlfriends, whether at the beach or the mountains. She is survived by her son Jeremy Burgess (Kelsey) of Albemarle, and daughter Kaylee Burgess of Black Mountain, NC. Also, her brother Kevin Calloway (Tracie) of Laurel, MD, and grandchildren Talia, Ellie, Norah Burgess. Along with her mother, she was also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Mayzie Burgess.

In lieu of owers, the Burgess family requests memorials be made to Habitat for Humanity (1506 NC-24, Albemarle, NC 28001) or Levine’s Children’s Hospital (https:// atriumhealth.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/).

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care is serving the Burgess family.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Ronald Lee Abbey

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

January 12, 1947 –July 13, 2024

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.

Ronald Lee Abbey, 77, of Stan eld passed away on Saturday July 13, 2024, surrounded by his family. A funeral service is scheduled at 11 AM Friday July 19, 2024, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care, Locust chapel with Pastor Keith Walters o ciating. Burial will follow in the Oakboro Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday prior to the service from 9 – 10:45.

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.

Mr. Abbey was born January 12, 1947, in Douglas County, Nebraska. Mr. Abbey was predeceased by his wife Patricia Abbey in 2019. He is lovingly survived by his sons, Troy Abbey (Ellen) of Panama City, FL, Christafer Abbey of Stan eld and daughter Bonnie Austin (John) of Stan eld. He is also survived by ve grandchildren; Luke Abbey, Kelsey Abbey, Desirae Abbey, Zachary Abbey, and Catlynn Abbey and two greatgrandchildren; Jason and Cayden.

Ronald spent a long and distinguished career as a Master of Arms Chief Petty O cer in the Navy having retired after 21 years. He adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Although a man of few words, he could and would do anything for anybody! He enjoyed riding his Harley in his younger years and loved the Green Bay Packers!

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the Abbey family.

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 B. Kluttz

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

Juanita Goforth Carpenter

September 8, 1930 –July 12, 2024

Brenda Woodle

October 7, 1943 – July 9, 2024

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Ruby Juanita Goforth Carpenter, 93, of Oakboro passed away on July 12, 2024 in Atrium Health Stanly. Her funeral service will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Peachland Gospel Tabernacle with Pastor Lynn Garris o ciating. Burial will follow in the Oakboro Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Church from 10 until 11 AM prior to the hour of the service.

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.

Brenda Davis Woodle, 80 of Norwood, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024. A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 4:00pm at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Norwood. The family will receive friends from 2:00pm to 4:00pm prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Norview Gardens. Pastor Wilson Moore & Pastor Mike Green will be o ciating.

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!

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.

Born September 8, 1930 in Anson County, NC she was the daughter of the late Grady and Annie Goforth. She was a retired postal clerk and a member Peachland Gospel Tabernacle for 50 years. Her family and her church were the most important things in her life. She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Harold Carpenter in 2020. Survivors include children Joey Carpenter (April) of Oakboro, Julie Plyler (Wayland) of Oakboro, sister Joyce Lee of Cottonville, three grandchildren Haley Carpenter Munn (Landon) of Oakboro, Cody Plyler of Oakboro, and Samuel Harold Carpenter of Oakboro, and two great grandsons Drake and John Luke Munn. A brother Earl Goforth and two sisters Ancel Whitley and Florence Goforth also predeceased her. Memorials may be made to Peachland Gospel Tabernacle, PO Box 176, Peachland, NC 28133 or the Charity of the Donor’s Choice.

John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.

This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.

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.

Mrs. Woodle was born October 7, 1943 and was the daughter of Fred and Lila Davis who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Woodle survived by her loving husband JW Woodle of the home, her brother James “Strawberry” Davis, and her nephew Craig Hudson. Marie Byrd was one of Mrs. Woodle’s best friends and visited daily. Brenda was cared for in the home until her passing by her three children, Kelly Woodle, Belinda McIntyre (David), and Linda Campbell (Chip).

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.

Along with her husband and children, she is survived by her grandchildren, Tessa Moore, Tabatha Cox, Ryan McIntyre, Cody Woodle, Jessie Woodle, Adison Campbell, and Emma Campbell. Mrs. Woodle also had ve great- grandchildren. Mrs. Woodle’s family was her greatest joy, and any time with them was time well spent. When she was not with family and friends, she served her church, South Stanly Baptist in Norwood as an active WMU member, VBS leader, GA leader, and sang in the choir. She and JW were charter members of South Stanly and were active attenders until her health halted her attendance. She loved her church and church family. Mrs. Woodle spent her life working as a sewing mill employee, secretary for JW Woodle Construction, and owner and operator of her own business, Unique Tans for over 20 years. Her family wishes to thank the many friends and family who have stopped by to serve them & show their love. If you wish to make a memorial, the family requests in lieu of owers that donations be made to Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 North First Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 as they have provided support and compassion to our family in her nal days.

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.

Doris Jones Coleman

STATE & NATION

A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America

Political violence is not unknown to the United States

By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:

Abraham Lincoln 16th president

Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.

Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Gar eld 20th president

Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau.

Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.

Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley 25th president

McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.

McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.

He was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.

Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting. Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president

Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.

Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Guiseppe Zangara was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman 33rd president

Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.

Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy 35th president

Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a

high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.

Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.

Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.

Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police headquarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.

Gerald Ford 38th president

Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.

In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red.

Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.

Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 40th president

Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.

Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.

Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”

George W. Bush 43rd president

Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.

Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.

Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate

The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.

Roosevelt had previous-

ly served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate. Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.

John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.

Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate

Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.

Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.

George C. Wallace, presidential candidate

Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.

Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.

JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

AP PHOTO Left, this April 1865 photo provided by the Library of Congress shows President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater, the site of his assassination. Right, President Ford ducks behind his limousine after a shot was red as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 1975.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

N.C. falls to 2nd in CNBC best for business rankings

North Carolina is the second-best state for business, according to a ranking and survey from CNBC. Virginia moved into rst, with N.C. falling after two years in the No. 1 spot. According to the survey, the state ranked in the top 10 for business friendliness, workforce, education and access to capital. Ranking second best for business friendliness and the third best for workforce as people keep moving to the area, North Carolina saw growing pains, dropping the state to 20th place for infrastructure.

Aetna set to run N.C. state worker health plans

Aetna is poised to administer health coverage plan bene ts for North Carolina state workers and teachers next year because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina won’t appeal a judge’s decision that upheld Aetna as the next contract winner. An administrative law judge last week determined that evidence showed the State Health Plan conducted the procurement process for a third-party administrator properly. Blue Cross had held the job for more than 40 years. The next contract begins in January. The administrator handles health care expenses for several hundred thousand state employees, teachers, their family members and retirees.

Amid chaos and gun re, Trump’s raised st projected characteristic image of de ance

For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press

NEW YORK

— He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage.

But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.

Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the air before pumping his st.

“Fight!” he mouthed to the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many rising to their feet.

“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted.

The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photographs and video that

NC Medicaid expansion has enrolled

500,000 in rst 7 months

The goal was to hit 600,000 in the rst two years

The Associated Press RALEIGH — More than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program since it went live about seven months ago, ocials announced Friday. Gov. Roy Cooper, joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley and two health care professionals, held a news conference to tout the enrollment number as a signi cant milestone for the program. The original goal was to enroll 600,000 people in the Medicaid expansion over two years, Cooper said.

The number of enrollees was 503,967 as of last Friday morning, according to the governor’s o ce.

Expanding Medicaid had been a major goal of Cooper’s since the Democrat took ofce in 2017. The plan to broaden the pool of eligible adults received bipartisan support from state legislators last year and started Dec. 1. Within the rst few weeks, almost 300,000 people had signed up under the expansion. Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the federal government pays 90% of the cost.

“We never, ever, ever gave up. And that’s why we’re standing here today,” Cooper said.

Almost 2 million prescriptions have been lled for new Medicaid enrollees, many of which treat chronic conditions such as seizures or heart diseas-

are sure to become an indelible part of history. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er assurance and project strength.

“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.

Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.

The mug shot he took in At-

lanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.

During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.

After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter

See TRUMP, page 2

es, Kinsley said at the news conference. Dental services have also seen increased claims under Medicaid due to the expansion, he said.

“We’re not just getting people covered. We are getting people care,” Kinsley said.

He also called for increasing provider rates in the Medicaid program, which was included in Cooper’s budget proposal this year.

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd while surrounded by Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

MAKIYA SEMINERA / AP PHOTO

Gov. Roy Cooper touts Medicaid expansion reaching 500,000 enrollees during a news conference at the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh last Friday.

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North State Journal

(USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

Reagan survived an assassination attempt; his response changed the trajectory of his presidency

Shooter

By Del Quentin Wilber The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The would-be assassin got o six shots in 1.7 seconds, nearly taking the life of a president and changing the trajectory of a presidency. It happened on a dreary March afternoon in 1981. President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union group when John W. Hinckley Jr. opened re with his .22-caliber revolver. At the sound of the gunshots, Secret Service agents swarmed, and one of them shoved the president into the waiting limousine — but not before one of the bullets struck Reagan in his side. What transpired over the next few hours became the stu of presidential and political legend. The life of the 70-year-old president was saved by the quick actions of his lead Secret Service agent, as well as the skill of medical personnel at George Washington University Hospital. Reagan’s courage over those tense hours further cemented his relationship — and political standing — with the American public and changed the way he approached the job over the next eight years.

On the surface, the parallels between 1981 and what happened Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman red shots at former President Donald Trump, are striking. A gunman got o several

shots as Trump was addressing a rally crowd, and Trump was struck in the right ear. Trump ducked behind a lectern as agents piled on top of him as human shields. In what is sure to be an iconic moment, a bloodied Trump raised a deant st to the crowd as agents whisked the presumptive Republican presidential candidate o the stage.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump’s campaign said he was doing “ ne” after being checked out at an area medical facility. Authorities are working to gure out what happened in Butler.

As the public learned in the hours after the Reagan assassination attempt, early reports can be wrong. Only much later did the public realize how close Reagan came to dying that day — his life had hung in the balance of a split-second decision and an inch.

It was just 70 days into Reagan’s rst term when he left the Washington Hilton on March 30 after a speech to a trade union and approached his waiting limousine at 2:27 p.m. Hinckley couldn’t believe his luck. A troubled 25-yearold, Hinckley had been hoping to kill the president to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had now somehow found himself standing behind a rope line in a crowd of spectators and journalists — all unscreened by the Secret Service — just 15 feet from the president.

He pulled out his revolver and opened re. His rst bullet struck White

House Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and his second hit D.C. Police Ocer Thomas Delahanty in the back. At the sound of the shots, Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr grabbed Reagan and shoved him toward the open door of the armored limousine. Hinckley’s third bullet ew high. The fourth hit Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy in the chest as he stood between the president and the gunman. The fth shot hit the armored window of the limousine. Hinckley’s nal bullet ricocheted o the side of the limousine, attening into the shape of a dime and striking Reagan ve inches below his left armpit. Parr dove in behind the president, and the door slammed shut. Parr ordered the limousine to head to the White House.

Parr didn’t know Reagan had been shot. But when the president complained of pain in his chest and Parr noticed frothy blood on his lips, the agent ordered the limousine to head to George Washington University hospital. There, Reagan insisted on walking into the hospital under his own power but collapsed like a dead weight in the hallway. Doctors and nurses located his wounds. They could not stem Reagan’s bleeding, however, forcing surgeons to operate to staunch it. Reagan lost more than half his blood volume that day before the bleeding was brought under control. Surgeons removed the bullet lodged just an inch from the president’s heart.

As laid out in my book, “Rawhide Down: The Near

Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” the shooting generated massive sympathy from the American public for Reagan, who spent 13 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. But it did something else — it built a bond between the president and the public. They had seen a president who acted with grace and courage. They would hear that he had cracked jokes with his doctors and nurses as they fought to save his life and sought to ease the anxiety of loved ones.

Lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube draining blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip.

“Honey, I forgot to duck,” he told her, borrowing a line that boxer Jack Dempsey delivered to his own wife after losing the 1926 heavyweight championship.

He joked with advisers as he was being wheeled into the operating room. And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”

Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”

The White House wasted little time in ensuring those lines were delivered to the press. As David Broder, a Washington Post political journalist, would write two days later: “What happened to Reagan on Monday is the stu of which legends are made.”

Three decades later, Broder stood by that assessment. “He was politically untouchable from that point on,” Broder said in an interview. “He became a mythic gure.”

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Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

TRUMP from page 1

Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps. On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American ags arranged behind him.

Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he

“heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later. He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him. When they gave the all-clear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety, While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again

— so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he was helped down the steps. The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!” As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bulletproof door behind him.

For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.

Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experience one of his rallies. She and

a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the bleachers behind Trump.

Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.

She watched as Trump grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.

“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”

John Hinckley said he wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster

RON EDMONDS /

President Ronald Reagan is shoved into the president’s limousine by Secret Service agents after being shot outside a Washington, D.C., hotel on March 30, 1981.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Random thoughts

I can’t wait to see the Democratic circus return to the Big Top.

THE ASSASSINATION attempt of former President Trump should be a wakeup call for all of us. Trump Derangement Syndrome is very much alive. I don’t think there has ever been anyone so hated. His opponents have tried everything to get rid of him. Thank God he is a courageous man who loves his country and is continuing to ght. The “Deep State” is also alive and real, and he is a danger to their continued power. God bless the family of the man who lost his life.

The anticipation and choosing of Ohio Senator JD Vance as the Republican VP nominee and the assassination attempt have managed to take the chaos over the Biden candidacy o the front page for a few days. I can’t wait to see the Democratic circus return to the Big Top.

Why are Democrats ghting so hard to keep a bill requiring proof of citizenship before voting into law? Can you think of any other reason, besides cheating, for opposition to this common sense? Whether at the state or federal level, Democrat opposition is erce.

We all know that under Biden our southern border is wide open. Did you know that illegal border crossings by Chinese nationals have increased by 7,000%? Do you think this could be a threat to our national security?

Biden in the bunker

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.

The Biden administration has approved a 195-wind turbine project o the New Jersey shore. A former U.S. Department of Energy engineer sets o alarm bells. The engineer said this project will not only damage the tourism industry but raise energy costs by up to 80%. Another expensive boondoggle. I think that is the goal of some environmentalists.

CNN is nally reaping what it has sown. The chief executive, Mark Thompson, announced the layo s of 100 employees. They appear to be bailing out water from a sinking ship, as the viewership has dropped like a lead balloon. They are not fooling anybody. They have been a shill for the liberal left, and viewers no longer have any con dence in their reporting.

If Thompson had announced they were obligating themselves to be more honest and unbiased, that would have helped more than the $1 billion he is promising to spend. The new investment will be in making the channel a “digital business.” He is replacing writers with arti cial intelligence. I doubt there will be any noticeable changes.

The entertainment industry in the United States is also in trouble. Film and television production across the country dropped by 40% in the second quarter of 2024. This is astounding. Hollywood has been too focused on being “woke” than making movies that people want to see. Most business leaders turn around when headed in the wrong direction. Hollywood just speeds up. Most of us learn from our failures, but that does not

HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.

Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.” No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.

This is about saving our democracy.

Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault.

Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward.

They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.

And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.

What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to

appear to be the case in most of Hollywood’s productions.

It has been revealed that Disney sponsored naked LGBTQ Pride Parades for kids. A map was produced of all the nationwide sponsorship of Pride parades, many including adult nudity and sexually explicit performances. These are the same “woke” people who go nuts if a child is exposed to Bible stories, but it is perfectly OK for the little ones to watch this “porn.”

The family of a 16-year-old 10th grader has led a lawsuit against the Davidson County school district. Allegedly, the student raised his hand and asked if the teacher was referring to “space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards.” The school suspended the boy for three days based on the fact that he said “illegal alien.” The craziness never ends.

A female inmate at a California prison for women was raped by a transgender inmate. Several women witnessed the incident. The left has absolutely initiated a war against women.

Stanford University has 177 employees in the diversity, equity and inclusion department. I wonder exactly what the job descriptions are. I am so thankful that UNC has nally taken steps to rid us of this useless program.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec has represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the North Carolina Senate since 2014. She lives in Kernersville.

showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.

What that episode revealed is what the press has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.

He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.

Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move.

But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win. I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.

I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing.

What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.

But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | JOYCE KRAWIEC

COLUMN

Forsyth SPORTS

US dismisses men’s national team soccer coach Berhalter

The former Tar Heel was let go as coach after a rst-round exit at Copa America

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The Americans are searching for a leader less than two years before they host the World Cup after Gregg Berhalter was red 10 months into his second stint as U.S. men’s soccer coach.

Berhalter was dismissed nine days after his team’s rst-round exit from the Copa America.

“The Copa America result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance,” Berhalter said in a statement. “Our approach and process was always focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain con dent that this group will be one of the great stories in 2026.”

After opening the Copa America with a 2-0 win over Bolivia, the U.S. lost to Panama 2-1 while playing most of the match a man short due to Tim Weah’s ejection, then were eliminated with a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay. The U.S. was 7-6-1 in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44-17-13. When Berhalter returned to the bench last September, he proclaimed the team’s goal was “to change soccer in America forever.” If that is to happen, it will be without him.

Sporting director Matt Crocker rehired Berhalter and also will make the recommendation on his replacement.

“Our immediate focus is on nding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” Crocker said in a statement.

Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Marce-

lo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter, along with Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.

Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the United States for the second time and the Americans play their opener at Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. The only competitive matches with the full player pool before then likely will be in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the rst American to coach the national team after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was hired to coach the U.S. in December 2018 after stints with Sweden’s Hammarby (2011-13) and Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew (2013-18).

“I want to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me to lead this team for the past

ve years,” Berhalter said. “Representing our country is a tremendous honor and I am proud of the identity we have built on and o the eld. It was very gratifying watching this team improve over the years and I remain grateful for the lifetime bonds created with our players, coaches, and sta members.”

He led the U.S. to titles in the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021 and 2024, and to another with a B team in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His players strongly supported Berhalter, saying he fostered a culture that bound the group.

That support led to Crocker rehiring Berhalter 51⁄2 months after his initial contract expired amid an investigation of a decades-old domestic violence allegation that was brought to the USSF’s attention by the Reyna family, upset that Berhalter limited Gio Reyna’s playing time at the World Cup. A law rm retained by the USSF said there was no legal obstacle to bringing Berhalter back.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Reagan Grant

Reagan, soccer

Reagan Grant was a senior on the Reagan girls’ soccer team.

