North State Journal Vol. 9, Issue 11

the BRIEF this week

Daughtry bows of NC-13 race; Knott will face Pierce

Raleigh The runo for the Republican nomination in the 13th Congressional District race is over before it began. Kelly Daughtry announced last Thursday on her Facebook page that she was suspending her campaign for the seat, meaning Brad Knott will face Democrat Frank Pierce in the general election. Knott conceded that former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Knott — which labeled Daughtry as a “RINO” and “no friend of MAGA” — made victory “no longer feasible.” She endorsed Knott in the post.

Daughtry received more than a quarter (27.4%) of the votes in the 14-candidate primary in March, while Knott was second at 18.7%. She will still appear on the May 14 ballot. Rep. Wiley Nickel, the Democratic incumbent, did not run for reelection for his seat after redistricting tipped the new district to lean Republican. The new district is made up of Caswell, Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Lee and Person counties along with parts of Granville and Wake counties.

High Point man charged with mailing threat to Georgia rabbi

Macon, Ga.

A High Point man has been charged in federal court with mailing a threatening postcard to a Georgia rabbi who had been outspoken in supporting a new state law that de nes antisemitism. Ariel Collazo Ramos faces up to ve years in prison if he is convicted of mailing threatening communications, federal prosecutors for the Middle District of Georgia said in a news release last Thursday. A grand jury indicted Ramos, 31, last month, according to court records, and the document was unsealed following his arrest. The indictment accuses Ramos of mailing a postcard in February to Elizabeth Bahar, the rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Macon. Written on the postcard, the indictment said, was a reference to the poison gas Nazis used to kill more than 1 million Jews during World War II as well as the words “Jews are rats.” It was not immediately known if Ramos had an attorney to represent him, and U.S. District Court records did not list one. The indictment said Ramos operated an online business from his home that sold “candles, postcards, and other products depicting racial, white nationalist themes.”

Rivalry renewed

Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chat eld skates away following Rangers center Mika Zibanejad’s goal in New York’s 4-3 Game 1 win Sunday in the teams’ second-round NHL playo series in New York. The Hurricanes and Rangers played Game 2 after press time Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, and Carolina will host Game 3 and 4 on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, at PNC Arena.

NC o cials, candidates react to Biden’s Title IX change

Republicans slammed the changes; Democrats failed to respond

Charlotte nonpro t details migration journeys, crossings

Camino has received more than $560 million in federal funds

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A report by a Charlotte-area nonpro t engaged in assisting migrants offers details about migration journeys to the U.S. border with Mexico as well as a look at the partnerships, transportation and migrant demographics involved.

The nonpro t is called Camino and focuses on Hispanic and Latino communities. The group’s website says it o ers a “wide range of services, including but not limited to, general healthcare, behavioral therapy, upward mobility, professional development, and education.”

The founder and CEO of Camino and Camino Church is Rusty Price.

“Since Camino’s founding in 2003, Price has helped provide over $150,000,000.00 in

aid through multiple humanitarian projects he led in many countries, including Cuba, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States,” Camino’s website says.

The group’s report, The Migrant Experience: A Journey of Hope, was published on Mar. 28, 2023.

“Findings are presented in the sequence of a migrant’s journey to the US; pre-migration, pre-border crossing, crossing the border, post-border crossing, and settling in N.C.,” the report says.

Per the report’s summary, the Camino team conducted a multisite study at the U.S.-Mexico border, collaborating with organizations on both sides, and examined partnerships with Border Servant Corps (BSC) and a Juarez migrant shelter by analyzing “de-identi ed data.”

BSC operates various largescale shelters for asylum-approved migrants along the border through partnerships with

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH —The Biden administration’s U.S. Department of Education nalized its Title IX rule change last month, adding “gender identity” as a protected class, opening the door for transgender women to play on women’s sports teams and use women’s spaces in schools.

Republican North Carolina elected o cials and candidates running for top state ofces oppose the changes.

“The Department of Education has placed Title IX, and the decades of advancement and protections for women and girls that it has yielded, squarely on the chopping block,” Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05), a Republican, said

in a statement. “This nal rule dumps kerosene on the already raging re that is Democrats’ contemptuous culture war that aims to radically rede ne sex and gender.

“The rule also undermines existing due process rights, placing students and institutions in legal jeopardy and again undermining the protections Title IX is intended to provide. Evidently, the acceptance of biological reality, and the faithful implementation of the law, are just pills too big for the Department to swallow — and it shows.”

N.C. Rep. Dan Bishop (R08), who is leaving Congress to run for N.C. attorney general, said if he’s elected, he will join other state attorneys general in ghting the rule.

“I certainly will join in and I’ve already checked with some colleagues who are sitting Republican attorneys general, and I know that there are plans to challenge this

Black applicants claimed they were rejected from the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Legal Aid of North Carolina has settled a housing discrimination complaint against the North Carolina O ce of Recovery and Resiliency, which oversees the program helping hurricane victims return to their homes.

“Legal Aid of North Carolina is proud to announce this resolution, which reduces unnecessary barriers for owners in heirs’ properties to access crucial disaster relief funding, while also preserving the existing homeownership structure and keeping these properties in the family,” A.D. Ska , supervising attorney

with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project, said in a release.

“We hope that these revised policies can serve as a model for other disaster relief programs in North Carolina and CDBG-DR funded programs across the country.”

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a “statewide, nonpro t law rm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.”

Per Legal Aid’s complaint,

See NCORR, page A2

See TITLE IX, page A3

JULIA NIKHINSON / AP PHOTO

GREGORY BULL / AP PHOTO

Migrants reach through a border wall for clothing handed out by volunteers as they wait between two border walls to apply for asylum on May 12, 2023, in San Diego.

WEDNESDAY

A striking feature in the parables of Jesus Christ is their adaptation to the immediate circumstances in connection with which they were delivered. They are not fetched from afar — detached and isolated allegories. They are not strained and forced but fall in most naturally with the subject of His discourse. They are mortised and tenoned so aptly to the occasion, that we can scarcely see the joint by which they are framed together. The parable of the Rich Fool furnishes an instance of this felicitous illustration.

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21

In the midst of a discourse to his disciples, one of his company asked Jesus to intervene over the division the man’s inheritance. But Jesus, aware of the jealousy of the Jews, should he exercise any judicial functions, said unto him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

Whether this was a real cause or a question meant to entrap Jesus in his words we know not. He was not entrapped and warns him whose heart is so set upon a worldly inheritance to guard against greed because a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Having delivered this parable and sealed it upon the mind by an aphoristic moral, Jesus resumes his discourse to his disciples, and leaves the o ended brother to ponder the solemn truths which he had heard.

The rst thing presented to us in this parable is the fact, that the riches of this man were honestly acquired. It was the legitimate produce of his elds. His wealth was not wrung from poverty, extorted by oppression, or amassed by fraudulent trade but the product of honest industry.

comes to a resolve “I will pull down my barns, and build greater.”

It never seems to have occurred to him, that God, and not himself, was the disposer of his wealth, his happiness, his life. Absorbed in the moment — his crops, his elds, his barns — he forgot his soul.

But in this state of peace, plenty, and pleasure — his thoughts stretching out into the future, and his plans maturing to perfection, he is suddenly aroused by the voice of God, who reminded him of the frailty of life and the eternal timeline of the soul. God reminded him how quickly dreams of pleasure and schemes of greatness vanish at the solemn voice of God. Instead of having “much goods laid up for many years,” he had nothing laid up for eternity.

N.C.

It was important to the success of this parable, that the riches of the man were the honest sort, for, had they been ill-gotten gains, the rebuke, in the minds of many, would have rested upon the manner in which he acquired riches, rather than in the trusting to riches itself, however honestly obtained.

With the increase of his wealth, the man was intent only upon hoarding up what he had gained. Having revolved the matter on wholly sel sh principles, never once thinking that he was God’s steward to disburse those riches, rather than his banker to hoard them — he

Settlement announced in lawsuit against the NC Governor’s School

A red professor will get four years of his annual stipend and the school will implement a faculty speech policy

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A settlement has been reached in the case brought by a professor terminated by the North Carolina Governor’s School.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), in a statement, said it had successfully settled the lawsuit on behalf of David Phillips, a professor who alleged he was red in 2021 for criticizing the use of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and social justice activity at North Carolina Governor’s School.

Phillips, an English professor, also claimed students and faculty had been hostile toward him following lectures he gave that criticized CRT while advocating for viewpoint diversity.

“Teachers shouldn’t be red for fostering intellectual di-

NCORR from page A1

which was led with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a proof of ownership requirement was disproportionately a ecting black homeowners and it accused the North Carolina O ce of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) of violations of various sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

At issue was the NCORR rejection of a homeowner’s application to the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program due to proof of ownership requirements a ecting heirs properties.

“Heirs’ property,” as de ned in the complaint, is a family-owned property transfer that sometimes occurs between family members without a valid will or formal estate documentation.

Around 74 applicants were previously rejected from the program over the heirs requirement, and the settlement will allow them to submit an appeal for reentry into the program.

A conciliation and voluntary

“Teachers shouldn’t be red for fostering intellectual diversity on campus.”

Hal Frampton, Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel

versity on campus. A good education includes providing students with a wide range of di ering viewpoints to explore,” ADF senior counsel Hal Frampton said in a press release.

As part of the settlement, Phillips will get approximately four years of his annual stipend and the school will implement a policy to uphold faculty free speech in elective seminars, such as those Phillips taught before his dismissal.

With the settlement reached, ADF voluntarily dismissed the case, with co-counsel Anthony Biller representing Phillips.

“Dr. Phillips was beloved, re -

“We hope that these revised policies can serve as a model for other disaster relief programs in North Carolina and CDBG-DR funded programs across the country.”

A.D. Ska , supervising attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project.

compliance agreement entered into by the two parties includes changes to the process, such as adopting a new proof of ownership policy, notifying previously rejected applicants, allowing appeals for reentry and sta training.

Legal Aid of North Carolina hopes these changes will set a model for similar programs nationwide.

Individuals with concerns related to housing discrimination can contact Legal Aid of

spected, and well-regarded by both students and faculty as an advocate for students who felt that their voices weren’t being heard and their perspectives weren’t welcomed at the Governor’s School,” Frampton said. “We’re pleased to favorably settle this case on his behalf. Now, the Governor’s School’s policy rightly respects teachers’ freedom of speech, which greatly bene ts all students and families.”

According to the 2022 lawsuit, Phillips’ ring came after he made remarks about “the harms of the racially divisive ideology embraced by the school.”

Following the lawsuit’s ling, N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt sent a letter to legislators addressing the issue and refuting some of Phillips’ claims about why he was red.

In March 2023, N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein led a motion to dismiss the case with eight supporting reasons, including the failure to “state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”

North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project at 1-855-797-3247.

NCORR’s hurricane recovery e orts have been the subject of several legislative hearings over the past two years.

In September 2022, NCORR Director Laura Hogshead told lawmakers that 4,100 applications had been received but only 789 projects had been completed.

Established by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2018, NCORR oversees and manages $778 million in HUD federal disaster relief received by the state for hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018).

As of the hearing on Sept. 9, 2022, only around 60% of the funds had been encumbered with just $231 million spent. The funds must be spent or encumbered by 2025 for Matthew and 2026 for Florence.

In an update in December 2022, Hogshead said 277 projects were successfully bid in the past 90 days and 95 families were successfully housed in the 83 days spanning the period from the last meeting on Sept. 9.

Having thus interested them in the parable, Jesus draws out the moral in a short but comprehensive sentence. “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

The riches of faith, hope, love, joy and peace are “durable riches,” which will ever increase in value, and ever impart bliss, when the world, with its treasures of gold and silver and precious stones, are gone.

William Bacon Stevens (1815-1887) was a medical doctor, the state historian of Georgia and priest in the Episcopal Church. He served as the Bishop of Pennsylvania from 1865 to 1887.

MIGRANTS from page A1

the ACLU, American Red Cross, and religion-a liated nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Church World Services.

Interviews with migrants were held in El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Juarez, Mexico; and North Carolina, focusing on motivations, challenges, transportation, plans and demographics of migrants.

According to the report, interviews with more than 4,000 migrants in Mexico and 10,000 in New Mexico showed a signi cant presence of young adults and children. However, Customs and Border Patrol data for the past three scal years shows the largest set of migrants crossing the border are single adults.

2021: Total Encounters 1,734,686, Single Adults

1,105,925 (64%)

2022: Total Encounters 2,475,669, Single Adults

1,663,278 (67%)

2023: Total Encounters 2,378,944 Single Adults

1,514,322 (64%)

Motivations for crossing the U.S. border, both legally and illegally, encompassed seeking better opportunities for their families, health care and being able to send money back to family members in their home country to help support them.

Some indicated that eeing violence was a motivation, while others indicated “food insecurity” was an issue, which included having no money to buy food or skipping meals entirely.

The report explores the dangers and hardships migrants endured during the trip, including nancial costs, with an “average expenditure of $5,000 per person” despite some indicating they had no money to buy food.

“The cost to travel to the border is relatively high,” the report states. “Participants estimated to have paid around $5,000 per person to arrive at the border, and they explained that while that may not sound like much in the US, it is a lot in Latin America.”

A Venezuelan man explained the cost to get to the U.S. border in the report, stating the total costs to get to the U.S. border at around $4,000 to $5,000. Mexico is the hardest area to get through, per the interviews in the report. Migrants cited violence and danger that coyotes (human smugglers), cartels and corrupt police present.

325%

Increase in the last four months of migrants stating they’re heading to North Carolina, according to Camino’s report

Data sets in the report show the top destination states reported by migrants are Florida, New York, Texas, California and New Jersey. However, migrants listing North Carolina as their destination have “increased by 325% in the last 4 months,” with Charlotte listed as a top location, primarily due to knowing someone who already lives there.

NGOs have received scrutiny over the past year for their role in facilitating illegal immigrant travel to the border as well as aid and travel within the U.S. interior. According to the immigration watchdog group Federation for American Immigration Reform, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security was estimated to be providing “$363.8 million of taxpayer dollars” through programs giving grants to NGOs and nonpro ts to handle migrant arrivals in Fiscal Year 2023.

Records show that from 2021 through 2023, Camino received $568,181 in federal grants from Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services, mainly in the area of providing mental health and social services. The organization also has had $317,488 in two federal COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven.

The Camino Community Development Corporation, Inc. (CCDC) has received grants from local organizations, such as one in 2021 to expand a behavioral health program from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

CCDC also received a Golden Leaf Foundation grant for $169,850 for building renovations, a walk-in refrigeration unit, shelving, shopping carts, food safety equipment, a box truck with a lift, a wash-andpack station, and a dolly and hand truck.

The most recent lings for CDCC show the organization received $5.6 million in revenue and $5 million in expenses in 2022. Executive compensation totaled $125,000, and “other salaries and wages” came in at $1,987,624.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Parable of the Rich Fool” by Rembrandt (1627) is a painting in the collection of The Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

TITLE IX from page A1 rule,” Bishop told North State Journal.

Legal challenges from the states have already begun. Attorneys general from Florida, Texas and Louisiana have led lawsuits. Mississippi, Montana and Idaho have joined Louisiana’s lawsuit, while Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina have joined Florida’s ling.

“Florida rejects Joe Biden’s attempt to rewrite Title IX,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an April 25 video on X. “We will not comply, and we will ght back.”

Like DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. Je Landry have also said their states will not comply. Abbott even ordered the Texas Education Agency to ignore Biden’s Title IX rule change.

“So, this is a massive ght, and one of the key responsibilities of attorneys general is to protect the fundamental rights of Americans,” Bishop said.

“And since Title IX was passed in 1972, its purpose was to protect women’s ability to have an opportunity to compete athletically and develop those oppor-

Rep. Destin Hall on latest ICE bill, speakership

time Hall has worked to get an ICE cooperation bill passed.

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Arguably one of the most consequential bills this short session at the General Assembly is the measure requiring North Carolina sheri s to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on detainers for illegal migrants.

House Bill 10 was approved by the Senate on May 2 and includes new language giving the state’s attorney general the power to take sheri s to court for refusing to honor Immigration and Customs (ICE) detainers. The bill next heads to the House and is expected to pass quickly.

Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) said the change “came at the request of Dan Bishop,” referencing a social media post by Bishop.

Bishop is a former General Assembly lawmaker and North Carolina’s 8th District congressman who is running for attorney general.

Bishop, responding to a post by Fox News’ Bill Melugin regarding a Brazilian who illegally immigrated to the United States and faces 10 counts of aggravated rape on a child, tagged Hall in a post on X encouraging the General Assembly to force ICE compliance by the state’s sheri s. Hall responded by calling out both Attorney General Josh Stein, who is running for governor, and Bishop’s opponent in the race to succeed Stein, U.S. Rep. Je Jackson, for not supporting such action.

“Our current attorney general is not going to do anything about illegal immigration,” Hall told North State Journal in a wide-ranging interview on the bill, law and order, and the possibility he will be the next speaker of the N.C. House. “In fact, by all accounts, he appears to agree with Joe Biden’s open border policy. He is against this bill.

“I’m hopeful that when this bill passes and becomes law, the sheri s will follow the law, and I think they will. But also, we didn’t think six years ago that we would need a bill that would require sheri s to cooperate with ICE. They were already doing that voluntarily.”

Hall said most of the state’s 100 sheri s support the bill, though there are a handful who have “decided they just weren’t even going to cooperate with ICE at all.”

Previous attempts to pass an ICE detainer requirement bill were met with vetoes from North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Hall said he’s “absolutely” ready to attempt a veto override should Cooper veto the latest e ort.

House Bill 10 is not the rst

general, was contacted multiple times by North State Journal but did not respond.

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, who is running for governor, also failed to respond to multiple requests for comment.

Regarding possible legal challenges led against Republican-led legislation regarding women’s sports in N.C. and the state’s new law limiting abortion to 12 weeks, Stein has signaled he wouldn’t defend the state in those cases.

“We will have to see those complaints once they are led and determine the strengths of their legal arguments,” Stein said during a July 2023 interview with WFAE’s Steve Harrison. “But as a matter of policy, I know how I would have voted — no.” North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Stein’s opponent in the gubernatorial race, also disagreed with the Biden administration’s change.

During the 2019-20 session, he ran House Bill 370, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by Cooper. At that time, Republicans did not have a supermajority in both chambers to override the veto and the bill died. In his veto message, Cooper accused the bill of being an attempt to score “partisan political points.”

In the 2021-22 session, Senate Bill 101 met a similar fate as House Bill 370. Cooper again labeled the bill as an attempt at “scoring political points” and “using fear to divide North Carolinians.”

“The reality is we’ve seen case after case, not only in North Carolina but in other states, of folks being arrested, charged with a crime and who are here illegally,” Hall said, saying some o enders were being released to potentially victimize citizens because ICE detainers hadn’t been honored.

“Those are real people facing real consequences,” Hall said of the victims. “It’s not a political game to the folks who have been harmed by the failure to cooperate with ICE.”

In a recent Gallup Poll, immigration was named the top concern of voters for the third consecutive week.

Hall will have a bigger say if he is selected to succeed Rep. Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) as the next speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Hall said he has “the re and ability to do any of this stu .” If elected to the speakership, the 36-year-old Hall would become the rst millennial to lead one of the two chambers of the General Assembly. Hall already made history as being the rst millennial to serve as chair of the powerful House Rules Committee.

“I don’t know if I want to do it as long as (Speaker Tim Moore’s) done it, but you just never say never,” Hall added with a slight laugh. “But yeah, I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Hall said his priority should he rise to be the next speaker is strengthening law and order in the state, citing the ICE bill and recent volatile protests at UNC Chapel Hill.

Hall said law enforcement needs the tools to deal with protesters who do things like block roads. He also said actions like in Chapel Hill where the U.S. ag was replaced with a Palestinian one on campus threaten the American way of life.

“We’ve got to combat that (extremism) because if we don’t, we’re not going to have a country anymore,” Hall said.

Hall also said diversity, equity and inclusion “is obviously a big one” and may be taken up in the short session.

“North Carolinians should be outraged that our attorney general Josh Stein is not ghting this extreme agenda in court. As governor, I will do everything in my power to protect the privacy, safety and equality of women and girls — including in places like restrooms and locker rooms, as well as in sports.”

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, the state’s top education o cial, also issued a statement to North State Journal.

tunities.

“But the Biden administration, like the Obama administration before it, has declared itself to be 100% opposed to those opportunities for women;

they’re looking to destroy them, and I’m going to oppose it in every way that I can.”

Freshman N.C. Congressman Rep. Je Jackson (D-14), also running for N.C. attorney

“This is nonsense,” Robinson said in a statement through his campaign to North State Journal. “Joe Biden and Josh Stein want to erase decades of work by women to level the playing eld in sports and more.

“This new Title IX rule will have drastic implications on women’s only spaces in the K-12 setting such as bathrooms and locker rooms,” said Truitt. “It will disenfranchise women by enabling participation in extracurricular activities and application for scholarships based on gender identity, as opposed to biological sex, and will rob women of the very opportunities Title IX was initially created to protect.

“I am hopeful this rule will be challenged and that sex-separate sports will be protected in order to keep girls and women safe in K-12 spaces and beyond.”

The Caldwell County Republican says the legislature is willing to use a veto override

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, holds up a copy of Republican legislation that would prohibit transgender women and girls from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity on April 17 in Washington, D.C.

A.P. DILLON / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Hall could become the rst millenial to become speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

DAVID COBB / NCGA

State Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) said “law and order” is his priority in the General Assembly.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Thank God for those Tar Heel boys

Moderate, sentient Democrats used to be supportive of free speech and civil liberties for everyone.

GEN. ROBERT E. LEE wrote a letter to North Carolina Gov. Zebulon Vance after the Battle of Reams Station in Virginia praising them for their bravery during the siege of Petersburg late in the Civil War and is attributed as commenting: “Thank God for those Tar Heel boys.”

We may be all thanking God for those Tar Heel boys who protected the American ag and sang the national anthem last week.

It was the rst time in recent memory when anyone could remember a spontaneous organic student-led response to the oftvitriolic, hate- lled protests from young students who are being deliberately misled by paid progressive socialist agitators. Many mainstream students have been afraid to counteract or confront these angry protests for fear of physical harm as well as being punished for not adhering to the politically correct meme of the day.

Remember “All Lives Matter”? Anyone who dared to say such a thing during the “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations of 2020 after the death of George Floyd was summarily “canceled” and ostracized for exercising their right to free speech on and o -campus. Every university president who allowed such First Amendment infringement on their campus should have resigned or been replaced long ago.

Moderate, sentient Democrats used to be supportive of free speech and civil liberties for everyone. Apparently, they really are extinct today because none of them speak out against the anti-Israel protests or defend the right to free speech for those who disagree with the radical groupthink topic of the month selected by the far-left socialist progressives.

The Tar Heel boys put an end to such unchecked hate- lled protests at Polk Place on the UNC Chapel Hill campus on April 30. It was spontaneous; it was peaceful, but it was powerful.

No fraternity or organization held a meeting to take a vote to go over to the Quad to defend America. One participant said he was just about to embark on Last Day of Classes festivities (“had just cracked open a cold beer”) when he found out that mischief was afoot. He ended up at the agpole along with several others, including the now-famous Pi Kappa Alpha brothers.

One of the pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protestors had a tool to use to release the ag, which means they came prepared and well-trained by professional community agitators to take down the ag as an act of de ance on public property. When Chancellor Lee Roberts, with protection from campus police, hoisted the American ag after it had been taken down the rst time, one of the protestors released tension in the line and it started to descend back down. When the ag started to fall, the students who had come to watch instinctively knew to catch the falling ag and never let it hit the ground, no doubt from their days as Boy Scouts or from any civics class they may have had in school before college.

After Roberts told the protestors that as long as he was chancellor at Carolina, the American ag would never be replaced on that agpole and was sent back up for a second time, the PiKa brothers and others started singing the national anthem, albeit maybe not in the right key the whole way through.

Several were quoted as saying they had no

problem with the protestors exercising their right to free speech, no matter how abhorrent they thought their antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-Jewish chants were. What they had a real problem with was when the protestors chose to violate established rules of peaceful protest on campus and make it di cult for students to attend the last day of classes (which were subsequently canceled due to the unruly crowd) and denying others their right of free expression with intimidation tactics.

Much has been made of the $500,000 that has been raised by an outside e ort through GoFundMe to help pay for a “rager” beer party for these brothers. Most of that money will nd its way to charitable causes because even in the heyday of UNC beer-drinking, no fraternity could drink a half-million dollars’ worth of beer in one evening no matter how hard they might try ― although many certainly tried.

Future historians hopefully will look back and cite the actions of The Tar Heel boys on April 30 as the turning point on college campuses nationwide when sanity prevailed. Perhaps it will become known as The Day They Drove Progressive Socialists Down.

The story of the Arizona beekeeper hero

Topps announced they had created a baseball trading card featuring Hilton, with autographed versions also being made available.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, a story comes along that just gives you all kinds of warm fuzzies. The story of an Arizona beekeeper who raced in to help get a Major League Baseball game going is one such instance.

On April 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks were set to play at Chase Field in Phoenix. But the game would start roughly two hours after its originally scheduled time due to something that appears to be unprecedented in MLB game history:

A “bee delay.” Shortly before the contest was supposed to start, Diamondbacks staffers noticed a swarm of bees that had made themselves at home on the netting behind home plate. It wasn’t just a few, either. Photos and video clips showed what looked like thousands of them.

Fans were cleared from the area for safety reasons, and a beekeeper was called in to hopefully save the day and the game.

And that is exactly what Matt Hilton, branch manager for Blue Sky Pest Control, did.

When he arrived on the scene an hour or so after getting the call, Hilton was warmly treated to a hero’s welcome from fans and players alike.

Hilton played it up a bit, doing fist pumps in the air at various points to get the crowd worked up, much like you’d see a rock star do.

As he worked his magic, Salt-N-

Pepa’s “Whatta Man” tune and Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” song were alternatively heard playing in the background.

Chants of “MVP” were also heard while Hilton was hoisted in the air to contain the problem.

After Hilton successfully removed the swarm (and no, the bees were not killed), the Diamondbacks thought it would only be fitting that the man who left his son’s last T-ball game of the season to come take care of a major problem in the big leagues deserved the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

As Hilton walked out to the pitcher’s mound, he dramatically unzipped the netting of his suit and posed for the crowd, enjoying his unexpected moment in the national spotlight.

Though his pitch wasn’t so great, Hilton had already hit a home run with fans by that point and in the process had earned himself his very own press conference, where the media did a bit of swarming of their own. It was the first of what was to be many interviews to come.

The next day, the story of the hero beekeeper got even better when Topps announced they had created a baseball trading card featuring Hilton, with autographed versions also being made available.

All the cards sold out on the very first day.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also capitalized on the moment, offering buy one, get one free ticket deals for their next series for people who used promo code “BEEGUY.”

Business has no doubt picked up for Blue Sky Pest Control as well in light of Hilton’s unlikely game heroism.

USA Today baseball columnist Bob Nightengale put things in perspective in the aftermath of it all.

“The Bee guy now has his own Topps baseball card. 24 hours ago, he was an anonymous Pest Control dude,” he noted on Twitter.

Another Twitter user wrote that Hilton “woke up this morning and went to work. He’s going to bed as a small part of baseball history. That’s awesome.”

It was a great way to look at this amazing story. Sometimes, the little really guy does win.

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.

Cooper shows disregard for safety of law enforcement — again

DEMOCRAT GOV. ROY COOPER has shown North Carolinians yet again that he has little regard for the safety of law enforcement unless it suits his political agenda.

The latest example happened last week at UNC Chapel Hill. For two days, Students for Justice in Palestine and outside agitators held the campus hostage by occupying Polk Place. They not only ripped down the American ag and replaced it with a Palestinian ag, they held a “teach-in” on the life of Leila Khaled, a hijacker and member of the militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. That the SJP is sharing her work tells us much about the group’s motives.

The UNC community could no longer pretend that the protestors’ actions were simply harmless (if not naive) political theater. Not satis ed with disrupting campus life, they want violence — either by waging it themselves or by provoking it from law enforcement or counterprotestors. They want an intifada.

Thankfully, with the exception of some campus police o cers who took water bottles to the head, no one was seriously injured. The later presence of deputies in riot gear sent a message that UNC won’t tolerate mob rule.

But where was the N.C. Highway Patrol, normally a strong ally of the university and part of the law enforcement family? A day earlier, the university asked Cooper’s o ce to send reinforcements to aid campus and system police. Cooper indeed deployed dozens of troopers — but only to stand by out of sight until campus o cers were injured or overwhelmed.

This is classic Cooper: playing politics with the lives of law enforcement. Though he isn’t running for reelection, his hand-picked replacement, Josh Stein, is. That means the Democrats couldn’t refuse our request for backup at the state’s agship university, but they could e ectively make it toothless.

The presence of police from the town of Chapel Hill also would have also sent a strong message to the unruly mob, but the cowardly council chose otherwise. This is perhaps the biggest betrayal from a town whose entire economy revolves around the university. The town councils of Chapel Hill and Carrboro added insult to injury by penning a Monday morning quarterback letter criticizing law enforcement and the university. Had they provided mutual aid, we could have avoided many of the challenges we faced. So rather than confronting a strong, united

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

show of force from various state and municipal law enforcement, protesters faced outnumbered law enforcement. That only emboldened the mob that removed the U.S. ag — protesters outnumbered law enforcement 300 or more to 30 — to take the next step and assault o cers seeking to restore the U.S. ag. By keeping the troopers at bay, Cooper and Stein were e ectively baiting university police into taking action against an increasingly unruly crowd.

In the days since, Cooper has predictably said nothing publicly about the need to protect the broader UNC community and its law enforcement, nor has he weighed in about the risk the SJP poses to Jewish students.

This shouldn’t surprise us. Cooper took a page from his 2018 playbook when UNC requested assistance from the Highway Patrol during the Silent Sam protests, and he leaked the request to the media. The governor and political allies like Stein want so badly to show North Carolinians that the “Republicans” running UNC are willing to use excessive force against “peaceful protesters” that they’ll engineer the situation themselves. Going forward, the UNC community and the Cooper/Stein coalition need to have their eyes wide open to the true nature of these agitators. Yes, they have the right to free speech. But the First Amendment doesn’t give them the right to block roads, destroy property, disrupt university operations, assault people, violate university policies or create situations where students feel threatened by violence on campus. Of the 36 people arrested, only 15 were students and the rest were outside agitators.

The General Assembly needs to respond strongly to Cooper’s and Chapel Hill’s unwillingness to enforce law and order. It should consider moving funds from any municipalities unwilling to support fellow law enforcement and give the UNC system the additional resources to handle emergencies like the one at UNC Chapel Hill last week.

Cooper needs to let our law enforcement partners at the Highway Patrol do their jobs without political interference. It’s critical that we fully support and protect the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to serve and protect our citizens every day.

W. M. “Marty” Kotis is a member of the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and a former member of the UNC Board of Governors.

Republicans have to win day one of the election

Many Republicans will be shocked to learn that Election Day 2024 happens long before Nov. 5.

In fact, it hurts the Republican cause — and the elections of President Donald Trump and House and Senate Republicans — to focus narrowly on Nov. 5.

The rst election dates are Sept. 16 in Pennsylvania and then Sept. 20 in Minnesota and South Dakota. The next election days are Sept. 23 in Mississippi and Sept. 24 in Missouri. There are 43 other states and the District of Columbia that follow with their early voting dates. Only Alabama and New Hampshire do not have early voting.

Here’s an example of why this matters: In 2022, the Republican Senate campaign in Pennsylvania was focused on Election Day in November. The campaign did not begin advertising until long after early voting had started. As a result, 40% of Pennsylvanians had already cast their ballots before the rst major Republican ad had aired.

This pattern was not unique to that race. Republicans have a history of failing to get the vote out early. This has a compounding negative e ect.

First, it means Republican turnout on Election Day must be dramatically higher to make up for the number of Democrat votes already in the ballot box. Second, and probably more important, it means that Republican candidates have not been able to focus on the low-propensity voters — those who are least likely to turn out.

The Democrats have focused on early voting in large part because they want to be able to identify everyone who has not yet turned out. That way they can focus on phone calls, direct mail, text messages and even visits to remind those voters that they should vote. They keep it going until the people vote, and their name comes o the list.

This long campaign approach has proven for the last decade that it is more likely to win close elections than the focus on the federally designated o cial Election Day.

Shifting Republicans from their focus on Election Day — and their reluctance to vote early — is a major job. Getting it done in one year will require a really focused, determined and enthusiastic e ort.

The fact is that despite all the talk about “Bank the Vote,” it had no discernible impact on the special election for New York’s 3rd District. Republicans lost the early voting decisively and simply could not make it up on Election Day. It wasn’t due to any conspiracy. There was a big snowstorm on Election Day which reduced turnout. The Democrats already had a head start

on ballots, so they were ne.

Turning around the Republican attitude, getting people to vote early and creating a new commitment to win the vote throughout the campaign will require new focus and determination.

As my friend and former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Randy Evans suggested in a recent paper, Republicans should start by focusing on “winning day one of voting.”

As Evans wrote: “This means identifying the rst day of voting of every kind in each State and DC; educate GOP voters of that day with an explanation of how to vote that day; set as an objective to win the voting on that day with commitments by Republican voters to show up and win beginning on day one.”

Evans then suggested that Republicans should continue to build momentum by focusing on “winning week one of voting.”

As he put it, “To generate momentum this requires full follow-up to all who commit to vote on Day One who fail to do so that we can win Week One. It also involves pushing hard to create a sustainable push throughout early and absentee voting beyond Day One and Week One.”

He then suggested systematically following up with voters in each state up to their o cial election days. By Evans’ theory, the cumulative e ect of this focus on winning early voting should culminate in winning all the preelection day activity and, of course, Election Day voting (which should be a simple cleanup day).

The Republican National Committee should establish a set of 51 Election Day countdown clocks that include early voting-to-election day periods for each state and the District of Columbia.

President Donald Trump and all the Republican candidates should begin emphasizing early voting.

The party and campaign systems should focus on winning the rst day of early voting because it will give them the organization and momentum to continue executing on turnout.

Conservative radio and TV hosts and key activists should be encouraged to quit focusing on Election Day and instead focus on winning the early vote in every state. Every time we focus on Election Day, we undermine and weaken our chances of winning the early vote.

A serious win from day one approach will signi cantly increase the likelihood of Republican victories in 2024. And it is the right response to the campaign world the Democrats have built. The time to change is now.

COLUMN

MICHAEL BARONE

Campus riots and

a Chicago convention: deja vu all over again?

AS THE PHILOSOPHER and baseball player Yogi Berra once (supposedly) said, it’s deja vu all over again.

Student protesters are occupying campuses of famed universities across the country. In New York, Columbia University protesters occupied administrative o ces in Hamilton Hall and were cleared out by police, exactly 56 years to the day after student protesters occupied and were thrown out of that building in 1968.

Back then, it was famously reported that protester Mark Rudd sat at university President Grayson Kirk’s desk smoking his cigars. It’s not clear whether protesters reached current President Manouche Sha k’s o ce, but it seems unlikely that any humidor there contains tobacco.

One thing that has changed in the last three generations is the place of universities in American life. In 1940, only 6% of men and 4% of women in America had undergraduate degrees. Thanks to the GI Bill of Rights, that percentage rose sharply after World War II due to the expansion of old schools and the rollout of state and community colleges.

Higher education also earned huge prestige. Brilliant scientists, many of them Jews, arrived from Hitler’s Europe, created the atomic bomb that ended World War II, and spared the lives of the hundreds of thousands of GIs who would have died in an invasion of Japan. Lavishing more money on education, especially on gifted children and universities, was politically popular and justi ed as defense spending.

Fast-forward two generations. Policymakers of both parties, in states as well as Washington, D.C., concluded that if people with college degrees earned more money than others, enabling more people to get college degrees would mean more money for them, too. State legislators expanded universities, and federal policy encouraged and, during the Obama administration, administered loans for college and graduate school.

Meanwhile, the 1968 student rebels and their intellectual progeny started their long march through the institutions. Faculties that once included conservatives as well as liberals, and even some Republicans, became bastions of the political Left. Politically correct, tenured faculty imposed ideological tests on new hires as their elders retired.

Students’ politically incorrect speech was punished with expulsion and opprobrium. Schools that had arguably America’s freest speech zones in the 1940s and ’50s became the most restrictive and censorious institutions by the ’90s and 2000s.

Government subsidies of institutions and students pumped huge sums of money into colleges and universities, which responded by raising tuition and hiring even more bureaucrats, to the point that postsecondary schools today employ more administrators than teachers. Over the last generation, there has been a particular increase in diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucrats, whose Orwellian function is to impose uniformity of opinions, divergent treatment according to ethnic status, and exclusion of those who disagree.

In the process, colleges and universities have squandered much of the prestige they once enjoyed. It’s not clear any longer that college degrees, particularly in politically correct elds, produce higher incomes. Imposition of feminist-backed behavior codes, just reiterated by Biden administration Title IX proposals, has seen college gender ratios change from two-thirds male in the ’60s to three- fths female in the 2020s. Ominously, enrollment in higher education peaked in 2010, declined by 10% even before COVID-19 and has continued to fall since. And the long-term trend seems almost certain to be downward from there, for the number of births per year in the nation has plunged since the 2007-08 nancial collapse and recession from 4.3 million in 2007 to just under 3.6 million in 2023. With smaller percentages embarking on postsecondary education, the number of college and university students seems headed downward. What looked like a growth sector back in 1968 looks like a shrinking one today.

And it’s a sector, unlike the mass of American society, riddled with repellent antisemitism. The proPalestinian student protesters say they are anti-Israel, not anti-Jewish, but their frequent attacks on Jewish students are redolent of the antisemitism of German universities in the Weimar Republic. This ows from the view, widely taught on campuses, dividing the world into oppressors and virtuous victims, in which Israel and Jews, in general, are dismissed as oppressors and Hamas terrorists are celebrated as heroes. This view, of course, is not shared by most of the public. There has probably never been such a large population so respectful of the rights and contributions of Jews and so repelled by anti-Jewish bigotry. Which is, as political scientist Charles Lipson writes at RealClearPolitics, “bad news for Democrats” since “their party is closely tied to education at all levels” and the pro-Palestinian “squad” of congressional Democrats is aligned with the protesters. All the more so since the day the police cleared Hamilton Hall, President Joe Biden announced student debt cancellation for 317,000 adults who attended art institutes.

Disorder tends to hurt incumbents and, as political scientist Omar Wasow and leftish consultant David Shor have pointed out, to the dismay of young leftists, anger at student riots helped elect Ronald Reagan as governor in 1966 and Richard Nixon as president in 1968. The Democratic National Convention this year will be in Chicago, as it was in 1968, and some are threatening protests there. Will it be deja vu all over again?

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

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

May is Strawberry Month

It’s that special time of year when delicious North Carolina strawberries are ripe for the picking! According to NC State Cooperative Extension guidance, amounts of berries should peak in early May and continue through the end of the month and into June. It appears to be a bumper season for strawberry production due to our warm winter weather, so plan your visit to a local pick-your-own or buy them already harvested at your local farmers market. North Carolina currently ranks No. 3 in the nation for producing fresh market strawberries, with between 1,500 and 2,000 acres of farmland dedicated to producing these sweet fruits. Most farms growing strawberries in N.C. are smallto medium-sized and o er them at their roadside stands or farms, including you-pick operations.

Woman found with nearly 9 pounds of fentanyl Gaston County A woman was arrested last week after authorities seized nearly 9 pounds of fentanyl in Gaston County, according to local police. Maria Guadalupe Arroyo, 20, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, was placed in the Gaston County Jail under a $100,000 bond and charged with two counts of tra cking fentanyl. O cers said the fentanyl is valued at $460,000 and said it was the second seizure of this size in the county within the last week. WBTV

Decade after major stroke, NC native Randy Travis releases new song

Union County Union County native Randy Travis, fondly known for country hits including “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “Deeper Than the Holler” and “Three Wooden Crosses” has released a new song. “Where That Came From” comes 11 years after the Marshville native su ered a major stroke that, he says, left him with just a 2% chance of survival and severely damaged the part of his brain that controls speech and language. Because of his limited ability to speak and sing, “Where That Came From” was produced using arti cial intelligence technology. NSJ

Lowe’s o ering free lightbulbs in support of fallen o cers

UNC Asheville students stage campus protests

the

Buncombe County As protests continue at college campuses across the nation, students in Asheville held a demonstration over the weekend to show their support for Palestine. On Saturday, a group of demonstrators withstood the

In a community message on

UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort advised that demonstrators made use of the university’s Quad most of Saturday and were made aware of policy violations that “required remedy or the demonstration would be required to end.” According to the university, the remaining demonstrators left the Quad at that time. As of Monday morning, demonstrations have not picked back up as nals are underway. WLOS

Mecklenburg County Lowe’s stores around Charlotte are giving away free blue LED lightbulbs for the community to show their support for law enforcement o cers. Thirty stores in the Charlotte region are participating in the giveaway. The goal is for people to put them on their front porch to show their support. On April 29, three U.S. Marshals and one CMPD o cer died in the line of duty while serving a warrant.

Five other law enforcement o cers were injured, four of whom were shot.

NSJ

Teen shot in jaw by another teen

Randolph County

A 16-year-old is in the hospital after he was shot by another teen in Asheboro.

Asheboro police said a teen was inside a car when a 16-year-old boy shot him in the jaw from outside the car Friday night in North Asheboro Park around 9:30 p.m. The teen who was shot was taken to the hospital, and o cers said a secure custody order has been obtained as they are searching for the suspect.

WFMY

Through

be

Antisemitic gra ti found on WFU campus

Forsyth County An investigation is underway after vandalism was found on Wake Forest University’s Reynolda Campus. According to reports, University President Susan R. Wente noti ed the campus community last week that people had “vandalized sidewalks and a tree” with spray paint. The university con rmed to local outlets that some of the vandalism included “vile, antisemitic language,” and there were also reports of “racist, anti-Black, antisemitic, Islamophobic and homophobic speech.”

In response, the university has banned the use of chalk on university sidewalks, even in areas where it was previously allowed, for the rest of the academic year. Students found violating this rule will face “conduct action.” “We are living in volatile and di cult times, but we cannot and will not waver in our commitment to protect campus health and safety, to uphold University values and to continue to demonstrate caring for one another,” Wente told reporters.

WGHP

Amusement or water park on the table for Fayetteville

Cumberland County Economic development leaders are looking into what it takes to bring a major amusement or water park to Fayetteville, according to reports. Robert Van Geons with Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation said there are a lot of people in the community who would like to see an amusement or water park. No site or company has been identi ed at this time. However, the idea is to either build it along I-95 between Raleigh and Fayetteville within Cumberland County or near I-295.

WNCN

Public warned of continued noise due to lm production Pitt County City of Greenville o cials have issued a second public notice to warn residents of loud noises that will take place throughout the week, following a recent warning in March. City o cials say citizens in Pitt and surrounding counties may hear explosives from May 6-10 as part of a lm production that will take place in the Sugg Parkway industrial area. Greenville Fire/Rescue sta will be on-site, and there is no threat to the public.

WCTI

Shooter on the loose after crash near Five County Stadium

Wake County Zebulon police o cers were still searching early this week for a suspect after a shooting resulted in a car crash Sunday evening near Five County Stadium. The incident was reported just after 6:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of Old U.S. 264, which is a mile east of Zebulon and just west of Five County Stadium where the Carolina Mudcats play. A car crashed after a person inside the car was shot, according to a news release from the Zebulon Police Department. O cials said the shooting victim was being treated at a nearby hospital and the road had reopened as of late Sunday night, at which time the suspect was still on the loose. The two games at Five County Stadium Sunday between the Carolina Mudcats and Columbia Fire ies were suspended around 1:30 p.m. because of rain and were therefore not impacted by the incident.

Lower-income families and returning grant recipients receive priority. The awards can be used to pay tuition and fees to attend the eligible private school chosen by a family.

Democratic Sens. Natasha Marcus (Mecklenburg) and Gladys Robinson (Guilford) criticized the funding expansion. Marcus called the funds a “handout” for wealthy families and added, “Seventy percent of the people you’re rushing to help earn more than $115,000 (annually).”

Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) responded that those families might be unable to afford private tuition.

“A family where the breadwinners in the family are making $115,000 a year is not going to have that opportunity, or a single mom with three kids,” said Lee. “They have the right to

Scholarships for children with disabilities. Families who need more information should visit the Opportunity Scholarship or ESA+ pages on the NCSEAA website or call 855-330- 3955 for assistance. On March 29, the NCSEAA announced that 13,511 new students have been o ered Opportunity Scholarships for the 2024-25 school year out of approximately 72,000 applicants.

NATION & WORLD

Slain Charlotte o cer remembered as stern cop with soft heart for family

CMPD’s Joshua Eyer was one of four o cers killed last Monday

By Erik Verduzco and Je rey Collins North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — Friends, colleagues and the wife of fallen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police O cer Joshua Eyer remembered him Friday as a hard-charging outwardly stern cop who also peppered friends with “how’s things” texts and showered love on his wife and young son.

Thousands packed the sanctuary at Charlotte’s First Baptist Church for Eyer’s memorial service, badges crossed with black ribbons, as they honored the life and sacri ce of a man who would push as hard to arrest a homicide suspect as he would someone who stole a sandwich.

Eyer was killed Monday along with three other o cers and the suspect they were trying to arrest as they tried to serve a felon possessing a gun weapon warrant in a Charlotte neighborhood. The rst three ocers were killed as they arrived at the home. Eyer was shot as he rushed to help his fallen comrades.

“Full speed, no matter the cost. That couldn’t have been more in evidence by his actions Monday,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Detective Thomas Maddox, who worked in Eyer’s division for ve years.

Eyer’s funeral was the rst of four around Charlotte after the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement in one incident since ve o cers were killed by a sniper during a protest in Dallas in 2016.

Also killed Monday were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and

Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. Elliott’s memorial service is Thursday at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory. Times for the other services have not been announced.

Eyer’s body in a ag-draped co n was brought from police headquarters on a horsedrawn caisson three blocks to the church where the late evangelist Billy Graham held his rst crusade. O cers lined the street as dozens marched playing bagpipes and drums. Behind them were hundreds more Charlotte-Mecklenburg o cers walking quietly in dress uniforms to the church where an American ag hung from the top of a retruck’s tall ladder.

Eyer and Nicholas Ferreria went to the police academy together in 2017 and ended up in

the same division.

“Homicide suspect, he would get you. Stole a sandwich from QT, he would get you,” Ferreria said, anked on one side by a picture of Eyer in his police uniform and on the other by Eyer with his wife and nearly 3-yearold son, Andrew.

Eyer’s sometimes harsh face — tra c duty infuriated him because people drove so carelessly and poorly — melted away when you got to know him better, and he couldn’t hide the way he loved his wife and son, Ferreria said.

Ashley Ayer met her husband in college. She asked everyone in the pews to help her teach their son what a good man his father was.

“Joshua thank you for giving me a beautiful life and for a beautiful son. We won’t let you

Feds: Deadly Charlotte news helicopter crash likely caused by shaky inspections

Meteorologist Jason Myers and the pilot were killed in the 2022 crash

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — Investigators found disconnected and missing hardware aboard a helicopter that crashed in 2022, killing the pilot and a Charlotte television station’s meteorologist, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The NTSB’s nal report on the 2022 crash, which was released Thursday, said the probable cause was inadequate inspections by the pilot and maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

WBTV meteorologist Jason

Investigators found disconnected and missing hardware aboard the helicopter that crashed in 2022, killing the pilot and a Charlotte television station’s meteorologist, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s nal report on the crash, which was released last Thursday.

Myers and pilot Chip Tayag died after the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed along Interstate 77.

The purpose of the ight was to provide video training for the meteorologist over a simulated news scene, according to the NTSB report. About ve minutes into the ight, the helicopter began a series of 360-degree turns over the highway, but during the third turn, it entered a steep descent and crashed in a grassy area next to the highway, according to the report.

An examination of the ight controls revealed that hardware that should have been connected to a part on the main rotor was disconnected and the connecting hardware was missing, according to the report. An examination of remaining components suggested that the connecting hardware backed out during the ight, the

report said. The report concluded that it is unlikely that the hardware was secure before the ight, and it may have been loose for multiple ights before the crash.

Examination of the remaining hardware found that one piece was installed backward, most likely during an overhaul about three years before the crash. Inspection of the hardware was required by the pilot during each pre ight inspection and during the most recent 100-hour inspection in October 2022, according to the report.

Maintenance records also showed that a Robinson Helicopter Company service letter instructing operators to replace certain nuts because of corrosion and cracking issues had not been complied with, according to the report.

In March 2023, Myers’ wife,

down, OK? I love you so much, Sunshine. I’ll see you soon,” she said.

Detective Maddox said he’s determined to let Eyer’s son know that “his father died a hero with a full heart” and the rest of his family know what he meant to his friends, but also the community he served. Eyer wasn’t scheduled to work Monday but took a few hours so he could be o for a family event later.

“Mr. Eyer, I watched you Monday night look down at your son and tell him over 15 times you were proud of him as he lay there with the American ag draped across of him. I can look across this room today and say you aren’t the only one proud of your son,” Maddox said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings honored Eyer as O cer of the

Jillian Ann Myers, sued maintenance facility Wilson Air Center-North Carolina, the Total Tra c and Weather Network and iHeartMedia. Meyers worked for WBTV, and Tayag worked for the Total Tra c and Weather Network, which is owned by parent company iHeartMedia, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges negligence and claims the helicopter was running on contaminated fuel, which can lead to engine failure. It also says the pilot didn’t perform ight inspections and emergency engine failure procedures adequately. It argues the company that owned the aircraft is liable for those mistakes.

Reached by telephone on Friday, Kansas City, Missouri-based aviation attorney Gary C. Robb, who is representing the Myers family, called the maintenance errors “egregious” and said there were multiple opportunities for them to be caught. He said the family hopes to shine a light on this and other maintenance errors and “move the needle towards more safety.”

TSA discovers bag with small snakes in passenger’s pants

Miami Airport security o cers in Miami found a slithering surprise last week — a bag of snakes hidden in a passenger’s pants. According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, o cers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger’s trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint. The post included a photo of two small snakes that were found in what appeared to be a sunglasses bag. TSA said the snakes were turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Driver dies after crashing into security barrier near White House

Washington, D.C.

A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a tra c crash, police said. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no threat to the White House. The male driver, who was not immediately identi ed, was found dead in the vehicle following the crash shortly before 10:30 p.m., according to a Secret Service statement. Police said the vehicle crashed into a security barrier at the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW and one adult male was pronounced dead at the scene.

3 bodies in Mexican well identi ed as killed surfers

Mexico City Relatives have identi ed three bodies found in a well as those of two Australian surfers and one American who went missing last weekend, Mexican authorities said Sunday. Baja California state prosecutors said the relatives had viewed the corpses recovered from a remote well about 50 feet deep and recognized them as their loved ones. Thieves allegedly killed the three, who were on a sur ng trip to Mexico’s Baja peninsula, to steal their truck because they wanted the tires. They then allegedly got rid of the bodies by dumping them in a well near the coast. Three suspects are being held in connection with the case.

American soldier accused of stealing arrested in Russia

Washington, D.C.

An American soldier visiting a girlfriend in Russia’s port city of Vladivostok was arrested on charges of stealing from her and remains in custody, according to several U.S. o cials. U.S. o cials said Monday the soldier, Sta Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. Instead, o cials said that Black, who is married, traveled to Russia to see a longtime girlfriend. His arrest only further complicates U.S. relations with Russia, which have grown increasingly tense as the war in Ukraine drags on.

CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO

Ashley Eyer and son Andrew watch during a memorial service for O cer Joshua Eyer on Friday in Charlotte.

catastrophe

questions about when normal

shelter-in-place or stay-at-home

majority of Americans normal.” end of this month.

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.

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

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

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.

How China will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe

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

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

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.

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.

State’s ocean sheries show continued improvement

course, is my family. I’m worried I will. After 2009 pandemic, of this brings up prefer not to repeat. most everyone has

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

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

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.

business & economy

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

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

North Carolina’s coastal shing waters are continuing to improve according to the federal agency tasked with maintaining the nation’s sh stock. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the number of sh stocks on the U.S. over shing list decreased by three last year, falling to an alltime low of 21.

The National Marine Fisheries Service released an updated analysis of American sheries late last week via its annual “Status of the Stocks” report, which provides an assessment of the populations of the seafood species shermen catch and customers buy. The report states that 94% of sh stocks are not subject to over shing, which is slightly better than a year ago.

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.

The U.S. removed several important sh stocks from the over shing list, including Atlantic mackerel in the Cape Hatteras and Gulf of Maine stock and the Gulf of Mexico stock of cubera snapper. In 2024, the U.S. government has allotted 3,200 metric tons of Atlantic mackerel to be caught with 868 metric tons allocated to the commercial shing industry.

Atlantic mackerel is one of several commercially shed species in North Carolina. The wild-caught seafood industry contributes nearly $300 million in value and 5,500 jobs to the state’s economy, according to N.C. Sea Grant. Summer ounder, red snapper, gag grouper and snowy grouper — species found in N.C. coastal waters — remain on the national over shing list.

under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

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.”

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.”

The report arrives as international governments and non-governmental organizations have tried to crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated shing in the oceans worldwide. In Europe, the European Commission has worked to deter unsustainable shing practices.

The removal of species from the over shing list shows the U.S. is making progress, said Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s administrator.

“By ending over shing and rebuilding stocks, we are strengthening the value of U.S. sheries to the economy, our communities and marine ecosystems,” Spinrad said.

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

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

“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.

The U.S. has made progress in removing sh species from the over shing list in recent years also. The over shing list re ects species that have an unsustainably high harvest rate.

NOAA also keeps a list of over shed stocks. Those are species that have a total population size that is too low. The agency said that number also fell slightly last year. More than 80% of sh stocks are not over shed, the agency said in its report.