The Raiders nished with a 15-5 record and took third in the Central Piedmont conference at 10-4.

Grant, who won a conference title at Reagan as a freshman, was named to the all-conference team in her nal season. She was also selected for the East-West All-Star soccer game and competed on the West team in Greensboro on July 16.

Blaney wins in return to Pocono Raceway

Team Penske completed a weekend sweep of NASCAR-IndyCar events

By Dan Gleston

The Associated Press

LOND POND, Pa.— Ryan

Blaney returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second in the last ve races this season.

Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske — Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for the 87-year-old Roger Penske.

The 2023 NASCAR cham-

pion, Blaney won the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more top-10 nishes headed into Pocono. The Team Penske driver’s summer success in the No. 12 Ford has stamped him a legitimate threat to win a second straight championship.

“I de nitely think we’re in a better spot at this time than where we were last year,” Blaney said. “I feel like our speed’s better. Our execution’s great.” Blaney was dialed in on the 2.5-mile track and was never seriously challenged over thenal 10 laps by runner-up Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Hamlin holds the Pocono record with seven career wins; Bow-

man won last’s week Chicago Street Race.

Bowman and Hamlin were fast. Just not fast enough to catch Blaney in front of another packed house at Pocono.

Hamlin, last year’s winner, was in hot pursuit over the nal six laps, but the three-time Daytona 500 champion could never nip at Blaney’s Ford.

“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said.

No win, of course, in NASCAR is ever guaranteed, and there were some ashbacks to the cruel nish when Blaney ran out of fuel in early June while coming to the white ag at

World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I was de nitely more nervous today,” crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You lose one on the last lap, and you certainly get an appreciation for, it’s not over till you take the checkered.” Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric won that race in Illinois and fellow Penske driver Joey Logano won four races later at Nashville Superspeedway. Throw in Blaney’s two wins and Penske drivers have won four of the last seven Cup races.

The 30-year-old Blaney, son of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou

Blaney, led the nal 44 laps and now has 12 career Cup wins dating back to the rst one when he took the checkered ag for the Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.

“It’s awesome to be back” in Victory Lane, Blaney said. “It was super special to win here seven years ago with the Wood Brothers. It’s just as special to win here today.”

Blaney already knows the importance of getting hot late in the season. Blaney turned up his performance last season in the No. 12 Ford in the playo s. Over the nal six weeks, Blaney racked up two wins, two runner-ups and didn’t nish lower than 12th.

Blaney’s rst career title was the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske and 44th overall for the storied organization. William Byron was fourth and Logano fth.

REED HOFFMAN / AP PHOTO

Coach Gregg Berhalter directs the U.S. players during a Copa America Group C soccer match against Uruguay.

SIDELINE REPORT

NBA

NBA releases pools for this season’s NBA Cup in-season tournament

Las Vegas

Myles Turner thinks part of the reason why the Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep playo run this past season was because of the in-season tournament. And he can’t wait for Round 2. Group play pools for the second edition of tournament — now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup — were released by the NBA last Friday. The event will start Nov. 12 and runs through a championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 17. Charlotte is in East Group A with New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

NFL Belichick joining ‘Inside the NFL’ for upcoming season

Los Angeles The CW Network announced Thursday that Bill Belichick will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” this season.

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 24 years at the helm. He will also appear this season on the Manningcast during “Monday Night Football.” Belichick joins Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long. Johnson and Long each played one season for Belichick in New England. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” Belichick said in a statement.

GOLF

Els wins Kaulig Companies Championship for rst senior major title

Akron, Ohio

Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship for his rst senior major title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Y.E. Yang. A stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker entering the round, Els rebounded from a bogey on the par-5 16th to par the nal two holes. Yang bogeyed the par-4 18th in a 66. Els became the PGA Tour Champions’ rst three-time winner this season, winning for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old South African nished at 10-under 270, earning $525,000 and a spot in The Players Championship in March.

NCAA BASKETBALL

NCAA women’s selection committee to reveal full seeding of tournament teams next season

Austin, Texas

The NCAA women’s selection committee will release the seeding for the entire tournament eld for the rst time next season. The change means the full seed list for all 68 teams will be revealed on Selection Sunday as it has been with the men. NCAA Division I Basketball Committee chair Derita Dawkins says the change will provide additional transparency. The committee also announced that the rst- and secondround games will continue to be hosted by the top 16 seeds on March 19-24, 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will then host eight-team regionals.

Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in straight sets

The 21-year-old repeated as champion and now has four grand slam titles

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz

defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s nal for the second straight year, getting a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory for his fourth Grand Slam title in all.

And to think: He is still just 21.

“At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month and, after receiving Wimbledon’s gold trophy from Kate, the Princes of Wales, is now just the sixth man to triumph on the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.” Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in

major nals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got o to a better start to a career among men, going 7-0.

“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 11⁄2 months ago yet was hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the rst player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a ve-point stretch that took him from the verge of victory to close to a collapse. It happened when he was a point from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all.

Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue. But only brie y. Alcaraz regrouped, got to the tiebreaker, then closed things out. Against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly when he landed after serving or stepped gingerly — as if barefoot on a beach’s hot sand — between points. Missing volleys he usually makes, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points when he went to the net. After netting a volley to close one early 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked to his sideline seat to grab a purpleand-green towel for dabbing at sweat. Alcaraz was outstanding in pretty much every way, from the basic to the sorts of shots no one else would even try. Once, he leaped and wrapped his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net, al-

though Djokovic did put an overhead away to get that point. Alcaraz ran wide of the doubles alley for forehand winners. Claimed points via drop shots. Smacked serves at up to 136 mph. Accumulated 14 break points, converting ve, and faced just three. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova won her second major with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the women’s nal.

“Well, who knows what I can do? And what I cannot do? I mean, I don’t know,” the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic said. “Before Roland Garros, I didn’t know I can win a Slam. Before here, I didn’t know that I can win another Slam. So who knows what I’m capable of? For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. To be happy on the court. To have fun. And to combine all this — to feel good and to be happy.”

US appeals court says NCAA athletes may qualify as employees

Federal wage and hour laws could qualify some athletes as employees

By MaryClaire Dale The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — College

athletes whose e orts primarily bene t their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wageand-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a setback to the NCAA.

The court said that a test should be developed to di erentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work.”

“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.”

A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difculty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact nding.

The ruling follows a 2021 Supreme Court decision that led the NCAA to amend its

A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to di erentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work” that bene ts the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.

rules to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. In May, the NCAA announced a nearly $2.8 billion revenue-sharing plan that could steer millions of dollars directly to athletes by next year.

The Division I athletes and former athletes behind the suit in Philadelphia are seeking more modest hourly wages similar to those earned by their peers in work-study programs. They argue that colleges are violating fair labor practices by failing to pay them for the time they dedicate to their sports, which they say can average 30 or more hours per week.

Lawyer Paul McDonald, representing the plainti s, has

suggested that athletes might make $2,000 per month or $10,000 per year for participating in NCAA sports. He said that many students need the money for everyday expenses.

“This notion that college athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campuses,” McDonald said Thursday. “It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees.”

A district judge had refused to throw out the case, prompting the Indianapolis-based NCAA to ask the appeals court to stop it from going to trial. Defendants include the

NCAA and member schools including Duke University, Villanova University and the University of Oregon.

The NCAA, in a statement, said it has been expanding core bene ts for athletes, from health care to career preparation, and wants to help schools steer more direct nancial bene ts to their athletes.

However, it noted what it called student concerns that the employment model could “harm their experiences and needlessly cost countless student-athletes opportunities in women’s sports, Olympic sports, and sports at the HBCU and Division II and Division III levels.” The statement was issued by NCAA spokesperson Meghan Durham Wright.

The unanimous Supreme Court decision that spawned the NIL payments lifted the ban on college compensation beyond full-ride scholarships. Schools recruiting top athletes now can o er tens of thousands of dollars in education-related bene ts such as study-abroad programs, computers and graduate scholarships.

“Traditions alone cannot justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. “The NCAA is not above the law.”

But that case did not resolve whether college athletes are employees entitled to direct pay — the key issue before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court panel.

MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he holds up his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles nal at the Wimbledon tennis championships

MICHAEL CONROY / AP PHOTO

Iran’s new president warns US his country won’t be pressured

Masoud Pezeshkian wants to have “balance in relations with all countries”

By Amir Vahdat

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create “balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”

Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country’s stateowned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” ‘

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5’s runo election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

He said in his message his administration would “prioritize strengthening relations with our neighbors” and urged Arab

countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease- re in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started Oct.7.

Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country’s relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government

would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.

The president also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.

Pezeshkian said he looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries “based on principles of mutual respect” despite a rela-

tionship that has known “its ups and downs.”

In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — a nuclear agreement that also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Since then, Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of expanding its nuclear program and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level, near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has issued severe, mainly economic, sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian accused the European countries of reneging on commitments made, following the U.S. withdrawal, to ensure “e ective banking transactions, e ective protection of companies from U.S. sanctions, and the promotion of investments in Iran.” However, he added there were still many opportunities for collaboration between Iran and Europe.

He then addressed the U.S., underscoring his country’s refusal to “respond to pressure,” adding that Iran “entered the JCPOA in 2015 in good faith and fully met our obligations.”

Pezeshkian said the U.S. backing out has in icted “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to our economy” and caused “untold su ering, death and destruction on the Iranian people — particularly during the Covid pandemic” due to sanctions.

Pezeshkian said Western countries “not only missed a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region and the world, but also seriously undermined the Non-Prolifera-

tion Treaty.” He emphasized that “Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons.”

Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement toward constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pezeshkian also accused the U.S. administration in his open letter of escalating “hostilities” by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military activities, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in 2020.

Besides regional turmoil and tense relations over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s president faces many challenges locally. He must now convince an angry public — many undernancial duress due to sanctions, stubbornly high in ation and unemployment — that he can make the changes promised while dealing with an administration still largely governed by hard-liners.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist gures since his Presidential campaign. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached the 2015 JCPOA. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as the head of the Strategic Council for the transition period of the administration. The council, comprised of experts and advisors, will focus on assessing potential candidates for key cabinet positions and ensuring a seamless handover of leadership.

Son of Asia’s richest man marries in extravagant wedding

The ceremony and reception cost millions of dollars

By Ra q Maqbool and Rajnish Kakade

The Associated Press

MUMBAI, India — A wedding reception on Sunday wrapped up the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend with a price tag running into the millions.

The newlyweds were cheered by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive -- a convention center built and owned by the Ambani family — as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (a festival of Bliss), which marked what many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.

Anant Ambani tied the knot

with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and walking around the sacred re, began Friday and were completed early Saturday.

Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, American wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi blessed the newlyweds at a Saturday reception organized by the Ambanis, highlighting the billionaire’s rising clout.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” The

Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani. The Ambanis didn’t say how much they spent on the festivities that have been going on for months.

During a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March, Rihanna and Akon performed for a star-studded 1,200-person guest list.

A four-day European cruise in May featured on-deck concerts from the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball where Katy Perry sang.

At last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai, Justin Bieber belted out his music hits.

The groom’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate reporting over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil

and gas, telecoms and retail. The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160-car garage and a private movie theater.

The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a 3,000acre animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.

The bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue. Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Modi’s rule since 2014.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family.”

Mukesh Ambani

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES VIA AP

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, last Friday.

OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER VIA AP

Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, left, sits next to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a ceremony Friday.

STATE & NATION

A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America

Political violence is not unknown to the United States

By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:

Abraham Lincoln 16th president

Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.

Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Gar eld 20th president

Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau. Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.

Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley

25th president

McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.

McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.

He was succeeded by Vice

President Theodore Roosevelt.

Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting. Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president

Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.

Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Guiseppe Zangara was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman 33rd president

Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.

Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy 35th president

Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a

high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.

Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.

Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.

Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police headquarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.

Gerald Ford 38th president

Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.

In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red.

Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.

Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 40th president

Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.

Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.

Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”

George W. Bush 43rd president

Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.

Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.

Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate

The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.

Roosevelt had previous-

ly served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate.

Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.

John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.

Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate

Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.

Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.

George C. Wallace, presidential candidate

Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.

Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.

JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

AP PHOTO

Left, this April 1865 photo provided by the Library of Congress shows President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater, the site of his assassination.

Right, President Ford ducks behind his limousine after a shot was red as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Sept. 22, 1975.

PHOTO

the photo

Photographs capture indelible moments in Donald Trump assassination attempt

In a world of moving pictures, the perfect shot still steals the show

By David Bauder The Associated Press

THE PHOTOGRAPH of a bloodied Donald Trump with his fist in the air and an American flag looming in the background is quickly emerging as the pivotal image of Saturday’s shooting, and it wouldn’t exist without a journalist who acted quickly and on a hunch.

Video of the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally filled television screens before it was even clear what had happened. Yet the work of The Associated Press’ Evan Vucci, Getty’s Anna Moneymaker and Doug Mills of The New York Times — whose picture caught apparent evidence of a bullet whizzing past Trump’s head — proved the enduring potency of still photography in a world driven by a flood of moving pictures.

Vucci’s image, one of many he took on Saturday, could also have political implications from many directions — as indelible images often do in the days and years after seismic events happen.

“Without question, Evan’s photo will become the definitive photo from the (assassination) attempt,” said Patrick Witty, a former photo editor at Time, The New York Times and National Geographic.

“It captures a range of complex details and emotions in one still image — the defiantly raised fist, the blood, the agents clamoring to push Trump off stage and, most importantly, the flag. That’s what elevates the photo.”

The New York Post ran the photo across the tabloid’s front page on Sunday with a headline describing the former president as “bloodied but unbowed.” Time magazine has put it on its cover. “A legendary American photograph,” The Atlantic wrote in a headline over a story about the image. It all made one thing clear: After more than 175 years of photography, freezing a moment in time for posterity remains as powerful as recounting it in video — and, sometimes, even more so.

An immediate recognition of the power of the captured moment

Many news photographers, including AP’s Gene Puskar, were on assignment in various locations around Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Vucci was one of four stationed between the stage and audience. Covering a political rally is a routine assignment the Washington-based journalist has done hundreds of times; left unspoken is the duty to be in position if history beckons in the manner that it did Saturday.

When he heard popping sounds, Vucci, who has covered combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he knew instantly it was gun re. He rushed to the stage at Trump’s right, but his view of the former president was quickly blocked by Secret Service agents. He sensed that the agents would try to hustle Trump o stage and into a vehicle from the other side, so he darted over there.

From that position, he said, “everything kind of opened up for me.”

Trump’s attempts to rise to his feet and pump his st gave Vucci a clear view of the ex-president. He said the blue sky and ag in the background were an important part of the composition. “I think that kind of told the story of where we are right now,” he said.

Witty, like some others, compared it to Joe Rosenthal’s AP photo of U.S. Marines raising the American ag on Iwo Jima in World War II — an image so memorable to so many that it inspired a memorial.

“I think it will last and come to symbolize the time that we’re in,” said Ron Burnett, former president of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and an expert on images.

The intersection of imagery and politics

The presence of the ag may prove a lightning rod, because it also makes the photo a potent political image — in keeping with the increased politicization of the Stars and Stripes in the years since the 9/11 attacks.

“Already one of the most iconic photographs in American history — and one that I suspect

will propel Donald Trump back to the White House,” British journalist Piers Morgan wrote on X.

The photo with the full ag from Saturday has already been used 2,327 times by Sunday evening, while another Vucci image — one without the full ag — had been used 1,759 times by AP media customers, the news organization said. Typically, the most-used photo for a full week is seen 700 or 800 times.

It’s not hard to imagine the ag-draped image being seen in Trump campaign advertisements or paraphernalia, much like his mug shot from his Georgia arrest quickly did. At least one website was already selling T-shirts with the photo on them.

“I can see it being used in a whole variety of ways as part of the entourage of images that he surrounds himself with,” said Burnett, who marveled at Trump’s ability to seemingly be conscious of how it would all look in the midst of such a traumatic experience.

Vucci said that how the image is used in the public discourse is not for him to worry about. “The way I look at it is,

I was present and I did my job,” said Vucci, who won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for his work covering demonstrations following the George Floyd shooting. “I kept my head and I told the story.”

There was other impressive work by photographers at the scene. Getty’s Moneymaker, for example, caught an extraordinarily intimate image of Trump on the oor of the stage, taken peephole-style through the legs of a Secret Service agent shielding him.

Mills’ photograph for The Times is one of a series that shows Trump reaching for his ear after it had been hit. In one of them, barely visible unless the photo is blown up, there’s a streak behind Trump’s head that likely illustrates the displacement of air from a fast-moving projectile, according to a retired FBI special agent quoted in the newspaper. The Times did not discuss the issue on Sunday.

The agent, Michael Harrigan, told the newspaper: “Given the circumstances, if that’s not showing the bullet’s path through the air, I don’t know what else it would be.”

U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American ag atop Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, Japan, on Feb. 23, 1945. It is one of the most iconic images in American history.

NEW YORK POST / TIME

Time Magazine and the New York Post are among the many publications around the globe that placed Evan Vucci’s image on the cover.

JOE ROSENTHAL / AP PHOTO

Randolph

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Downtown Asheboro boutique closing

The Nella Boutique in downtown Asheboro is closing after eight years.

“And just as life shifts, so do seasons of what is best for us. At this time in our lives, children are growing, families are moving, and the needs outside of the store for our families has become greater,” said the owners in social media post announcing the closing of the store. Nella Boutique opened in November 2016, and will be open for a few more days this week, complete with 30% o everything in the store. It will be open Thursday and Friday from 12 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 3 p.m.

Asheboro water switches as part of treatment

The City of Asheboro will switch to free chlorine as its primary disinfection treatment Aug. 1. The city said the change in treatment is necessary to ensure optimum water quality throughout the distribution water mains. Residents might initially detect a slight increase in chlorine taste or smell as the switchover in treatment processes occur. Customers who use city drinking water for certain special purposes, including kidney dialysis, may need to make adjustments because the chlorine disinfection process will change some characteristics of the water, according to information from the city. The city’s plan is that the change in treatment will last several weeks before the the water will switch back to the customary chloramine treatment process. In an e ort to maintain regular optimum quality ushing of the water mains, the city will be releasing water from re hydrants.

Amid chaos and gun re, Trump’s raised st projected characteristic image of de ance

For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down

By Jill Colvin

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage.

But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.

Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the air before pumping his st.

“Fight!” he mouthed to the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many ris-

ing to their feet.

“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted.