NOAA said it was able to remove Atlantic coast blue sh and a Washington coast stock of coho salmon from the over shed list. The agency said it also added a few species, including Mid-Atlantic summer ounder, to the lists.

Commercial shermen harvested more than 8 billion pounds of seafood valued at nearly $6 billion in 2022, the agency said.

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

Unfollow Everything 2.0 would let Facebook users unfollow friends, groups and pages and empty their newsfeed

By Barbara Ortutay The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don’t see — on their feeds?

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.

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

A lawsuit led against Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. is arguing that a federal law often used to shield internet companies from liability also allows people to use external tools to take control of their feed — even if that means shutting it o entirely.

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University led a lawsuit Wednesday against Meta Plat-

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.

North State Journal sta contributed to this report.

The cavalier manner in virus, covered up its spread 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.

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.

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

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

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.

By Tom Krisher and Matthew Daly

The Associated Press

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.

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

The Biden administration is trying to help the EV industry, but critics say the changes could help China

DETROIT — The U.S. government on Friday loosened some rules governing electric vehicle tax credits, potentially making more EVs eligible for credits of up to $7,500 but leading critics to accuse the Biden administration of helping China. The Treasury Department announced nal regulations for the credits under the 2022 In ation Reduction Act, giving automakers more time to comply with some provisions about where battery minerals can come from.

The credits range from $3,750 to $7,500 for new EVs. There’s also a $4,000 credit for

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.”

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 result: a reduction in expected hospitalization

For me, my making. As Corinthians a iction, so a iction, with God.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

for Wednesday, Apr il 15, 2

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.

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

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

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

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.”

Lawsuit argues Facebook users have right to control feeds

“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.

email clients, or di erent web browsers, or antitracking software for people who don’t want to be tracked.

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.”

forms on behalf of Ethan Zuckerman, who wants to release a tool that enables users to unfollow all the content fed to them by Facebook’s algorithm.

Meta declined to comment.

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.

“We basically get whatever controls Facebook wants.” Ethan Zuckerman

book Inc.

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.

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

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

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.

The tool, called Unfollow Everything 2.0, is a browser extension that would let Facebook users unfollow friends, groups and pages and empty their newsfeed — the stream of posts, photos and videos that can keep them scrolling endlessly. The idea is that without this constant, addicting stream of content, people might use it less. If the past is any indication, Meta will not be keen on the idea.

A U.K. developer, Louis Barclay, released a similar tool, called Unfollow Everything, but he took it down in 2021, fearing a lawsuit after receiving a cease-and-desist letter and a lifetime Facebook ban from Meta, then called Face-

With Wednesday’s lawsuit, Zuckerman, a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, is trying to beat Meta to the legal punch to avoid getting sued by the social media giant over the browser extension.

The lawsuit led in federal court in California centers on a provision of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which is often used to protect internet companies from liability for things posted on their sites. A separate clause, though, provides immunity to software developers who create tools that “ lter, screen, allow, or disallow content that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, lthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable.”

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

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.

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. 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.

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

The lawsuit asks the court to determine whether Facebook users’ news feed falls into the category of objectionable material they should be able to lter out.

Not one little bit.

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

“The reason it’s worth challenging Facebook on this is that right now we have very little control as users over how we use these networks,” Zuckerman said. “We basically get whatever controls Facebook wants.” Just think of email, which lets people use di erent

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

“Maybe CDA 230 provides us with this right to build tools to make your experience of Facebook or other social networks better and to give you more control over them,” said Zuck-

used ones. They’re aimed at juicing demand for EVs in an e ort to reach a Biden administration goal that half of all

from an authorized dealer rather than waiting for an income tax refund. Qualifying for the credits depends on a person’s income, the price of the vehicles and requirements related to battery makeup and minerals that get

tougher each year. To get the credits, EVs must be assembled in North America. Some plugin hybrids also can qualify. Starting this year, complex rules are being phased in to promote development of a domestic electric vehicle supply chain. The rules limit EV buyers from claiming the full tax credit if they purchase cars containing battery materials from China and other nations “of concern” that are considered hostile to the United States. Those include Russia,

Under the nal rule, however, small amounts of graphite and other minerals used in batteries would be exempt from the restriction until 2027 because their country of origin is nearly impossible to trace, o cials said. Without the exemption, some vehicles that met nearly all of the requirements could get knocked out of tax credit eligibility due to tiny amounts that couldn’t be traced, Treasury said.

The National Mining Association slammed the new exemptions as a giveaway to China.

“Congress created these tax incentives to secure our supply chains and generate Amer-

See FACEBOOK, page A10 See EV, page A10

JOSHUA A. BICKEL / AP PHOTO A 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E charges at an electric vehicle charging station in Ohio.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Jason

Nor th State Journa l

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior

GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ / AP PHOTO Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, is facing pushback because of Facebook’s feed algorithm.

Former Starbucks CEO says company should refocus on co ee

Howard Schultz said co ee drinks and hands-on management will turn around the company’s sales slump

By Dee-Ann Durbin

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says the company’s leaders should spend more time in stores and focus on co ee drinks as they work to turn around agging sales.

In a LinkedIn post published over the weekend, Schultz said many people had reached out to him after Starbucks reported weaker-than-expected quarterly sales and earnings last week.

The Seattle co ee giant said revenue dropped 2% in the January-March period as store tra c slowed around the world. It was the rst time since 2020 that the company saw a drop in quarterly revenue. Starbucks also lowered sales and earnings guidance for its full scal year.

Schultz, who bought Starbucks in 1987, is credited with growing the company into a global behemoth, with nearly 39,000 stores worldwide. He has been chairman emeritus of the company since he stepped down from Starbucks’ board last fall.

Online brokerage to settle real estate broker commission lawsuits

Red n will pay $9.25 million to resolve pending class action lawsuits led in federal court

By Alex Veiga The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Red n has agreed to pay $9.25 million to settle federal lawsuits that claim U.S. homeowners were saddled with arti cially in ated broker commissions when they sold their home as a result of longstanding real estate industry practices.

The online brokerage and real estate services company disclosed the proposed settlement Monday in a regulatory ling with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The settlement, which Redn agreed to Friday, would resolve pending class action lawsuits led in federal court in the Western District of Missouri, and also shield the company, its subsidiaries and agents from similar cases around the country, according to the ling.

“Resolving this litigation now

ican jobs while supporting EV adoption. They did not intend for loopholes to be created that essentially amount to a blank check from the American taxpayer to China,” said Rich Nolan, the mining lobby’s president and CEO.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said that through the new rule, the Biden administration “is e ectively endorsing ‘made in China.’” Manchin, who played a key

and removing uncertainty is in the best interest of the company, our employees, and our investors,” the company said in a statement Monday.

Seattle-based Red n noted that it doesn’t expect the settlement, which must be approved by the court, to have a material impact on its future operations, adding it expects to record a $9.25 million pretax charge for the quarter ended March 31. Shares in Red n were up 3.7% in afternoon trading Monday.

Red n is the latest big brokerage to agree to settlement terms in order to put an end to lawsuits related to the real estate industry’s broker compensation structure, following Re/Max, Keller Williams Realty, Compass and Anywhere Real Estate. Last month, HomeServices of America, which is owned by Warren Bu ett’s Berkshire Hathaway, agreed to pay $250 million to settle the lawsuits. And in March, the National Association of Realtors agreed to pay $418 million.

All told, the real estate industry has now agreed to pay more

role in passage of the In ation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, said the law speci cally prohibits EVs that contain materials from foreign adversaries such as China and Russia from being eligible for the tax credit after 2024. “But now Treasury has provided a long-term pathway for these countries to remain in our supply chains. It’s outrageous and illegal,″ he said.

This year half of the critical minerals in an EV’s battery have to be mined or processed in the U.S., or a country with which it has a free trade agree -

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 2

(income) $234,339,982

Schultz remains Starbucks’ largest individual shareholder, holding shares that were valued at $1.5 billion at the end of last year.

In his post, Schultz said senior leaders — including board members — need to spend more time talking to baristas

in the company’s stores.

“I have emphasized that the company’s x needs to begin at home: U.S. operations are the primary reason for the company’s fall from grace,” he said.

“The stores require a maniacal focus on the customer experience, through the eyes of a merchant. The answer does not lie in data but in the stores.”

Laxman Narasimhan, who became Starbucks’ CEO last spring, has been working a half-day shift in Starbucks stores once a month.

At some points in his post, Schultz seemed to be questioning Narasimhan’s turnaround plans. In a conference call with investors last week, Narasimhan mentioned several new products he thinks will drive customers to stores later this year, including boba drinks, sugar-free options and the brand’s rst energy beverage.

But Schultz said co ee is what di erentiates Starbucks and reinforced the company’s premium positioning.

“The go-to-market strategy needs to be overhauled and elevated with co ee-forward in-

novation,” he said. Narasimhan did announce plans for co ee pop-up stores in the U.S. and elsewhere last month. Starbucks plans to use the stores to experiment with limited-edition co ee drinks, teach younger customers about co ee and learn about customers’ preferences.

Schultz also said the company should update its mobile ordering and payment platform to “once again make it the uplifting experience it was designed to be.” He didn’t specify the changes he thinks should be made. Narasimhan said last fall the company is accelerating the introduction of new digital features.

“We always appreciate Howard’s perspective. The challenges and opportunities he highlights are the ones we are focused on. And like Howard, we are con dent in Starbucks long-term success,” Starbucks said Monday in a statement.

Schultz has a history of stepping in when he sees Starbucks struggling. He retired as CEO in 2000, returned as CEO in 2008, and stepped down again in 2017 but returned to lead the company on a temporary basis in 2022. In 2023, he named Narasimhan, a former PepsiCo executive, as CEO. Starbucks shares were at Monday. The company’s stock price has fallen more than 20% since the start of this year.

than $950 million to make the lawsuits go away.

The lawsuits′ central claim is that the country’s biggest real estate brokerages and the NAR violated antitrust laws by engaging in business practices that required home sellers to pay the fees for the broker representing the buyer.

Attorneys representing home sellers in multiple states argued that homeowners who list-

ment. Sixty percent of the battery parts have to be made or assembled in North America.

Starting in 2025, batteries with any critical minerals from nations of concern would not be eligible for any tax credits. But after getting comment from the auto industry and others, treasury o cials decided to loosen that restriction.

The rule issued Friday is likely to make more EVs eligible for credits in 2025 and 2026, but the auto industry says that’s di cult to tell until automakers nish tracing the origin of all the minerals.

“The EV transition requires

FACEBOOK from page A9

erman. “And you know what? If we’re able to establish that, that could really open up a new sphere of research and a new sphere of development. You might see people starting to build tools to make social networks work better for us.”

While Facebook allows users to manually unfollow everything, the process can be cumbersome with hundreds

ed a property for sale on real estate industry databases were required to include a compensation o er for an agent representing a buyer. And that not including such “cooperative compensation” o ers might lead a buyer’s agent to steer their client away from any seller’s listing that didn’t include such an o er.

In October, a federal jury in Missouri ordered the National Association of Realtors and sev-

nothing short of a complete transformation of the U.S. industrial base,” John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a large industry trade group, said in a statement. “That’s a monumental task that won’t — and can’t — happen overnight.”

The rule change, he said, “makes good sense for investment, job creation and consumer EV adoption.”

At present, China dominates crucial parts of EV battery supply and production, even as automakers race to establish key mineral and components efforts elsewhere.

or even thousands of friends, groups and businesses that people often follow.

Zuckerman also wants to study how turning o the news feed a ects people’s experience on Facebook. Users would have to agree to take part in the study — using the browser tool does not automatically enroll participants.

“Social media companies can design their products as they want to, but users have

eral other large real estate brokerages to pay nearly $1.8 billion in damages. The defendants were facing potentially having to pay more than $5 billion if treble damages were awarded. The verdict in that case, which was led in 2019 on behalf of 500,000 home sellers in Missouri and elsewhere, led to multiple similar lawsuits being led against the real estate brokerage industry.

Of 114 EV models currently sold in the U.S., only 13 qualify for the full $7,500 credit, the automotive alliance said. Despite the tax credits, sales of electric vehicles grew only 3.3% to nearly 270,000 from January through March of this year, far below the 47% growth that fueled record sales and a 7.6% market share last year. The slowdown, led by Tesla, con rms automakers’ fears that they moved too quickly to pursue EV buyers. The EV share of total U.S. sales fell to 7.15% in the rst quarter, according to Motorintelligence. com.

the right to control their experience on social media platforms, including by blocking content they consider to be harmful,” said Ramya Krishnan, senior sta attorney at the Knight Institute. “Users don’t have to accept Facebook as it’s given to them. The same statute that immunizes Meta from liability for the speech of its users gives users the right to decide what they see on the platform.”

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO

Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz testi es on Capitol Hill in March 2023.

JORDAN STRAUSS / AP IMAGES FOR REDFIN

A Red n real estate yard sign stands in front of a house in Los Angeles in 2019.

Federal trial over NC Voter ID set to begin

Fewer than 500 provisional ballots were cast in March because of ID-related issues

By Gary D. Roberston The Associated Press

RALEIGH — A federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s photo voter identi cation law was set to go to trial this week, with arguments expected to focus on whether the requirement unlawfully discriminates against black and Hispanic citizens or serves legitimate state interests to boost public condence in elections.

The non-jury trial in Winston-Salem begins more than ve years after the state NAACP and several local chapters sued over the voter ID law enacted by the N.C. General Assembly in late 2018.

This litigation, along with similar lawsuits in state courts, delayed implementation of the requirement until last year’s municipal elections. The 1.8 million voters who cast ballots in the March primaries also had to comply. State election data showed fewer than 500 provisional ballots cast because of ID-related issues in the primary ultimately didn’t count.

The November general election — with races for president, governor and other statewide seats — could see turnout three times greater than the primary. And the nation’s ninth-larg-

est state is a presidential battleground where statewide races are often close.

A favorable NAACP ruling from U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs could block the requirement in the fall. The trial is expected to last several days, with Biggs already signaling in a document that she won’t immediately rule from the bench.

The NAACP lawyers contend the voter ID requirement, along with two other voting-related provisions in the 2018 law, violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act in part because lawmakers enacted them with discriminatory intent.

In a pretrial brief, attorneys for the state and local chapters of the civil rights group cite data showing black and Latino voters are more than twice as likely to lack a qualifying ID with a photo than white voters. They plan to bring in witnesses who will say they encountered voting problems in the March primary.

“Absent relief, thousands of North Carolinians will similarly have their right to vote unconstitutionally abridged,” the NAACP lawyers wrote. They also said evidence will show North Carolina lawmakers rushed through the legislation — mere weeks after voters approved a constitutional amendment mandating photo ID — without considering its impact on minority voters.

Attorneys representing leg-

It’s in the game

EA Sports’ legendary NCAA Football is back

By Ryan Kryska The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a Michigan basement decked out in maize and blue, a father sat with his son.

They’d bond over a football video game. One with a story mode that would transport the 7-year-old into a college dorm room where letters from fans lled his mailbox, the campus newspaper teased a championship and a list of Heisman candidates adorned his computer screen. If he played well enough, his name might even appear there.

It wasn’t real. But who was to say it couldn’t be?

“You know, we’d always joke because he was a big kid that, ‘Hey, maybe you’re going to be on there someday,’” says the father, Bill Swartout.

Today, more than a decade later, that 7-year-old — Brayden Swartout — is an o ensive lineman at Central Michigan, living the story mode in real life.

Countless versions of that game, not made in over a decade, collect dust in basements alongside phased-out gaming systems. It’s the inevitable fate of old discs, gaming cartridges, RCA connector wires and the like. Give it all a good blow, though, and the dust clears to reveal an enduring cultural phe-

nomenon that, in this modern world, is on its way back.

For a generation of youth, EA Sports’ college football games fueled their aspirations in the sport. From the early versions in the 1990s to the immersive experiences in the 2000s that revolutionized create-a-player modes, the games became a must-have for sports and video-game fans.

As they grew more popular, however, something else grew, too: the chorus of voices that said college athletes depicted in the game should be getting paid. It was a notion that seemed preposterous in the student-athlete era. But as opinions morphed, it started to make sense.

Before 2021, college athletes were not allowed by the NCAA to pro t from their brand, commonly known as their name, image and likeness — or NIL.

The video-game developer tried for years to di erentiate ingame rosters from real-life players. “Quarterback No. 10” remembers this clearly.

“I remember when I was in the game. Obviously in high school and all that you want to be in the game, but then when you get to college you’re in the game, and I’m No. 10 from Baylor, before NIL, and I am No. 10,” Robert Gri n III, one of the game’s 2013 cover athletes and the 2011 Heisman winner, told The Associated Press.

“And that’s my name, ‘Quarterback No. 10 from Baylor,’” he says. “But, I’m like, white with a buzz cut fade and no arm sleeve

States that have laws requesting or requiring identi cation at the

islative leaders and State Board of Elections members defending the law in court said in briefs that the rules impose only a minimal burden on voters.

They point out that the law greatly expanded the number of qualifying IDs compared with what was approved in a 2013 voter ID law that federal judges struck down as discriminatory. Free IDs are provided by county election and Division of Motor Vehicles o ces, and people lacking photo ID at the polls should have their votes count if they ll out an exception form or bring in their ID to election o cials before the nal tallies.

“The General Assembly enacted (the law) after the People of North Carolina mandated the legislature to create a voter ID law. The bipartisan legislation did not have a discriminatory intent, and Plainti s cannot overcome the presumption of legislative good faith,” lawyers for House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger wrote in a brief. Prevent-

ing voter fraud is also a legitimate state interest for the law, the attorneys wrote.

Biggs, who was nominated to court by President Barack Obama, already has ruled frequently in this case.

In late 2019 she issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the law, saying it was tainted because the 2013 law had been struck down on similar grounds of racial bias.

But the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed her decision, writing that Biggs had put so much emphasis on the past conduct of the General Assembly that “it was virtually impossible for it to pass a voter ID law that meets constitutional muster.”

Previous trial dates in the case were postponed in 2021 and 2022. Biggs delayed one start date while the U.S. Supreme Court weighed her earlier refusal to allow GOP lawmakers to intervene in the case and defend the law in court. The Supreme Court sided with the legislative leaders in June 2022.

Biggs lifted her stay on action in the case last summer a few months after the state Supreme Court determined the mandate comported with state constitution — opening the door for a trial.

Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring identication at the polls, 21 of which seek photo ID, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

on my arm and I’m from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They completely tried to change the character just so they don’t have to pay the guy. Or say, ‘Oh no, that’s not his name, image and likeness, he’s not even the right color.’ But everybody knew who No. 10 from Baylor was.” Eventually, EA Sports gave up. And so the franchise sat after its last version in 2013, dormant for 11 years.

Society has changed a lot since the 2010s. So has Swartout’s basement, now decked out in Central Michigan’s maroon and gold.

Gamers’ voracious appetites for immersive sports video games have not changed as much. And with the NCAA’s decision to allow college athletes to pro t from their brand, the time had come.

EA Sports in 2021 announced it would be reviving the fran-

chise. Three years later, the game is scheduled to be released this summer with a full reveal promised this month. Details have been few so far, but players’ names and likeness will be real.

“I personally believe that NCAA Football is the greatest game ever made,” Gri n says.

“A lot of kids growing up with the game wanted to be able to see themselves grow and develop into those players they were creating.”

EA Sports has o ered Football Bowl Subdivision players a minimum of $600 and a copy of EA Sports College Football 25 to be featured in the game. More than 10,000 players have accepted.

The new iteration of EA Sports College Football will retain a key di erence from the other sports games on the market as it will be the only college football game.

MIT drops diversity statements in faculty hiring

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology will no longer require diversity statements in its hiring process for faculty.

“Requests for a statement on diversity will no longer be part of applications for any faculty positions at MIT,” a university spokesperson told New York Post. The university said the decision was made by MIT president Sally Kornbluth with the support of the provost, chancellor and academic deans.

“My goals are to tap into the full scope of human talent, to bring the very best to MIT, and to make sure they thrive once here,” Kornbluth said in a statement. “We can build an inclusive environment in many ways, but compelled statements impinge on freedom of expression, and they don’t work.”

The move comes a month after Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy called diversity, equity and inclusion statements “ideological pledges of allegiance.” In an April 2 Harvard Crimson column, Kennedy said DEI statements create “booby-traps inimical to an intellectually healthy university environment.”

Social Security, Medicare depletion dates backed up

The go-broke dates for bene t programs Medicare and Social Security have been pushed back as an improving economy has contributed to changed projected depletion dates, according to the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report. Medicare’s go-broke date for its hospital insurance trust fund was pushed back ve years to 2036 in Monday’s report.

Social Security’s trust funds will be unable to pay full bene ts beginning in 2035, instead of last year’s estimate of 2034. Still, o cials warn that policy changes are needed lest the programs become unable to pay full bene ts to retiring Americans.

Disney’s streaming business turns pro t

The Walt Disney Co. moved to a loss in its second quarter, hampered by signi cantly higher restructuring and impairment charges, but its adjusted pro t topped Wall Street’s view and its streaming business was pro table. Theme parks also continued to be a strength. While Disney said Tuesday that it foresees its streaming business softening in the third quarter due to its platform in India, it expects its combined streaming businesses to be pro table in the fourth quarter and to be a meaningful future growth driver for the company, with further improvements in pro tability in scal 2025. The direct-to-consumer business, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, posted quarterly operating income of $47 million compared with a loss of $587 million a year earlier.

JERRY LARSON / WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD VIA AP

Heisman Trophy-winner and former Baylor quarterback Robert Gri n III on the Baylor campus in 2012 where he posed for photos for EA Sports NCAA Football 13 video game.

2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave

Are

you not entertained?

By Bryan Woods for North State Journal

MOAB, Utah — Every spring, o -road enthusiasts gather on the otherworldly rocks of Moab for Easter Jeep Safari, a celebration of all things o -road and Jeep. And, every spring, Jeep brings some concept cars to show o and get feedback on what could be coming in the future.

Prior vehicles have included a two-door Wrangler tted with a 700-horsepower Hellcat engine, and a fully electric Wrangler called the Magneto. This year, Jeep brought four new concept cars to the safari.

The loudest of them somehow squeezes 42-inch tires on Dana 60 axles with 5.38 gears and slaps a 392 Hemi V8 under the hood. They call it the Low Down because all this wild customization was done without a lift by simply removing all the parts that got in the way. With the enormous tires, there is very little clearance or suspension travel as the axle was essentially pegged against the bump stops — while by no means a practical machine, it turns heads.

Getting closer to reality, the Vacationeer is the least-outlandish concept. It’s a Grand Wagoneer, the brand’s full-size luxury SUV akin to the Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade, with a mild lift, giving it 35-inch o -road tires mounted to bead lock-capable wheels. A massive tent, large enough for the whole

family, is mounted on the roof.

In addition to the concepts, Jeep also brought a new production vehicle: the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X. For the rst time, buyers can get a twodoor Wrangler equipped with 35inch tires from the factory. This highly capable Jeep will conquer 99% of trails straight out of the showroom with zero modi cations needed. Five years ago, this would have been a concept unto itself. Unsurprisingly, the X runs into the $70,000 range, a breathtaking amount of money for a two-door SUV but competitive with other top-end o -roaders like the Ford Bronco Raptor.

Of course, in addition to the Jeep faithful, members of the automotive media are also in attendance to try out the new rides

and experience the awe-inspiring rock-crawling at Moab — which, it must be said, might have been pushing the abilities of some of my media brethren.

Luckily, Jeep had equipped us with the most important o -road upgrade of all: certi ed 4x4 master trainer Nena Barlow as trail leader. Nena is the real deal; I’d follow her anywhere. After lunch, she led us on a trail ride of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave.

The Gladiator, Jeep’s pickup variant of the Wrangler, has been updated with a new infotainment system featuring a 12.3inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, side curtain airbags (!), and power seats for the rst time.

It’s almost shocking that optional power seats are considered

luxurious in a Jeep, but here we are. Jeep has seen some sales challenges lately, partially driven by steep competition from the Ford Bronco (without which the 35-inch Wrangler X would certainly not exist, for what it’s worth). Jeep has implemented some steep price increases in recent years, and this year’s changes seek to retreat from that strategy, as the company was eager to promote all the value its customers get.

As I started our trail run behind Nena in my Gladiator Mojave review unit, I almost immediately heard the truck repeatedly hitting the bump stops. For someone with a bit of rock-crawling experience, this was initially disconcerting.

The Mojave features Fox racing shocks with a 2.5-inch remote reservoir and hydraulic bump stops. The result is a ride like I have never experienced. The sound is a weirdly metallic squish during a progressive soft landing.

Once you move beyond the bump sounds, the result is a condent ride at speeds that few vehicles can exhibit o -road. The Mojave is one step below the Rubicon in the Jeep Gladiator trim lineup, with the former forgoing a disconnecting sway bar and front locker. It is still a competent rock crawler, using its rear locker when needed, but it’s not quite as capable. The trade-o — there’s always a trade-o — is that the Rubicon could never handle the Mojave’s speed in the bumps and sand.

The Mojave climbed Moab’s famed Wipeout Hill with ease. While some less experienced o -roaders spun their tires, I

could walk it right up with some gentle throttle control. Compared to the Wrangler Rubicon with the 4xe hybrid or 392 V8 engine, both featuring 470 lb-ft of torque and a 4:1 transfer case, the Mojave’s venerable Pentastar V6 makes some 260 lb-ft of torque via a 2.71:1 transfer case. It requires the driver to dig deeper into the gas pedal but delivers a smoother torque application. Still, the V6 provides just adequate power. A Baja race truck, it isn’t. The Gladiator is often maligned for being neither a Jeep nor a truck, as it compromises the abilities of both in its quest to be good, but not great, at everything. But this drive nally showed me who this truck is for. In the Mojave trim, it’s a desert runner toy that still allows you to rock crawl, tow a camper or haul trash to the dump. There are plenty of people in southern California for whom this makes perfect sense. You must be willing to accept the compromises of a Gladiator, but it will get the job done. A well-equipped Mojave will easily run more than $70,000, and for that price, you could get a very well-equipped full-size truck territory or, ahem, the new Ford Ranger Raptor, which starts just under $60,000 and is much better equipped.

Still, the Gladiator is the Jeep of pickups (or is it the pickup of Jeeps?) and is nally starting to come into its own — and, unlike the Ford Ranger, you can take the top o if you want to bake under the bright desert sun. I hope you brought your sunscreen.

PHOTOS COURTESY JEEP

Changes coming for prep sports, B3

Run for the Roses

Jockey

the closest

CHEERLEADING

Raleigh cheer team named world champions

Cheer Extreme’s Raleigh Cougars brought home a world championship, winning rst place in the three-day competition last weekend. The Cougars won the gold at Cheer Worlds in the L6 U18 non-tumbling category. Cheer Extreme teams from North Carolina — SSX, Code Black and Lady Lux — took three other golds at Worlds, while the Coex team took silver in their category.

MLS Charlotte FC gets shutout win over Portland

Charlotte FC posted a 2-0 win over the visiting Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Charlotte broke through in the 54th minute when Nikola Petkovic scored on an assist from Nathan Byrne. It was Petkovic’s rst career MLS goal. Enzo Copetti put an exclamation point on the win, scoring his rst goal of the year during stoppage time at the end of the match. Goaltender Kristijan Kahlina stopped three shots for his seventh shutout of the season.

AUTO RACING

Chevrolet denies part in Penske’s IndyCar cheating scandal

Chevrolet denied having any knowledge of the IndyCar cheating scandal within Team Penske and has hired a law rm to investigate if any General Motors employees were involved.

Josef Newgarden and Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin were disquali ed from the March 10 season-opening race after it was determined illegal modi cations were made to their race cars.

Hurricanes’ Slavin, Staal join Andersen as NHL award nalists

The Carolina defensemen is again up for the Lady Byng, and the Hurricanes captain is among the top three for the Selke

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

The three-time champion will compete at Pinehurst No. 2 in June

By Doug Ferguson

The Associated Press

TIGER WOODS accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the rst time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play. Woods has been exempt for every U.S. Open since he rst played in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. His ve-year exemption from winning the 2019 Masters expired last year. The exemption was expected and likely to be the rst of many. The USGA is particular about who is exempt from qualifying, last awarding one in 2021 to Phil Mickelson.

Jack Nicklaus, with four U.S. Open titles among his 18 professional majors, received a record eight special exemptions, including ve in a row until he stopped playing the U.S. Open after 2000 at Pebble Beach.

Arnold Palmer received ve U.S. Open exemptions, the last one in 1994 when he returned to Oakmont near his hometown for a tearful farewell.

Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, a record margin of victory for any major champion. He added another title in 2002 at Bethpage Black in New York, and he famously won his third U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 just a week before he had reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

“The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped de ne my career,” Woods said in a statement. “I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

The U.S. Open is June 1316 at Pinehurst No. 2, which is staging the Open for the fourth time. Woods tied for third, two shots behind the late Payne Stewart, in 1999. He was runner-up at Pinehurst in 2005 to Michael Campbell. He missed the most recent Open at Pinehurst in 2014 while recovering from the rst of what would be four back surgeries.

Woods has a long history with the USGA as the only player to win the U.S. Junior

RALEIGH — While the Hurricanes battle in the second round of the Stanley Cup playo s against the New York Rangers, they are proving to be big players in the NHL’s award season.

Days after Frederik Andersen was named a nalist for the Masterton Trophy, defenseman Jaccob Slavin and center Jordan Staal were also among the nal three for a pair of awards.

“Anytime you get nominat-

ed for any of those awards, I mean, that’s pretty special,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, himself a twotime Frank J. Selke Trophy winner, said. “What is it, three people that get nominated? So you’re three out of 700 and whatever it is NHLers. That’s pretty good.” Slavin, the 2021 winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play, was announced as a nalist for the award for the third time in his career on Saturday.

“You guys know my values, and being a Christian I think that’s how I try to live, right?” Slavin said of being honored again as a nalist. “I try to live with a good character, with a character that glori es God. And so this is an award that I

Brian Hernandez Jr. celebrates in the winner’s circle after riding Mystik Dan to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race featured

three-horse photo nish in nearly eight decades. For more, turn to page B3.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

AP PHOTO / CHARLIE RIEDEL

Tiger Woods hits from the bunker on the 16th hole during nal round at the Masters last month. Woods will be competing in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in June.

KARL B. DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, left, and Hurricanes center Jordan Staal, right, are both nalists for the Frank J. Selke Award.

TRENDING

Kevin Cash:

The Tampa Bay Rays manager won his 755th game with the team, passing Joe Maddon as the winningest manager in team history. Cash, who played for the Durham Bulls in 2005 and 2006, has managed the Rays since 2015, winning the AL East Division twice and reaching the 2020 World Series. Cash reached 755 wins in 1,390 games, 69 fewer than Maddon managed with the Rays.

RJ Davis:

The reigning ACC Player of the Year announced that he would return to the Tar Heels for his fth, COVID year. Davis, who ranks fth on UNC’s career scoring list and second on the school’s career 3-pointers list, had considered entering the NBA Draft. Instead, he made an announcement on Instagram, saying simply, “I’m back.” Davis averaged 21.2 points and 3.5 assists last year.

Peter Oosterhuis:

The longtime PGA golfer and CBS golf analyst died in Charlotte at 75. The PGA Tour did not mention a cause of death, but he had retired from broadcasting in 2014 with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Oosterhuis twice won the Order of Merit and compiled a winning record in six Ryder Cups. He won seven times in Europe and once on the PGA Tour.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“Best two words in sports.”

Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Game 7. Cleveland beat Orlando in Game 7 on Sunday to advance.

“He’s a beast out there.”

Sebastian Aho, right, of the Carolina Hurricanes on teammate Andrei Svechnikov, left.

NASCAR

Kyle Larson beat Chris Buescher to the line at Kansas Speedway on Sunday in the closest nish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The o cial winning margin was a thousandth of a second. A caution ag forced a green-white-checkered nish, and Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the nal lap and then came around him through the nal corner. The two cars banged doors as they headed for the stripe.

Duke Miles announced that he will nish his college career at the University of Oklahoma. Miles chose the Sooners over Alabama Auburn, Kansas, Michigan and FSU, among other schools. He averaged 17.5 points for High Point last season after transferring from Troy.

Linebacker Deion Jones signed a one-year contract with the Bu alo Bills. Jones, a member of the Carolina Panthers last season, has played for three teams in nine NFL seasons. He has 13 career interceptions, ve of them returned for touchdowns. He has topped 100 tackles in a season ve times.

Tickets purchased and distributed to Philadelphia residents by 76ers owners in an e ort to keep New York Knicks fans out of Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center for Game 6. It didn’t work, as the Knicks clinched the rst-round series with a win.

Trea Turner will miss at least six weeks with a left hamstring strain. The Phillies placed the two-time All-Star shortstop on the 10-day injured list, but Turner said he’ll need more time. Turner started the rst 30 games of the season. He’s hitting .343 with two homers, 10 doubles, nine RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

COLIN E. BRALEY /

Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose

The race featured the closest three-horse photo nish since 1947

By Beth Harris

The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 150th Kentucky Derby produced one of the most dramatic nishes in its storied history — three noses at the wire.

Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. desperately fought to hang on with two challengers coming to him in the closing strides. He did, too, after a delay of several minutes while the closest three-horse photo nish since 1947 was sorted out.

That year, Jet Pilot won by a head over Phalanx, who was another head in front of Faultless.

This one was much tighter.

Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, edged Sierra Leone by a nose, with Forever Young another nose back in third on Saturday. Sierra Leone was the most expensive horse in the race at $2.3 million.

Long shots Track Phantom and Just Steel led the eld through the early going, with 3-1 favorite Fierceness racing three-wide just o the leaders.

At the top of the stretch, everything changed.

Track Phantom drifted o the rail, opening a hole that Hernandez squeezed Mystik Dan through, and the bay colt suddenly found another gear. He quickly opened up a daylight advantage on the eld.

“When he shot through that spot, he was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it,” Hernandez said. “He shot o and I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’ve got a big chance to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

To Mystik Dan’s outside, Sierra Leone and Forever Young

took up the chase in the middle of the track.

As Mystik Dan sped along the rail, Sierra Leone lugged in and bumped Forever Young three times in the stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai didn’t claim foul.

Mystik Dan got so close to the rail that Hernandez’s boot struck it.

“But I think we can buy another pair of boots,” he said.

The winner’s share of the record $5 million purse was $3.1 million, with the jockey and trainer typically earning 10% each.

“Just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey and ride,” McPeek said. “Brian is one of the most underrated jockeys, but not anymore, right?”

Sierra Leone, the second choice at 9-2 odds, and Forever Young from Japan came up just short at the wire in front of 156,710 at Churchill Downs, the largest crowd since 2018.

“You get beat a nose in the Kentucky Derby, it’s a tough one,” said Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone. “But I’m so proud of the horse.”

It was just the 10th Kentucky Derby decided by a nose — the closest margin in horse racing — and the rst since Grindstone edged Cavonnier to wear the garland of red roses in 1996.

The crowd waited several minutes in the heat and humidity as the result was reviewed by the stewards and declared o cial.

“The longest few minutes of my life,” Hernandez said, after he and Mystik Dan walked in circles while the stunning result was settled. “To see your number ash up to win the Derby, I don’t think it will sink in for a while.”

Fierceness nished 15th in the eld of 20 3-year-olds.

Owner Mike Repole is 0 for 8

in the derby. He had the favorite in 2011 with Uncle Mo, who was scratched the day before the race with an illness. Last year, Forte was scratched the morning of the race as the favorite with a bruised foot.

Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles over a fast track in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22, $16.32 and $10.

Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed for a wire-to-wire win in the Kentucky Oaks for llies on Friday with Thorpedo Anna. McPeek is the rst trainer to sweep both races since Ben Jones in 1952.

McPeek’s only other victory in a Triple Crown race was also a shocker: 70-1 Sarava won the 2002 Belmont Stakes — the biggest upset in that race’s history. The colt spoiled the Triple Crown bid of War Emblem.

The winning owners are cousins Lance and Brent Gasaway and Daniel Hamby III, all from Arkansas. They bred Mystik Dan.

“We’ve done it with what I call working-class horse,” McPeek said, explaining the colt’s sire and dam weren’t big names.

Sharilyn Gasaway, Brent’s wife, said, “It is surreal for sure. We feel like we’re just ordinary people and we’ve got an amazing horse.”

Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64. Forever Young was another nose back in third and paid $5.58 to show.

Catching Freedom was fourth, followed by T O Password of Japan, Resilience, Stronghold, Honor Marie and Endlessly. Dornoch was 10th and then came Track Phantom, West Saratoga, Domestic Product, Epic Ride, Fierceness, Society Man, Just Steel, Grand Mo the First, Catalytic and Just a Touch.

Que Tucker, shown here presenting an award to UCA wrestler

Jack McArthur at the state dual team championships earlier this year, announced several changes coming for state high school athletics.

NCHSAA approves

‘Big

32,’ makes other decisions in Board of Directors meeting

The NCHSAA Board of Directors concluded its spring meeting last Wednesday

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

THE NORTH Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors held its spring meeting last week and took action on numerous changes in high school sports.

Arguably the most important decision of the session was the approval of the “Big 32” realignment model which was recommended by the Bylaw Task Force Committee.

With the NCHSAA moving to eight classi cations beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the “Big 32” model will classify the largest 32 member schools into the 8A classi cation, and the remaining schools would be divided as evenly as possible among classes 1A through 7A.

After the meeting, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said in a press conference that the realignment process won’t start until the fall which is after the realignment committee is named and receives the schools’ average daily membership data for the rst 20 days of the next school year.

But before the realignment process gets rolling, Tucker and the NCHSAA do expect the continuation of conferences with multiple classes.

run eight state championships within its nancial means.

Here are the other actions the Board of Directors took in last week’s meeting:

Review and o ciating

Approved rate increases for referees and o cials in swimming and diving; junior varsity football playo contests, rst and second rounds

Increased registration fees to $40, plus $31 for insurance and background checks for all sports except swimming and diving which will be $30, plus $31 for insurance and background checks.

Increased scrimmage fees paid to the assigning o cials association for all sports from $28 to $50 per hour.

Capped local association and booking fees at $80 for all sports, except football and basketball which were capped at $100.

Registration for swimming and diving teams to the NCPrepsSwimming platform will increase from $20 to $30 e ective for 2025-2026 school year. Increased the number of umpires in the third round of the baseball and softball playo s to match the regional and state championship rounds.

Calendar changes

appreciate, just being a gentleman.”

It is the eighth consecutive season Slavin has received votes for the award. He nished second in 2022 and fourth in both 2020 and 2023. Slavin was called for just four penalties in 81 games this season despite often playing against the opposition’s top players.

“The game is a hard game,” Slavin said. “I think you can still play the game hard, but you’re doing it the right way and treat people with respect out there still. That is what it is to me at least.”

The other nalists for the Lady Byng are Toronto’s Auston Matthews — who has already won this year’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the lead in goals with 69 — and Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson, neither of whom has previously won the award.

It is Matthews’ eighth consecutive season receiving votes for the award and third time being a nalist. Pettersson has received votes in ve of his six seasons, nishing a career-best eighth last year.

Slavin was initially unaware Saturday, when the nalists were announced, who the other two players were competing

for the award. When o ered the chance to talk down his competition, Slavin unsurprisingly took the high road — just like he does on the ice.

“No, I wouldn’t say anything about them,” he said with an earnest smile.

The Lady Byng has often been met with backhanded praise in a sport where grit and tenacity are widely praised.

“Maybe in the past, and I say way past, I don’t think they looked at it like they do now,” Brind’Amour said, “where they’re not just giving it to the guy doesn’t take penalties. They’re giving it to an elite player that does it right. … Any of these awards that you get nominated for is special, and the way he does it is special.”

Staal is a Selke nalist for the second time in his career and rst time since joining the Hurricanes. In 2010, he nished third in voting for the award, given annually to the best defensive forward in the NHL, when he was playing with the Penguins, and he has appeared on Selke ballots in 16 of his 18 NHL seasons. The Carolina captain anchored the league’s best penalty kill this season while continuing to take tough matchups every night at age 35.

“I’m happy for him to get the recognition for the type of play-

er he is and has been his whole career, really,” Brind’Amour said before Sunday’s Game 1 against the Rangers, a 4-3 Carolina loss. “I know it’s a big honor for him, well deserved.”

It is Staal’s ninth consecutive season receiving votes, and he nished fourth in last year’s balloting. Matthews was also named a nalist for the Selke, as was Florida center Aleksander Barkov.

It’s Matthews’ fth straight season and sixth overall receiving votes for the award, and his previous best nish was 10th in 2022. Matthews has now won the Richard three times in his career. He received both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award (now called the Ted Lindsay Award) in 2022 for being the league’s MVP as selected by the media and most outstanding player in a vote by the players, respectively. Matthews also won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2017. Staal was third for that trophy in his rst NHL season in 2006-07. Barkov won the Selke in 2021 and is a nalist for the third time, nishing third in 2022. The Panthers center has received votes as the NHL’s top defensive forward in every year of the last decade. He won the Lady Byng in 2019.

“I think there could be one, two or three classes within a conference,” Tucker said. “That is to account for geography, especially for the regular season because the regular season is very important to the membership. That’s how they pay bills. When they have to travel a long distance during the regular season, then that’s problematic for them.”

The Task Force Committee also brought forth other realignment recommendations that will have to be voted on by the membership. Those include 24-32-team brackets for the 8A classi cation, a 32-team bracket for 2A through 7A, a 16-team bracket for 1A and a recommended classi cation realignment every two years.

The Association also decided that Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem will once again host the men’s and women’s regional and state nal rounds in a “Final Four” like atmosphere.

“I thought it was a great environment,” Stephen Gainey, vice president of the Board of Directors, said. “I was excited that the board wanted to keep that idea in place. Obviously, there may be some things that sta will see that needs to be tweaked a little bit.”

Tucker said the format’s biggest complaints were about the service charges in icted on spectators from the use of Ticketmaster. Chris Blanton, president of the Board of Directors, also said that the move to eight classi cations could possibly cause another change to the basketball nal four as the NCHSAA would have to

Late entry deadlines for the individual wrestling tournaments were adjusted to 3 p.m. Monday for the women in the week of the dual team tournament.

Dual Team Tennis bracketing will now take place on Friday of Week 9 of the season instead of Monday of Week 10. Indoor Track and Field Championships will be moved to Feb. 14-15, 2025. The rst contest date for basketball programs at non-football playing schools is now Nov. 4. However, the six games played before football-playing schools’ rst contest date will not be included in RPI rankings as it relates to playo seeding.

Finances

• Funding for the 2023-2024 education-based grants in the areas of coach’s education and health and safety initiatives, the 50% reimbursement for schools achieving Level 1-3 Honor Roll and individuals achieving CAA or CMAA certi cations between March 30, 2023, and March 31, 2024, was approved to be dispersed from the Endowment Fund.

• Remaining Endowment Fund monies will be transferred to the NCHSAA Foundation, Inc.

• Changed the playo ticket revenue share for participating schools and the NCHSAA to comply with the upcoming changes dictated by North Carolina state law.

15% of the rst two rounds

20% of the third round

25% of the fourth round

33% of the regional 33% state championships

HURRICANES from page B1

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan, right, to the nish line to win Saturday’s 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Crunch time for college baseball teams across North Carolina

Six teams still hold out hopes

of NCAA bids

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

WE ARE NOW less than three weeks away from the NCAA selection show. While college basketball may have a trademark on the term “Madness,” this season has seen things go topsy turvy for locals teams as they try to get a spot on the road to the College World Series.

Wake Forest opened the season as the No. 1 team in the nation, following a trip to Omaha last season. However, the Demon Deacons now nd themselves trailing at least three other teams in the state. Of course, there’s still plenty of baseball to be played before the brackets are set, and we’ve seen over the last couple months that virtually anything can happen.

Here’s a look at where NCAA hopefuls in the state stand, and what work remains to be done.

UNC

The Tar Heels lead the ACC Coastal Division with a 17-7 record and are 31-11 on the year. UNC swept Wake Forest, and the consensus among bracket projections is that UNC will receive a high national seed and host a regional. D1 has the Tar Heels as a No. 6 national seed. Baseball America projects No. 4, while College Sports Madness has them at 7. There are some questions surrounding the team, however. Including the sweep of Wake (now 12-12), last weekend’s series against 13-11 Virginia Tech was the only ACC opponent with a winning conference record that UNC has beaten in

a series. The Heels lost two of three to Miami, NC State and Virginia. Also, while the Heels are 28-2 at home, their road record is a shaky 7-7, and they’ve lost both neutral-site games. A three-game set at Duke to close the ACC regular season could be a chance to make a statement.

East Carolina

The Pirates are either an 8 or 9 national seed according to consensus and should host a regional. ECU has taken two of three from UNC and won two over NC State. Next on the

docket is the chance to add to the resume with a game against Duke.

ECU has a three-game lead over the rest of the AAC and have won seven straight series. The Pirates also had a 10game winning streak snapped last week. So the team seems to be peaking at the right time. The Pirates have series against Tulane and Rice left, both of whom have losing records in conference.

Duke

The Blue Devils have some work to do to lock down a host-

ing gig. As of the start of the week, D1 and Baseball America had Duke hosting, with 13 and 15 national seeds, respectively. College Sports Madness had them headed to South Carolina. The Blue Devils are tied for second in the Coastal but are three games behind the Tar Heels. They’ll have a chance to make up ground when they host UNC to close the ACC slate. They also have a road game at ECU this week. So they’ll have plenty of opportunities to impress the committee, but they also have potential pitfalls for their quest to host.

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons have been haunted by midweek games, su ering losses to UNC-G, UNC-W, Coastal Carolina and Elon. The weekends haven’t been much better as Wake sits at 12-12 in ACC play.

The former top-ranked team is facing a daunting trip for the NCAAs if the consensus holds. Late April projections had Wake hosting with a low (14-15) national seed, but z series loss at Notre Dame to close the month seems to have taken that o the table for now. D1 has the Deacs headed to Greenville, while Baseball America has them going to South Carolina’s Columbia regional. With Atlantic Division leader Clemson still on the schedule, as well as NC State, Wake can still move—in either direction—before the ACC Tourney.

NC State

The Wolfpack appears likely to be the No. 2 seeded team in someone else’s regional. Projections have State headed to Lexington, Ky., Knoxville, Tn. or Greenville. With a 5-11 road record, starting a tournament run in someone else’s stadium seems like a troubling situation.

The Pack still has a trip to UVA and hosts Wake Forest. So things could be looking very di erent in a few weeks.

UNC Wilmington

The Seahawks are 32-16 and have won ve straight entering the week. They’ve beaten Wake Forest and took a pair from NC State, and they have winning records on the road and in neutral site games.

Surprisingly, D1 still has UNCW as one of its rst four out, but the other mocks have the Seahawks in the eld, headed to either Charlottesville or Chapel Hill.

UNCW still has a home game against UNC and CAA series against Hofstra and Delaware remaining on its schedule as the Seahawks look to remove all doubt about their worthiness of getting a bid.

Griner still adjusting 17 months after Russian prison ordeal

The WNBA star details her experience in a new book

By Doug Feinberg

The Associated Press

BRITTNEY GRINER continues her e orts to settle into a normal routine following her release from a Russian prison 17 months ago.

Life isn’t what it once was for the perennial WNBA All-Star.

The 6-foot-8 center looks different and has di erent priorities. Gone are her familiar dreadlocks that couldn’t be maintained during her incarceration. She regularly sees a therapist to help her cope after being imprisoned for 10 months. And since her release, Griner has been an advocate for the return of other Americans detained overseas.

She has met with President Joe Biden twice since her release, including once last month in Phoenix.

“Got to talk to him about a couple of people and just keep it on the forefront of everyone’s mind,” the Phoenix Mercury star said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “You want to get exposure and that keeps it on the forefront of people’s minds. Keep people accountable.”

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport in February 2022. Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil

WOODS from page B1

Amateur three straight times, followed by the U.S. Amateur three straight times. His nine USGA championships are matched only by amateur great Bobby Jones.

Woods earlier this year was selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor from the USGA.

“The story of the U.S. Open

derived from cannabis. She shares details about the harrowing experience in her new book — “Coming Home” — which came out Tuesday.

Griner hopes one takeaway for anyone who reads the book will be a vivid picture of what detainees have to endure. She said it’s why it took her all of last season to write it with Michelle Burford.

“I didn’t leave anything out from the detainment, to being over there, the conditions. As much as we could t into a book, we basically did,” Griner said. “People will be shocked at some of the things.

“I hope it brings a little bit more of an understanding to the conditions that detainees go through.”

Griner says it is important people have a clear picture of what it’s like for those Americans not home yet, including Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, so that no one gives up the ght.

“It took everyone to come together to bring me home,” she said. Government o cials “have to make really hard decisions.”

Griner, who rst met President Biden at the White House Correspondent’s dinner in 2023 a few months after her return to the U.S., said she and her WNBA teammates must keep the momentum going to get everyone home.

“How are we going to do it? Bringing in families, playing videos, give them airtime?”

could not be written without Tiger Woods,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer. ”From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemp -

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, second from right, is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing outside Moscow in 2022. Griner continues her e orts to settle into a normal routine following her release from a Russian prison 17 months ago.

she said. “Maybe someone that doesn’t know, sees (the book) and they write a letter to Congress that tips over the scale to get someone home.”

Griner said her days of playing basketball overseas during the WNBA o season are over. Though many WNBA players still play in international leagues to supplement their league salaries, Griner said she is done, except with USA Basketball. She hopes to be on the Olympic team at the Paris Games this summer, and the odds are in her favor that will happen. Griner had played in Chi-

tion committee.” It will be the first time Woods competes in the U.S. Open since Winged Foot in 2020, held in September before no fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He crashed his car in Los Angeles and badly injured his right leg and ankle in February 2021, causing him to miss the U.S. Open’s return to Torrey Pines. While he re -

na for a few years during the WNBA o season, before making the move to Russia — where she had played since 2015 before her arrest.

It’s not just her ordeal in Russia, however, that is going to keep her home. Griner’s wife, Cherelle, is expecting the couple’s rst child.

“The only time I’ll go overseas is with Team USA,” Griner said.

“I need to be in the states. About to be a parent. Last thing I want to do is be in and out of my kid’s life. I want to be there for everything. I don’t want to uproot my family and take them overseas

turned to competition a year later, the U.S. Open at Brookline in 2022 was the only major he didn’t play. A year ago, Woods had surgery to fuse his right ankle after the Masters and did not play the rest of the year, missing the U.S. Open’s debut at Los Angeles Country Club.

Woods last contended at the U.S. Open in 2010 at Pebble Beach, where he shot 66 in the

with me. It’s too much.” Griner, who has been an advocate for mental health for the past decade, said she sees a therapist regularly — something she did for several years before she went to Russia — and it helps her process what she endured while in prison.

“They are instrumental to my mental health,” Griner said about her sessions. “Everyone can bene t from having someone to talk to. Someone outside of their every day life. It just helps to have a di erent perspective on life from someone.

“That way if you do feel nervous or struggling with something, it’s very bene cial.”

The 33-year-old took a mental health break for several days last summer during the WNBA season, missing three games. She’ll begin her 12th year in the league May 14.

Griner is looking forward to it after the welcome she received in her return last year. One of the only positives that Griner will take away from her ordeal was the outpouring of support she received from people in the form of letters they wrote to her in prison.

“The letters were amazing from the fans, teammates, opponents, GMs, they all meant so much to me,” she said. “It was very dark at times, especially going through the trial. When I was in isolation for weeks, it was an emotional rollercoaster and those letters made me remember that I wasn’t forgotten.”

third round but then closed with a 75 and tied for fourth. He is expected to play in the PGA Championship in two weeks at Valhalla, where he won in 2000 on his way to capturing all four majors consecutively. Woods said during a round of appearances on NBC shows earlier this week to promote his clothing line that his plan was to play the remaining three majors.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Duke’s Charlie Beilenson is just one of the players across the state excited about what has been a wild college baseball season.

ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO / AP PHOTO

Statues of singer Johnny Cash and Civil rights leader Daisy Bates will head to Statuary Hall to represent Arkansas

By Andrew DeMillo

The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — When Arkansas lawmakers decided ve years ago to replace the statues representing the state at the U.S. Capitol, there was little objection to getting rid of the existing sculptures. The statues that had stood there for more than 100 years were obscure gures in the state’s history.

“I remember giving tours to constituents from Arkansas, to young people, and I would point out the two representatives in Statuary Hall in our United States Capitol from Arkansas,” said former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who also served in Congress. “And they would say, ‘We’ve never heard of them.’”

Instead of two little-known gures from the 18th and 19th centuries, the state will soon be represented by the “Man in Black” and a woman who was instrumental in the ght over school desegregation.

O cials plan to install statues of civil rights leader Daisy Bates this week and musician Johnny Cash later this year.

Bates, who headed the state NAACP, mentored the black students known as the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1957. She is a well-known civil rights gure in Arkansas, where a downtown street in the capital, Little Rock, is named in her honor. The state also marks Daisy Bates Day on Presidents Day.

Benjamin Victor, the Idaho sculptor chosen to create the statue of Bates, said he began his work by extensively studying her, including reading her 1962 autobiography and visiting her Little Rock home and Central High. He said he hopes the statue will help U.S. Capitol visitors

learn more about her as well.

“I hope it really, rst and foremost, inspires them to study Daisy Bates’ life and legacy,” Victor said. “A big part of it is to capture that spirit of hers and inspire others to do the same and stand up for what’s right.”

The 8-foot-tall bronze statue depicts Bates, who with her husband published the Arkansas State Press newspaper, walking with a newspaper in her arm. She holds a notebook and pen in one hand and wears an NAACP pin and rose on her lapel.

Cash was born in Kingsland, a tiny town about 60 miles south of Little Rock. He died in 2003 at age 71. His achievements include 90 million records sold worldwide spanning country, rock, blues, folk and gospel. He was among the few artists inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The 8-foot-tall statue of Cash depicts the singer with a guitar slung across his back and a Bible in his hand. Little Rock sculptor

Kevin Kresse, who was selected to create the statue, has sculpted other musical gures from Arkansas such as Al Green, Glen Campbell and Levon Helm.