The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photographs and video that are sure to become an indelible part of history.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er assurance and project strength.

“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.

Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.

The mug shot he took in Atlanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.

During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.

After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps. On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American

ags arranged behind him. Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he “heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later. He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him.

When they gave the all-clear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety, While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again — so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he was helped down the steps.

The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!”

As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bul-

Randleman pursues hotel to combine with growth

More jobs means more opportunities for the city

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — The need for overnight accommodations and more meeting space might be reaching higher levels in Randleman, particularly after May’s announcement that Ross Stores is planning to build a distribution center in the city.

“We have been talking to developers trying to get a hotel here,” said Je Freeman, executive director of the Randleman Chamber of Commerce.

“We believe that is a need. Randleman does not have hotel and ample meeting space.”

In order for Randleman’s growth to continue, Freeman said facilities that can cater to more visitors must be in place. “Randleman is a diamond

in the rough,” Freeman said.

“We’re very well-positioned.”

Employment at the Ross Stores facility could add more than 850 jobs to Randolph County by the end of 2026. Freeman, who has spent 38 years with Freeman’s Florist and Gifts in Randleman, said a feasibility study on le with the city is likely a necessity in order to lure developers.

He said he has been involved in various discussions with developers in recent years. He said during a presentation in Greensboro it became clear that Randleman would be an ideal location for a hotel, aided by its location along I-73.

One developer, Freeman said, was planning a project in Kernersville but wanted more information about Randleman.

During a meeting earlier this spring at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, statewide and regional lead-

ers gathered to discuss several initiatives, including strategies for a potential hotel and convention center in Asheboro. Randleman wants to be considered for any such development. Frequently visitors to Randleman must be sent elsewhere, often to Asheboro or

Archdale, for lodging, Freeman said.

In May, the Reel-n-Randleman shing tournament, which was sponsored by the Randleman Chamber of Commerce and drew 38 teams, was held at Randleman Lake. Activities at Petty Museum in nearby Level Cross regularly attract visitors.

When, and if, a hotel developer decides on building in Randleman, it would likely be at least a two-year process before the facility is constructed

See TRUMP, page 2

See HOTEL, page 2

COURTESY PHOTO

Je Freeman

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd while surrounded by Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

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

Walgreens picks Ramseur for new store

This location will have a smaller inventory than others in the chain

Randolph Record sta RAMSEUR — A Walgreens

store is coming to Ramseur.

MCM Partners, a private investment rm, has closed

on the nancing for a $1.54 million private credit loan to build a free-standing, small format, Walgreens in the Randolph County town.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of these stores around North Carolina,” said Derek Copeland, principal of Charlotte-based MCM Partners.

The location of the Ram-

seur store is on U.S. 64 at 6638 Jordan Rd.

Copeland, whose company specializes in private loans, said this store will be a smaller version of full-scale Walgreens.

“It’s one of their small-store concepts,” he said. That means the will be a focus on pharmaceuticals, he said.

The Morgan Companies of Charlotte is the builder. It’s anticipated that the store will open this year.

Copeland said the plan will be the sell the building by this time next year.

July 9

• Jason Kelly Morton, 41, of Randleman, was arrested by Asheboro Police Department (APD) for tra cking in methamphetamine, misdemeanor larceny, and possession of stolen goods.

• Eldon Earl Jackson, 61, of Randleman, was arrested by Randleman Police Department (RPD) for assault with a deadly weapon.

• Steven Ray Goldston, 40, of Asheboro, was arrested by Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce (RCSO) for non-support of a child and misdemeanor probation violation.

• Tim Edward Williams, 67, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for violation of a domestic violence protective order.

• Joshua Daniel Stallings, 31, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for disorderly conduct, resisting a public o cer, and second degree trespass.

July 11

• Cody Wayne Danford, 31, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for failure to appear on felony charges, assault on a female, breaking and entering, failure to register as a sex o ender, eeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, failing to heed light or siren, and failure to maintain lane control.

• Krystal Lynn Emerson, 29, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

letproof door behind him. For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.

Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experi-

• Thomas Brandon Hill, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for attempted common law robbery.

• Christopher Stanley Genopolos, 46, of Franklinville, was arrested by RCSO for non-support of a child.

• Patrick Aaron Mitchell, 23, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for second degree trespass and resisting a public o cer.

July 12

• Darrell Ray Britt, 36, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods.

July 13

• Wilson Matthew Rodgers, 54, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for breaking or entering and rst degree trespassing.

July 14

• Eric Reynolds Houston, 39, of Greensboro, was arrested by APD for possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, simple possession of Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and carrying a concealed weapon. He was also arrested by RCSO for nonsupport of a child.

• Stephanie Annette Weaver Pallas, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for felony probation violation and resisting a public o cer. She was also arrested by RCSO for nonsupport of a child.

ence one of his rallies. She and a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the bleachers behind Trump.

Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.

She watched as Trump

• Charles Eugene Saunders, 40, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for failure to appear on misdemeanor charges.

• Kirsten Nichole Seal, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for driving while impaired.

• Bobby Lee Hall, 48, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for rst degree kidnapping, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, communicating threats, and resisting a public o cer.

• Stephon Omar Silas, 28, of Randleman, was arrested by RPD for misdemeanor larceny and injury to personal property.

July 15

• Johnathan Bryan Henderson, 34, of Sophia, was arrested by RCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of controlled substance on jail premises.

• Timothy Rahine Saunders, 25, of Denton, was arrested by Archdale Police Department for possession of methamphetamine, second degree trespass, misdemeanor larceny, possession of stolen goods, possession of drug paraphernalia, and carrying a concealed weapon.

• Cedric Lamond Spencer, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for failure to appear on misdemeanor charges.

• David Mark Spivey, 61, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for indecent exposure.

grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.

“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”

Randolph Guide

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

July 20

Asheboro ZooKeepers

Baseball

7 p.m.

Just four home games remain on the ZooKeepers’ regular-season schedule. Saturday night is Hawaiian Night sponsored by Cone Health. The homestanding ZooKeepers will face the Forest City Owls.

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.

July 23

Shepherd Shakespeare’s Hamlet & the Pirates

10 a.m.

Shepherd Shakespeare makes theater fun and interactive for children and families in this energetic performance of Hamlet and the Pirates. Go on an epic high seas adventure with Hamlet as he’s taken captive by swashbuckling pirates in this madcap, hilarious show. Tickets are free. Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth St.

HOTEL from page 1

and opened.

Randleman is within a dozen miles of the Greensboro-Randolph megasite, where hundreds of jobs are being added.

Combined with likely population growth spilling into Randleman, there’s going to be desires for more warehouse and retail options.

“We just don’t have a whole lot of availability,” Freeman said. “We’re pretty much at capacity.” Freeman said a project involving townhomes o South Main Street and apartment-style housing in the High Point Road area might just be a sampling of the boom that could take place.

“With housing, the problem is they can’t nd anything,” Freeman said. “The availability is very slim.” With that comes a quest for more infrastructure and zoning.

“We need to have a balanced harmony,” he said. At the chamber’s annual banquet last month, the message was clear.

“We told them Randleman and Randolph County are going to experience signi cant change,” Freeman said. “Change is coming. It’s only the beginning of great things to come.”

that’s being constructed in Ramseur.

Guide THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

|

Preserving the strength of our nation starts at home

These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children.

STRONG FAMILIES are the cornerstone of strong communities that build a stronger nation. Unfortunately, our families are in peril.

Widespread divorce rates, the erosion of traditional marriage, radical ideologies, attacks on faith and government interference in our daily lives are breaking down the family and the country we love.

As I discussed with former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on a recent episode of “Newt’s World,” America does not have to be like this. In his new book, “The Perilous Fight,” Carson o ers inspiration and the answers needed to restore the family unit as America’s key foundation. Like many, Carson said he fears we are losing the country we love. He encouraged readers to return to the biblical and familial values on which our country was founded.

During our conversation, Carson said three simple steps make the greatest di erence in a young person’s chances of escaping or avoiding poverty. It was shockingly simple. These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children. Citing a Brookings Institution survey, Carson said if each of these steps is followed, the likelihood of living in poverty drops to 2% or less.

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.

This statistic should not surprise any Americans. Earlier in our nation’s history, there was a time when education, marriage and hard work were valued. As Carson said, “Those are the kind of values that frequently are passed on through the family. However, when you have the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, you are not getting those kinds of values passed on.”

It was once well known that having children out of wedlock was a poor decision for parents and children. The lack of stable mother and father gures has severely negative consequences on children’s lives. Carson shared that, “Children who come from broken homes are 2.3 times as likely to be homeless — think about that — and twice as likely to get in trouble with the police or end up in jail, twice as likely to experience educational underachievement, to experience alcoholism, drug abuse, or teen pregnancy.”

Alarmingly, Carson said he believes that our enemies seek to destroy America from within. Those who want to fundamentally change our country and replace it with a radically di erent one have been scratching away at our traditional family-focused foundation for decades.

The goals of 1960s communism included gaining control of the schools and teachers

HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.

Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.” No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.

This is about saving our democracy.

Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault.

Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward.

They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.

And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.

What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.

unions for indoctrination. They also involved controlling college newspapers to indoctrinate and encourage rioting among college students — and normalizing aberrant sexuality. In many parts of America, these goals have succeeded — and degraded our morality and national identity.

In a recent poll, America’s New Majority Project found that 84% of Americans believe that parents have the right to know what is happening in the classroom. Yet, the teachers unions are bitterly opposed. The teachers unions spend about $5 billion a year on politics to get state legislatures to restrict parental oversight in schools.

As a result of radicalism in the classroom, many parents have turned to homeschooling. Homeschooling has doubled since 2020, and many families wait years to get their children into private or religious schools. As Carson said, “That tells you that the American people know what’s happening.” The pandemic opened a window into the world of classroom indoctrination. Parents are rejecting this false education and seeking alternatives. We must reestablish America’s core biblical and familial values before the whole system collapses. This e ort starts at home. The future of our nation hinges on the health of our families and communities.

What that episode revealed is what the press has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.

He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.

Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move.

But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win.

I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.

I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing.

What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.

But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.

COLUMN

NEWT GINGRICH

RandolpH SPORTS

Kelly leaves basketball vacancy at Trinity

The coach guided the Bulldogs to widespread success for years

Randolph Record sta

TRINITY — Tim Kelly really is ready to step away from coaching high school basketball this time.

Kelly, the longtime coach at Trinity, has retired as the boys’ coach.

Kelly spent 34 seasons as Trinity’s coach. That time has included 673 victories and the 2004 Class 3A state championship.

Kelly’s nal team posted a 19-10 record, snapping a string of two seasons with at least 20 victories. The Bulldogs tied for second place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Brett Andrews, who coached

the boys’ basketball team at Providence Grove last season, has taken a job at Trinity. He’s possible that he could take the coaching position after lling in on an interim basis this summer.

Trinity athletics director Robert Mitchell has been a longtime assistant coach to Kelly after playing for Kelly’s teams.

Kelly, who has dealt with Parkinson’s disease for more than a decade, oversaw the summer program in June and was on hand for Trinity’s summer league games. Then, he shared with others that he wouldn’t be coaching another season.

The gym at Trinity is named in Kelly’s honor. Earlier this year, the coach was a member of the inaugural class of the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame.

Longtime Asheboro coach Brian Nance said Kelly’s contributions are sizable.

“Trinity, when I was in high school, was awful in basketball,” Nance said. “He made them the best basketball program in the area for years. He’s the one thing that you always knew was at Trinity.”

Kelly previously announced that he was retiring in March 2014 at age 56. That didn’t turn out to stick as he remained in the position.

Kelly, who began his time in the district as a coach at the middle school, has had numerous coaching posts at Trinity, including as football coach and brief stints with the baseball and track and eld programs. It could be a bit of a rebuild for the Bulldogs in basketball. The top ve scorers from the 2023-24 team were seniors.

Tim

more than three

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jayten Beasley

Providence Grove, baseball

As a senior for the Patriots during the baseball season, he landed a spot on the All-Piedmont Athletic Conference team.

The captain was a pitcher and in elder for the Patriots. He led the team with a .365 batting average and he racked up a team-high ve pitching victories during Providence Grove’s 10-14 season.

Beasley also played basketball and football for the Patriots. He was the football team’s second-leading receiver during his senior season, while also playing on defense.

** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

College destinations set for area athletes UCA cracks top 10 for Wells Fargo Cup

Players have selected from a variety of colleges to continue in sports

Randolph Record sta

HERE ARE SOME signees and commitments from the Class of 2024 from around Randolph County:

This list in addition to those previously reported.

Baseball

Wheatmore’s Ayden Byrd signed to play for Division II Montreat.

• Jacob Proctor of Trinity is going to Division III Pfei er.

• Eastern Randolph’s Samuel Asbill, a pitcher who also plays for Randolph County Post 45’s American Legion team, selected Guilford Tech.

• Out elders Carter Brown and Walker Wilkins of Class 1A state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy are headed to Brunswick Community College. Also from that UCA team, rst baseman Trey Kennedy is going to Guilford Tech (after an original pledge to Blue eld State).

Cheerleading

Trinity’s Rilan White is planning to join the Charlotte squad. She was named Trinity’s Female Athlete of the Year after also participating in golf, tennis and soccer.

Football

Eastern Randolph’s Nicah Taylor and Adonye Herbert are

going to Division III North Carolina Wesleyan. Taylor also scored more than 1,000 career points in basketball.

Quarterback Carter Revelle, who played his senior season for Eastern Randolph, is heading to Division II Chowan.

• Jaylon Moore of Asheboro is going to Division III Blu ton in Ohio.

• Kacey Blakeney of Trinity is heading to Division III Averett in Danville, Va., He also was part of the basketball program at Trinity.

Soccer

Arath Jaimes Gomez, a defender who played on Asheboro’s boys’ team, is going to Division II Chowan.

• Abby Becker of Asheboro’s girls’ team picked Division II Catawba.

• Goalkeeper Carlisle Dozier of the Asheboro girls’ team pledged to play at Greensboro College.

Volleyball

Sion Murrain, a multi-sport standout, is going to Carolina University, a National Christian College Athletic Association school in Winston-Salem.

• Natalie Franko of Trinity and Logann Beaver of Eastern Randolph picked Davidson-Davie Community College.

• Alby Pulaski of Wheatmore is set to attend Guilford Tech.

Wrestling

Two members of Trinity’s Class 2A dual team state championship team are heading to the same Division II program.

Brayden Hall and Spencer May picked Division II UNC Pembroke. They were both mainstays in the Bulldogs’ lineup. Levi Dennis, another member of the state champions, is set to go to Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. That’s a new college program.

The NCHSAA listing recognizes overall performances

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

UWHARRIE

CHARTER

Academy placed eighth in Class 1A for the Wells Fargo Cup for the 2023-24 school year. The award recognizes schools that achieved the best overall athletic performance within each North Carolina High School Athletic Association classi cation. The winner in Class 1A was Mount Airy, followed by Swain County, Bishop McGuinness, Christ the King, Mountain Island Charter, Corvian Community and Elkin.

UCA moved into the top 10 based on results in spring sports. The Eagles won the Class 1A state championship in baseball for the second year in a row and the school’s softball team had a strong season. Other statewide winners were Seaforth (Class 2A), Croatan (Class 3A) and Marvin Ridge (Class 4A).

Good sports

When the NCHSAA recognized Sportsmanship Award winners prior to state championship series in the spring, each contending team had a player honored. The awards are based on a player display-

ing the ideals of sportsmanship throughout the year. In Class 1A baseball, in elder Caleb Stickle of UCA was the awardee. In Class 2A softball, second baseman Lillian Payne of state champion Southwestern Randolph was honored.

Top athletes honored

For the 2023-24 school year, the NCHSAA Athletes of the Year were West Rowan senior Emma Clark for females and Reidsville sophomore Kendre Harrison for males.

Clark played volleyball, basketball and softball. She was a key player on the school’s Class 3A state championship team, which was undefeated. She’s planning to play softball at Tennessee.

Harrison is a football (receiver and defensive player) and basketball player (power forward). He was on Class 2A state championship teams in both sports.

Opening practices approaching

The rst day for o cial practices for fall sports teams in the NCHSAA is set for July 31. With the exception of football, the rst contest dates for fall teams come Aug. 12. Football games begin Aug. 23. Scrimmages are held in many cases prior to the rst formal competition.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE

Kelly spent

decades in charge of the Trinity boys’ basketball team.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE

Jayten Beasley throws a pitch for Providence Grove during the spring.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE

Alby Pulaski of Wheatmore won’t be going far to play volleyball at the next level.

Trinity’s Payne appreciates role in NC East-West All-Star Game

As a late replacement, standout guard competed for the winning team

Randolph Record sta GREENSBORO — Trinity’s Dominic Payne was a late addition to the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game for boys’ basketball and he ended up on the winning team.

The West defeated the East 108-92 on Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s eldhouse.

Payne got a spot in the game as a replacement player, lling a vacancy created when Lake Norman’s Santana Lynch withdrew. That announcement came ve days before the game.

“Just playing with the best people in the state,” Payne said. “Knowing I’m one of them, that’s a good thing to take away.”

Payne, a guard, was in the starting lineup for the West.

He scored four points.

“It’s not hard,” he said of adjusting to playing with a different group of players. “If you know how to play basketball, within a few practices we can all learn each other.”

Payne, a two-time Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference, is heading to Longwood to play in college.

Jamais Ferere of Southern Guilford was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 30 points on 13-for-17 shooting from the eld.

Jonah Ridgill of Chatham Charter also was added to the game to replace injured Jerquarius Stanback of Asheboro. Ridgill scored 14 points in 17 minutes o the bench.

Girls’ game

The East team won 84-68 with Jasmine Felton of Northeastern as the MVP.

Felton, who’s bound for Campbell for the upcoming season, posted 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Randleman’s Audra Petty, a starting guard for the West, provided 11 points. That included a team-high three 3-point baskets, tying for the most long-range connections in the game.

Clemson pitcher needs Asheboro mound time

The ZooKeepers left-hander considers his time in the CPL important

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Noah Samol still holds big aspirations as a college pitcher, and he came to Asheboro this summer to help get those on track.

Samol is a Clemson pitcher who has taken the mound for the Asheboro ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League.

“Glad to be out here,” Samol said. “You just got to go somewhere and just pitch.”

It has been far from a simple path to this point.

The start-and-stop nature of Samol’s baseball experiences began several years ago. He had Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore in Mason, Ohio.