Kresse views Cash as a much-needed addition to the Capitol as a counterbalance to the con ict in Congress, he said.

“He walked the walk and he lived what he believed. And that was just this quality that really appealed to me,” Kresse said. “And that interior thoughtfulness was something that I really wanted to try to bring out in this sculpture.”

The Bates and Cash statues will replace ones depicting James P. Clarke, a former governor and U.S. senator in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and Uriah Rose, a 19th-century attorney. The statues had come under scrutiny, especially over racist comments Clarke made calling on the Democratic Party to preserve “white standards.”

Republican Sen. Bart Hester, a Republican who is now the Senate president pro tem, began

The modest start for “The Fall Guy” hints at larger concerns for the lm industry

By Jake Coyle

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — “The Fall Guy,” the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with $28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that’s very much “to be determined” for Hollywood.

The Universal Pictures release opened on a weekend that Marvel has regularly dominated with $100 million-plus launches. (In 2023, that was “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” with a $118 million debut). But last year’s strikes jumbled this year’s movie calendar; “Deadpool & Wolverine,” originally slated to open this weekend, is instead debuting in July.

So in place of a superhero kicko , the summer launch went to a movie about the stunt performers who anonymously sacri ce their bodies for the kind of action sequences blockbusters are built on. Going into the weekend, forecasts had the lm opening $30 million to $40 million.

“The Fall Guy,” directed by former stuntman and “Deadpool 2” helmer David Leitch, rode into

the weekend with the momentum of glowing reviews and the buzz of a SXSW premiere. But it will need sustained interest to merit its $130 million production budget. It added $25.4 million in overseas markets. Working in its favor for a long run: strong audience scores (an “A-” CinemaScore) and good reviews (83% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal, believes things line up well for “The Fall Guy” in the coming weeks.

“We had a very solid opening,” said Orr. “We’re looking forward to a very long, very robust, very successful run throughout the domestic box o ce for literally

weeks if not months to come.”

But the modest start for “The Fall Guy” hints at larger concerns for the lm industry. Superhero lms haven’t been quite the box-o ce behemoth they once were, leading studios to search for fresher alternatives. “The Fall Guy” seemed to check all the boxes, with extravagant action sequences, one of the hottest stars in the business, a director with a track record for crowd pleasers and very good reviews.

Instead, the opening for “The Fall Guy,” loosely based on the 1980s TV series, only emphasized that the movie business is likely to struggle to rekindle the fervor of last year’s “Barben-

Benjamin Victor works on his sculpture of Daisy Gatson Bates at the Windgate Center of Art and Design at the The University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus on April 25, 2022. The statue will be placed in the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol when it is completed.

heimer” summer. “The Fall Guy” stars one from each: Gosling, in his rst post-Ken role, and Emily Blunt, of “Oppenheimer.” Both were Oscar-nominated.

“It’s going to be a very interesting, nontraditional summer this year,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.

In part due to the e ects of last year’s work stoppages, there are fewer big movies hitting theaters.

Expectations are that the total summer box o ce will be closer to $3 billion than the $4 billion that’s historically been generated.

“The summer season is just getting started, so let’s give ‘The Fall Guy’ a chance to build that mo-

calling for the statues to be replaced in 2018. Clarke Tucker, Clarke’s great-great-grandson and a Democratic state senator, also called for his ancestor’s statue to come down.

“There was recognition broadly that it was time for a change,” said Hutchinson, who signed the 2019 law requiring the Bates and Cash statues to go up.

Choosing their replacements was the hard part, with lawmakers o ering competing ideas ranging from Walmart founder Sam Walton to a Navy SEAL from the state who was killed in Afghanistan. After some wrangling, lawmakers eventually approved Bates and Cash.

Sen. David Wallace, who sponsored the legislation to replace the previous sculptures, said he hoped the new statues would tell people more about the types of gures Arkansas has produced over the years.

“We wanted to do the common person that represented Arkansas,” Wallace said. “And I think that with Daisy Bates and with Johnny Cash, we covered the spectrum in Arkansas. Just, they represent the common folks of Arkansas.”

mentum over time. It’s a di erent type of summer kicko lm,” said Dergarabedian. “There’s always huge expectations placed on any lm that kicks o the summer movie season, but this isn’t your typical summer movie season.” In a surprise, No. 2 at the box o ce went to the Walt Disney Co. re-release of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” The rst episode to George Lucas’ little-loved prequels collected $8.1 million over the weekend, 25 years after “Phantom Menace” grossed $1 billion.

Last week’s top lm, the Zendaya tennis drama “Challengers,” slid to third place with $7.6 million in its second week. That was a sold hold for the Amazon MGM release, directed by Luca Guadagnino, dipping 49% from its rst weekend. The Sony Screen Gems supernatural horror lm “Tarot” also opened nationwide. It debuted with $6.5 million, a decent enough start for a low-budget release but another example of horror not quite performing this year as it has the last few years. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “The Fall Guy,” $28.5 million 2. “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,”

STEPHEN SWOFFORD / ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE VIA AP

UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP

Ryan Gosling stars in “The Fall Guy.”

Churchill Downs fashion provides unique spectacle beyond horse racing

The 150th Kentucky Derby featured over-the-top hats

By Claire Galofaro

The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Lori Hennesy imagined her outt for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, she wanted to create something deserving of that monumental anniversary, a celebration of Kentucky’s greatness and history.

So, she got a bucket of chicken, red and white striped with Colonel Sanders’ famous face on the front, lled it with roses and attached a plastic horse. She wore it on top of her head.

“I wanted to have fun,” she said. Hennesy reckons that is what this place has always been about and how it came to host the longest continuously held sporting event in America.

She imagines what Churchill Downs must have been at that rst race on May 17, 1875, when Ulysses Grant was the president, the country was still reeling in the aftermath of the Civil War and patrons arrived to watch the horses by riding horses there themselves. Women required a male escort to attend, The Courier-Journal reported, and admission was as little as $1.

The 150th Run for the Roses would be unrecognizable to the 10,000 people who attended that rst race at an unknown track on the rural outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky. Now more than 157,000 pack into Churchill Downs from all over the world for a days-long spectacle of huge hats and mint juleps, where most grandstand tickets cost more than $500 and celeb -

ESTATE OF Robert David Reeser Cumberland County Estate File No. 24 E 708

rities celebrate in lavish suites high above the track.

But Hennesy suspects that the vibe back then would have been the same as today: People are there to see and be seen, to distract themselves from ordinary troubles and have a good time.

“I can imagine even then, it was just fun,” she said. “This day is magical.”

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Robert David Reeser, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Alfreda Chason-Reeser, Executor, at 2131 Burnett Ave., Fayetteville, NC 28306, on or before the 9th day of August, 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/Administrator named above.

This the 2nd day of May, 2024.

Alfreda Chason-Reeser Executor of the Estate of Robert David Reeser

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Donald Grey Beard Sr, 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 24 day of July, 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 22 day of April, 2024

Donald Grey Beard Jr, Executor 513 Harlow Drive Fayetteville, NC 28314 Of the Estate of Donald Grey Beard Sr, Deceased.

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E0561 State of North Carolina Cumberland County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of Randall A. Hall aka Randall A. Hall, Sr. aka Randall Allen Hall, Sr., 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 3336 Sids Mill Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28312, on or before July 17, 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 17th day of April, 2024. Randall Allen Hall, Jr. Executor of the Estate of Randall A. Hall aka Randall A. Hall Sr., aka Randall Allen Hall, Sr., Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 04/17/2024, 04/24/2024, 05/1/2024 and 05/08/2024

NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as administrator of the estate of Frances Davis, deceased, late of Cumberland County hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against set of state to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of july, 2024 which date is 3 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 this decision or requested to

The sun was shining Saturday, and Derby-goers didn’t have to contend with the bad news that put a damper on the race last year, when seven horses died in the week leading into the race. They posed for pictures in front of a sign commemorating the anniversary and whispered about the celebrities who made an appearance.

Kentucky native Wynonna Judd was at the track to sing the National Anthem. Martha Stewart was the day’s grand marshal, charged with saying “Riders’ Up!” to start race.

Travis Kelce, three-time Super Bowl champion and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, comedian Jimmy Fallon and musician Kid Rock were also at the track.

Patrons jockeyed to watch the horses get saddled at the track’s renovated new paddock, now a massive horseshoe-shaped space at the foot of the famous Twin Spires. Mary and Skip Keopnick weren’t sure they were going to like the changes, but they said they were pleasantly surprised. They have a room in their Michigan home devoted to the Derby that features old hats and memorabilia from their decades in attendance.

Skip Keopnick attended his rst Derby in 1977 and hasn’t missed one since. In the years

to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 1st day of May, 2024.

Royce W. Chitty, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Gloria Hutson

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 EXECUTOR

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF JAMES RUSSELL LACY

CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24 E 534

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against James Russell Lacy, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Yvonne Marie Mahosky Burdick, Administrator, at 296 Silo Rd., Sparta, NC 28675, on or before the 18th day of July, 2024 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This the 12th day of April, 2024.

Yvonne Marie Mahosky Burdick

Administrator of the Estate of James Russell Lacy

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm

Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311

Run dates: 4/17, 4/24, 5/1 and 5/8/24

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E0548 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of Leonard Lynch, 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 4330 Green Bush Avenue, Fayetteville,

since, he has seen a lot change.

Women have always worn big hats, he said, but the men have nally caught up, often sporting bright, patterned suit jackets. He fashioned a helmet years ago — with a motor and a gear system — that spins two horses around the top of his head. For the 150th Derby, he said, he made the motor bigger and the gear taller so the plastic horses on his head could run around faster. His wife had a oorlength dress screen-printed to read “Kentucky Derby 150th.”

“It’s a milestone,” he said. “We had to do it up bigger than usual.”

Some in the stands came to commemorate their own milestones.

Charlotte Amsden turned 70 this year. She grew up with horses and always dreamed of watching them run at the world’s most famous race. She read that the Derby had special birthday of its own this year and called her daughters: “We have got to go celebrate my birth and the birth of the Derby,” she said.

She came with three generations: her three daughters, her granddaughter, a grandson, her great-granddaughter, just 4 months old, who had to have her own ticket to get into the racetrack.

Amsden got choked up at the idea that maybe, 50 years from now, that little one will return to watch the 200th Derby.

“That would be so special,” she said. And she wondered: What would this place look like then?

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

Skip Keopnick sports a motorized helmet in the stands at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 5th day of

COURT OF

OF NORTH CAROLINA

DIVISION WAKE

22SP001088-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MARSHALL WAYNE CARROLL AND MICHELLE KIBLER DATED JUNE 29, 2016 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 16438 AT PAGE 2414 IN THE WAKE 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 contained therein and, pursuant

22 SP 375

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale

contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Joseph B. Hazelwood a/k/a Joseph Hazelwood and Kelley Hazelwood to Trustee Services of Carolina, Trustee(s), which was dated April 18, 2005 and recorded on April 22, 2005 in Book 5921 at Page 135, Cabarrus 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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS

Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of Georgene Benke Kerr, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly veri ed, to the undersigned, care of their attorney, on or before July 19, 2024 (which date is at least three (3) months from the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned, care of their attorney. This the 17th day of April, 2024.

Stephanie R. Smith, Administrator of the Estate of Georgene Benke Kerr c/o Randall S. Hoose, Jr. Hoose Law, PLLC 705 Princess Street Wilmington, NC 28401-4146

Please publish 04/17, 04/24, 05/01, 05/08

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

North Carolina New Hanover County

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, Timothy W. Johnson, having quali ed on the 11th day of March 2024, As the Executor of the Estate of Barbara Easom Johnson (24E398), Deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to Timothy W Johnson, Executor, at the address set out below on or before July 25, 2024, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of the same. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address below. This is the 16th day of April 2024. Timothy W. Johnson 3671 Pandora Drive Mt. Pleasant, SC. 29466

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 Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on May 21, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Marshall Wayne Carroll and Michelle Kibler, dated June 29, 2016 to secure the original principal amount of $199,735.00, and recorded in Book 16438 at Page 2414 of the Wake 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: 813 Ellynn Dr, Cary, NC 27511 Tax Parcel ID: 0763843271 / 0035992 Present Record Owners: Michelle L. Murphy and Gregory P. Murphy

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 May 15, 2024 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING ALL OF LOT 6, as shown on the map or plat of KISER WOOD, PHASE 1, MAP 1, which is duly recorded in Plat Book 33, page 6, Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to which plan reference is here made for a more complete and accurate description thereof.

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

Said property is commonly known as 4227 Kiser Woods Dr, Concord, NC 28025-8957.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Probate #___24-E-214___________

All persons, rm and corporations having claims against Anne Loving Maddry, late of Orange County, North Carolina are hereby noti ed to present them to Valerie Smith Potter, as Executrix of the decedent’s estate in care of Kendall H. Page, Attorney, 210 N Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 on or before the 17th day of August 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 above named Executor. Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michelle L. Murphy and Gregory P. Murphy. 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

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.

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 and any deposit will be frozen

against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or

Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 22-08622-FC01 IN

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

located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on May 15, 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: BEGINNING at a stake in the 2nd line of the Tract of which this is a part, said corner being North 5 Degrees 30 minutes East 325.6 feet from the 3rd corner and runs thence with the 2nd line North 5 degrees 30 minutes East 200.0 feet to an

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 JOSPEH HAZELWOOD AND WIFE, KELLEY HAZELWOOD.

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

If

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of

5431 Oleander

Said property is commonly known as 850 BAINBRIDGE RD, Stedman, NC 28391.

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,

stake in the southern margin (30 minutes from the center line) of secondary road 1851, said corner being in said 2nd line of the tract of which this is a part; thence with the southern margin of said highway (30 minutes from the center line) South 69 degrees 22 minutes West 100.0 feet to an iron stake in said southern margin of SR 1951; thence South 5 degrees 30 minutes West 200.0 feet to an iron stake; thence North 69 degrees 22 minutes East 100.0 feet to the point of BEGINNING, containing 0.4 acres, more or less, and being a part of the 2 acre tract conveyed to Dancy Crumpler from ALex McCall and wife, Malley McCall as recorded in Book 573, Page 63, Cumberland County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

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 DANIEL V. HARTLEY.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 872

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by LUIS A. TORRES AND E. JHOSELYN TORRES payable to LONG BEACH MORTGAGE COMPANY, lender, to REID LEWIS DEESE NANCE & PERSON, Trustee, dated August 23, 2005, and recorded in Book 6987, Page 829 and further modi ed by Agreement recorded on December 17, 2012 in Book 9066, Page 0537 of the Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 11789, Page 733, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

FILE NUMBER: 24 SP 122

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by NATALIE A MOULTRIE payable to ATLANTIC BAY MORTGAGE GROUP LLC, lender, to JOSH COSTNER, Trustee, dated May 1, 2023, and recorded in Book 11724, Page 63 of the Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 11905, Page 0056, 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the

courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 9495-03-3342 ADDRESS: 3823 TALUS RD., FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28306 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): LUIS A. TORRES AND E. JHOSELYN TORRES THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 6987, PAGE 829 AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 137 AS SHOWN ON A PLAT ENTITLED RUNNYMEADE ACRES, SECTION TWO ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 111, PAGE 182, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA REGISTRY. 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).

following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0531-55-7865 ADDRESS: 543 W SUMMERCHASE DR., FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28311 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): NATALIE A MOULTRIE THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 11724, PAGE 63 AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 46 OF THE FAIRFIELD FARM, SECTION FOUR, PART TWO, SUBDIVISION, A “ZERO LOT LINE” DEVELOPMENT, BOOK PLATS 132, PAGE 128 CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, 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 IS.” Neither the Trustee nor

in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at an existing iron stake, the northeast corner of a 17.50 acre tract as described in Deed Book 599,

4°

15”

to

76.38 feet to a new iron pin, in Early Shoaf s line, new corner to Spear; thence with Shoaf’s line South 70° 38’ 59” East 1,289 feet to the point and place of beginning and containing 8.25 acres, more or less and being a portion of a 17.50 acre tract of land as described in Deed Book 599, Page 64, Davidson County Registry, according to a survey prepared by John D. Leonard, RLS #L-1226 and dated October 25, 1985 and updated February 5, 1993.

Also conveyed herewith is a 20-foot perpetual easement for ingress, egress and regress from Old Mill Road to the above-described property and more particularly described in Deed Book 526, Page 80, Davidson County Registry. This easement shall be appurtenant to and run with the above-described 8.25 acres tract, but it is not an exclusive easement and the Grantors reserve all of their right, title and interest in the said 20-foot easement for

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

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

ingress, egress and regress as described in Deed Book 599, Page 64, Davidson County Registry as well as a 20-foot perpetual easement for ingress, egress and regress over and through the above-described 8.25 acres tract, and leading from the said 20-foot easement, described in Deed Book 526, Page 80, Davidson County Registry and running across the described 8.25 acres to the Grantors remaining 8.49 acres, the exact location of said easement to be hereafter established between the parties hereto, their heirs or assigns.

FOR FURTHER REFERENCE this is that same property described in the deed recorded at Book 856, Page 565 in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Davidson County, North Carolina and is currently designated as Parcel Number 1401500000033 in the o ce of the Davidson County Tax Assessor.

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

Said property is commonly known as 3310 Old Mill Farm Rd, Lexington, NC 27295.

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

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

challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 4521.29 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

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 James H. Shamel, III.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at

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.: 22-20833-FC02 23 SP 679 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE

Michael L. Riddle, Trustee(s), which was dated November 9, 1998 and recorded on November 10, 1998 in Book 2553 at Page 422, Durham County Registry, North Carolina.

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.

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

Said property is commonly known as 3100 Dearborn Dr, Durham, NC 27704.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on May 16, 2024 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Durham County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING LOT NOS. 17 AND 18, BLOCK B OF LAWNDALE ACES ACCORDING TO PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 22 AT PAGE 80, AND BEING THE SAME PROPETY CONVEYED BY TRUSTEE’S DEED DATED OCTOBER 15, 1974 BY C.W. WHITE, TRUSTEE FOR ROY B CAHOON RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 421, AT PAGE 1, TO WHICH DEED REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF SAME. THIS PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO AN AT&T COMPANY RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT.

The following described property:

All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Triangle Township, Durham County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 3, Section Two, Stratford Glen Subdivision, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 114, Page 35, Durham County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same.

Assessor’s Parcel Number: 140258

at 2:00 PM on May 23, 2024, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 100 Clark Lake Road, Durham, North Carolina 27707. Tax ID: 140258 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty- ve Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). 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 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 owner of the property is Byron Anthony Papa.

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

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 Irish Mary Wall a/k/a Irish Wall.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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

DURHAM

DAVIDSON

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 637 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by JOHNNY DOUGLAS AND DONNA DOUGLAS payable to FIRST FRANKLIN A DIVISION OF NAT. CITY BANK OF IN, lender, to LANDQUEST, Trustee, dated December 19, 2005, and recorded in Book 5066, Page 595 of the Durham 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 Durham County, North Carolina, in Book 9950, Page 597, 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 Durham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 22-CVS-1720 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF FORSYTH FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA, Plainti ,

being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 177538 ADDRESS: 2424 LANDIS DR., DURHAM, NC 27705 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): JOHNNY DOUGLAS AND DONNA DOUGLAS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF DURHAM, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 5066, PAGE 595 AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF DURHAM, DURHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK E OF TANGLEWOOD, AS PER PLAT AND SURVEY THEREOF ON FILE IN PLAT BOOK 49, PAGE 53, DURHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. 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

v. CHARLES R. BROWN PROPERTIES, LLC, BAITY TIRE & SERVICE CENTER, INC., UNKNOWN, MINOR and INCOMPETENT HEIRS of CHARLES RANDAL BROWN and BRITTANY BROWN a/k/a BRITTANY SUE BROWN, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain Order and Judgment led on April 5, 2023 executed by the Honorable L. Todd Burke and led on April 15, 2023 and recorded in Book 1890 at Page 78 of the Surry County Public Registry in the above pending in Forsyth County, North Carolina, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., as Substitute Trustee (hereinafter “Substitute Trustee”) will place for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the Surry County Courthouse, 114 W. Atkins Street, Dobson, North Carolina on TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 at 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M. that certain parcel of land, including improvements thereon, situated, lying and being in the County of Surry, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: First Tract: (Marsh Township) Beginning at an existing iron pin in a farm road, southwest corner of property of May Gray (Book 419, page 586); thence with said farm road South 82 degs. 11 mins. 06 sec. West 157.11 feet to a new iron pin in the centerline of said farm road; thence South 88 degs. 07 min. 24 secs. West feet to a new iron pin in the centerline of

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 298 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Peter A. Lael and Lisa L. Lael (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Lisa L. Lael and Peter A. Lael) to Rebecca W. Shaia, Trustee(s), dated June 7, 2007, and recorded in Book No. RE 2760, at Page 722 in Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on May 22, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated

in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS Lot No. 147 as shown on the Map of Salem Woods, Section 2, same being recorded in Plat Book 22, Page 30 in the o ce of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to said plat being made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 419 Hathaway Drive, Winston Salem, 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 IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the

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 Single-Family Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be 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

EXECUTED

OF

E. LAMBERT AND GAIL B. LAMBERT DATED JUNE

2128 AT

AND

IN

1671 AND REAFFIRMED BY

RECORDED ON MAY 15, 2014 IN BOOK 2299, PAGE 1017 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 10:00AM on May 21, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Robert E. Lambert and Gail B. Lambert, dated June 28, 2011 to secure the original principal amount of $97,052.00, and recorded in Book 2128 at Page 1671 of the Iredell 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: 512 Reavis Rd, Harmony, NC 28634 Tax Parcel ID: 4892167716.000 Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Robert E. Lambert The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Robert E.

centerline of said farm road; thence North 53 degs. 36 mins. 11 secs. West 100.00 feet to a new iron pin in the centerline of said farm road; thence North 73 degs. 11 mins. 06 sec. West 57.00 feet to the Beginning, containing 5.03 acres, more or less, as shown on the above described

plat by Eddie Bunn, Surveyor.

For further reference, see Deed Book 525, page 246, Surry County Registry.

Address of property: 335 Phillips Road, Dodson, Surry County, North Carolina Tax Parcel ID: 499200725432

Present Record Owners: Estate of Charles Randel Brown and Brittany Sue Brown

The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold to the highest bidder. The Trustee reserves the right to require certi ed funds not to exceed the greater of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). The successful bidder shall also be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. § 7A-308(a)(1) unless the personal entitled to enforce the instrument is exempt from paying these sums.

The real property hereinabove described is being o ered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments. The Trustee reserves the right to sell the real property either as a group or on an individual basis whichever will bring the highest bid(s). Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required.

If the Trustee is unable to convey title to either parcel of 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/are challenged by any party, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 1-339.8(a), the initial Report of Sale will be led in Forsyth County and any upset bid must be led with the Clerk of

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 Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that

Lambert. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law.

After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY 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 May 1, 2024.

Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Aaron Gavin, NCSB# 59503

for

|

www.LOGS.com Posted: By: 23-116444

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Dept of Ed renews FAFSA push

Though close to 9 million FAFSA college nancial aid forms have been submitted, many students have yet to ll out the form.

The US Department of Education is rolling out a new campaign to encourage lling out the form, providing funding to schools, nonpro ts and community organizations to boost FAFSA awareness and submissions.

The department says it has made “signi cant progress” to address issues with the new FAFSA form, with most schools sending student aid o ers ahead of upcoming admissions deadlines.

Previously, North Carolina public colleges, including App State and the UNC system, extended admission deadlines to May 15 after widespread issues with the FAFSA form.

NC DOI urges hurricane prep

This is national hurricane preparedness week, reminds NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

With hurricane season starting June 1, Causey suggests to double check your insurance to verify that it covers oods (for homeowners) and your personal belongings (for renters).

The ood insurance is particularly important, as policies through the National Flood Insurance Program take 30 days to take e ect.

His o ce also suggests putting together an emergency kit with copies of essential documents, medications and rst aid supplies as a general best practice.

For more insurance information and advice, visit ncdoi.gov.

Albemarle Paper Supply breaks ground on $3.5M expansion

The new building should be nished by October

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — Albemarle

Paper Supply distribution company broke ground Friday on a $3.5 million warehouse expansion project.

City and county o cials made an appearance at the locally-owned-and-operated company, currently located at 735 Henson Street, a distributor of disposable paper products to businesses and events across North Carolina since 2009. The construction process for

the new 30,000-square-foot warehouse space next door began this past week and is expected to nish in October. Charlotte-based Southside Constructors, Inc. is handling the build.

After beginning in a 5,000-square-foot building on East Main Street, Albemarle Paper Supply co-owners and cousins Nick and John Kalogeromitros purchased the current 25,000-square-foot, 11acre building on Henson Street in 2014.

“No company can grow and thrive by itself. You need to assemble a good team,” Nick Kalogeromitros told the crowd during the groundbreaking cer-

Misenheimer Solar Park construction wraps

The project has the equivalent energy to power more than 12,000 NC homes

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

MISENHEIMER — Stanly County is home to one of the largest solar projects in the state of North Carolina.

On April 25, EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) announced that it has completed the one-year construction process for the 500-acre Misenheimer Solar Park, situated about a half-mile west of Pfei er University in Misenheimer. With around 200,000 panels and an installed generating capacity of 74 megawatts, Stanly County’s new renewable energy park is designed to generate

enough energy annually to power the equivalent of over 12,000 homes in the state while also providing direct bene ts to the surrounding communities.

The solar panels absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, interacting with the electrical grid through a substation after being converted to the proper voltage and sold to Duke Energy.

“The fully operational Misenheimer Solar Park is a success that can be attributed to the strong partnership and collaboration between EDPR NA’s team and the communities of the village of Misenheimer and Stanly County who worked together to make this project a reality,” Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDPR NA, said in a company press release.

emony on May 3. “Over the last 15 years, we’ve done that and we’ve assembled a lot of experience. In all parts of the business, we’ve learned the trade. This is a culmination of celebration for all of us.”

He referenced the assistance and guidance his business had received over the years from his father Dino and uncle Jimmy Kalogeromitros, owners of Albemarle’s Blue Bay Seafood.

The latter came up with the idea of the family starting a paper distribution company since it had already been in the restaurant business for a very long time and knew some partners in the business.

At 22 and 18, respective-

ly, Nick and John were tasked with “a big learning curve” as they trained themselves to understand banking, nancing, terms, routes and vehicles.

“This is for our parents, our brothers, and the employee support from the city, support from the county, and all the connections and the love that we’ve received from all of our clients as well,” Nick said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

More than doubling the amount of available warehouse space for the company, the new expanded facilities and additional space will enable it to purchase more bulk products, o er better prices to customers, and facilitate more customized products.

“We’re proud to witness the remarkable growth of businesses like Albemarle Paper Supply,” Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael said in a city press release.

The Houston-based company acquired the new utility-scale renewable energy project in 2020 from Orion Power Generation LLC — which had already started negotiations with the local landowner — marking EDPR NA’s rst solar project in North Carolina. “Our mutual dedication and commitment to the communi-

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

JOURNAL

Left to right, Southside Constructors group manager Eric Koulpasis stands with Albemarle Paper Supply co-owners Nick and John Kalogeromitros.

We stand corrected

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

WEDNESDAY

May 1

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Elizabeth Dole, 18 others

The two-time Cabinet secretary was recognized for her

public service

By Jordan Golson Stanly County Journal

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, actor Michelle Yeoh, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh.

Also honored was North Carolina’s own Elizabeth Dole, recognized for her lifetime of public service across a variety of arenas.

In a release from the White House announcing the recognition, Dole’s work as a U.S. senator, as Transportation secretary under President Reagan and Labor secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and as president of the American Red Cross was mentioned. Also cited was her work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation supporting military caregivers — the spouses, friends and family members who support our nation’s wounded veterans — through advocacy and recognition of that service.

Elizabeth Dole, now 87, was born in Salisbury in Rowan County. She graduated from Duke University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political

• Yancy Pregency Pergee, 44 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding warrant and driving with a revoked license.

• Yiterain Kolby Pergee, 18 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of child abuse and failure to appear on a release order.

May 2

• Brandon Lee Blue, 40 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of possessing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear on a release order.

• Ruby Carolyn Deese, 30 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Crystal Gail Hopkins, 40 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly

PAPER from page A1

“Their journey from humble beginnings to the success they’re experiencing now shows what can be accomplished with hard work, dedication, and skill. The story of Albemarle Paper Supply is a wonderful example of the opportunity available in our community for entrepreneurs.”

The City of Albemarle and Stanly County worked together to endorse and aid Albemarle Paper Supply’s expansion project.

“Existing industry support in Stanly County is a vital component of the program of the Eco -

science before attending grad school at Oxford and Harvard. She received a master’s degree in education and a law degree from Harvard.

After decades of political service, including a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 (four years after her husband, Bob Dole, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential race), she returned to North Carolina to run for Senate in 2002, serving a single six-year term.

County Sheriff’s Office for second-degree trespassing.

May 3

• Alan Lane Deese, 34 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Chasity Michelle Morris, 49 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of second-degree forcible rape (two counts), indecent liberties with a child, sexual battery (two counts), and statutory rape of a child aged 15 or younger.

• Melvin Samuel Romero-vijil, 21 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of speeding and reckless driving.

May 4

• Kevin Rhyan Martin, 34 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on

nomic Development Commission. Economic prosperity relies on strong partnerships with public and private partners,” Candice Lowder, Stanly County Economic Development Commission director, said in a press release.

“We provide support to large and small companies to help them achieve their goals, which will ensure their success in our community, now and in the future,” Lowder added. “We value the partnership with the City of Albemarle and Albemarle Paper Supply, and we congratulate them on their continued growth in Albemarle.”

She lost to Sen. Kay Hagan in 2008, making Dole the last Republican to lose a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina.

In 2012, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help the caregivers of wounded warriors. Her husband, a longtime senator from Kansas, was partially paralyzed from severe injuries sustained during combat in World War II.

Dole seemed delighted to receive the Presidential Medal of

charges of assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

May 5

• Patrick Demonte Harris, 31 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office for two counts of civil order for arrest related to child support.

• Wayne Dontez Swaringen, 45 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of driving while impaired, reckless driving with wanton disregard, speeding, and driving left of center.

May 6

• Keith Edward Tillia, 47 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office for violation of a court order and a charge of having an open container after consuming alcohol.

• Lori Michelle Wright, 46 yearsold, was arrested by the Stanly

from page A1

beginning of a journey, united together, to power North Carolina with a ordable clean energy,” Ganapathy added. Now spanning over 18 states, EDPR NA is the fourth-largest renewable energy producer in the world. It operates 60 wind farms, 10 solar parks, and eight regional o ces across North America. It has plans to add another 5.7 gigawatts of renewable energy generation to the grid over the next three years.

A group of ve local landowners will receive over $27

Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last week at the White House.

In a curious bit of trivia, Dole joins Secretary Elaine Chao — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife — as the only two women to have served as both secretary of Transportation and secretary of Labor who have also been married to a Senate majority leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

• David Wayne Lambert, 48 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while impaired, failure to appear on a release order, and aiding and abetting driving while license revoked due to impairment.

• Yazmine Regina Breeze Hinson, 23 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of resisting a public officer.

• Manaurian Trashawn Hall, 22 years-old, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on charges of resisting a public officer and possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce.

million for their participation in the project, while an additional estimated $3.5 million will be directed to local governments for schools, roads, public transportation and other services. The project will also create local jobs and long-term employment opportunities, beginning with the already-designated construction roles and culminating into the operations phase. Additionally, millions of dollars of additional investment are also expected to go to local Stanly County restaurants, hotels and stores.

EDPR NA collaborated with

Pfei er University to host a student vote for the solar park’s o cial logo. The university also teamed up with EDPR NA to host an educational open house event prior to construction, explaining the company’s renewable energy technology to stakeholders throughout the county.

EDPR NA estimates that the project will save more than 93 million gallons of water annually compared to conventional energy sources, helping to prevent air pollution and environmental concerns such as smog and acid rain.

CRIME LOG

ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole at the White House on Friday.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

‘Pharmacy benefit managers’ need more legislative oversight

Big PBMs often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

AS A PHARMACIST, I have seen rst-hand the impact today’s big pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) have on patients they claim to serve. Most patients don’t realize that PBMs control the price you pay at the pharmacy counter. While PBMs promote health plan cost savings to businesses for their employees, their records often tell a di erent story. Thankfully, in Raleigh and in Washington, lawmakers are nally waking up to the role PBMs play in drug pricing.

For years, PBMs have operated in the shadows, signing up employers to trust them and utilize their services, while e ectively evading any oversight attempts by state regulators. In 2021, the NC General Assembly passed a ban on the practice of rebate accumulating, which PBMs used to deny patients their due savings from drug discount programs.

How did PBMs escape oversight? The answer is that just a handful of large PBMs control 80% of the U.S. market. The PBMs then lobby Congress and oversight agencies to prevent any questioning of their business practices. This market domination is problematic because with no legal mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, PBMs can hide behind harmful, pro tmotivated pricing practices while employers and patients pay the price.

Traditional PBMs tout their size and scale as factors that secure better deals for clients. It is true that big PBMs can procure drugs in larger quantities at wholesale

Cameras in the courtroom

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity.

I READ ALL THE UPDATES from the reporters in the court room. But it just isn’t the same as watching it yourself.

I want to actually see it. I want to see how Donald Trump reacts when he hears his former aides testify. I want to hear for myself the testimony of the witnesses against him, and the cross-examination. I want to judge for myself what the judge has to say about Trump’s violation of the gag order.

You can watch pundits talk about the trial 24/7 on cable news, from whatever perspective you choose. But most of them only know what I know, from reading the updates from the limited number of reporters lucky enough to secure access to seats in the courtroom. They aren’t seeing and hearing what is really going on.

There is no reason why we should still be stuck in the past getting our news secondhand rather than seeing it for ourselves.

The old fear was that cameras would somehow turn courtrooms into circus tents and undermine the seriousness of what was going on or that lawyers would pay too much attention to the cameras. That makes no sense. What we see instead of the serious goings-on in the courtroom is the circus outside, when Trump sounds o to the press. What sense does that make?

The judicial system has been politicized, unfortunately. The answer to restoring con dence is sunshine — to actually let people see and hear what is going on inside, and judge for themselves.

This is a historic event. A former president and one of two men who will be our next president is standing trial. Whether and how the public responds to the trial and its verdict will shape history. Trump has done everything he can to put o any judgment of him, but he found one judge who would have none of it, and insisted that the

prices, but they often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Recently in Washington, lawmakers asked the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), a large PBM, to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx unit, along with CVS/Aetna’s Caremark and Cigna’s Express Scripts, now control 80% of the PBM market. With $370 billion in revenues last year, UnitedHealth has grown so big that it now employs more than 10% of all physicians in America and even owns an FDIC-insured bank that can advance payments to providers on pending claims!

With this large of a share of the market, the American people deserve some oversight and questions to be answered. I am urging the Senate Finance Committee to keep asking companies like UnitedHealth Group to explain its rapid consolidation of the market, as well as its vertical integration that is limiting consumer choice and hurting patients at the pharmacy counter.

It is past time PBMs are held accountable for their impact on healthcare costs, and leaders in Washington need to pass PBM oversight measures. This legislation and oversight will nally bring accountability and reform to this broken system and put the focus back on patients, where it belongs.

NC Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) is a pharmacist by trade and represents Montgomery and Stanly counties in the NC General Assembly.

trial go forward. He is doing everything he can to ensure an orderly process, and by my (secondhand) lights, he is doing a ne job of it. But what do I really know? I’ve not heard any of it directly.

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity. It would certainly be interesting and illuminating to be able to see how the jury reacts: When I’m involved in trials, I watch the jury the same way I used to watch the reactions of voters in focus groups. But in the interests of protecting their anonymity, the cameras can be positioned so as to shield the jury from public view. That is a compromise worth making. But it hardly justi es blocking our view of the rest of the proceeding.

Because ultimately, in a trial like this one, there are two juries. The other one, and the one that may count the most in the long run, is the public, the voters, the people who will judge not only if Trump is indeed guilty of the enumerated felonies but if he has the character to be the next president of the United States.

The legal pundits can debate all day about whether Alvin Bragg has legitimately turned misdemeanor violations of falsi ed business records — which there seems no question that Trump did — into felonies by alleging that they were done to interfere with the election. Did he do it to win — or avoid losing — women voters, and thus violate election laws, or simply to avoid telling his wife?

Whether or not he was engaged in an unlawful conspiracy or just an ugly cover-up is not only a legal question. For voters, this trial is a measure of character. The judgment voters must make is whether this man has the character to be our next president. To make that judgment based on secondhand reviews is not nearly as fair and e ective as it would be if we could literally see what’s going on.

COLUMN | WAYNE SASSER

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

STANLY SPORTS

State playo s begin for three Stanly baseball teams

West Stanly, North Stanly and South Stanly each received a bid

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ON MONDAY afternoon, the N.C. High School Athletic Association announced the state playo brackets for baseball.

Three Stanly County teams — West Stanly (2A West region), North Stanly (2A West region) and South Stanly (1A West region) — each received a bid for Tuesday’s rst round action in the NCHSAA playo s.

The second round is slated for Friday, while the best-of-three regional nals series are scheduled for May 21-25 and the bestof-three state championships series are set for May 31-June 1. West Stanly 9, Piedmont 5

Combining a regular-season title with a tournament title, the West Stanly Colts (18-5, 10-0 Rocky River Conference) defeated the Piedmont Panthers (1113, 8-2 Rocky River Conference) in the RRC Tournament championship on Friday at Parkwood.

As a No. 7 seed in the state playo s, the Colts hosted a familiar opponent in the No. 26

10

Rocky River conference wins, with no losses, for West Stanly

Mount Pleasant Tigers (15-9, 6-4 Yadkin Valley Conference) on Tuesday.

Mount Pleasant 1, North Stanly 0

Despite having the most wins in the county and a YVC regular-season title, the North Stanly Comets (21-4, 10-0 YVC) lost to the Tigers on April 30 in the YVC Tournament. The fth-seeded Comets kicked o their state playo bracket on Tuesday as they hosted the No. 28 Chase Trojans (1011, 5-7 Mountain Foothills 7).

Union Academy 7, South Stanly 1

On April 30, the South Stanly Bulls (12-9, 6-4 YVC)

fell victim to the Union Academy Cardinals (17-7, 6-4 YVC) in the YVC Tournament.

South had nished second in the regular-season standings as a runner-up to North Stanly. For the rst round of the playo s, the 15th-seeded Bulls hosted the 18th-seeded Polk County Wolverines (10-13, 3-9 Mountain Foothills 7) on Tuesday.

Mount Pleasant 11, Gray Stone 1

With just two wins throughout the season, the luck of the Gray Stone Knights (2-15, 2-8 YVC) did not improve in the YVC Tournament as they were bested by the Tigers on April 29.

The Knights nished fth in their regular-season standings.

Union Academy 24, Albemarle 0

Much like the Knights, a disappointing season for the Albemarle Bulldogs (1-14, 0-10 YVC) also ended in the YVC Tournament as they lost to the Cardinals on April 29.

The Bulldogs nished in last place in their regular-season standings.

ATHLETE OF THE

Cassidy Smith

South Stanly, softball

Cassidy Smith is a senior on the South Stanly girls’ softball team.

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls won the Yadkin Valley Conference Tournament, and Smith was one of four South Stanly players to earn All-Conference recognition for her performance at the tourney. Smith scored three runs and went 1-for-3 at the plate in the 15-12 opening game win over Mount Pleasant. In the 4-3 win over Union Academy that clinched the crown, Smith went 2-for-3 with a home run, three more runs and a pair of RBIs. She also stole a base.

For the season, Smith led the Rowdy Rebel Bulls in batting, homers, RBIs and slugging. She was second in runs, hits, doubles and on-base percentage.

Four Stanly softball teams notch state playo berth

West Stanly, South Stanly, North Stanly and Gray Stone each received a bid

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

A TRIO of Stanly County softball teams had their rstround state playo action on Tuesday after the N.C. High School Athletic Association released the state playo brackets on Monday afternoon.

West Stanly (2A West region), South Stanly (1A West region), North Stanly (2A West region) and Gray Stone (1A West region) each received a bid for the NCHSAA playo s.

The second round is slated for Friday, while the best-ofthree regional nals series are scheduled for May 21-25 and the best-of-three state championships series are set for May 31-June 1.

West Stanly 6, Piedmont 1

This past Friday, the West Stanly Colts (17-9, 10-2 Rocky River Conference) defeated the Piedmont Panthers (18-3, 11-1 RRC) in the RRC Tournament championship hosted at CATA. It marked a monumental win for West, who found itself as the runner-up to Piedmont in the regular-season conference standings. The Colts’ postseason continued on Tuesday as they hosted No. 25 East Davidson Golden Eagles (14-7, 11-2 Central Carolina) as a No. 8 seed in the

state playo s.

South Stanly 4, Union Academy 3

After landing in third place in the Yadkin Valley Conference -

nal standings, the South Stanly Bulls (12-5, 4-4 YVC) hoisted the YVC Tournament trophy on Friday as they took down the Union Academy Cardinals (14-7, 3-5 Yadkin Valley Conference) in the championship matchup.

Selected as a No. 3 seed in the 1A bracket, the Bulls hosted the 30th-seeded Hayesville Yellow Jackets (1-15, 1-11 Smoky Mountain) on Tuesday.

Union Academy 2, North Stanly 1

This year’s North Stanly Comets (16-3-1, 8-0 Yadkin Valley Conference) nished rst in their regular-season conference standings but got tripped up by the Cardinals in the YVC Tournament on May 1. The second-seeded Comets looked to bounce back on Tuesday as they hosted the No. 31 East Burke Cavaliers (10-13, 4-10 Catawba Valley).

Union Academy 8, Gray Stone 2

Finishing the season winless against YVC opponents, the Gray Stone Knights (5-11, 0-8 Yadkin Valley Conference) lost to the Cardinals on April 29 in the YVC Tournament.

The Knights nished fth in their conference standings but still managed to make the state playo s; No. 20 Gray Stone hit the road on Tuesday to face the No. 13 Murphy Bulldogs (12-5, 9-3 Smoky Mountain).

KASSIE SWINK TWITTER/X ACCOUNT

SOUTH STANLY HIGH SCHOOL

The South Stanly softball team holds the Yadkin Valley Conference Tournament trophy.

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE SPORTS

South Carolina court orders ACC to provide Clemson with ESPN agreements

Clemson, SC

A South Carolina court has order the Atlantic Coast Conference to provide Clemson with agreements between itself and ESPN the school has sought in its lawsuit in trying to leave its longtime home. The ve-page order was released last Friday and provided the ACC protections against the agreements handed over coming out publicly. Clemson sued the ACC in March over its grantof-rights agreement that ties the school’s media rights to the league through 2036. Florida State has also sued the ACC in an attempt to free itself from the conference.

MLB

MLB and Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering and custom- t pants

Major League Baseball uniforms will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization will be available to all players beginning in 2025. MLB and Nike said the uniform adjustments will be made following conversations with players, clubs and equipment managers. Some players in spring training complained about the t and look. The white pants worn by some teams are see-through enough to clearly show tuckedin jersey tops. Nike also is working to address the slight color di erences between jerseys and pants of some gray road uniforms, as well as the discoloration that can occur because of sweat.

TENNIS

Billie Jean King is getting the Breakfast of Champions treatment. She’ll appear on a Wheaties box

Minneapolis

Billie Jean King is a 39-time Grand Slam champion and an equal rights champion — and now she’s getting the Breakfast of Champions treatment. The twice-inducted tennis Hall of Famer will appear on a limited-edition box of Wheaties. The cereal maker announced the orange packages with King on the cover will be available at stores around the U.S. later this month. King was a driving force behind the creation of the women’s professional tennis tour, equal prize money for women and men, and the passage of Title IX. King, 80, won 39 titles across singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Georgia’s Kirby Smart becomes the nation’s highest-paid college football coach at $13m annually

Athens, Ga.

Georgia’s Kirby Smart agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million. Smart surpasses Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, set to make $11 million in 2024. Smart gets a bump in salary of $1.75 million annually as part of the deal, which ties him to the Bulldogs through 2033. He could also receive up to $1.55 million per year in bonuses based on the new 12-team playo structure, an increase from $1.3 million under the previous terms. Athletic director Josh Brooks got an extension that raises his salary to $1.275 million annually.

Larson wins closest nish in NASCAR Cup Series history

even Larson thought he had nished second, before the call came through that he had won.

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson came around Chris Buescher on the nal lap and banged doors with him all the way to the nish line Sunday, where he was declared the winner of the Cup Series race by o cials at Kansas Speedway in the closest nish in NASCAR history.

The o cial margin was a thousandth of a second — every bit as close as the Kentucky Derby a day earlier — and Buescher was left both dumbfounded and dejected. His team had begun to celebrate before learning he had nished second.

The dramatic nale came after a caution for Kyle Busch’s spin forced a green-whitecheckered nish. Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the last lap, then came around him on the outside of the nal corner. Buescher looked as if he had pulled in front, and

“That was wild,” Larson said. “I was thankful for that caution. We were dying pretty bad. I was happy to come out third.”

It was a brilliant start to a busy month of May for Larson, who will attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day Memorial Day weekend. The win was the second of the season for him in the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, and a bit of retribution nishing second to Denny Hamlin last week at Dover and in the spring race at Kansas a year ago.

Martin Truex Jr. nished fourth on Sunday and Hamlin, who had the lead on the nal restart, faded back to fth place.

Meanwhile, Buescher was left questioning the grainy black-and-white images of the photo nish, and the entire Ford contingent — which has yet to win in any of NASCAR’s top three series this year — had to rue the closest miss in its history.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said, shak-

ing his head while standing beside his No. 17 car. “I haven’t seen a replay other than just the picture, and I sure can’t see in that picture. That sucks to be that close.”

Making it a bigger bummer for Buescher was the fact that he had overcome a big miscue midway through the race. He had just won the second stage and led the eld onto pit road when a crew member came over the wall too soon. The penalty sent him to the rear of the eld, and he had to spend much of the nal stage working his way back to the front.

Ultimately, he opted for a di erent pit strategy along with Hamlin, who had his own share of problems on pit road. And it might have worked out for them had the race nished under green. Instead, the late caution forced all the leaders to pit.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said. Christopher Bell started on the pole but struggled to run up front all day in a race that began after a 3 1/2-hour delay because of rain, nishing sixth. He was followed by Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch, whose spin brought

out the last caution. Noah Gragson and Michael McDowell gave Ford two more cars in the top 10.

YELLOW FLAGS

There were no cautions other than for stage breaks until Jimmie Johnson wrecked with 91 laps to go. The seven-time champion, back in the No. 84 for the second consecutive week, was hit from behind by Corey LaJoie after he checked up.

“Just trying to set up for the corner, I got a little help from behind and just kind of hanging on from there,” Johnson said.

The yellow ags then came in quickly: Hamlin made contact with Austin Cindric, sending the No. 2 into a wreck that spun out Bubba Wallace and McDowell. Harrison Burton wrecked on the restart, then Joey Logano did on the next one.

ODDS AND ENDS

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. nished 16th in his rst race since signing a contract extension with JTG Daugherty Racing. He also did it after going for a wild ride in his sprint car on Saturday night at nearby Lakeside Speedway. ... Gragson has had strong back-to-back weeks after nishing sixth at Dover. ... The series heads to Darlington next for its annual throwback weekend.

Kyrie Irving is still perfect in closeout games, and moving on with Luka Doncic and the Mavs

Former Duke star is 13-0 with chance to end playo series

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press

DALLAS— Kyrie Irving wowed the crowd with a crossover move that helped create just enough space for him to let y with a leaning 3-pointer.

Luka Doncic’s co-star with the Dallas Mavericks was bumped and fell with the shot in the air, and his teammates were right there to mob him when the shot went in as the whistle blew.

The four-point play was a punctuating moment in a 114101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night that sent the Mavericks into the second round of the playo s with a 4-2 series victory. Dallas beat LA for the rst time in three rst-round tries over the past ve seasons — and Irving improved to 13-0 in closeout games for his career.

“When I think about 13-0 in closeout games in general, I just know you’ve just got to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit,” said Irving, who scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half. “It’s one of the hardest

victory in the rst postseason together for two players with a combined 13 All-Star appearances.

“I’m just in awe each and every night,” said P.J. Washington, a trade deadline addition this year and a key provider of 3-point shooting and defense.

“They’re special players and they make special plays each and every night.”

Irving was 10 of 13 from the eld in the second half, starting with a layup that broke a 52-52 halftime tie. After a 3-pointer from Doncic, Irving added a 3 for an 8-0 run. Dallas didn’t trail again.

Irving hasn’t been scoring early — just 10 points combined in the rst quarters of the six games against LA. But he’s been scoring late.

things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit.”

The fth-seeded Mavericks play top seed, Oklahoma City, in the second round.

“Never in doubt with Kai,” Doncic said. “It’s amazing to see the kind of plays he makes.”

The Mavs added Irving at the trade deadline last year, hoping to create an All-Star pairing that would at least match

the run to the West nals from 2022. Instead, injuries and inconsistencies kept the chemistry from developing, and Dallas missed the playo s.

Irving’s health was a big part of a surge into the top six in the West over the nal two months of this season when it appeared the play-in tournament might have to be the route. Now the Mavs have a series

The 28 points in the second half of the clincher matched Irving’s playo career high for a half. And in a Game 4 loss, Irving scored all 40 of his points after the Clippers had taken a 31-point lead as Dallas rallied to take the lead before losing by ve.

“Just his calmness, his energy was always positive in the locker room,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “And that’s just the leadership and trust that the guys have on the oor with him.”

JEFFREY MCWHORTER/AP PHOTO

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes the ball as he falls in between Los Angeles Clippers defenders during the rst round playo series.

Edges Buescher at the nish line at Kansas Speedway to win by .001 seconds

AP PHOTO / COLIN E. BRALEY

Kyle Larson (5) crosses the nish line milliseconds in front of Chris Buescher (17) for the win during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Last-minute candidate Mulino wins Panama’s presidential election

The former security minister was supported by banned former President Ricardo Martinelli

By Juan Zamorano and Megan Janetsky

The Associated Press

PANAMA CITY — José Raúl

Mulino, the stand-in for former President Ricardo Martinelli in Panama’s presidential election, was set to become the new leader of the Central American nation as authorities uno cially called the race Sunday night after his three nearest rivals conceded.

The 64-year-old former security minister had nearly 35% of the votes with more than 92% of the votes counted, giving him a nine-point lead over his nearest competitor.

Mulino replaced Martinelli as candidate after the rebrand former leader was banned from running after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.

“Mission accomplished,” Mulino told a crowd of supporters, adding an expletive for emphasis. “This is perhaps the most important date of my life, and the greatest responsibility of a Panamanian falls on my shoulders and my family to lead the destiny of the nation.”

In his speech, he nodded to Martinelli, saying: “When you invited me to be vice president, I never imagined this.”

Mulino, a less charismatic politician, coasted on Martinelli’s popularity and the booming economy seen under

the former leader as Martinelli campaigned while staying in the Nicaraguan Embassy, where he had sought asylum. Now, following one of the most tumultuous elections in Panama’s recent history, Mulino is about to become the new leader of a country with pressing challenges and simmering discontent among many. The president will grapple with a slowed economy, historic levels of migration, a drought that is handicapping transit in the Panama Canal and the eco -

nomic aftermath of mass anti-mining protests last year.

“It’s a very bizarre situation, unprecedented. I haven’t seen anything quite like this, not only in Panama but any other Latin American country that I could think of,” said Michael Shifter, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue. “Panama is in for a tumultuous period.”

Preliminary results showed that more than 77% of eligible voters cast ballots, a historic turnout in a country where

voting is not obligatory, further underscoring the importance of the election in the minds of Panamanians.

Panama doesn’t have a runo system, so the candidate with the biggest share of votes wins.

Mulino, running under the Achieving Goals and Alliance parties, faced o against anti-corruption candidate Ricardo Lombana, who trailed in second, former President Martín Torrijos and former candidate Rómulo Roux.

All three conceded Sunday evening, and outgoing President Laurentino Cortizo’s ofce said he called Mulino to offer congratulations and pledge to work with him for an orderly transition.

Mulino’s ties with Martinelli are what seemed to pull him across the nish line. Mulino ran on the promise to usher in another wave of economic prosperity, and stop migration through the Darien Gap, the perilous jungle region overlapping Colombia and Panama that was traversed by half a million migrants last year.

The lawyer also vowed to help his ally in his legal woes. After voting Sunday, Mulino strolled into the Nicaraguan Embassy trailed by photographers and wrapped Martinelli in a big hug, saying, “Brother, we’re going to win!”

Before even half of the votes had been counted, supporters in Mulino’s campaign headquarters erupted in celebration, singing and waving ags.

Martinelli posted a blurry photo of his face on the X social media platform, writing:

“This is the face of a happy and content man.” Now that Mulino is on his way in, what remains unclear is if the president-elect will become “Martinelli’s puppet” or if he’ll chart his own path, Shifter said.

The presidential race had been in uncertain waters until Friday morning when Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that Mulino was permitted to run. It said he was eligible despite allegations that his candidacy wasn’t legitimate because he wasn’t elected in a primary.

Mulino faces an uphill battle moving forward, on the economy especially. Last year, the Central American nation was roiled for weeks by mass anti-government protests, which came to encapsulate deeper discontent among citizens.

Amid rising tensions, Russia announces nuclear drills

The move comes as Western o cials talk of deepening involvement in Ukraine

The Associated Press

RUSSIA SAID MONDAY it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battle eld nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by senior Western o cials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fth term in o ce and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The drills are a response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western ocials regarding the Russian Federation,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It was the rst time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for shortrange missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battle eld. They are less powerful than strategic weapons — massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are capable of obliterating entire cities.