He signed with Georgia Tech and spent the 2023 season in that program, but sensed it wasn’t the right t. He landed a spot at Clemson, another Atlantic Coast Conference program.

But rst, he was in the Northwoods League for summer ball last year. He didn’t have much success there.

“I couldn’t nd the strike zone,” he said.

Before arriving at Clemson, he went to train late last summer in Arizona. That’s where he sustained a dislocated right shoulder.

Fortunately, he’s left-handed. So that was a comfort.

“My original plan was to pitch all year and have surgery in the summer,” he said. “I was not one of the better pitchers in the fall at all.”

So he went ahead with the surgery, realizing he would sit

out Clemson’s 2024 season. He needed a good set-up for this summer and that’s where the ZooKeepers t in.

“Send me anywhere that I can get a ton of innings,” he said. “I want to have an impact on the team.”

It has been a slow build-up for Samol, who stands at 6-foot7. Of his rst 10 outings, seven came as a reliever.

“He needs to have a good summer here,” ZooKeepers head coach Korey Dunbar said. “We’re continually building him up.”

Samol’s workload has grown from two-inning stints to a spot in the starting rotation. He was picked for the CPL All-Star Game.

“I’m trying to be a starter, but still have work to do,” Samol said.

He gave up eight runs in ve innings last week in a road loss to the Boone Bigfoots. In his previous outing, he struck out

Padres select ZooKeepers’ Evans in draft

The shortstop is playing for a second summer with the Asheboro team

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Asheboro

ZooKeepers shortstop Zach Evans was selected in the ninth round of baseball’s amateur draft Monday.

Evans, a college player for Lenoir-Rhyne, was picked by the San Diego Padres with the 270th pick overall.

Evans has been playing with the ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League, which is a summer circuit for college players. He batted .338 with ve home runs in 31 games.

Evans is the 10th player in Lenoir-Rhyne’s baseball history to be picked in the draft. He’s the school’s rst draftee in six years and the ninthround spot makes it the second-highest in program history behind pitcher John Curtis (eighth round in 2017 to the Atlanta Braves). Across two seasons with the Bears, he played in 105 games. This year, he had a .321 batting average and 14 home runs.

Ex-ZooKeeper picked high

Out elder Ryan Waldschmidt, who played in the CPL in 2022 for the ZooKeepers, was picked with the 31st overall selection on the rst

day of the draft Sunday. Waldschmidt, who played for Kentucky in 2023 and 2024, was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona made the selection with the rst pick following the rst round in what’s called the “prospect promotion incentive picks” that come prior to the second round.

Waldschmidt, who’s from Bradenton, Fla., was a Charleston Southern freshman in 2022 prior to appearing in 25 games for Asheboro. For Kentucky this year, he batted .333 with 41 walks, scored 66 runs, belted 14 home runs and 17 doubles and stole 25 bases in 59 games. He was the leado batter for the Wildcats, who played in the College World Series.

eight Bigfoots in ve innings.

His fastball clocks at about 89-92 mph.

By now, Samol said he feels a strong connection to Clemson. He was checking the Tigers’ controversial nal game in the NCAA super regionals against Florida on his phone from the bullpen in Boone on June 9.

Samol has company when it comes to representing Clemson with the ZooKeepers. Center elder Devin Parks from Clemson joined the Asheboro club a few weeks into the season.

Last year, Jay Dillard and Lleyton Lackey were Clemson players suiting up for the ZooKeepers.

About the games …

The ZooKeepers fell in two of their rst three CPL games last week after the gap in the schedule for the CPL All-Star Game.

Dylan Driver, Nick Capozzi and Zach Evans homered in an 18-5 whipping of the host High Point-Thomasville HiToms in the rst game back. It was reduced to eight innings by the mercy rule.

Evans scored four runs and Peter Mullen provided four shutout innings in relief.

The next night at home, the ZooKeepers fell 8-7 to the HiToms despite Alex LaCoste’s grand slam in a six-run rst inning. It was LaCoste’s rst atbat of the season.

That was followed by an 11-5 loss to host Boone. Yariel Diaz had three Asheboro hits and Driver smacked two doubles in the game.

Then there was a 12-7 non-conference home victory against the Uwharrie Wampus Cats, boosted by Davis Germann’s three-run home run and Tyler Behm’s relief pitching.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Dominic Payne of Trinity eyes the basket on a drive against East’s Zack Noel of White Oak on Monday night in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game.

COURTESY PHOTO

Noah Samol

P.J. WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Zach Evans takes a swing during a recent game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers.

ASHEBORO ZOOKEEPERS PHOTO

Zach Evans

Iran’s new president warns US his country won’t be pressured

Masoud Pezeshkian wants to have “balance in relations with all countries”

By Amir Vahdat

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create “balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”

Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country’s stateowned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” ‘

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5’s runo election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

He said in his message his administration would “prioritize strengthening relations with our neighbors” and urged Arab

Iran’s President-elect Masoud

during a ceremony Friday.

countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease- re in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started Oct.7.

Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country’s relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government

would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.

The president also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.

Pezeshkian said he looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries “based on principles of mutual respect” despite a rela-

tionship that has known “its ups and downs.”

In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — a nuclear agreement that also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Since then, Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of expanding its nuclear program and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level, near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has issued severe, mainly economic, sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian accused the European countries of reneging on commitments made, following the U.S. withdrawal, to ensure “e ective banking transactions, e ective protection of companies from U.S. sanctions, and the promotion of investments in Iran.” However, he added there were still many opportunities for collaboration between Iran and Europe.

He then addressed the U.S., underscoring his country’s refusal to “respond to pressure,” adding that Iran “entered the JCPOA in 2015 in good faith and fully met our obligations.”

Pezeshkian said the U.S. backing out has in icted “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to our economy” and caused “untold su ering, death and destruction on the Iranian people — particularly during the Covid pandemic” due to sanctions.

Pezeshkian said Western countries “not only missed a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region and the world, but also seriously undermined the Non-Prolifera-

tion Treaty.” He emphasized that “Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons.”

Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement toward constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pezeshkian also accused the U.S. administration in his open letter of escalating “hostilities” by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military activities, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in 2020.

Besides regional turmoil and tense relations over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s president faces many challenges locally. He must now convince an angry public — many undernancial duress due to sanctions, stubbornly high in ation and unemployment — that he can make the changes promised while dealing with an administration still largely governed by hard-liners.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist gures since his Presidential campaign. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached the 2015 JCPOA. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as the head of the Strategic Council for the transition period of the administration. The council, comprised of experts and advisors, will focus on assessing potential candidates for key cabinet positions and ensuring a seamless handover of leadership.

Son of Asia’s richest man marries in extravagant wedding

The ceremony and reception cost millions of dollars

By Ra q Maqbool and Rajnish Kakade

The Associated Press

MUMBAI, India — A wedding reception on Sunday wrapped up the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend with a price tag running into the millions.

The newlyweds were cheered by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive -- a convention center built and owned by the Ambani family — as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (a festival of Bliss), which marked what many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.

Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and walking around the sacred re, began Friday and were completed early Saturday.

Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, American wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi blessed the newlyweds

at a Saturday reception organized by the Ambanis, highlighting the billionaire’s rising clout.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” The Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani. The Ambanis didn’t say how much they spent on the festivities that have been going on for months.

During a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March, Ri-

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, last Friday.

hanna and Akon performed for a star-studded 1,200-person guest list.

A four-day European cruise in May featured on-deck concerts from the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball where Katy Perry sang.

At last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai, Justin Bieber belted out his music hits.

The groom’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s

ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate reporting over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.

The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160car garage and a private movie theater.

The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a 3,000acre animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.

The bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.

Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Modi’s rule since 2014.

OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER VIA AP

Pezeshkian, left, sits next to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES VIA AP

Ella Ann Jones

September 8, 1931 –July 15, 2024

Ella Ann Jones, 92, of Asheboro, passed away Monday, July 15, 2024, at Alpine Health and Rehabilitation.

A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Franklinville Wesleyan Church, with Pastor Terry Giles o ciating. Burial will follow at Franklinville United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Born on September 8, 1931, to the late John Ester and Essie Vaden Rich, Ella was a member of Franklinville Weselyan Church for many years. She loved her grandbabies, and thought of them as her whole world. Ella also loved listening to music.

In addition to her parents, Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Hobert Jones; brothers, John Rich, and Rufus Rich; sisters, Reba Bowman, and Dorothy Krites. Survivors include her sons, Kirk Douglas Jones (Samantha) of Asheboro, Kevin Dion Jones (Rebecca) of Clover, SC; sister, Florence Redding of Asheboro; grandchildren, Callista Jones, Emily Jones, and Lachlan Jones.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to Franklinville Weselyan Church, 225 Allred Street, Franklinville, NC, 27248.

Kay Boling Singletary

September 17, 1947 –July 14, 2024

Lana Kay Boling Singletary, age 76, of Asheboro passed away on July 14, 2024 at the Randolph Hospice House.

Ms. Singletary was born in Randolph County on September 17, 1947 to James and Ida Cranford Boling and was a graduate of Asheboro High School. Kay was a selfemployed Real Estate Agent for many years. In addition to her parents, Kay was preceded in death by her son, James Derek Singletary. Kay was a hard-headed, loving lady. She had a giving heart and was always doing for others. She loved her family and traveling with them, especially to Pigeon Forge. She enjoyed cooking, her specialty being vegetable beef soup. Kay enjoyed shopping and she loved buying things for others.

She is survived by her daughters, Mandy Allred (Scott) of Asheboro, Wendy Morrison (Charles) of Rockingham, and Kelly Hardwick (Thomas) of Palm Coast, FL; son, Richie Singletary (Mary) of Rockingham; grandchildren, Madalyn Singletary, Autumn Small, Bryson Allred, Jase Allred, and Adalyn Coble; many bonus children and grandkids.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Torri Nelson o ciating. Interment will be held at Randolph Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merri eld, VA 22116-7023.

Louise Poole Gatlin

August 11, 1937 – July 14, 2024

Bonnie Louise Poole Gatlin, age 86, of Asheboro passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Gatlin was born in Asheboro on August 11, 1937 to Claude and Bonnie Freeman Poole. Louise was married to her husband, Lonnie Gatlin until his death in 1989. She was a Realtor for 39 years and the last 28 years at Remax in Asheboro. In addition to her parents and her husband, Louise was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Poole, sister, Marcelene Miller, and son-in-law, John Burrow. She loved traveling and went to many states and countries. She enjoyed spending time with her family and going to the beach. Louise was proud that she named the road Fox re Road that she had lived on since 1967.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Burrow of Asheboro; son, John Gatlin (Janice) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Tyler Burrow (Ti any) of Asheboro, Brian Gatlin of Asheboro, Amy Gatlin (Jaylan) of Asheboro, and Heather Muir (John) of Asheboro; great grandchildren, Tommy Burrow and Lucy Muir; brother, Jerry Poole (Iris) of Spartanburg, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Liberty Hospice, especially Monique.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Scott Kidd o ciating. Interment will be held at Randolph Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Liberty Hospice Services, 1005 Carthage St., P.O. Box 66, Sanford, NC 27330.

Marjorie Rush

September 19, 1935 –July 13, 2024

Marjorie Leigh Henley Rush, 88, of Asheboro, died Saturday, July 13, 2024, at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 19, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mark Beane o ciating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Marjorie was born on September 19, 1935, in Randolph County, the daughter of the late Robert and Mattie Luck Henley. Over the years, she worked at several hosiery mills. She enjoyed doing crafts, puzzles, going to yard sales, and picking up sea shells. She loved traveling to the beach with her husband and sister, Betty. She was a very competitive person which made participating in the Randolph County Senior Games a perfect t for her. Marjorie volunteered as a Pink Lady at Randolph Hospital.

In addition to her parents, Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Bradford Rush, Sr.; brothers, Robert Newton Henley, Jr., Bill Henley; sisters, Betty Dawkins, and Irene Luck.

She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Turner (Randy), Pam King (Jay), Mitzi Saunders (Darryl), Vicki Bowman (John), all of Asheboro; son, Chuck Rush (Leesa) of Asheboro; 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; and her cat, “Lexi.”.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Judy Bullins

June 30, 1965 – July 12, 2024

Judy Lynne Cole Bullins, 59, of Asheboro, passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Randolph Health, due to treatment complications from her cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Maple Springs Baptist Church, with Pastor Bill Simpson o ciating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Judy was born in Randolph County on June 30, 1965, to the late Paul and Loanie Cannady Cole. She loved cooking and baking. Judy enjoyed her birds, especially cardinals and hummingbirds. She was family oriented and an extremely hard worker. Judy enjoyed traveling as well as visiting the beach. She loved her Maple Springs church family, and showed her dedication by being the church pianist for over 40 years.

Survivors include her husband, Don Bullins; daughters, Lindsay Staley and husband Matthew, Elizabeth Adams and husband Alex; brothers, Eddy Cole and wife Pat, Max Cole and wife Dawn; nephews, Curtis Cole and wife Kelly, Caleb Cole and wife Meredith, Elijah Cole and wife Tatum; nieces, Crystal Williams and husband Chad, Candace Curry and husband Justin, Carissa Mercer and husband Harrison; great nieces, Emily Lamm and husband Colby, Courtney Cole, Aly Curry, Millie Curry, Ella Cole; great nephews, Hunter Williams, Tyler Mercer, Ian Mercer, Noah Cole, Hudson Cole; great great nephew, Wilson Lamm; sister-in-law, Gail Britt; brother-in-law, Dean Bullins; and dearest friend, Angie Gallimore;

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 15, 2024 at Ridge Funeral Home.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ICU nurses at Randolph Health for the care given to Judy.

DEATH NOTICES

• Jerry Douglas Dickinson, 89, of Asheboro died July 11, 2024.

• Dennis “Mike” Michael Hooker, 73, of Randleman died July 9, 2024.

• Donald “Don” George Staudt, 83, died July 9, 2024.

• Betty Lou Needham York, 88, of Asheboro, died July 8, 2024.

• Peggy Ramsey Owen, 87, of Asheboro, died July 8, 2024

• René “Nay Nay” Toomes, 65, of Trinity, died July 8, 2024.

• Joyce Fruitt Slaughter Causey, 73, of Randleman died July 7, 2024.

• Deborah Rae Starr Rich, 67, of Asheboro, died July 7, 2024.

• John Lee Summey, 73, of Denton, died July 6, 2024.

• Harvey Jonah Latham, 71, of Asheboro, died July 6, 2024.

• Mary Ellen Lineberry, 90, died July 5, 2024.

pen STATE & NATION

A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America

Political violence is not unknown to the United States

By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:

Abraham Lincoln 16th president

Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.

Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Gar eld 20th president

Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau.

Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.

Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley

25th president

McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.

McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.

He was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.

Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting. Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president

Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.

Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Guiseppe Zangara was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman 33rd president

Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.

Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy 35th president

Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a

high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.

Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.

Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.

Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police headquarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.

Gerald Ford 38th president

Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.

In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red. Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.

Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 40th president

Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.

Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.

Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”

George W. Bush 43rd president

Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.

Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.

Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate

The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.

Roosevelt had previous-

ly served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate.

Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.

John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.

Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate

Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.

Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.

George C. Wallace, presidential candidate

Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.

Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.

JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

AP PHOTO Left, this April 1865 photo provided by the Library of Congress shows President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater, the site of his assassination.

Right, President Ford ducks behind his limousine after a shot was red as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 1975.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

Man walks on the moon, Mormons arrive in Utah, women’s su rage begins

Ford Motor Company sells its rst Model A for $850

The Associated Press

“THIS WEEK” looks back at the key events from this week in history.

JULY 18

1536: The English Parliament passed an act that declared the pope’s authority void in England.

1918: South African anti-apartheid leader and president Nelson Mandela was born.

1925: Adolf Hitler published the rst volume of his autobiography, “Mein Kampf.”

1936: The Spanish Civil War began when General Francisco Franco led a military uprising.

1864: President Abraham Lincoln called for 500,000 volunteers to join the military to help the Union continue ghting the Confederacy.

JULY 19

1848: The Seneca Falls Convention in New York marked the beginning of the women’s su rage movement in the United States.

1989: United Airlines Flight 232 crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 111 people.

1997: The Provisional Irish Republican Army temporarily ended their 25-year paramilitary campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland.

JULY 20

1917: America’s World War I draft lottery began as Secretary of War Newton Baker, wearing a blindfold, reached into a glass bowl and pulled out a capsule containing the num-

ber 258 during a ceremony inside the Senate o ce building.

1951: Jordan’s King Abdullah I was assassinated in Jerusalem by a Palestinian gunman who was shot dead on the spot by security.

1969: Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the rst men to walk on the moon after reaching its surface in their Apollo 11 lunar module.

1976: America’s Viking 1 robot spacecraft made a successful, rst-ever landing on Mars.

JULY 21

1861: During the Civil War, the rst Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Virginia, resulting in a Confederate victory.

1944: American forces landed on Guam during World War II, capturing it from the Japanese some three weeks later.

1954: The Geneva Conference concluded with accords dividing Vietnam into northern and southern entities.

2016: Donald Trump accepted the GOP presidential nomination.

JULY 22

1862: President Abraham Lincoln presented his Cabinet with a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.

1934: Bank robber John Dillinger was shot to death by federal agents outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater.

1943: American forces led by Gen. George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily, during World War II.

1967: American author, historian and poet Carl Sandburg died at his North Carolina home at age 89.

JULY 23

1829: William Austin Burt received a patent for his “typographer,” a forerunner of the typewriter.

1885: Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, died in Mount McGregor, New York, at age 63.

1903: The Ford Motor Company sold its rst Model A car for $850.

JULY 24

1915: The SS Eastland, a passenger ship carrying more than 2,500 people, rolled onto its side while docked at the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River; an estimated 844 people died in the disaster.

1847: Mormon leader Brigham Young and his followers arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley in present-day Utah.

1866: Tennessee became the rst state to be readmitted to the Union after the Civil War.

1911: Yale University history professor Hiram Bingham III found the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, in Peru.

MARTIN MEJIA / AP PHOTO

“The Lost City of the Incas,” in Machu Picchu, Peru, was discovered on July 24, 1911.

AP-PHOTO

The rst Model A was sold by Ford Motor Company on July 23, 1903, for $850.

The Knights of Camelot seek new king in ‘The Bright Sword’

The quest to nd a new king is also about creating meaning

By Sharon Lurye

The Associated Press

A RUDDERLESS NATION

lost in uncertainty, searches for its next commander in chief.

There’s an uneasy sense that the country’s glory days have passed and that a monumental turn in history is coming — for good or ill. How do you nd a leader to unite such a fractured, polarized land?

Such is the uneasy world of Arthurian England in “The Bright Sword,” the new novel by Lev Grossman. The tale begins with Collum, a poor orphan who escapes an abusive home and ees to Camelot with nothing but a stolen suit of armor and the dream of serving King Arthur as a knight of the Round Table. Just one problem: King Arthur is dead.

Only a few ragged remnants of the Round Table are left, and no one knows who the next king will be. The theme of an anxious nation searching for a lead-

er when no one has a clear mandate to govern gives the novel a distinctly modern sense of angst. Is it so much easier if we could make every candidate try to pull a sword out of a stone and be done with it?

Despite his poor timing, Collum plows forward to join what’s left of the Round Table. He’s pinned all his hopes on the idea of Camelot, the notion that he can be a hero amongst this glorious brotherhood of legendary knights. Yet the heroes of this book are mainly broken, bitter men. Each knight in the story’s rather large ensemble gets their tale in a few ashback chapters, o ering a tantalizing glimpse at how their past with Arthur shaped their hopes for England’s future. However, most characters get little development beyond their brief backstories, so only some of the knights stand out as genuinely compelling or memorable characters. The most exciting member of the court of Camelot is Nimue, a formidable enchantress and one-time apprentice to Merlin, who doesn’t provide the most glowing reviews of her former mentor.

In Grossman’s England, dueling factions vie not just for the kingdom’s throne but also its very identity: Is this the ancient, pagan Britain lled with fairy magic or a Christian Britain loyal to just one God? This battle for the soul of a nation is a powerful theme, but Grossman sometimes gets too dragged down with clunky monologues as characters brood over weighty questions of God, politics and destiny.

The most thrilling scenes are those where the characters step into action. Grossman’s strength is his deep attention to the details in battle scenes, where every blow or parry illuminates a character’s psychology.

The mixture of boldness and desperation that Collum throws into any duel shows that he’s ghting not just to beat his opponent but to prove that the identity he’s stolen is real. If he can prove himself a hero, his childhood su ering will have some meaning.

The quest to nd a new king is also about creating meaning. A nation needs a founding story, some idea that uni es the people — even if that story is ction.

Grammy-winning vocalist Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys dies at 76

The tenor died from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

By Maria Sherman and Kaitlyn Huamani

The Associated Press

JOE BONSALL , Grammy award winner and celebrated tenor of the country and gospel group the Oak Ridge Boys, has died. He was 76.

Bonsall died from complications of the neuromuscular disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

“Joe loved to sing. He loved to read. He loved to write,” the statement read. “He loved to play banjo. He loved working on the farm. And he loved the Philadelphia Phillies. But Jesus and his family always came rst — and we will see him again on the Promised Day.”

A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall left his gospel group, the Keystones, in 1973 to join the Oak Ridge Boys, initially formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the ’80s and beyond, which included its signature 1981 song, “Elvira,” its 1982 hit “Bobbie Sue,” and 1983’s “American Made.” “Elvira” marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease that damages nerve cells and connections that are necessary to control muscles for movements such as walking, talking and breathing.

JOHN DAVISSON / AP PHOTO

Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys died July 9 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was 76.

Most patients die within three to ve years of a diagnosis. The illness became known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939.

In September 2023, the Oak Ridge Boys embarked on a farewell tour scheduled for 2024.

But in January, Bonsall announced his retirement from touring, saying it was too difcult for him physically after a four-year battle with ALS.

In June 2022, Bonsall shared on X, formerly Twitter, that he “could have easily died” after su ering pulmonary embolisms.

“For 50 years, Joe Bonsall was the Oak Ridge Boys’ sparkplug. He was as exciting a performer as any who ever hit a gospel

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

or country stage,” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a written statement. “His tenor voice was high and clear, and his cheerful spirit always provided a jolt of energy, immediately rousing audiences to come in and take a load o . He certainly lightened our cares every time he sang.”

Country musician Travis Tritt wrote on X, “Joe had amazing talent and a wonderful personality, and he will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him.”

Bonsall is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Jennifer and Sabrina; sister, Nancy; granddaughter, Breanne; grandson, Luke; and great-grandsons, Chance and Grey.

and

The Associated Press

July 18: Singer Dion is 85. Actor James Brolin is 84. Singer Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas is 83. Bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs is 70. Actor Kristen Bell is 44.

July 19: Actor Helen Gallagher (“Ryan’s Hope”) is 98. Guitarist Brian May of Queen is 77. Actor Campbell Scott is 63. Actor Anthony Edwards (“ER”) is 62. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is 48.

July 20: Country singer T.G. Sheppard is 80. Singer Kim Carnes is 79. Guitarist Carlos Santana is 77. Model Gisele Bundchen is 44.

July 21: Comedian Jon Lovitz is 65. Director Norman Jewison (“Moonstruck,” “Fiddler on the Roof”) is 96. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (“Doonesbury”) is 74. July 22: Singer George Clinton is 82. Actor Danny Glover is 77. Actor-director Albert Brooks is 76. Actor Willem Dafoe is 68. Actor David Spade is 59. Singer Selena Gomez is 31. Singer Don Henley is 76. Composer Alan Menken (“Little Mermaid,” ″Little Shop of Horrors”) is 74. Musician Al Di Meola is 69. Singer Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls is 60. Singer Rufus Wainwright is 50.

July 23: Actor Woody Harrelson is 62. Rocker Slash is 58. Singer Alison Krauss is 52. Actor Daniel Radcli e is 34. Actor Ronny Cox (“Deliverance,” “RoboCop”) is 85. Actor Larry Manetti (“Magnum, P.I.”) is 80.

July 24: Actor Michael Richards is 73. Actor Lynda Carter is 71. Actor Kristin Chenoweth is 55. Jennifer Lopez is 53. Comedian Ruth Buzzi is 86. Actor Chris Sarandon is 80. Actor Robert Hays (“Airplane!”) is 75. Director Gus Van Sant is 70.

July 25: Model and actor Iman is 68. Actor Matt LeBlanc is 56. Cartoonist Ray Billingsley (“Curtis”) is 66. Guitarist Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth is 65. Celebrity chef

Geo rey Zakarian is 64. Actor Illeana Douglas is 62.

MICHAEL CAULFIELD / AP PHOTO Actor and comedian Michael Richards turned 73 on Wednesday.

AP PHOTO

Motown sensation Martha

the Vandellas dance for photographers in 1964. Martha Reeves, center, turned 83 on Thursday.

PAUL R. GIUNTA / AP PHOTO

Guitarist Carlos Santana turns 77 on Saturday.

PHOTO BY AMY HARRIS / AP PHOTO

Bluegrass

musician Ricky Skaggs, pictured onstage at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, turned 70 on Thursday.

the photograph

Photographs capture indelible moments in Donald Trump assassination attempt

In a world of moving pictures, the perfect shot still steals the show

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

THE PHOTOGRAPH of a bloodied Donald Trump with his fist in the air and an American flag looming in the background is quickly emerging as the pivotal image of Saturday’s shooting, and it wouldn’t exist without a journalist who acted quickly and on a hunch.

Video of the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally filled television screens before it was even clear what had happened. Yet the work of The Associated Press’ Evan Vucci, Getty’s Anna Moneymaker and Doug Mills of The New York Times — whose picture caught apparent evidence of a bullet whizzing past Trump’s head — proved the enduring potency of still photography in a world driven by a flood of moving pictures.

Vucci’s image, one of many he took on Saturday, could also have political implications from many directions — as indelible images often do in the days and years after seismic events happen.

“Without question, Evan’s photo will become the definitive photo from the (assassination) attempt,” said Patrick Witty, a former photo editor at Time, The New York Times and National Geographic.

“It captures a range of complex details and emotions in one still image — the defiantly raised fist, the blood, the agents clamoring to push Trump off stage and, most importantly, the flag. That’s what elevates the photo.”

The New York Post ran the photo across the tabloid’s front page on Sunday with a headline describing the former president as “bloodied but unbowed.” Time magazine has put it on its cover. “A legendary American photograph,” The Atlantic wrote in a headline over a story about the image. It all made one thing clear: After more than 175 years of photography, freezing a moment in time for posterity remains as powerful as recounting it in video — and, sometimes, even more so.

An immediate recognition of the power of the captured moment

Many news photographers, including AP’s Gene Puskar, were on assignment in various locations around Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Vucci was one of four stationed between the stage and audience. Covering a political rally is a routine assignment the Washington-based journalist has done hundreds of times; left unspoken is the duty to be in position if history beckons in the manner that it did Saturday.

When he heard popping sounds, Vucci, who has covered combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he knew instantly it was gun re. He rushed to the stage at Trump’s right, but his view of the former president was quickly blocked by Secret Service agents. He sensed that the agents would try to hustle Trump o stage and into a vehicle from the other side, so he darted over there.

From that position, he said, “everything kind of opened up for me.”

Trump’s attempts to rise to his feet and pump his st gave Vucci a clear view of the ex-president. He said the blue sky and ag in the background were an important part of the composition. “I think that kind of told the story of where we are right now,” he said.

Witty, like some others, compared it to Joe Rosenthal’s AP photo of U.S. Marines raising the American ag on Iwo Jima in World War II — an image so memorable to so many that it inspired a memorial.

“I think it will last and come to symbolize the time that we’re in,” said Ron Burnett, former president of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and an expert on images.

The intersection of imagery and politics

The presence of the ag may prove a lightning rod, because it also makes the photo a potent political image — in keeping with the increased politicization of the Stars and Stripes in the years since the 9/11 attacks.

“Already one of the most iconic photographs in American history — and one that I suspect

will propel Donald Trump back to the White House,” British journalist Piers Morgan wrote on X.

The photo with the full ag from Saturday has already been used 2,327 times by Sunday evening, while another Vucci image — one without the full ag — had been used 1,759 times by AP media customers, the news organization said. Typically, the most-used photo for a full week is seen 700 or 800 times.

It’s not hard to imagine the ag-draped image being seen in Trump campaign advertisements or paraphernalia, much like his mug shot from his Georgia arrest quickly did. At least one website was already selling T-shirts with the photo on them.

“I can see it being used in a whole variety of ways as part of the entourage of images that he surrounds himself with,” said Burnett, who marveled at Trump’s ability to seemingly be conscious of how it would all look in the midst of such a traumatic experience.

Vucci said that how the image is used in the public discourse is not for him to worry about. “The way I look at it is,

I was present and I did my job,” said Vucci, who won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for his work covering demonstrations following the George Floyd shooting. “I kept my head and I told the story.”

There was other impressive work by photographers at the scene. Getty’s Moneymaker, for example, caught an extraordinarily intimate image of Trump on the oor of the stage, taken peephole-style through the legs of a Secret Service agent shielding him.

Mills’ photograph for The Times is one of a series that shows Trump reaching for his ear after it had been hit. In one of them, barely visible unless the photo is blown up, there’s a streak behind Trump’s head that likely illustrates the displacement of air from a fast-moving projectile, according to a retired FBI special agent quoted in the newspaper. The Times did not discuss the issue on Sunday.

The agent, Michael Harrigan, told the newspaper: “Given the circumstances, if that’s not showing the bullet’s path through the air, I don’t know what else it would be.”

U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American ag atop Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, Japan, on Feb. 23, 1945. It is one of the most iconic images in American history.

NEW YORK POST / TIME

Time Magazine and the New York Post are among the many publications around the globe that placed photographer Evan Vucci’s image on the cover.

JOE ROSENTHAL / AP PHOTO

HOKE COUNTY

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Moore Regional Hospital receives top ranking

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, including its satellite campuses, was ranked sixth among hospitals in North Carolina by US News & World Report. The hospital received high performance rankings in several procedures and condition treatments. Only 11% of hospitals evaluated by the magazine receive a Best Hospital designation, requiring excellent marks in a number of factors, including clinical outcomes and overall patient experience. The high rankings received by Moore Regional included back surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, hip and knee replacement, kidney failure, pneumonia and prostate cancer surgery.

N.C. falls to 2nd in CNBC best for business rankings

North Carolina is the second-best state for business, according to a ranking and survey from CNBC. Virginia moved into rst, with N.C. falling after two years in the No. 1 spot. According to the survey, the state ranked in the top 10 for business friendliness, workforce, education and access to capital. Ranking second best for business friendliness and the third best for workforce as people keep moving to the area, North Carolina saw growing pains, dropping the state to 20th place for infrastructure.

DNC sending $1.2 million to N.C. campaign operations

Amid chaos and gun re, Trump’s raised st projected characteristic image of de ance

For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press

NEW YORK — He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage. But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.

Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the air before pumping his st.

“Fight!” he mouthed to

the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many rising to their feet.

“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted.

The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photographs and video that are sure to become an indelible part of history.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er assurance and project strength.

“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard

to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.

Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.

The mug shot he took in Atlanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.

During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.

After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump

refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps.

On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American ags arranged behind him.

Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he “heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later.

See TRUMP, page 2

Reagan survived an assassination attempt; his response changed the trajectory of his presidency

Shooter John Hinckley said he wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster

By Del Quentin Wilber The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The would-be assassin got o six shots in 1.7 seconds, nearly taking the life of a president and changing the trajectory of a presidency. It happened on a dreary March afternoon in 1981.

President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union group when John W. Hinckley Jr. opened re with his .22-caliber revolver. At the sound of the gunshots, Secret Service agents swarmed, and one of them shoved the president into the waiting limousine — but not before one of the bullets struck Reagan in his side.

What transpired over the next few hours became the stu of presidential and political legend. The life of the 70-year-old president was saved by the quick actions of his lead Secret Service agent, as well as the skill of medical personnel at George Washington University Hospital. Reagan’s courage over those tense hours further cemented his relationship — and political standing — with the American public and changed the way he approached the job over the next eight years.

him as human shields. In what is sure to be an iconic moment, a bloodied Trump raised a deant st to the crowd as agents whisked the presumptive Republican presidential candidate o the stage.

On the surface, the parallels between 1981 and what happened Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman red shots at former President Donald Trump, are striking. A gunman got o several shots as Trump was addressing a rally crowd, and Trump was struck in the right ear. Trump ducked behind a lectern as agents piled on top of

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump said in a statement. Trump’s campaign said he was doing “ ne” after being checked out at an area medical facility. Authorities are working to gure out what happened in Butler. As the public learned in the hours after the Reagan assassination attempt, early reports can be wrong. Only much later did the public realize how close Reagan came to dying that day — his life had hung in the balance of a split-second decision and an inch. It was just 70 days into Rea-

gan’s rst term when he left the Washington Hilton on March 30 after a speech to a trade union and approached his waiting limousine at 2:27 p.m. Hinckley couldn’t believe his luck. A troubled 25-yearold, Hinckley had been hoping to kill the president to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had now somehow found himself standing behind a rope line in a crowd of spectators and journalists — all unscreened by the Secret Service — just 15 feet from the president.

See REAGAN, page 2

The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday it’s transferring $15 million to state parties to help them open more eld o ces and bolster sta ng numbers. The funding will let the state parties add to the 217 existing campaign o ces already employing more than 1,100 sta ers across seven swing states. $2.00

Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd while surrounded by Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt on

“Join the conversation”

MONDAY

Criminal justice scholarship announced

Letter from the Swarbrick family

TIES TO LAW enforcement run deep in the Swarbrick Family. John Swarbrick has fond memories of being a young kid riding in his grandfather’s squad car and visiting him at the police station in Win eld Park, New Jersey.

“Pop Pop was bigger than life, and it wasn’t too long until my father also chose police work as his career. I have great respect for police and all rst responders who put their lives on the line every day patrolling our streets and protecting our families”, Swarbrick said.

TRUMP from page 1

He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him.

When they gave the all-clear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety,

While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again — so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he was helped down the steps.

The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!”

As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bulletproof door behind him.

For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.

Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experience one of his rallies. She and a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the bleachers behind Trump. Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.

She watched as Trump grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.

“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”

John’s father, John J. Swarbrick, passed away in 2023. He served with the Palm Beach County Sheri ’s Department for most of his career. His example of service in uenced two of his grandchildren to also pursue careers in law enforcement. “I couldn’t be prouder of my niece and nephew”, Swarbrick said. “Nick is a K9 o cer, and Jackie is a detective. Both live and work in Florida and are keeping my father’s legacy alive”.

With his father’s recent passing, John knew it was time to honor him and the rest of his family in some way. The Swarbrick family is pleased to an-

nounce that applications are currently being accepted for the John J. Swarbrick Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any Hoke County student who is pursuing or planning to pursue a career in criminal justice or is enrolled in or planning to enroll in Basic Law Enforcement Training. This $1000 scholarship may be used for any school or training-related expenses. Applications can be requested by emailing John Swarbrick: swarbrick.scholarship@ gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is August 25, 2024.

from page 1

He pulled out his revolver and opened re. His rst bullet struck White House Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and his second hit D.C. Police O cer Thomas Delahanty in the back. At the sound of the shots, Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr grabbed Reagan and shoved him toward the open door of the armored limousine. Hinckley’s third bullet ew high. The fourth hit Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy in the chest as he stood between the president and the gunman. The fth shot hit the armored window of the limousine. Hinckley’s nal bullet ricocheted o the side of the limousine, attening into the shape of a dime and striking Reagan ve inches below his left armpit. Parr dove in behind the president, and the door slammed shut. Parr ordered the limousine to head to the White House.

Parr didn’t know Reagan had been shot. But when the president complained of pain in his chest and Parr noticed frothy blood on his lips, the agent ordered the limousine to head to George Washington University hospital. There, Reagan insisted on walking into the hospital under his own power but collapsed like a dead weight in the hallway.

Doctors and nurses located his wounds. They could not stem Reagan’s bleeding, however, forcing surgeons to operate to staunch it. Reagan lost more than half his blood volume that day before the bleeding was brought under control. Surgeons removed the bullet lodged just an inch from the president’s heart.

As laid out in my book, “Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” the shooting generated massive sympathy from the American public for Reagan, who spent 13 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. But it did something else — it built a bond between the president and the public. They had seen a president who acted with grace and courage. They would hear that he had cracked jokes with his doctors and nurses as they fought to save his life and sought to ease the anxiety of loved ones.

Lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube draining blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip.