The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies about becoming more deeply engaged in the 2-year-old war, where the Kremlin’s forces have gained an upper hand amid Ukraine’s shortage of manpower and weapons. Some of Ukraine’s Western partners have previously expressed concern that the con ict could spill beyond Ukraine into a war between NATO and Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn’t exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv’s forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Some other NATO countries providing weapons to Kyiv have

balked at that possibility.

The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, heightening tension between Russia and NATO. The war already has placed signi cant strain on relations between Moscow and the West.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron’s recent statement and other remarks by British and U.S. o cials had prompted the nuclear drills.

“It’s a new round of escalation,” Peskov said, referring to what the Kremlin regarded as provocative statements. “It’s unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned both the French and British ambassadors.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the nuclear exercises “contribute to increasing instability.”

“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council that’s chaired by Putin, said comments by Macron and Cameron risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.”

It wasn’t the rst time Europe’s military support for Ukraine has prompted nuclear saber-rattling.

In March 2023, after the U.K.’s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium, Putin said he

intended to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine neighbor Belarus.

The ministry said the exercise is intended to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to ful ll combat tasks” and will be held on Putin’s orders. The maneuvers will involve missile units of the Southern Military District along with the air force and the navy, it said.

The Russian announcement stirred little reaction in Ukraine, where the spokesman for the Military Intelligence agency, Andrii Yusov, said on national television: “Nuclear blackmail is a usual practice of Putin’s regime; it does not constitute major news.” Western o cials have blamed Russia for threatening a wid-

er war through provocative acts. NATO countries said last week they are deeply concerned by a campaign of hybrid activities on the military alliance’s soil, accusing Moscow of being behind them and saying they represent a security threat.

Peskov dismissed those claims as “new, unfounded accusations leveled at our country.”

While Ukraine’s army is largely pinned down on the 600-mile front line due to a shortage of troops and ammunition after more than two years of ghting, it has used its long-range repower to hit targets deep inside Russia. In what has largely been a war of attrition, Russia also has relied heavily on long-range missiles, artillery and drones to wreak damage on Ukraine.

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE VIA AP

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the military will hold drills involving tactical nuclear weapons — the rst time such an exercise was publicly announced by Moscow.

MATIAS DELACROIX / AP PHOTO

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino addresses supporters Sunday after winning on the day of the general election in Panama City.

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

Dwight Farmer

James Roseboro

John B. Kluttz

Lorraine N. Love

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

September 18, 1931 — May 4, 2024

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.

Lorraine N. Love, 92, of Harrisburg, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2024, at St. Andrews Living Center in Concord. Lorraine was born September 18, 1931, in Goldsboro, NC, to Fred and Ruth Newsome. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Earl R. Hill and Clarence "Doc" E. Love; sons, Robert Craig Hill and William Douglas Hill; son-inlaw, James M. Postell; sister, Catherine N. Morgan; and grandson, Jacob E. Hill.

Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld.

Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

She married Earl Robert Hill March 20, 1952, and they were married for 52 years before he passed. They were blessed with two sons and one daughter, 6 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. She married Clarence “Doc” E. Love on December 4, 2010. They were married for 7 years until he passed. She was an avid reader, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and quilting and was an avid walker.

Survivors include daughter, Susan Hill Postell, of Concord; daughter-in-law, Jeani W. Hill, of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Joy (Jay) Workman of Concord, Brandon Hill of Cornelius, Baily (Donald) Sumrell of Harrisburg, Kelli (David) Brinson of Huntersville, Drew (Julia Grimes) Postell of Concord; niece, Pam Lewis; nephew, Fred Allen Harvell; and several greatgrandchildren and other extended family and friends.

Darryl Odell Mabe

Roxanne Dewitt

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

March 12, 1960 — April 27, 2024

November 30, 1942 — May 2, 2024

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

Darryl Odell Mabe, 81, of Norwood, passed away Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Trinity Place in Albemarle.

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

Darryl was born November 30, 1942 in North Carolina to the late Odell Mabe and the late Margie Ramsey Loudermilk. He was also preceded in death by sister Shirley Mabe.

Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

Darryl was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Darryl also enjoyed having breakfast every Monday morning with his best friend Reverend Jimmy H. Bention Sr. But his most cherished moments in life were the many fond memories that he made with his wife Alice of 60 years.

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.

Darryl Loved the Lord with all his heart, and served Him devotedly and he now rests in the works of his Lord and Savior. Survivors include wife, Alice Carolyn Mabe; daughter, Carolyn (Johnny) Mabe Helms; grandson, Matthew (Victor) R. Helms; sister, Dian (Lentz) Huneycutt; nephew, Brian Huneycutt; his Bestie, Reverend Jimmy H. Bention Sr.; and many other beloved extended family members.

Joel Wayne "Buddy" E rd

January 8, 1954 — April 30, 2024

Joel Wayne (“Buddy”) E rd, 70, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at his home in Aquadale. Buddy was born January 8, 1954, to the late Erastus “Cob” E rd and the late Lois Hudson E rd.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

He was a master storyteller. He was very well loved. He was also well looked after in his nal years after a stroke debilitated him. He knew the Lord our Savior and enjoyed listening to good preaching, especially Charles Stanley.

Buddy leaves behind to cherish his memory three sons, Heith E rd, J.W. (Joel Wayne) E rd Jr., and Shelly E rd, all of Albemarle, NC. One Grandchild, Karmen E rd. A Sister, Phoebe Almond of Albemarle, NC, as well as a whole host of other family members, friends and acquaintances.

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.

Roxanne Dewitt, 64, of China Grove, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024. Roxanne was born March 12, 1960, in Albany, GA, to the late Mason and Edna Wykle. She was also preceded in death by her son, Donald Leroy Dewitt; sister, Martha Kavanaugh; brothers, Mark "Bo" and Paul Wykle; nephew, Chris Wykle. Most of all, Roxanne dearly loved her family and friends, and especially her beloved pets, Benson, Marley and Penny. Survivors include daughter, Melinda (Thomas) Stephens of Albemarle; son, Kenneth (Amanda Jo Howard) Barber of Concord; brother, Bruce Wykle of Richmond, VA; sister, Laura Williams of Richmond, VA; granddaughters, Mackenzie (Faith Reddin) Stephens of Concord and Miyah Stephens of Albemarle; nieces, Nicole Barlow, Paula Trivett, and Jessica Shipman; nephews, Mason Kavanaugh and Eugene Wykle.

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.

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.

Stephen Douglas Gri n

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

October 18, 1950 — April 27, 2024

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.

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Stephen Douglas Gri n, 73, of Marshville, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2024, at his home. Stephen was born October 18, 1950 in North Carolina to the late Jiles Vander Gri n Jr. and the late Julia Belle Meggs Gri n. He was also preceded in death by wife, Debra Kay Gri n; and stepfather, Marshall Boyce Godwin. Stephen was a wonderful husband, dad, paw-paw, and patriot. He was a Vietnam War veteran who served his nation with honor. He enjoyed bird watching, bowling, mowing the yard, and going shing. Survivors include son; John William (Adrianne) Galliher; daughter, Tamara (Terry) Bedford; son, Ryan Galliher, daughter, Deidra Galliher-Harris; son, Ian (Angelique) Gri n; 13 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren; sisters-in-law, Karen Moore and Brenda Godwin; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

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.

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.

Peggy K. Morton

December 27, 1936 — April 25, 2024

Peggy Kepley Morton, 87, of Albemarle, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Mrs. Morton was born on December 27, 1936, to the late J.V. and Corinthia Lambert Kepley. Survivors include husband of 67 years, Glenn Morton; daughter, Glenda M. Corl; granddaughters, Keisha Corl, Candace Clarke; greatgrandchildren, Audrey Walker, Vance Walker; sister, Rachel Turner; sister-in-law, Louvine Bowers.

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.

Betty Jean Burnett

January 26, 1936 — April 22, 2024

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. 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.

Betty Jean Burnett, 88, of Charlotte, passed away Monday, April 22, 2024, at her residence in Charlotte. Ms. Burnett was born January 26, 1936, in Raleigh, North Carolina to the late Luther Wilbert Pullen and the late Kathleen Smith Pullen. Survivors include sons, Steve Readling and Je Readling; sister, Joyce Wells; niece, Heather Adcock; nephew, Lee Wells. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.

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

United Methodists make wide-ranging changes to welcome gay worshipers

The church’s General Conference, held in Charlotte, voted to recognize same-sex marriages and allow gay clergy

By Peter Smith The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century’s worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. E e McAvoy took a longer view.

“Oh, it didn’t take days, honey,” she said. It took decades of activism for a change that was “so very healing,” said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week’s UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement — not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally “big-tent” and culturally mainstream congrega-

tions — some predating America’s independence.

The nation’s largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and in uence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and col-

leges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last week’s General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America’s religious calendar — impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience — clergy doing ordinations and marriages that de-

ed church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

“A part of me still doesn’t believe it,” said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

“We’ve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way,” said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. “Our tears have turned into tears of joy.”

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church — but said bigger issues loom.

“We’re an aging denomination,” he said. “We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I don’t see how this vote addresses any of that.”

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar

Bystander’s role changing in era of livestreaming

The Charlotte stando was an illustration of how social media has changed a crisis situation

By Erik Verduzco and Leah Willingham

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered ri es descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gun re from the direction of his neighbor’s house.

As bullets ew just feet away, Chhoeun took out his phone and started livestreaming the stando between o cials and a man wanted for possession of a rearm by an ex-felon and eeing to elude.

By the end of the ordeal, ve people — four o cers and the shooter — were dead and more injured in the deadliest single-day incident for U.S. law enforcement since 2016.

The deadly shootout also illus-

trated how smartphone-wielding bystanders don’t always run for cover when bullets start to y. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. Experts say the reaction re ects the new role that bystanders play in the age of smartphones.

“It’s become sort of a social norm,” said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg. Humans always have had trouble de ning the responsibilities of a bystander in a crisis situation, North said. It’s not always safe to intervene, as with the situation in Charlotte, and people

can feel helpless when they’re doing nothing. Social media has provided a third option.

The “new responsibility of the bystander” in the digital era is to take a record of what happened on their phones, she said.

“It used to be, ‘If you see something, say something,’” North said. “Now, it’s, ‘If you see something, start recording.’”

Chhoeun had been about to leave for work when U.S. marshals blocked his driveway and he was forced to huddle for safety in his garage, his keys in the ignition of his truck. He crouched by the door knocking for his son to let him in with one hand and recording with the other.

Chhoeun said he never would have risked his life to shoot a video if he hadn’t been locked outside. But since he was, he thought: “I might just live it, you know, get everybody in the world to see also that I’ve witnessed that. I didn’t see that coming.”

Rissa Reign, a youth coordinator who lives in the neighborhood, said she was cleaning her house when she heard gun re and walked out to nd out what was happening.

challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s — some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and don’t have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

“There is no silver bullet” for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022 — less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter of its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disa liate.

“The General Conference did not listen to us,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. “We do not believe we know better than Jesus.”

She began recording when she heard sirens, thinking she would share the video to Charlit, a Facebook group with 62,000 members where residents post about news and events. She had no idea how serious the situation had become until a SWAT vehicle pulled up behind her.

“Once we were out there, it was, ‘Oh, no. This is an active situation,’” she said. “And the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of something way bigger than what you thought.”

Reign saw livestreaming as a way to keep the community informed, she said.

“Seeing that really puts things in perspective and lets you know that is really real, not just reading it or hearing about it in the news,” she said of the live stream video. “When you really see it, you can, you know, you know that it’s real.”

In Chhoeun’s video, two agents can be seen sheltering behind a vehicle. Another agent is shown by a fence in his yard, dropping to the ground as what appear to be bullets spray the area around him.

“It was so, so sad for law enforcement,” he said. “I know they are not choosing to die on my backyard, but just do their job. And that’s what happened to them, left their family behind.”

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

People take photos last Tuesday of a home where a shootout between a suspect and o cers occurred on Monday in Charlotte.

PETER SMITH / AP PHOTO

The Rev. David Meredith, left, and the Rev. Austin Adkinson sing during a gathering of those in the LGBTQ community and their allies outside the Charlotte Convention Center last Thursday in Charlotte.

Randolph record

Myriad government o cials and community members were on hand to cut the

WHAT’S HAPPENING

NC DOI urges hurricane prep

This is national hurricane preparedness week, reminds NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. With hurricane season starting June 1, Causey suggests to double check your insurance to verify that it covers oods (for homeowners) and your personal belongings (for renters).

The ood insurance is particularly important, as policies through the National Flood Insurance Program take 30 days to take e ect.

His o ce also suggests putting together an emergency kit with copies of essential documents, medications and rst aid supplies as a general best practice. For more insurance information and advice, visit ncdoi.gov.

Renovated Golden Corral back in business

A grand reopening for the renovated Golden Corral in Asheboro was held last week.

The Asheboro/ Randolph Chamber of Commerce held a special ribbon- cutting ceremony to celebrate the refresh, which included the installation of a new stone replace, new décor and interiors, and an enhanced bu et area.

The restaurant, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, is located at 1070 East Dixie Dr. Charles Sta ord, area leader for Platinum Corral, said in a release that the location has been in operation for nearly 22 years.

Asheboro signs Sportsplex sponsorship worth $5M

The 25-year deal will help support youth and adult sports programs

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The City of Asheboro has partnered with Cone Health to help fund youth and adult sports via a $5 million deal to be the “exclusive health care partner” of the new Zoo City Sportsplex.

The sponsorship, reminiscent of those signed with major sports teams, will see the Cone Health logo on signage at the Sportsplex. It was rst announced and unveiled during Saturday’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting. The logo will be included on the Zoo City Sportsplex website as well.

“Developing a love of sports and exercise yields lifelong dividends for a person’s health,” Cone Health president and

CEO Dr. Mary Jo Cagle said in a statement. “It just makes sense that Cone Health should be right there with you literally every

step of the way.” The sportsplex has eight playing elds (soccer, football, lacrosse) in addition to beach vol-

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Elizabeth Dole, 18 others

The two-time Cabinet secretary was recognized for her public service

By Jordan Golson Randolph Record

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, actor Michelle Yeoh, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh. Also honored was North Carolina’s own Elizabeth Dole, recognized for her lifetime of public service across a variety of arenas.

In a release from the White House announcing the recognition, Dole’s work as a U.S. senator, as Transportation secretary under President Reagan and Labor secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and as president of the American Red Cross was mentioned.

Also cited was her work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation supporting military caregivers — the spouses, friends and family members who support our nation’s wounded veterans — through advocacy and recognition of that service. Elizabeth Dole, now 87, was born in Salisbury in Rowan County. She graduated from Duke University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending grad

school at Oxford and Harvard. She received a master’s degree in education and a law degree from Harvard.

After decades of political service, including a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 (four years after her husband, Bob Dole, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential race), she returned to North Carolina to run for Senate in 2002, serving a single six-year term. She lost to Sen. Kay Hagan in 2008, making Dole the last Republican to lose a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. In 2012, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help the caregivers of wounded warriors. Her husband, a longtime senator from Kansas, was

leyball and pickleball courts. There are also tness courts, yoga areas, a playground and walking trails (paved and natural terrain). A dog park is also planned.

David Smith, mayor of Asheboro, said the partnership with Cone Health should create strong support for youth and adult sports for years.

“I want everyone to know the tremendous support that we received to build a rst-class facility,” Smith said. “This is a day to celebrate and thank everyone who made it possible.”

Government o cials and community members gathered under a pavilion to shield from rain during Saturday’s ceremony.

While the formal ribbon-cutting took place during the weekend, parts of the facility have been in use since last fall. In February, the city reported that more than 4,000 athletes and visitors were involved in a fourday soccer tournament that included more than 200 games on the grounds.

The sportsplex has been a yearslong project that nally came to fruition. A grand opening scheduled for last fall was postponed for more than six months.

The sportsplex is open daily. North Carolina Zoo is several miles away from the sportsplex.

partially paralyzed from severe injuries sustained during combat in World War II. Dole seemed delighted to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last week at the White House.

In a curious bit of trivia, Dole joins Secretary Elaine Chao — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife — as the only two women to have served as both secretary of Transportation and secretary of Labor who have also been married to a Senate majority leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

The new Zoo City Sportsplex in Asheboro has eight playing elds.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

ceremonial ribbon at grand opening of the Zoo City Sportsplex.

Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor

Scott Pelkey, Breaking News

Jesse Deal, Reporter

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201

Uwharrie Forest coyote tests positive for rabies

Attacks on humans have created concern

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

THE U.S. FOREST Service is warning visitors following coyote attacks on a trail in the Uwharrie National Forest, after an animal tested positive for rabies.

Montgomery County Animal Services con rmed late last week that the coyote responsible for recent attacks had the rabies virus.

“Recent months have witnessed a notable rise in conrmed and suspected cases of rabies in both wild and domestic animals, particularly in the western portions of our county,” stated a press release from the agency.

Adam Rondeau of the U.S. Forest Service said Monday that Montgomery County of-

CRIME LOG

April 30

• Imario Josiah Douglas, 22, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of injury to personal property.

• Dakota James Foley, 22, of Asheboro, was arrested by NC Probation & Parole and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charge[s] of resisting public officer and a felony probation violation.

May 1

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

• Bobby Lee Moore, 56, of Sophia, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of resisting public officer, assault on a law enforcement officer, communicating threats, and a felony probation violation.

• Talia Dawn Singletary, 31, of Franklinville, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for the purpose of controlled substances, and possessing drug paraphernalia.

• Samuel Joseph Trogdon, 41, of Randleman, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of failure to appear on misdemeanor.

May 2

• James Ray Allen, 42, of Snow Camp, was arrested by Liberty Police Department and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of driving with a revoked license and driving while impaired.

• Brandon Lee Buck, 30, of Trinity, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on

cials are handling the coyote case, which occurred in that county. The Uwharrie National Forest also includes land in Randolph and Davidson counties.

Of particular concern to ofcials is that increased interaction between humans and animals heightens the risk of transmission and consequent health e ects.

In what was termed an isolated incident in late April, two individuals received minor injuries after being attacked by a coyote on the Uwharrie Trail near Big Island Creek.

The U.S. Forest Service and other wildlife o cials had worked to locate the coyote involved, as coyote attacks on humans are rare.

According to a news release, encountering coyotes and other wildlife can be a common occurrence in the Uwharrie National Forest.

charges of felony possession of a schedule-I controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia, two counts of second-degree trespassing, breaking and/or entering, two counts of injury to real property, and resisting public officer.

• Carlos Dominguez Moreno, 32, of Siler City, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of being a sex offender on child premises, a felony probation violation, and a misdemeanor probation violation.

• Joshua Lee Moss, 39, of High Point, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of felony probation violation.

• Gustav Solomon Nelson, 20, of Cameron, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of breaking or entering.

May 3

• Justin Ian Elkin, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of possessing methamphetamine, possessing drug paraphernalia, simple possession of a Schedule-VI controlled substance, hit and run (leaving the scene of an accident (causing property damage), driving with a revoked driver’s license, and a felony probation violation.

• Kiana Nekco Nicholson, 27, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of failure to appear on felony, breaking or entering, and injury to real property.

May 4

• Christopher Ray Brock, 38,

O cials o ered the following tips:

• Know before you go — contact the District Ranger’s o ce (open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or visit the National Forests in North Carolina’s webpage for the latest alerts and safety information.

• Never approach any wildlife when in the forest. If an animal appears to be in distress, contact the District Ranger’s o ce or county animal control.

• When camping, make sure to secure all food and trash to avoid attracting wildlife. Prepare food at least 100 yards away from sleeping areas.

• If you are injured during an encounter with wildlife, seek immediate medical attention.

Also, advice on the topic from animal control ofcials to safeguard against rabies includes regular veterinary visits for cats, ferrets and dogs; supervise pets during outdoor activities; secure trash cans and pet food containers; and seal openings and gaps around homes to keep out wildlife.

of Archdale, was arrested by Archdale Police Department and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of possessing heroin.

• Nicholas Cornell Chavis, 31, of Randleman, was arrested by Archdale Police Department and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of resisting a public officer and driving with a revoked driver’s license.

• Mitchell Charles Strickland, 38, of Clover, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail as a fugitive from another state.

• Shelby Jeanette Strickland, 32, of Clover, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail as a fugitive from another state.

May 5

• Yuliana Mojica, 20, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on a charge of simple assault.

• Shannon Nicole Wright, 52, of Archdale, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of resisting a public officer, assaulting an induvial with a disability, and criminal contempt.

May 6

• Steven Dwayne Hartman, 58, of Greensboro, was arrested by Randolph Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of resisting and/ or obstructing a public officer, and failure to appear on felony and misdemeanor charges.

• Buck Nathan Manuel, 57, of High Point, was arrested by Asheboro Police and booked into the Randolph County Jail on charges of habitual larceny.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@randolphrecord.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Randolph Guide

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

May 10

Kyle Petty Charity Ride — Pit Stop at Victory Junction 12 – 4 p.m.

Come experience this fun- lled day with the sights and sounds of 150 motorcycles, meet riders, take photos with celebrities, receive autographs, purchase memorabilia that bene ts Camp and more. Among the celebrity riders this year are Richard Petty, Hershel McGri , Max Papis, David Ragan, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Herschel Walker, Rick Allen, Rutledge Wood and, of course, the leader of the pack, Kyle Petty! Gates will open at noon and close at 12:45 p.m. for arrival!

Randleman Mother and Son Dance 6 – 8 p.m.

Randleman Parks and Recreation will hold a Mother and Son Dance for ages 12 and under at the Randleman Civic Center. Cost is $15 for 2 tickets, $5 for each extra ticket and can be purchased at the front desk at the Recreation Center. Food and drinks will be provided. For more information call 336-495-7525.

May 11

North Carolina Zoo Plant Sale 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The North Carolina Zoo will hold its annual plant sale Mother’s Day weekend at the Solar Pointe picnic area at the south end of the North America Parking lot near the North America entrance. Cash or checks only. Zoo admission is not required to shop the plant sale. All proceeds from the plant sale go to the Zoo’s Horticulture Department.

May 14

Archdale Library — Storytime with Starlab 6 p.m.

The Archdale Library will be hosting Starlab, a portable planetarium for ages 0-6 as part of Storytime with Starlab. For more information, visit the Archdale Library website.

May 16

Blessing of the Badges 12 p.m.

The Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce will host their 6th Annual Blessing of the Badges at the Sheri ’s O ce, located at 727 McDowell Rd. in Asheboro. For more information call 336-318-6698.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

‘Pharmacy

benefit managers’ need more legislative oversight

Big PBMs often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

AS A PHARMACIST, I have seen rst-hand the impact today’s big pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) have on patients they claim to serve. Most patients don’t realize that PBMs control the price you pay at the pharmacy counter. While PBMs promote health plan cost savings to businesses for their employees, their records often tell a di erent story. Thankfully, in Raleigh and in Washington, lawmakers are nally waking up to the role PBMs play in drug pricing.

For years, PBMs have operated in the shadows, signing up employers to trust them and utilize their services, while e ectively evading any oversight attempts by state regulators. In 2021, the NC General Assembly passed a ban on the practice of rebate accumulating, which PBMs used to deny patients their due savings from drug discount programs.

How did PBMs escape oversight? The answer is that just a handful of large PBMs control 80% of the U.S. market. The PBMs then lobby Congress and oversight agencies to prevent any questioning of their business practices. This market domination is problematic because with no legal mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, PBMs can hide behind harmful, pro tmotivated pricing practices while employers and patients pay the price.

Traditional PBMs tout their size and scale as factors that secure better deals for clients. It is true that big PBMs can procure drugs in larger quantities at wholesale

Cameras in the courtroom

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity.

I READ ALL THE UPDATES from the reporters in the court room. But it just isn’t the same as watching it yourself.

I want to actually see it. I want to see how Donald Trump reacts when he hears his former aides testify. I want to hear for myself the testimony of the witnesses against him, and the cross-examination. I want to judge for myself what the judge has to say about Trump’s violation of the gag order.

You can watch pundits talk about the trial 24/7 on cable news, from whatever perspective you choose. But most of them only know what I know, from reading the updates from the limited number of reporters lucky enough to secure access to seats in the courtroom. They aren’t seeing and hearing what is really going on.

There is no reason why we should still be stuck in the past getting our news secondhand rather than seeing it for ourselves.

The old fear was that cameras would somehow turn courtrooms into circus tents and undermine the seriousness of what was going on or that lawyers would pay too much attention to the cameras. That makes no sense. What we see instead of the serious goings-on in the courtroom is the circus outside, when Trump sounds o to the press. What sense does that make?

The judicial system has been politicized, unfortunately. The answer to restoring con dence is sunshine — to actually let people see and hear what is going on inside, and judge for themselves.

This is a historic event. A former president and one of two men who will be our next president is standing trial. Whether and how the public responds to the trial and its verdict will shape history. Trump has done everything he can to put o any judgment of him, but he found one judge who would have none of it, and insisted that the

prices, but they often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Recently in Washington, lawmakers asked the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), a large PBM, to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx unit, along with CVS/Aetna’s Caremark and Cigna’s Express Scripts, now control 80% of the PBM market. With $370 billion in revenues last year, UnitedHealth has grown so big that it now employs more than 10% of all physicians in America and even owns an FDIC-insured bank that can advance payments to providers on pending claims!

With this large of a share of the market, the American people deserve some oversight and questions to be answered. I am urging the Senate Finance Committee to keep asking companies like UnitedHealth Group to explain its rapid consolidation of the market, as well as its vertical integration that is limiting consumer choice and hurting patients at the pharmacy counter.

It is past time PBMs are held accountable for their impact on healthcare costs, and leaders in Washington need to pass PBM oversight measures. This legislation and oversight will nally bring accountability and reform to this broken system and put the focus back on patients, where it belongs.

NC Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) is a pharmacist by trade and represents Montgomery and Stanly counties in the NC General Assembly.

trial go forward. He is doing everything he can to ensure an orderly process, and by my (secondhand) lights, he is doing a ne job of it. But what do I really know? I’ve not heard any of it directly.

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity. It would certainly be interesting and illuminating to be able to see how the jury reacts: When I’m involved in trials, I watch the jury the same way I used to watch the reactions of voters in focus groups. But in the interests of protecting their anonymity, the cameras can be positioned so as to shield the jury from public view. That is a compromise worth making. But it hardly justi es blocking our view of the rest of the proceeding.

Because ultimately, in a trial like this one, there are two juries. The other one, and the one that may count the most in the long run, is the public, the voters, the people who will judge not only if Trump is indeed guilty of the enumerated felonies but if he has the character to be the next president of the United States.

The legal pundits can debate all day about whether Alvin Bragg has legitimately turned misdemeanor violations of falsi ed business records — which there seems no question that Trump did — into felonies by alleging that they were done to interfere with the election. Did he do it to win — or avoid losing — women voters, and thus violate election laws, or simply to avoid telling his wife?

Whether or not he was engaged in an unlawful conspiracy or just an ugly cover-up is not only a legal question. For voters, this trial is a measure of character. The judgment voters must make is whether this man has the character to be our next president. To make that judgment based on secondhand reviews is not nearly as fair and e ective as it would be if we could literally see what’s going on.