“Honey, I forgot to duck,” he told her, borrowing a line that boxer Jack Dempsey delivered to his own wife after losing the 1926 heavyweight championship. He joked with advisers as he was being wheeled into the operating room. And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”

Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”

The White House wasted little time in ensuring those lines were delivered to the press. As David Broder, a Washington Post political journalist, would write two days later: “What happened to Reagan on Monday is the stu of which legends are made.”

Three decades later, Broder stood by that assessment. “He was politically untouchable from that point on,” Broder said in an interview. “He became a mythic gure.”

REAGAN

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Preserving the strength of our nation starts at home

These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children.

STRONG FAMILIES are the cornerstone of strong communities that build a stronger nation. Unfortunately, our families are in peril.

Widespread divorce rates, the erosion of traditional marriage, radical ideologies, attacks on faith and government interference in our daily lives are breaking down the family and the country we love.

As I discussed with former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on a recent episode of “Newt’s World,” America does not have to be like this. In his new book, “The Perilous Fight,” Carson o ers inspiration and the answers needed to restore the family unit as America’s key foundation. Like many, Carson said he fears we are losing the country we love. He encouraged readers to return to the biblical and familial values on which our country was founded.

During our conversation, Carson said three simple steps make the greatest di erence in a young person’s chances of escaping or avoiding poverty. It was shockingly simple. These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children. Citing a Brookings Institution survey, Carson said if each of these steps is followed, the likelihood of living in poverty drops to 2% or less.

Biden in the bunker

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.

This statistic should not surprise any Americans. Earlier in our nation’s history, there was a time when education, marriage and hard work were valued. As Carson said, “Those are the kind of values that frequently are passed on through the family. However, when you have the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, you are not getting those kinds of values passed on.”

It was once well known that having children out of wedlock was a poor decision for parents and children. The lack of stable mother and father gures has severely negative consequences on children’s lives. Carson shared that, “Children who come from broken homes are 2.3 times as likely to be homeless — think about that — and twice as likely to get in trouble with the police or end up in jail, twice as likely to experience educational underachievement, to experience alcoholism, drug abuse, or teen pregnancy.”

Alarmingly, Carson said he believes that our enemies seek to destroy America from within. Those who want to fundamentally change our country and replace it with a radically di erent one have been scratching away at our traditional family-focused foundation for decades.

The goals of 1960s communism included gaining control of the schools and teachers

unions for indoctrination. They also involved controlling college newspapers to indoctrinate and encourage rioting among college students — and normalizing aberrant sexuality. In many parts of America, these goals have succeeded — and degraded our morality and national identity.

In a recent poll, America’s New Majority Project found that 84% of Americans believe that parents have the right to know what is happening in the classroom. Yet, the teachers unions are bitterly opposed. The teachers unions spend about $5 billion a year on politics to get state legislatures to restrict parental oversight in schools.

As a result of radicalism in the classroom, many parents have turned to homeschooling. Homeschooling has doubled since 2020, and many families wait years to get their children into private or religious schools. As Carson said, “That tells you that the American people know what’s happening.” The pandemic opened a window into the world of classroom indoctrination. Parents are rejecting this false education and seeking alternatives. We must reestablish America’s core biblical and familial values before the whole system collapses. This e ort starts at home. The future of our nation hinges on the health of our families and communities.

HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.

Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.” No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.

This is about saving our democracy.

Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault. Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward.

They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.

And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.

What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.

What that episode revealed is what the press has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.

He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.

Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move. But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win.

I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.

I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing. What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.

But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

HOKE SPORTS

Middle school all-star game has Hoke County roots

Former Bucks coach against each other

North State Journal

THE EXACT SPORTS AllState Football Game took place in Greensboro at the end of June, giving top middle school and rising high school players from around the state a chance to showcase their skills.

The event lasted three days at Guilford College and featured guest speakers, combine-like testing, skills competitions and practices. It culminated with an all-star game.

Team Red got the victory over Team Blue in the contest, 14-8, and the coaches of the competing squads both had Hoke County roots.

Montaze McRae led the victorious Red squad, serving as o ensive coordinator, in addition to head coaching. McRae is currently tight end coach and recruiting coordinator for Allen University in Columbia South Carolina.

McRae is a member of Hoke County’s class of 2004. While playing for the Bucks, he earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior. In 2004, he was selected to the All Cape Fear Region Football Team and named an All Cape Fear Region Top 10 college prospect. He played in college at NC A&T, playing several positions on the o ensive line and graduating in three years.

After playing professional indoor football, McRae began his coaching career, which has tak-

en him from Northern Durham High to Fayetteville State before he arrived at Allen.

On the other sideline was Tony McCants. He’s currently the head coach at Southern Alamance and previously led the McMichael program. However, he might be a familiar name to longtime Hoke County watchers as he was an assistant with Hoke earlier in his coaching career.

The Red team also featured Anderson “Andy” Thomas, a rising ninth grader at DH Conley High in Pitt County and a former Hope Middle School standout. He is the son of Hoke County commissioner Allen Thomas.

As an eighth grader, the younger Thomas led his conference in receiving yards and touchdowns while also playing on defense in the secondary.

Justin Womack

Hoke County, baseball

Justin Womack is a pitcher on the Hoke County 12U All Stars and is a repeat winner of Hoke County Athlete of the Week.

He won last week for his performance on the mound, leading the All Stars to the Diamond Youth District 11 championship with a combined perfect game.

This week, Hoke went to Mount Holly to play for the Diamond Youth state title, and, while they fell in two games, losing to Burgaw, 2-0 and Stanly, 5-2, Womack had a huge moment at the plate.

In the home run derby, held prior to the state championship game, Womack hit 36 home runs to win the title, making him the North Carolina 12U state home run king.

Blaney wins in return to Pocono Raceway

Team Penske completed a weekend sweep of NASCAR-IndyCar events

By Dan Gleston

The Associated Press

LOND POND, Pa. — Ryan Blaney returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second in the last ve races this season.

Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske — Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for the 87-year-old Roger Penske.

The 2023 NASCAR cham-

pion, Blaney won the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more top-10 nishes headed into Pocono. The Team Penske driver’s summer success in the No. 12 Ford has stamped him a legitimate threat to win a second straight championship.

“I de nitely think we’re in a better spot at this time than where we were last year,” Blaney said. “I feel like our speed’s better. Our execution’s great.” Blaney was dialed in on the 2.5-mile track and was never seriously challenged over thenal 10 laps by runner-up Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Hamlin holds the Pocono record with seven career wins; Bow-

man won last’s week Chicago Street Race.

Bowman and Hamlin were fast.

Just not fast enough to catch Blaney in front of another packed house at Pocono.

Hamlin, last year’s winner, was in hot pursuit over the nal six laps, but the three-time Daytona 500 champion could never nip at Blaney’s Ford.

“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said.

No win, of course, in NASCAR is ever guaranteed, and there were some ashbacks to the cruel nish when Blaney ran out of fuel in early June while coming to the white ag at

World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I was de nitely more nervous today,” crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You lose one on the last lap, and you certainly get an appreciation for, it’s not over till you take the checkered.” Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric won that race in Illinois and fellow Penske driver Joey Logano won four races later at Nashville Superspeedway. Throw in Blaney’s two wins and Penske drivers have won four of the last seven Cup races.

The 30-year-old Blaney, son of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou

Blaney, led the nal 44 laps and now has 12 career Cup wins dating back to the rst one when he took the checkered ag for the Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.

“It’s awesome to be back” in Victory Lane, Blaney said. “It was super special to win here seven years ago with the Wood Brothers. It’s just as special to win here today.”

Blaney already knows the importance of getting hot late in the season. Blaney turned up his performance last season in the No. 12 Ford in the playo s. Over the nal six weeks, Blaney racked up two wins, two runner-ups and didn’t nish lower than 12th.

Blaney’s rst career title was the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske and 44th overall for the storied organization. William Byron was fourth and Logano fth.

ALLEN THOMAS’ FACEBOOK PAGE

Andy Thomas (left), son of Hoke County commissioner Allen Thomas, poses with his All-Star Game coach Montaze McRae, a former Bucks player and current college assistant.

SIDELINE REPORT

NBA

NBA releases pools for this season’s NBA Cup in-season tournament

Las Vegas

Myles Turner thinks part of the reason why the Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep playo run this past season was because of the in-season tournament. And he can’t wait for Round 2. Group play pools for the second edition of tournament — now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup — were released by the NBA last Friday. The event will start Nov. 12 and runs through a championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 17. Charlotte is in East Group A with New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

NFL

Belichick joining ‘Inside the NFL’ for upcoming season

Los Angeles

The CW Network announced Thursday that Bill Belichick will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” this season.

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 24 years at the helm. He will also appear this season on the Manningcast during “Monday Night Football.” Belichick joins Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long. Johnson and Long each played one season for Belichick in New England. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” Belichick said in a statement.

GOLF

Els wins Kaulig Companies Championship for rst senior major title

Akron, Ohio Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship for his rst senior major title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Y.E. Yang. A stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker entering the round, Els rebounded from a bogey on the par-5 16th to par the nal two holes. Yang bogeyed the par-4 18th in a 66. Els became the PGA Tour Champions’ rst three-time winner this season, winning for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old South African nished at 10-under 270, earning $525,000 and a spot in The Players Championship in March.

NCAA BASKETBALL

NCAA women’s selection committee to reveal full seeding of tournament teams next season

Austin, Texas The NCAA women’s selection committee will release the seeding for the entire tournament eld for the rst time next season. The change means the full seed list for all 68 teams will be revealed on Selection Sunday as it has been with the men. NCAA Division I Basketball Committee chair Derita Dawkins says the change will provide additional transparency. The committee also announced that the rst- and secondround games will continue to be hosted by the top 16 seeds on March 19-24, 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will then host eight-team regionals.

Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in straight sets

The 21-year-old repeated as champion and now has four grand slam titles

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s nal for the second straight year, getting a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory for his fourth Grand Slam title in all. And to think: He is still just 21. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month and, after receiving Wimbledon’s gold trophy from Kate, the Princes of Wales, is now just the sixth man to triumph on the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.” Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in

major nals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got o to a better start to a career among men, going 7-0.

“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 11⁄2 months ago yet was hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the rst player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a ve-point stretch that took him from the verge of victory to close to a collapse. It happened when he was a point from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all.

Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue. But only brie y. Alcaraz regrouped, got to the tiebreaker, then closed things out. Against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly when he landed after serving or stepped gingerly — as if barefoot on a beach’s hot sand — between points. Missing volleys he usually makes, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points when he went to the net. After netting a volley to close one early 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked to his sideline seat to grab a purpleand-green towel for dabbing at sweat.

Alcaraz was outstanding in pretty much every way, from the basic to the sorts of shots no one else would even try. Once, he leaped and wrapped his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net, al-

though Djokovic did put an overhead away to get that point. Alcaraz ran wide of the doubles alley for forehand winners. Claimed points via drop shots. Smacked serves at up to 136 mph. Accumulated 14 break points, converting ve, and faced just three. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova won her second major with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the women’s nal.

“Well, who knows what I can do? And what I cannot do? I mean, I don’t know,” the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic said. “Before Roland Garros, I didn’t know I can win a Slam. Before here, I didn’t know that I can win another Slam. So who knows what I’m capable of? For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. To be happy on the court. To have fun. And to combine all this — to feel good and to be happy.”

US appeals court says NCAA athletes may qualify as employees

Federal wage and hour laws could qualify some athletes as employees

By MaryClaire Dale The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — College athletes whose e orts primarily bene t their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wageand-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a setback to the NCAA. The court said that a test should be developed to di erentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work.”

“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.”

A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difculty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact nding.

The ruling follows a 2021 Supreme Court decision that led the NCAA to amend its

A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to di erentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work” that bene ts the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.

rules to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. In May, the NCAA announced a nearly $2.8 billion revenue-sharing plan that could steer millions of dollars directly to athletes by next year.

The Division I athletes and former athletes behind the suit in Philadelphia are seeking more modest hourly wages similar to those earned by their peers in work-study programs. They argue that colleges are violating fair labor practices by failing to pay them for the time they dedicate to their sports, which they say can average 30 or more hours per week.

Lawyer Paul McDonald, representing the plainti s, has

suggested that athletes might make $2,000 per month or $10,000 per year for participating in NCAA sports. He said that many students need the money for everyday expenses.

“This notion that college athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campuses,” McDonald said Thursday. “It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees.”

A district judge had refused to throw out the case, prompting the Indianapolis-based NCAA to ask the appeals court to stop it from going to trial. Defendants include the

NCAA and member schools including Duke University, Villanova University and the University of Oregon.

The NCAA, in a statement, said it has been expanding core bene ts for athletes, from health care to career preparation, and wants to help schools steer more direct nancial bene ts to their athletes.

However, it noted what it called student concerns that the employment model could “harm their experiences and needlessly cost countless student-athletes opportunities in women’s sports, Olympic sports, and sports at the HBCU and Division II and Division III levels.” The statement was issued by NCAA spokesperson Meghan Durham Wright.

The unanimous Supreme Court decision that spawned the NIL payments lifted the ban on college compensation beyond full-ride scholarships. Schools recruiting top athletes now can o er tens of thousands of dollars in education-related bene ts such as study-abroad programs, computers and graduate scholarships.

“Traditions alone cannot justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. “The NCAA is not above the law.”

But that case did not resolve whether college athletes are employees entitled to direct pay — the key issue before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court panel.

MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he holds up his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles nal at the Wimbledon tennis championships

MICHAEL CONROY / AP PHOTO

Iran’s new president warns US his country won’t be pressured

Masoud Pezeshkian wants to have “balance in relations with all countries”

By Amir Vahdat

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create “balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”

Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country’s stateowned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” ‘

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5’s runo election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

He said in his message his administration would “prioritize strengthening relations with our neighbors” and urged Arab

OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER VIA AP

countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease- re in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started Oct.7.

Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country’s relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government

would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.

The president also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.

Pezeshkian said he looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries “based on principles of mutual respect” despite a rela-

tionship that has known “its ups and downs.”

In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — a nuclear agreement that also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Since then, Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of expanding its nuclear program and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level, near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has issued severe, mainly economic, sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian accused the European countries of reneging on commitments made, following the U.S. withdrawal, to ensure “e ective banking transactions, e ective protection of companies from U.S. sanctions, and the promotion of investments in Iran.” However, he added there were still many opportunities for collaboration between Iran and Europe.

He then addressed the U.S., underscoring his country’s refusal to “respond to pressure,” adding that Iran “entered the JCPOA in 2015 in good faith and fully met our obligations.”

Pezeshkian said the U.S. backing out has in icted “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to our economy” and caused “untold su ering, death and destruction on the Iranian people — particularly during the Covid pandemic” due to sanctions.

Pezeshkian said Western countries “not only missed a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region and the world, but also seriously undermined the Non-Prolifera-

tion Treaty.” He emphasized that “Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons.” Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement toward constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pezeshkian also accused the U.S. administration in his open letter of escalating “hostilities” by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military activities, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in 2020.

Besides regional turmoil and tense relations over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s president faces many challenges locally. He must now convince an angry public — many undernancial duress due to sanctions, stubbornly high in ation and unemployment — that he can make the changes promised while dealing with an administration still largely governed by hard-liners.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist gures since his Presidential campaign. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached the 2015 JCPOA. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as the head of the Strategic Council for the transition period of the administration. The council, comprised of experts and advisors, will focus on assessing potential candidates for key cabinet positions and ensuring a seamless handover of leadership.

Son of Asia’s richest man marries in extravagant wedding

The ceremony and reception cost millions of dollars

By Ra q Maqbool and Rajnish Kakade

The Associated Press

MUMBAI, India — A wedding reception on Sunday wrapped up the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend with a price tag running into the millions.

The newlyweds were cheered by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive -- a convention center built and owned by the Ambani family — as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (a festival of Bliss), which marked what many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.

Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and walking around the sacred re, began Friday and were completed early Saturday.

Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, American wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi blessed the newlyweds at a Saturday reception organized by the Ambanis,

highlighting the billionaire’s rising clout.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” The Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani. The Ambanis didn’t say how much they spent on the festivities that have been going on for months.

During a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March, Rihanna and Akon performed for a star-studded 1,200-person guest list.

A four-day European cruise in May featured on-deck concerts from the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball where Katy Perry sang. At last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai, Justin Bieber belted out his music hits.

The groom’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest person in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate reporting

over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.

The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160car garage and a private movie theater.

The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a

3,000-acre animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.

The bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.

Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Modi’s rule since 2014.

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES VIA AP

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, last Friday.

Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, left, sits next to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a ceremony Friday.

Charles Purcell

October 17, 1950 –July 12, 2024

Mr. Charles Purcell age, 73 went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on July 12, 2024. He was the son of the late Hosie Purcell and Mary Hamilton.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories his wife, Ann Purcell; children: Shelby Day, Vincent Purcell, Anthony Ray, Marquita Morrison, Nalatosha Ray; siblings: Betty Loving, James Purcell, Walter Purcell, Tony Graham, Tommy Davis; thirteen grandchildren, twenty nine great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Charles will be greatly missed.

K-9 Ola

July 5, 2024

The Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce announced last week that K-9 Ola died on July 5. Ola is pictured above with her handler, Deputy Sheri Todd Williams.

“K-9 Ola served with the Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce for four years and was an amazing K-9, who was loved and will be missed” said Sheri Virgil in a statement. Ola was diagnosed with lymphoma last July and was euthanized to prevent further pain and su ering.

Richard Simmons, tness guru who mixed laughs and sweat, dies at 76

He built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Richard Simmons, television’s hyperactive court jester of physical tness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better, died Saturday. He turned 76 on Friday.

Simmons died at his home in Los Angeles, his publicist Tom Estey said in an email to The Associated Press. He gave no further details.

ly, Simmons answered, “I think there’s a time to be serious and a time to be silly. It’s knowing when to do it. I try to have a nice combination. Being silly cures depression. It catches people o guard and makes them think. But in between that silliness is a lot of seriousness that makes sense. It’s a di erent kind of training.”

He was known to counsel the severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held records for being the world’s heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons for helping him lose 700 pounds. Simmons put real people — chubby, balding or non-telegenic — in his exercise videos to make the tness goals seem reachable.

Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who became a master of many media forms, sharing his hard-won weightloss tips as host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show” and author of best-selling books and the diet plan Deal-A-Meal. He also opened exercise studios and starred exercise videos, including the wildly successful “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” line, which became a cultural phenomenon. “My food plan and diet are just two words — common sense. With a dash of good humor,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I want to help people and make the world a healthier, happy place.”

Simmons embraced mass communication to get his message out, even as he eventually became the butt of jokes for his out ts and amboyant air. He was a sought-after guest on TV shows led by Merv Gri n, Mike

Douglas and Phil Donahue. But David Letterman would prank him and Howard Stern would tease him until he cried. He was mocked in Neil Simon’s “The Goodbye Girl” on Broadway in 1993, and Eddie Murphy put on white makeup and dressed like him in “The Nutty Professor,” screaming “I’m a pony!” Asked if he thought he could motivate people by being sil-

Throughout his career, Simmons was a reliable critic of fad diets, always emphasizing healthy eating and exercise plans. “There’ll always be some weird thing about eating four grapes before you go to bed, or drinking a special tea, or buying this little bean from El Salvador,” he told the AP in 2005 as the Atkins diet craze swept the country. “If you watch your portions and you have a good attitude and you work out every day you’ll live longer, feel better and look terri c.”

TINA FINEBERG / AP PHOTO

Richard Simmons speaks to the audience before a fashion show in June 2006.

STATE & NATION

A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America

Political violence is not unknown to the United States

By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:

Abraham Lincoln 16th president

Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.

Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Gar eld 20th president

Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau.

Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.

Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley

25th president

McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.

McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.

He was succeeded by Vice

President Theodore Roosevelt.

Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting. Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president

Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.

Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Guiseppe Zangara was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman 33rd president

Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.

Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy 35th president

Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a

high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.

Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.

Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.

Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police headquarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.

Gerald Ford 38th president

Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.

In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red.

Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.

Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 40th president

Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.

Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.

Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”

George W. Bush 43rd president

Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.

Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.

Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate

The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.

Roosevelt had previous-

ly served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate.

Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.

John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.

Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate

Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.

Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.

George C. Wallace, presidential candidate

Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.

Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.

JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

AP PHOTO Left, this April 1865 photo provided by the Library of Congress shows President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater, the site of his assassination. Right, President Ford ducks behind his limousine after a shot was red as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 1975.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Moore Regional Hospital receives top ranking

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, including its satellite campuses, was ranked sixth among hospitals in North Carolina by US News & World Report. The hospital received high performance rankings in several procedures and condition treatments. Only 11% of hospitals evaluated by the magazine receive a Best Hospital designation, requiring excellent marks in a number of factors, including clinical outcomes and overall patient experience. The high rankings received by Moore Regional included back surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, hip and knee replacement, kidney failure, pneumonia and prostate cancer surgery.

N.C. falls to 2nd in CNBC best for business rankings

North Carolina is the second-best state for business, according to a ranking and survey from CNBC. Virginia moved into rst, with N.C. falling after two years in the No. 1 spot. According to the survey, the state ranked in the top 10 for business friendliness, workforce, education and access to capital. Ranking second best for business friendliness and the third best for workforce as people keep moving to the area, North Carolina saw growing pains, dropping the state to 20th place for infrastructure.

Amid chaos and gun re, Trump’s raised st projected

For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press

NEW YORK — He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage. But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.

Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the air before pumping his st.

“Fight!” he mouthed to

characteristic image of de ance

the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many rising to their feet.

“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted.

The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photographs and video that are sure to become an indelible part of history.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er assurance and project strength.

“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard

to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.

Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.

The mug shot he took in Atlanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.

During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.

After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump

refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps. On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American ags arranged behind him.

Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he “heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later.

TRUMP, page 2

Reagan survived an assassination attempt; his response changed the trajectory of his presidency

Shooter John Hinckley said he wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster

By Del Quentin Wilber The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The would-be assassin got o six shots in 1.7 seconds, nearly taking the life of a president and changing the trajectory of a presidency. It happened on a dreary March afternoon in 1981. President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union group when John W. Hinckley Jr. opened re with his .22-caliber revolver. At the sound of the gunshots, Secret Service agents swarmed, and one of them shoved the president into the waiting limousine — but not before one of the bullets struck Reagan in his side.

What transpired over the next few hours became the stu of presidential and political legend. The life of the 70-year-old president was saved by the quick actions of his lead Secret Service agent, as well as the skill of medical personnel at George Washington University Hospital. Reagan’s courage over those tense hours further cemented his relationship — and political standing — with the American public and changed the way he approached the job over the next eight years. On the surface, the parallels between 1981 and what happened Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman red shots at former President Donald Trump, are striking. A gunman got o several shots as Trump was addressing a rally crowd, and Trump was struck in the right ear.

Trump ducked behind a lectern as agents piled on top of

him as human shields. In what is sure to be an iconic moment, a bloodied Trump raised a deant st to the crowd as agents whisked the presumptive Republican presidential candidate o the stage.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump’s campaign said he was doing “ ne” after being checked out at an area medical facility. Authorities are working to gure out what happened in Butler. As the public learned in the hours after the Reagan assassination attempt, early reports can be wrong. Only much later did the public realize how close Reagan came to dying that day — his life had hung in the balance of a split-second decision and an inch. It was just 70 days into Rea-

gan’s rst term when he left the Washington Hilton on March 30 after a speech to a trade union and approached his waiting limousine at 2:27 p.m. Hinckley couldn’t believe his luck. A troubled 25-yearold, Hinckley had been hoping to kill the president to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had now somehow found himself standing behind a rope line in a crowd of spectators and journalists — all unscreened by the Secret Service — just 15 feet from the president.

See REAGAN, page 2

Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd while surrounded by Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt on Saturday in Pennsylvania.

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NC Medicaid expansion has enrolled 500,000 in 7 months

The goal was to hit 600,000 in the rst two years

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — More than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program since it went live about seven months ago, ocials announced Friday.

Gov. Roy Cooper, joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary Kody Kinsley and two health care professionals, held a news conference to tout the enrollment number as a signi cant milestone for the

REAGAN from page 1

He pulled out his revolver and opened re. His rst bullet struck White House Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and his second hit D.C. Police O cer Thomas Delahanty in the back.

We stand corrected

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

July 11

• William Robinson Brown, 25, was arrested by the Moore County Sheri ’s O ce (MCSO) for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.

• Fermin Morales-Jaramillo, 33, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

July 12

• Quintin Delmonte McMillan, 59, was arrested by the Pineblu Police Department for eeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.

• Scott Devaugh McZorn, 56, was arrested by the Southern Pines Police Department for resisting public o cers.

July 13

• Demarcus James Gibson, 32, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

• Darrick Taquarius Pratt, 32, was arrested by MCSO for breaking and entering.

July 15

• Joseph Lee Barber, 57, was arrested by MCSO for attempt tra cking opioids by transport.

• Kimberly Dawn Borchardt, 58, was arrested by the Carthage Police Department for driving while impaired.

• Ethan Lee Rush, 32, was arrested by the Robbins Police Department for eeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.

• Alexus Ann-Marie Tucker, 24, was arrested by the Pinehurst Police Department for possession of methamphetamine.

July 16

• Shtara Arnae Little, 31, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor larceny.

At the sound of the shots, Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr grabbed Reagan and shoved him toward the open door of the armored limousine. Hinckley’s third bullet ew high. The fourth hit Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy in the chest as he stood between the president and the gunman.

The fth shot hit the armored window of the limousine. Hinckley’s nal bullet ricocheted o the side of the limousine, attening into the shape of a dime and striking Reagan ve inches below his left armpit. Parr dove in behind the president, and the door slammed shut. Parr ordered the limousine to head to the White House.

Parr didn’t know Reagan had been shot. But when the president complained of pain in his chest and Parr noticed frothy blood on his lips, the agent or-

TRUMP from page 1

He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him.

When they gave the all-clear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety, While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again — so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he

program. The original goal was to enroll 600,000 people in the Medicaid expansion over two years, Cooper said.

The number of enrollees was 503,967 as of last Friday morning, according to the governor’s o ce.

Expanding Medicaid had been a major goal of Cooper’s since the Democrat took o ce in 2017. The plan to broaden the pool of eligible adults received bipartisan support from state legislators last year and started Dec. 1. Within the rst few weeks, almost 300,000 people had signed up under the expansion. Under the 2010 A ordable Care Act, the federal government pays 90% of the cost.

dered the limousine to head to George Washington University hospital. There, Reagan insisted on walking into the hospital under his own power but collapsed like a dead weight in the hallway.

Doctors and nurses located his wounds. They could not stem Reagan’s bleeding, however, forcing surgeons to operate to staunch it. Reagan lost more than half his blood volume that day before the bleeding was brought under control. Surgeons removed the bullet lodged just an inch from the president’s heart.

As laid out in my book, “Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” the shooting generated massive sympathy from the American public for Reagan, who spent 13 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. But it did something else — it built a bond between the president and the public. They had seen a president who acted with grace and courage. They would hear that he had cracked jokes with his doctors and nurses as they fought to save his life and sought to ease the anxiety of loved ones.

was helped down the steps.

The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!”

As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bulletproof door behind him.

For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.

Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experience one of his rallies. She and a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the

“We never, ever, ever gave up. And that’s why we’re standing here today,” Cooper said.

Almost 2 million prescriptions have been lled for new Medicaid enrollees, many of which treat chronic conditions such as seizures or heart diseases, Kinsley said at the news conference. Dental services have also seen increased claims under Medicaid due to the expansion, he said.

“We’re not just getting people covered. We are getting people care,” Kinsley said.

He also called for increasing provider rates in the Medicaid program, which was included in Cooper’s budget proposal this year.

Lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube draining blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip.

“Honey, I forgot to duck,” he told her, borrowing a line that boxer Jack Dempsey delivered to his own wife after losing the 1926 heavyweight championship. He joked with advisers as he was being wheeled into the operating room. And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”

Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”

The White House wasted little time in ensuring those lines were delivered to the press. As David Broder, a Washington Post political journalist, would write two days later: “What happened to Reagan on Monday is the stu of which legends are made.”

Three decades later, Broder stood by that assessment. “He was politically untouchable from that point on,” Broder said in an interview. “He became a mythic gure.”

bleachers behind Trump. Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.

She watched as Trump grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.

“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”

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 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.

July 18-20

NC Peach Festival

12:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The 26th annual N.C. Peach Festival happens each year on the third Saturday in July in downtown Candor. Friday will feature an evening of entertainment, vendors, and activities. The parade kicks-o the o cial N.C. Peach Festival on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. on S. Main Street in Candor.

July 21

Sandhills Bogeys Baseball

6 p.m.

The nal home game of the regular season features the Bogeys hosting the Jacksonville Ospreys. First pitch is at 6 p.m. at Dempsey Diamond at Bogey Ballpark.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Preserving the strength of our nation starts at home

These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children.

STRONG FAMILIES are the cornerstone of strong communities that build a stronger nation. Unfortunately, our families are in peril.

Widespread divorce rates, the erosion of traditional marriage, radical ideologies, attacks on faith and government interference in our daily lives are breaking down the family and the country we love.

As I discussed with former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on a recent episode of “Newt’s World,” America does not have to be like this. In his new book, “The Perilous Fight,” Carson o ers inspiration and the answers needed to restore the family unit as America’s key foundation. Like many, Carson said he fears we are losing the country we love. He encouraged readers to return to the biblical and familial values on which our country was founded.

During our conversation, Carson said three simple steps make the greatest di erence in a young person’s chances of escaping or avoiding poverty. It was shockingly simple. These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children. Citing a Brookings Institution survey, Carson said if each of these steps is followed, the likelihood of living in poverty drops to 2% or less.

Biden in the bunker

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.

This statistic should not surprise any Americans. Earlier in our nation’s history, there was a time when education, marriage and hard work were valued. As Carson said, “Those are the kind of values that frequently are passed on through the family. However, when you have the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, you are not getting those kinds of values passed on.”

It was once well known that having children out of wedlock was a poor decision for parents and children. The lack of stable mother and father gures has severely negative consequences on children’s lives. Carson shared that, “Children who come from broken homes are 2.3 times as likely to be homeless — think about that — and twice as likely to get in trouble with the police or end up in jail, twice as likely to experience educational underachievement, to experience alcoholism, drug abuse, or teen pregnancy.”

Alarmingly, Carson said he believes that our enemies seek to destroy America from within. Those who want to fundamentally change our country and replace it with a radically di erent one have been scratching away at our traditional family-focused foundation for decades.

The goals of 1960s communism included gaining control of the schools and teachers

unions for indoctrination. They also involved controlling college newspapers to indoctrinate and encourage rioting among college students — and normalizing aberrant sexuality. In many parts of America, these goals have succeeded — and degraded our morality and national identity.

In a recent poll, America’s New Majority Project found that 84% of Americans believe that parents have the right to know what is happening in the classroom. Yet, the teachers unions are bitterly opposed. The teachers unions spend about $5 billion a year on politics to get state legislatures to restrict parental oversight in schools.

As a result of radicalism in the classroom, many parents have turned to homeschooling. Homeschooling has doubled since 2020, and many families wait years to get their children into private or religious schools. As Carson said, “That tells you that the American people know what’s happening.” The pandemic opened a window into the world of classroom indoctrination. Parents are rejecting this false education and seeking alternatives. We must reestablish America’s core biblical and familial values before the whole system collapses. This e ort starts at home. The future of our nation hinges on the health of our families and communities.

HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.

Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.” No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.

This is about saving our democracy.

Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault. Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward.

They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.

And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.

What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.

What that episode revealed is what the press has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.

He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.

Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move. But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win.

I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.

I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?

The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing. What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.

But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

MOORE SPORTS

Bogeys ghting for rst place in Southeastern Division

Sandhills split four games last week and hopes to ght o Hope Mills

North State Journal

THE SANDHILLS Bogeys are making a push for the playo s in the Old North State League. The college summer league team is in a virtual tie with the Hope Mills Rock sh atop the Southeastern Division. Sandhills has played ve more games than Hope Mills, and a total of seven percentage points behind the Rock sh. Hope Mills has won nine of its last 10 to make a race of the division.

Sandhills split its four games last week and contended with the weather as much as the opposing teams on the eld. One game was cut short by rain and another was postponed.

Sandhills had a 7-2 win

Number of RBIs for Josh Zambito in a win over Hope Mills

over the Clinton Royals last Wednesday, giving the Bogeys a two-game winning streak. That was snapped the following night when the red-hot Rock sh got the better of the Bogeys, 10-6.

After Friday’s matchup with the Tarboro River Bandits was washed out, the Bogeys got some revenge over Hope Mills, rolling to a 14-4 win, the only blemish on the Rock sh record for the last week and a half. Sandhills capped the weekend with a 10-2

loss to the Sanford Spinners. Center elder Angel Lobo won the Old North State League’s player of the week award, as well as our Moore County Athlete of the Week honors. He went 7-for-16 in games since our last deadline, while the league’s Sunday-to-Sunday time frame had him with a .476 average for the week on 10-for-21 hitting.

Finley Spicer also had a big week, driving in three runs in one game to go with two stolen bases. Catcher Josh Zambito had a big night, going 2-for4 with a home run and six RBIs to beat the Rock sh.

Tyler Bar eld and Nicklaus Berhalter each picked up wins last week. Bar eld went six innings, striking out six, while Berhalter had three strikeouts in three innings to pick up a win in the rain-shortened four-inning contest.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Angel Lobo

Sandhills Bogeys, baseball

Angel Lobo is a center elder for the Sandhills Bogeys of The Old North State League.

He was also second-team all-conference with his college team, Milligan University, where he also won a gold glove.

Lobo leads the Bogeys in hits and doubles, and he is second in stolen bases.

Last week, he hit in all four games, going 7-for-16 with six runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases.

Blaney wins in return to Pocono Raceway

Team Penske completed a weekend sweep of NASCAR-IndyCar events

By Dan Gleston

The Associated Press

LOND POND, Pa.— Ryan Blaney returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second in the last ve races this season.

Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske — Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for the 87-year-old Roger Penske.

The 2023 NASCAR champion, Blaney won the inaugu-

ral Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more top-10 nishes headed into Pocono. The Team Penske driver’s summer success in the No. 12 Ford has stamped him a legitimate threat to win a second straight championship.

“I de nitely think we’re in a better spot at this time than where we were last year,” Blaney said. “I feel like our speed’s better. Our execution’s great.”

Blaney was dialed in on the 2.5-mile track and was never seriously challenged over thenal 10 laps by runner-up Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Hamlin holds the Pocono record with seven career wins; Bowman won last’s week Chicago Street Race.

Bowman and Hamlin were fast.

Just not fast enough to catch Blaney in front of another packed house at Pocono.

Hamlin, last year’s winner, was in hot pursuit over the nal six laps, but the three-time Daytona 500 champion could never nip at Blaney’s Ford.

“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said.

No win, of course, in NASCAR is ever guaranteed, and there were some ashbacks to the cruel nish when Blaney ran out of fuel in early June while coming to the white ag at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I was de nitely more ner-

vous today,” crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You lose one on the last lap, and you certainly get an appreciation for, it’s not over till you take the checkered.”

Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric won that race in Illinois and fellow Penske driver Joey Logano won four races later at Nashville Superspeedway. Throw in Blaney’s two wins and Penske drivers have won four of the last seven Cup races.

The 30-year-old Blaney, son of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou Blaney, led the nal 44 laps and now has 12 career Cup wins dating back to the rst one when he took the checkered ag for the

Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.

“It’s awesome to be back” in Victory Lane, Blaney said. “It was super special to win here seven years ago with the Wood Brothers. It’s just as special to win here today.”

Blaney already knows the importance of getting hot late in the season. Blaney turned up his performance last season in the No. 12 Ford in the playo s. Over the nal six weeks, Blaney racked up two wins, two runner-ups and didn’t nish lower than 12th.

Blaney’s rst career title was the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske and 44th overall for the storied organization. William Byron was fourth and Logano fth.

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Josh Zambito of the Sandhill Bogeys watches his y ball during an early July game against the Sanford Spinners.

SIDELINE REPORT

NBA

NBA releases pools for this season’s NBA Cup in-season tournament

Las Vegas

Myles Turner thinks part of the reason why the Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep playo run this past season was because of the in-season tournament. And he can’t wait for Round 2. Group play pools for the second edition of tournament — now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup — were released by the NBA last Friday. The event will start Nov. 12 and runs through a championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 17. Charlotte is in East Group A with New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

NFL

Belichick joining ‘Inside the NFL’ for upcoming season

Los Angeles

The CW Network announced Thursday that Bill Belichick will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” this season.

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 24 years at the helm. He will also appear this season on the Manningcast during “Monday Night Football.” Belichick joins Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long. Johnson and Long each played one season for Belichick in New England. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” Belichick said in a statement.

GOLF

Els wins Kaulig Companies Championship for rst senior major title

Akron, Ohio Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship for his rst senior major title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Y.E. Yang. A stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker entering the round, Els rebounded from a bogey on the par-5 16th to par the nal two holes. Yang bogeyed the par-4 18th in a 66. Els became the PGA Tour Champions’ rst three-time winner this season, winning for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old South African nished at 10-under 270, earning $525,000 and a spot in The Players Championship in March.

NCAA BASKETBALL

NCAA women’s selection committee to reveal full seeding of tournament teams next season

Austin, Texas The NCAA women’s selection committee will release the seeding for the entire tournament eld for the rst time next season. The change means the full seed list for all 68 teams will be revealed on Selection Sunday as it has been with the men. NCAA Division I Basketball Committee chair Derita Dawkins says the change will provide additional transparency. The committee also announced that the rst- and secondround games will continue to be hosted by the top 16 seeds on March 19-24, 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will then host eight-team regionals.

Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in straight sets

The 21-year-old repeated as champion and now has four grand slam titles

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s nal for the second straight year, getting a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory for his fourth Grand Slam title in all. And to think: He is still just 21. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month and, after receiving Wimbledon’s gold trophy from Kate, the Princes of Wales, is now just the sixth man to triumph on the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.” Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in

major nals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got o to a better start to a career among men, going 7-0.

“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 11⁄2 months ago yet was hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the rst player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.”

For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a ve-point stretch that took him from the verge of victory to close to a collapse. It happened when he was a point from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all.

Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue. But only brie y. Alcaraz regrouped, got to the tiebreaker, then closed things out. Against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly when he landed after serving or stepped gingerly — as if barefoot on a beach’s hot sand — between points. Missing volleys he usually makes, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points when he went to the net. After netting a volley to close one early 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked to his sideline seat to grab a purpleand-green towel for dabbing at sweat.

Alcaraz was outstanding in pretty much every way, from the basic to the sorts of shots no one else would even try. Once, he leaped and wrapped his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net, al-

though Djokovic did put an overhead away to get that point. Alcaraz ran wide of the doubles alley for forehand winners. Claimed points via drop shots. Smacked serves at up to 136 mph. Accumulated 14 break points, converting ve, and faced just three. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova won her second major with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the women’s nal.

“Well, who knows what I can do? And what I cannot do? I mean, I don’t know,” the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic said. “Before Roland Garros, I didn’t know I can win a Slam. Before here, I didn’t know that I can win another Slam. So who knows what I’m capable of? For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. To be happy on the court. To have fun. And to combine all this — to feel good and to be happy.”

US appeals court says NCAA athletes may qualify as employees

Federal wage and hour laws could qualify some athletes as employees

By MaryClaire Dale The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — College athletes whose e orts primarily bene t their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wageand-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a setback to the NCAA. The court said that a test should be developed to di erentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work.”

“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.”

A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difculty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact nding.

The ruling follows a 2021 Supreme Court decision that led the NCAA to amend its

A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to di erentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work” that bene ts the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.

rules to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. In May, the NCAA announced a nearly $2.8 billion revenue-sharing plan that could steer millions of dollars directly to athletes by next year.

The Division I athletes and former athletes behind the suit in Philadelphia are seeking more modest hourly wages similar to those earned by their peers in work-study programs. They argue that colleges are violating fair labor practices by failing to pay them for the time they dedicate to their sports, which they say can average 30 or more hours per week.

Lawyer Paul McDonald, representing the plainti s, has

suggested that athletes might make $2,000 per month or $10,000 per year for participating in NCAA sports. He said that many students need the money for everyday expenses.

“This notion that college athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campuses,” McDonald said Thursday. “It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees.”

A district judge had refused to throw out the case, prompting the Indianapolis-based NCAA to ask the appeals court to stop it from going to trial. Defendants include the

NCAA and member schools including Duke University, Villanova University and the University of Oregon.

The NCAA, in a statement, said it has been expanding core bene ts for athletes, from health care to career preparation, and wants to help schools steer more direct nancial bene ts to their athletes.

However, it noted what it called student concerns that the employment model could “harm their experiences and needlessly cost countless student-athletes opportunities in women’s sports, Olympic sports, and sports at the HBCU and Division II and Division III levels.” The statement was issued by NCAA spokesperson Meghan Durham Wright.

The unanimous Supreme Court decision that spawned the NIL payments lifted the ban on college compensation beyond full-ride scholarships. Schools recruiting top athletes now can o er tens of thousands of dollars in education-related bene ts such as study-abroad programs, computers and graduate scholarships.

“Traditions alone cannot justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. “The NCAA is not above the law.”

But that case did not resolve whether college athletes are employees entitled to direct pay — the key issue before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court panel.

MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he holds up his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles nal at the Wimbledon tennis championships

MICHAEL CONROY / AP PHOTO

Iran’s new president warns US his country won’t be pressured

Masoud Pezeshkian

wants to have “balance in relations with all countries”

By Amir Vahdat

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create “balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”

Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country’s stateowned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” ‘

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5’s runo election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

He said in his message his administration would “prioritize strengthening relations with our neighbors” and urged Arab countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease- re in the ongoing Isra-

el-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started Oct.7.

Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country’s relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government

would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.

The president also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.

Pezeshkian said he looks for-

ward to engaging in constructive dialogue with European countries “based on principles of mutual respect” despite a relationship that has known “its ups and downs.”

In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — a nuclear agreement that also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Since then, Western powers have accused the Islamic Republic of expanding its nuclear program and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60% level, near-weapons-grade levels. The U.S. has issued severe, mainly economic, sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian accused the European countries of reneging on commitments made, following the U.S. withdrawal, to ensure “e ective banking transactions, e ective protection of companies from U.S. sanctions, and the promotion of investments in Iran.” However, he added there were still many opportunities for collaboration between Iran and Europe.

He then addressed the U.S., underscoring his country’s refusal to “respond to pressure,” adding that Iran “entered the JCPOA in 2015 in good faith and fully met our obligations.”

Pezeshkian said the U.S. backing out has in icted “hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to our economy” and caused “untold su ering, death and destruction on the Iranian people — particularly during the Covid pandemic” due to sanctions.

Pezeshkian said Western countries “not only missed a historic opportunity to reduce and manage tensions in the region

and the world, but also seriously undermined the Non-Proliferation Treaty.” He emphasized that “Iran’s defense doctrine does not include nuclear weapons.”

Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement toward constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Pezeshkian also accused the U.S. administration in his open letter of escalating “hostilities” by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military activities, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in 2020.

Besides regional turmoil and tense relations over Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s president faces many challenges locally. He must now convince an angry public — many undernancial duress due to sanctions, stubbornly high in ation and unemployment — that he can make the changes promised while dealing with an administration still largely governed by hard-liners.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist gures since his Presidential campaign. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached the 2015 JCPOA. Pezeshkian appointed Zarif as the head of the Strategic Council for the transition period of the administration. The council, comprised of experts and advisors, will focus on assessing potential candidates for key cabinet positions and ensuring a seamless handover of leadership.

Son of Asia’s richest man marries in extravagant wedding

The ceremony and reception cost millions of dollars

By Ra q Maqbool and Rajnish Kakade

The Associated Press

MUMBAI, India — A wedding reception on Sunday wrapped up the monthslong celebrations as the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man, married his longtime girlfriend with a price tag running into the millions.

The newlyweds were cheered by friends and relatives at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive -- a convention center built and owned by the Ambani family — as part of the “Mangal Utsav” (a festival of Bliss), which marked what many have dubbed as the wedding of the year.

Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The wedding rituals, including exchanging garlands by the couple and

walking around the sacred re, began Friday and were completed early Saturday.

Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, as well as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra

and Nick Jonas, American wrestler and actor John Cena, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were among the celebrities who attended the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi blessed the newlyweds at a Saturday reception organized by the Ambanis, highlighting the billionaire’s rising clout.

“This is the nal and the most auspicious ceremony and the last wedding in our family,” The Times of India newspaper quoted Mukesh Ambani. The Ambanis didn’t say how much they spent on the festivities that have been going on for months.

During a three-day pre-wedding celebration in March, Rihanna and Akon performed for a star-studded 1,200-person guest list.

A four-day European cruise in May featured on-deck concerts from the Backstreet Boys and Pitbull, followed by a masquerade ball where Katy Perry sang. At last week’s traditional music night in Mumbai, Justin Bieber belted out his music hits.

The groom’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is the world’s ninth-richest man, with a net worth of $116 billion, according to Forbes. He is the richest per-

son in Asia. His Reliance Industries is a conglomerate reporting over $100 billion in annual revenue, with interests that include petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.

The Ambani family owns, among other assets, a 27-story family compound in Mumbai worth $1 billion. The building contains three helipads, a 160car garage and a private movie theater.

The groom, 29-year-old Anant, oversees the conglomerate’s renewable and green energy expansion. He also runs a 3,000-acre animal rescue center in Gujarat state’s Jamnagar, the family’s hometown.

The bride, also 29, is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.

Ambani’s critics say his company has relied on political connections during Congress Party-led governments in the 1970s and ’80s, and under Modi’s rule since 2014.

RELIANCE INDUSTRIES VIA AP

Anant Ambani, left, the son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, holds hands with Radhika Merchant during their wedding ceremony at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, last Friday.

OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER VIA AP

Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, left, sits next to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a ceremony Friday.

obituaries

Margaret (Peggy) Lucey

January 3, 1942 –July 12, 2024

Margaret (Peggy) Lucey passed peacefully into Heaven at FirstHealth Hospice House on July 12, 2024 at the age of 82. Devoted wife of Jim and beloved mother to Stephen and mother-in-law to Coleen. She was cherished by her three grandchildren, also known as her “Kiddies” Megan, James and Patrick who fondly called her Grammy.

Peggy was born in Brooklyn and graduated from St. Vincents Nursing School in Manhattan. She went on to earn her Bachelors in Science from St. Francis College. She worked as a nurse for over 50 years. She cared for patients in the Emergency Room, Operating Room, as well as being a School Nurse. Peggy’s dedication to her profession also led her to care for hospice patients when she moved to Pinehurst.

Peggy was an avid gardener, golfer and reader, she appreciated what was important and was a friend to all, especially her wine therapy group.

Peggy lived a faith lled life as a Eucharistic Minister and devoted parishioner to St. Anthony’s of Padua. She had a “Heart of Gold” and a way of making people feel that they were the most special person in the room. To know Peggy was to love her and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will take place on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 am at St. Anthony’s of Padua in Southern Pines. In lieu of owers, memorial donations can be made to: FirstHealth Hospice House, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home, Pinehurst.

Hurley Clinton “Pete” Cheek, Jr.

September 4, 1930 –July 11, 2024

Hurley Clinton “Pete” Cheek, Jr. 93 of West End, passed on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

A graveside service will be held 11AM Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the West End Cemetery with Rev. Darrell Cheek o ciating followed by a reception and visitation time at the Seven Lakes West Community Center.

Pete was born September 4, 1930 in Crewe, VA to the late Hurley Clinton Cheek, Sr. and Alberta Ritter Cheek. He passed quickly & peacefully less than 2 months’ shy of his 94th birthday with his sons by his side. There are a few things you know if you knew Pete Cheek: He was proud to be a veteran and he took pride in being dressed to the nines. Always “sharp” from his stark white hair to his stark white boat shoes. He so enjoyed a bright sport coat with matching pocket square & tie. He may have been color blind but you’d never know it.

He loved the art of a good irt. He’d irt with a paper bag. Always joking, handing out compliments & sur ng for a compliment in return. He greeted everyone with a smile & they knew they had an instant friend. This is why he was the perfect t to work at the funeral home in his retirement years… he made everyone feel lighter.

He had a great appreciation for a sparkling clean Cadillac. The streets of West End will surely miss his slow rolls through town in his red 1965 Cadillac convertible, American ags thoughtfully mounted on each side that gently apped in the wind while he passed with a friendly smile & wave.

He loved music…especially Carolina beach music. In his younger years, he’d dance. In

his older years, he’d tap his foot. There was always music, not only in the car, but, he & grandma even kept the music playing in the living room when they weren’t home. And he’d always sing along with the timbre only those classic voices carry.

He was so tight with money that, as his son Darrell says, he “squeaked when he walked”. He loved a free meal & never left a speck of food on a plate. We still think it’s hilarious that grandma Beckie had a secret credit card he didn’t know about until her passing. He was surely shocked when he discovered the actual price of colorful pocket squares & matching ties.

He loved a tomato sandwich…. but not just any tomato sandwich. He preferred it to be a little soggy so it had to sit a while after it was made before he’d enjoy every last morsel. And he looked forward to Thanksgiving every year when he’d enjoy Aunt Kathie’s pinto beans & collard greens. He’d always say “I should watch my waistline” but he’d never pass on Whitney’s chocolate pies or Donna’s blueberry congealed salad.

He was so proud of his family. So proud of his sons & all they accomplished. He never failed to tell his grandchildren how proud he was of them & he’d surely tell anyone else who called to chat.

But how blessed we have been. Blessed to have lived with the continual love, admiration, encouragement & joy that only he could give. So here’s to you, Papa Pete…here’s to always giving a friendly smile & wave. Here’s to dressing sharp & always keeping the music playing.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Rebecca “Beckie” Garner Cheek on November 13, 2014. Also preceding him in death was two sons, Greg & Dale Cheek and a brother, Gerald Cheek and a sister Shirley Garrison.

He is survived by his sons, David Cheek (wife Jerry) of West End, and Rev. Darrell Cheek (wife Donna) of Powder Springs, GA; eight grandchildren, Tyler Cheek, Holden Cheek and (wife Evon), Connor Cheek, Katie Deese (husband Cody), Matthew Cheek (Wife Whitney), Andrea Kinsey, Heidi Lawson (husband Bronzie), and April Davidson (husband Greg) and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes.

Richard Anthony “Ricky” Hurst

September 11, 1954 –July 11, 2024

Richard Anthony “Ricky” Hurst passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 11th surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Kam (Buchan), daughter Mary Kathryn (Roger Pombo), granddog Meli, nieces Jessica Seaford (Chris), Jordan Buchan (Zach Auman), Tara Hurst, nephew Taylor Hurst, great nieces Leah, Willow, and Scarlett, greatnephew Levi, brother Chuck Hurst (Emmy), sister Barbara Hardy, and sister-in-law Mary Lou Hurst. He is preceded in death by his father Albert Hurst, mother Mary O’Callaghan Hurst, brothers Jerry and Al Hurst, and sister Marie Lomac. Born on September 11th, 1954 in Southern Pines, he was the fth of six siblings. His need for speed grew from a young age and his lead foot got him into trouble more than a few times over the years. Ricky began working as a mechanic directly out of high school at Wicks Chevrolet in the early 70s, making lifelong friends and christening them with nicknames. If he called you something other than your name, you were his friend for life. He eventually opened Hurst Garage and ran a successful

Kelsey Marie Hall

June 16, 1998 – July 11, 2024

Today we gather to celebrate and honor a truly special soul whose life touched so many. She is a daughter, a sister, a ancé, an aunt, a granddaughter, a niece, a daughter-in-law, and a best friend. She is someone who brought light and love into the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. As a daughter and sister she brought joy and happiness into her family’s lives from the moment she was born. She was a source of pride and inspiration, always striving to be the best version of herself while never

business out in his beloved community of Derby for nearly thirty years. Ricky then worked as a eet manager for Lee Electrical Construction alongside another round of nicknamed coworkers for twenty-three years before retiring in May of 2023. He was proud to keep the buses of the Academy of Moore County and the local Boys and Girls Club running for several years prior to retirement.

If you couldn’t nd him on the weekends, he was either “knocking around” his shop, walking down Holden Beach with his family and friends, or burning rubber at the Rockingham Dragway with his Derby Road boys in his ‘68 Camaro. He loved a good joke, a good nap, and a good meal with friends. He loved to travel and see the beauty of God’s green Earth. One of his favorite things to do was sit on his front porch and watch the world-and sometimes even some wild turkeys-go by. Ricky was committed to taking care of the people he loved and he loved them well.

The visitation will be held at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines on Monday, July 15th from 5-8 PM.

A service of the Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday, July 16th at 11 AM at Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

The Hurst family would like to personally thank Chuck & Emmy Hurst, Duke Cancer Center- Raleigh, Liberty Home Care & Hospice, FirstHealth Moore Regional HospitalRichmond, FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care and Nancy Keith for their loving care of Ricky during his illness. In lieu of owers, donations can be made in his memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

failing to make them proud.

As an aunt, she embraced her role with warmth and love, showering her niece and nephew with a ection and guidance. She was someone they could always turn to for advice and support, while making them feel loved and cherished.

As a best friend, she was a true blessing, someone who was always there to listen, to o er a shoulder to cry on, to share in the joys and sorrows of life. She was a loyal and caring friend, someone who enriched the lives of all who knew her with her kindness and compassion.

As a ancé, she found her true partner in life, someone who shared her dreams and ambitions. They brought out the best in each other from the day they met on the campus of Clemson. Tyler’s and Kelsey’s love is a shining example of what true partnership and commitment should look like. She will always be his bride and he will always be her husband. Kelsey always had a smile for everyone and her life was welllived. She fought bravely and her strong spirit will live forever in the hearts of all those she touched Always and Forever.

STATE & NATION

A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America

Political violence is not unknown to the United States

By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.

A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:

Abraham Lincoln 16th president

Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.

Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.

James Gar eld 20th president

Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau.

Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.

Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur. Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley

25th president

McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.

McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.

He was succeeded by Vice

President Theodore Roosevelt.

Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting. Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president

Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.

Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Guiseppe Zangara was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to death.

Harry S. Truman 33rd president

Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.

Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

John F. Kennedy 35th president

Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a

high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.

Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.

He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.

Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.

Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police headquarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.

Gerald Ford 38th president

Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.

In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red.

Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.

It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.

Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.

Ronald Reagan 40th president

Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.

Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.

Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”

George W. Bush 43rd president

Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.

Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.

Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate

The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.

Roosevelt had previous-

ly served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate.

Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.

John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.

Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate

Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.

Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.

George C. Wallace, presidential candidate

Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.

Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.

JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.

AP PHOTO Left, this April 1865 photo provided by the Library of Congress shows President Abraham Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater, the site of his assassination. Right, President Ford ducks behind his limousine after a shot was red as he left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 1975.