COLUMN | WAYNE SASSER

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

RandolpH SPORTS

Cougars respond to win PAC Tournament title

Southwestern Randolph repeats with tourney title

Randolph Record Sta

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph pitcher Macie Crutcheld struck out 12 batters and the Cougars won a softball rubber match with host Uwharrie Charter Academy — and this outcome came with a bigger reward.

The Cougars claimed the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a 4-1 victory Thursday night.

Southwestern Randolph took a 3-0 lead in the rst inning and added a run in the sixth inning.

Crutch eld drove in two runs, and Alyssa Harris and Hayleigh Thompson had run-scoring doubles.

UCA (17-3-1) won the regular-season title by one game, top -

ping the Cougars 4-3 a week earlier to break a rst-place tie. But Southwestern Randolph (15-6) successfully defended its league tournament crown.

Losing pitcher Mollie Bulla homered in the seventh inning and Kenzie Hill provided two hits for the Eagles.

State playo s were to begin this week.

Earlier in the tournament

Southwestern Randolph reached the nal by defeating seventh-place Trinity 15-0 and third-seeded Randleman 3-1 earlier in the week.

Lillian Payne tripled twice to go with a double and Thompson had two doubles in the Trinity game, which lasted just three innings. Micah Wilson was the winning pitcher.

Crutch eld struck out eight

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

batters in the two-hitter against Randleman. Thompson, Crutcheld and Kami Dunn drove in runs for Southwestern Randolph. Tigers pitcher Kinzie Ivey fanned eight and walked three.

UCA, which had a bye in the quarter nals, topped fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph 9-5 in the semi nals. Hill had a home run and drove in three runs. Bulla was the winning pitcher. Addie Flinchum scored two runs for Eastern Randolph.

In quarter nals, Randleman whipped sixth-seeded Wheatmore 12-1, while Eastern Randolph pounded fth-seeded Providence Grove 13-3 with Flinchum homering and doubling and earning the pitching victory.

• In the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, sixth-seeded Asheboro fell 15-0 to third-seeded Ledford in the quarter nals.

UCA dethrones Randleman in PAC baseball tourney nal

The Eagles avenged earlier losses in the tournament

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — Uwharrie

Charter Academy’s baseball team went where it had never gone before last Thursday night by claiming the championship in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Brett Smith pitched a seven-hitter with nine strikeouts and the Eagles came up with clutch hits, with Carter Brown providing three run-producing singles and Alex Carver homering in visiting UCA’s 6-1 victory in the PAC Tournament championship game.

“We hadn’t beaten them since we joined the conference,” Brown said. “We had that mindset that we’re going to play good and we should come out and win. We came with the condence that we could beat them.”

Randleman (19-5), which was undefeated in PAC play this year, had won the last three conference tournaments contested. The Tigers swept a doubleheader from UCA (20-5) during the regular season.

“It’s hard beating someone three times in a year — a good team like that,” Randleman coach Jake Smith said. “Expectations are what they are.”

The Eagles have been on a roll for weeks. Since the March 26 twinbill, they’ve won 14 games in a row entering this week’s state playo s.

“We’ve done it with di erent people every night being hot and it has been beautiful to watch,” UCA coach Rob Shore said.

Brett Smith, who didn’t face the Tigers earlier this season, had things under control for most of the night.

“I had to trust my stu and trust my defense at the same time,” the junior right-hander said.

UCA nally got going against Randleman starter Jake Riddle, who retired the rst 10 batters. Troy Carver singled in the fourth for the Eagles’ rst hit and Trey Kennedy, Caleb Stickle and Brown followed with singles. With the bases loaded, Grat Dalton was hit by a pitch.

Alex Carver hit his second home run of the season and second in as many games to lead o the fth. The Eagles kept attacking and, with two outs, Stickle’s RBI double and Brown’s run-scoring single pushed the lead to 5-0. Carter had another two-out single to drive in a seventh-inning run.

Randleman’s big chance came with four consecutive singles to start the sixth, with Braxton Walker driving in one run and leaving the bases loaded for Caden Lasley. He grounded into a 3-2-3 double play, with nif-

ty work from UCA rst baseman Trey Kennedy.

“I was ready for it,” Kennedy said. “It was just like we practice it all the time.”

That doused about the only momentum Randleman ever had.

“We had a lot of energy the whole game,” Kennedy said. The Tigers had too many o ensive lulls.

“You got to put balls in play and can’t make it easy on them,” Jake Smith said.

Alex Carver and Kennedy are transfers from East Davidson, which was eliminated by Randleman in the third round of last year’s state playo s.

The teams will go their respective ways, with UCA looking to repeat as Class 1-A state champion and Randleman aiming for another deep run in the Class 2-A state playo s.

“We’ve been on a hot streak,” Alex Carver said. “I think we’re going to hit the playo s and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Smith, whose teams won state ti-

tles in 2021 and 2022, said with a strong body of work already this season, it’s time to focus on the playo s.

“This (conference tournament -

nal) is not going to dictate whether we play good or bad in the playo s,” he said.

Earlier in the tournament

UCA won in the quarter nals

Monday by topping seventh-seeded Eastern Randolph 7-0 behind Jake Hunter’s six-hitter. Then the Eagles wiped out sixth-seeded Providence Grove 12-2 on Tuesday, with Alex Carver logging a ve-inning complete game.

Randleman had a bye in the rst round before stopping fth-seeded Southwestern Randolph 6-1 in the semi nals despite recording only one hit. The Tigers drew 10 walks and had two batters hit by pitches. Seth Way posted a four-hitter with six strikeouts.

Southwestern Randolph escaped with a 13-12, eight-inning victory at fourth-seeded Trinity in the quarter nals, aided by home runs from Brady Arm eld, Jake Lunsford and Zack Scruggs. Meanwhile, Providence Grove’s Andrew Thomas threw 6 1/3 innings and Trevor Kirkman notched the nal two outs in the Patriots’ 2-0 upset of third-seeded Wheatmore.

Ryan Marshall

Wheatmore, boys’ golf

Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore was the Piedmont Athletic Conference champion by shooting a 5-over-par 77 last week at Holly Ridge Golf Links. Marshall, a junior, shot sub-40 on both the front and backside for a ve-stroke edge on Trinity’s Bo Earnhardt.

On Monday, Marshall placed third in the Class 2-A Midwest Regional to reserve a spot in next week’s state tournament.

In the PAC Tournament, Wheatmore’s 345 team total was 10 shots better than runner-up Uwharrie Charter Academy, while Providence Grove (358) and Southwestern Randolph (360) also contended.

The Warriors won the team title for the third year in a row. Marshall was co-medalist in last year’s conference tournament.

Eastern Randolph’s Tyler Gee and Southwestern Randolph’s Reese Poe tied for third with 84s and Randleman’s Ashton Dillow and Eastern Randolph’s Craven Cox shared fth place with 85s.

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS

Wheatmore girls add to success in soccer

ASHEBORO — Ellie Garrison scored seven goals in Wheatmore’s 9-0 victory against host Southwestern Randolph last week as the Warriors clinched another Piedmont Athletic Conference championship in girls’ soccer. Natalie Bowman had one goal and three assists. Uwharrie Charter Academy’s 9-0 blitzing of visiting Eastern Randolph included three goals apiece from Jazmin Palma and Kendal Jarrell and two goals from Lily Charlesworth. Providence Grove won 2-1 atTrinity with Noelle Swaim posting two goals and later dominated visiting Randleman 6-0 with Taryn Waugh scoring three times and Anaeli Puente Garza scoring twice.

Southwestern Randolph’s 3-0 triumph against host Eastern Randolph came with a goal and an assist from Mallory Garner.

In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro won 4-0 with two Jaira Arellano goals at Central Davidson. Later in the week, North Davidson thumped host Asheboro 7-1.

Lincoln Memorial, Wingate advance to SAC baseball championship series

ASHEBORO — Lincoln Memorial and Wingate will meet in the South Atlantic Conference baseball championship series this week at McCrary Park in Asheboro.

It’s a best-of-3 championship series to determine an automatic quali er for the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Thet teams will meet in Game 1 at 4 p.m. Friday. Game 2 is at noon Saturday and, if necessary, Game 3 will follow.

Lincoln Memorial upset host and top-seeded Catawba in the four-team bracket in Salisbury. The fth-seeded Railsplitters defeated Catawba XXX on Sunday to conclude the double-elimination bracket.

In Hartsville, S.C, third-seeded Wingate swept Newberry in two games Sanday, winning 13-7, 8-7. The Bulldogs won four straight games after dropping an 18-6 decision to Newberry on the rst day.

Date changed for Benson’s car test at Caraway

SOPHIA — A test session for former NASCAR driver Johnny Benson in a super modi ed car was pushed back a day this week at Caraway Speedway.

Because of weather concerns, the session that had been scheduled for Monday was moved to Tuesday afternoon. The testing of the big-blocked winged super modi ed is in advance of the North-South Shootout that’s about six months away – Nov. 8-9. Caraway Speedway o cials are billing this as a throwback to early North-South Shootout days.

These are open-wheel vehicles that produce approximately 1,000 horse power and weigh about 1,800 pounds. To say the least, these will be the fastest cars to compete at Caraway Speedway. A solid eld of cars is expected for the North-South Shootout on Nov. 8-9 for two $10,000.00 to win features for the Supers and Tour Type Modi eds.

COURTESY PHOTO

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Alex Carver of UCA throws a pitch during the PAC Tournament semi nals.

PHOTOS BY BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Left, Carter Brown. Right, Brett Smith

Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore has been a top golfer in the area.

Asheboro, Providence Grove girls, Randleman boys claim league crowns in track and eld

Multiple-event winners highlighted area e orts

Randolph Record

TROY — Asheboro’s girls’ track and eld team won the Mid-Piedmont Conference championship in a tight competition with Oak Grove last week.

The Blue Comets racked up 133 points to Oak Grove’s 129, followed by host Montgomery Central (105), North Davidson (82), Central Davidson (63) and Ledford (42).

Jalaya Showers led Asheboro by winning the 100 (12.43 seconds), 200 (25.28) and long jump (15 feet, 9½ inches).

Asheboro’s Lia George and Rebecca Wilson placed rst and second, respectively in the high jump, both with leaps of 4 -10.

Asheboro’s other individual winner was Nyla Price (100 hurdles, 16.94 seconds), while she was third in the 300 hurdles (53.69).

The Blue Comets also captured the 400 relay (52.60) and 800 relay.

• In boys’ competition, Lance Everhart of Asheboro won three events for the second-place Blue Comets.

Everhart was high jump winner, though teammate Elijah Woodle matched his best attempt at 6 -2. Everhart had winning marks in the long jump (20 - 5½) and pole vault (12 - 0).

Asheboro’s Valentino Mark was a two -time winner on the track, winning the 100 (10.88) and 200 (22.36) and participating on the winning 400 relay (43.57). He placed second in the triple jump (41-10).

Kai Matthews was the runner-up in the 400 (52.76) and ended third in the long jump (20 -2½). Third-place spots went to Woodle in the 100 (11.16), Michael Mark in the 110 hurdles (17.42), Dakarius Alston in the 300 hurdles (43.66) and Aaron Tyson in the pole vault (10 - 6).

The Blue Comets also were rst in the 1,600 relay (3:37.43).

Asheboro’s 150 points ranked second behind Oak Grove’s 170. The rest of the scores were Montgomery Central (103),

Providence Grove’s girls and Randleman’s boys were team titlists in the league championship meet at Wheatmore.

Providence Grove’s Jensen Auman won three individual events and was part of one of the Patriots’ three champion relays, while Randleman’s Gracie Beane was a four- event champion on the girls’ side.

Providence Grove had 115 points to Southwestern Randolph’s 105½, followed by Randleman at 94½, Wheatmore at 81, Trinity at 799 and Eastern Randolph at 34.

The Patriots had success in relays, with the 3,200 group of Lauren Bernhardt, Aaliyah Burpee, Abbey Lewis and Au-

man in 11:57.48, the 800 unit of Aubrey Goodman, Kenzi Mundy, Karis Ferguson and Mailey Way in 2:02.63 and 1,600 contingent of Bernhardt, Reese Davis, Mundy and Lewis in 4:52.13 all winning.

Auman handled the distance events — 800 (2:38.58), 1,600 (5:57.79) and 3,200 (15:17.87). Haylee Sodlink added rst place for Providence Grove in the 100 hurdles (18.90). Beane’s titles came in the 200 (27.69), high jump (5- 0), long jump (15-7) and triple jump (34 - 6).

Southwestern Randolph’s Kiersten Litell had a strong meet, winning the 100 (13.57) and 300 hurdles (56.13) and placing fourth in the 200. Teammate Coley Shi et was rst in the 400 (1:03.65).

Southwestern Randolph used Ay-Janai Doggett, Jordin George, Zuyanah Crawford and

Litell to win the 400 relay in 54.48 seconds.

Eastern Randolph’s Mirianna Corea (discus, 103-9) and Trinity’s Kensley Fox (shot put, 30 -9) were the top throwers. They were runners—up in the events they didn’t win.

• Randleman blew out the boys’ eld with 219 points, while runner-up Wheatmore had 98 and Providence Grove posted 91. Trinity (71), Southwestern Randolph (30) and Eastern Randolph (24) rounded out the eld.

Randleman’s Chase Farlow won the high jump (6 - 4) and long jump (20 -7) and placed second in the triple jump behind teammate Amari Ferdna (4 -15). Ty Moton of the Tigers had huge advantages in winning the shot put (43 -7) and discus (122 -10).

Other Randleman winners were Bryson Nall in the 400 (54.61), Triston Chriscoe in the

Everhart makes big jumps for Blue Comets

The Asheboro senior set a high bar in eld events

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Lance Everhart has found plenty of worthwhile events in track and eld, but he knows what he likes best.

“High jump, most de nitely,” the Asheboro senior said.

He has jumped into the conversation on a statewide level as one of the top leapers. The next phase of the postseason comes with Saturday’s Class 3-A Midwest Regional at Rob -

inson High School in Concord.

Everhart has a personal-best mark of 6 feet, 6 inches — reaching that twice this year — in the high jump.

He became involved in track and eld at Southwestern Randolph and through Amateur Athletic Union competition. He transferred to Asheboro as a junior.

He rst was focused on sprints, hurdles and the jumps.

“After that, I picked up pole vaulting,” he said.

Everhart, 17, is focused on improving his marks. Sometimes, a slight improvement can bring big rewards.

“Every day I can, I come out

and put in as much practice as I can,” he said. “Everyone puts in work here. There’s always people to compete with.”

Everhart stays busy in most meets.

“Because my coach wants to win and we want to get as many points as possible,” he said. “In track, I don’t have to depend on everybody else, but there is a team aspect to it. I have my whole team.”

Everhart won four events in last month’s Randolph County championships and claimed three titles in last week’s Mid-Piedmont Conference championships. He has mostly been right on target.

Asheboro boys’ track and eld coach DeNeal McNair’s team had a strong showing in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. championships.

“He has been working,” Asheboro coach DeNeal McNair said. “Sometimes it’s best to leave them alone and get them in shape.”

Everhart, who placed third in three events in the Class 3-A indoor state meet in the winter, has goals for better nishes later this month in the outdoor state meet.

110 hurdles (15.22) and Jay Richards in the pole vault (10 - 0).

Providence Grove’s Nick Jennings was the 100 winner in 11.68 seconds and teammate Christian Swaim won the 300 hurdles in 43.24, barely ahead of Richards (43.26).

Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood cruised in the 1,600 (5:02.96) and 3,200 (11:10.52). Dakota Ludwick of the Warriors won the 200 (23.71). Wheatmore’s Daylin Ludwick, Danny Craig, Sa’Cory Maryland and Devonte Jenkins won the 800 relay in 1:36.27.

Trinity’s lone individual champion was Giovanni Jaimes in the 800 (2:13.58).

Trinity won the 800 relay with Riley Foster, Tommy Smithers, Mitchell Mann-Pulido and Jaimes in 9:25.23. The Bulldogs also won the 1,600 relay in 3:49.06 with Foster, Memphis Cap, Andrew Cox and Jaimes.

“I feel like I’m in a really good spot right now,” Everhart said. “Hitting some good marks and consistent with that.”

As a sophomore, Everhart played football as a running back and outside linebacker at Southwestern Randolph and suited up as a senior on the defensive line for Asheboro. That was mostly just an activity to state in a competitive mode.

He’s full speed ahead in track and eld.

“I found track and love this,” he said. “I didn’t want to stop.”

Central Davidson (60), Ledford (41) and North Davidson (30).

Piedmont Athletic Conference

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Lance Everhart of Asheboro is a versatile track and eld athlete with big goals.

Last-minute candidate Mulino wins Panama’s presidential election

The former security minister was supported by banned former President Ricardo

Martinelli

By Juan Zamorano and Megan Janetsky The Associated Press

PANAMA CITY — José Raúl

Mulino, the stand-in for former President Ricardo Martinelli in Panama’s presidential election, was set to become the new leader of the Central American nation as authorities uno cially called the race Sunday night after his three nearest rivals conceded.

The 64-year-old former security minister had nearly 35% of the votes with more than 92% of the votes counted, giving him a nine-point lead over his nearest competitor.

Mulino replaced Martinelli as candidate after the rebrand former leader was banned from running after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.

“Mission accomplished,” Mulino told a crowd of supporters, adding an expletive for emphasis. “This is perhaps the most important date of my life, and the greatest responsibility of a Panamanian falls on my

shoulders and my family to lead the destiny of the nation.”

In his speech, he nodded to Martinelli, saying: “When you invited me to be vice president, I never imagined this.”

Mulino, a less charismatic politician, coasted on Martinelli’s popularity and the booming economy seen under the former leader as Martinelli campaigned while staying in the Nicaraguan Embassy, where he had sought asylum.

Now, following one of the most tumultuous elections in Panama’s recent history, Mulino is about to become the new leader of a country with pressing challenges and simmering discontent among many.

The president will grapple with a slowed economy, historic levels of migration, a drought that is handicapping transit in the Panama Canal and the economic aftermath of mass anti-mining protests last year.

“It’s a very bizarre situation, unprecedented. I haven’t seen anything quite like this, not only in Panama but any other Latin American country that I could think of,” said Michael Shifter, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue. “Panama is in for a tumultuous period.”

Preliminary results showed that more than 77% of eligible voters cast ballots, a historic turnout in a country where voting is not obligatory, further underscoring the importance of the election in the minds of Panamanians.

Panama doesn’t have a runo system, so the candidate with the biggest share of votes wins.

Mulino, running under the Achieving Goals and Alliance parties, faced o against anti-corruption candidate Ricardo Lombana, who trailed in second, former President Martín Torrijos and former candidate Rómulo Roux.

All three conceded Sunday evening, and outgoing President Laurentino Cortizo’s ofce said he called Mulino to offer congratulations and pledge to work with him for an orderly transition. Mulino’s ties with Martinelli are what seemed to pull him across the nish line. Muli-

no ran on the promise to usher in another wave of economic prosperity, and stop migration through the Darien Gap, the perilous jungle region overlapping Colombia and Panama that was traversed by half a million migrants last year.

The lawyer also vowed to help his ally in his legal woes. After voting Sunday, Mulino strolled into the Nicaraguan Embassy trailed by photographers and wrapped Martinelli in a big hug, saying, “Brother, we’re going to win!”

Before even half of the votes had been counted, supporters in Mulino’s campaign headquarters erupted in celebration, singing and waving ags.

Martinelli posted a blurry photo of his face on the X social media platform, writing: “This is the face of a happy and content man.” Now that Mulino is on his way in, what remains unclear is if the president-elect will become “Martinelli’s puppet” or if he’ll chart his own path, Shifter said.

The presidential race had been in uncertain waters until Friday morning when Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that Mulino was permitted to run. It said he was eligible despite allegations that his candidacy wasn’t legitimate because he wasn’t elected in a primary.

Mulino faces an uphill battle moving forward, on the economy especially. Last year, the Central American nation was roiled for weeks by mass anti-government protests, which came to encapsulate deeper discontent among citizens.

Amid rising tensions, Russia announces nuclear drills

The move comes as Western o cials talk of deepening involvement in Ukraine

The Associated Press

RUSSIA SAID MONDAY it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battle eld nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by senior Western o cials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fth term in o ce and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The drills are a response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western ocials regarding the Russian Federation,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It was the rst time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exer-

cises. Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battle eld. They are less powerful than strategic weapons — massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are capable of obliterating entire cities.

The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies about becoming more deeply engaged in the 2-year-old war, where the Kremlin’s forces have gained an upper hand amid Ukraine’s shortage of manpower and weapons. Some of Ukraine’s Western partners have previously expressed concern that the con ict could spill beyond Ukraine into a war between NATO and Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn’t exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv’s forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Some other NATO countries providing weapons to Kyiv have balked at that possibility.

The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, height-

“It’s a new round of escalation. It’s unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

ening tension between Russia and NATO. The war already has placed signi cant strain on relations between Moscow and the West.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron’s recent statement and other remarks by British and U.S. o cials had prompted the nuclear drills.

“It’s a new round of escalation,” Peskov said, referring to what the Kremlin regarded as provocative statements. “It’s unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned both the French and British ambassadors.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the nuclear exercises “contribute to increasing instability.”

“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council that’s chaired by Putin, said comments by Macron and Cameron risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.” It wasn’t the rst time Europe’s military support for Ukraine has prompted nuclear saber-rattling. In March 2023, after the U.K.’s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium, Putin said he intended to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine neighbor Belarus.

The ministry said the exercise is intended to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to ful ll combat tasks” and will be held on Putin’s orders. The maneuvers will involve missile units of the Southern Military District along with

the air force and the navy, it said.

The Russian announcement stirred little reaction in Ukraine, where the spokesman for the Military Intelligence agency, Andrii Yusov, said on national television: “Nuclear blackmail is a usual practice of Putin’s regime; it does not constitute major news.”

Western o cials have blamed Russia for threatening a wider war through provocative acts. NATO countries said last week they are deeply concerned by a campaign of hybrid activities on the military alliance’s soil, accusing Moscow of being behind them and saying they represent a security threat.

Peskov dismissed those claims as “new, unfounded accusations leveled at our country.”

While Ukraine’s army is largely pinned down on the 600mile front line due to a shortage of troops and ammunition after more than two years of ghting, it has used its long-range repower to hit targets deep inside Russia.

In what has largely been a war of attrition, Russia also has relied heavily on long-range missiles, artillery and drones to wreak damage on Ukraine.

MATIAS DELACROIX / AP PHOTO

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino addresses supporters Sunday after winning on the day of the general election in Panama City.

Caroline Batten

August 30, 1929 — May 2, 2024

Sarah Caroline Spivey Batten age 94, of Troy, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at her home.

Caroline was born on August 30, 1929, to the late William Jason Spivey and the late Eula Lee McCaskill in Biscoe, NC. She was a lifelong resident of Montgomery County. She was a graduate of Biscoe High School. She worked as a sewer at Capel Rug, worked in Social Work, and was a nurses assistant. Caroline love taking care of children and working in her ower and vegetable gardens. She was a member of Dover Baptist Church. She is survived by her son Phillip Batten (Brenda) of Troy; stepson, Rodney Batten (Nancy); grandchildren: Monica, Tonya (Gary), Pam (Jason), Jodi (James), and Stephen; great-grandchildren: Jimmy, Layla, Matthew, Levi, Cody, Hailey, and Trevor; and three great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband’s: Lacy Frank Batten and Verdon Ray Batten; daughter, Brenda Sifers; son Richard Batten, stepson Joe Batten; granddaughter Caroline Sifers; brothers, Coy Spivey, Lacy Spivey, and Edward Spivey.

Jerry Dennis Brower

February 25, 1965 — April 28, 2024

Jerry Dennis Brower, age 59, of Asheboro went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 28, 2024, at the Randolph Hospice House. Mr. Brower was born on February 25, 1965, to James and Carol Burkhart Brower. Jerry retired as a Captain in the Civil Division with the Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce after 28 years of service. During his Law Enforcement career he served as a Baili , CSI, and was a member of the SWAT Team for several years. He was a member of Farmer Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by his grandchild, Brower Ellison. Jerry loved and was dedicated to Law Enforcement and serving the citizens of Randolph County. He loved the outdoors, bike riding, hiking, and loved to drive his truck on the beach. He adored his grandchildren and loved spending time with them outdoors. He was an avid watch enthusiast and sharpened knives as a hobby. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 35 years, Mynette Hogan Brower; daughters, Ashley B. Ellison (Donald) of Asheboro and Casey B. Swaney (Jonathan) of Greensboro; grandchildren, Logan Ellison and Avery-Kate Ellison; brother, David Brower (Jenny) of Franklinville; sister Donna Kennedy (Terry) of WinstonSalem; and aunt, Martha Wright (Raeford) of Asheboro and 9 Nieces and Nephews.

Marcelene Vernell Poole Miller

July 2, 1939 — May 2, 2024

Marcelene Vernell Poole

Miller, age 84, of Asheboro went to be with her Lord on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Siler City Center. Mrs. Miller was born in Asheboro on July 2, 1939, to Claude and Bonnie Freeman Poole. She was formerly employed as a realtor and retired from guest services at the North Carolina Zoo. Marcelene was a member of Central Falls Baptist Church. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Marcelene loved working outdoors and gardening. She loved doing home renovations, cooking, and yard sales. Along with her friends Rachel and Shirley, she previously led the Golden-Agers program at her church where they took local senior citizens on trips around the state, especially the beach! In addition to her parents, Marcelene was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Ray Miller, and brother, Jimmy Poole. She is survived by her children, Timothy Miller and wife Janet of Denton, Penny Robbins and husband Terry of Asheboro, Darrell Miller and wife Ramona of Asheboro, Bonnie Phillips and husband Terry of Asheboro, and James Miller and wife Pamela of Asheboro; grandchildren, Trisha (Robert), Tim (Jillian), Asheley (Josh), David (Lucy), Michael (Abby), Aaron (Kristina), Tommy (Vangie), Kimberly (Justin), Matthew, Charity, Michael (Ashley), Kyle, and Jessie James; great grandchildren, Austin, Katie (Dylan), Alex, Amelia, Caroline, Ava, Wesley, Riley, Ashlyn, Wrenlee, Cadence, Tori, Mikey, Jr., Willow, Ella Mae, Tucker, Loken, Salem, Mary, Levi, Emma, Taylor, Oliver, Landon, and Mason; great great grandchildren, Kurt and Adalynn; sister, Louise Gatlin of Asheboro; and brother, Jerry Poole of Spartanburg, SC.

Elda Ruth Mo tt King

August 3, 1944 — April 23, 2024

Elda Ruth Mo tt King, age 79, of Asheboro passed away on April 23, 2024, at Moses Cone Hospital. Mrs. King was born in Asheboro on August 3, 1944, to Fred and Addie Yow Mo tt. She was formerly employed at Seagrove Elementary School and was a member of Asbury Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Elda was preceded in death by her husband, Don King, her daughter, Melynda Wilson, and she was the last of 9 children. Elda enjoyed shopping at thrift stores and yard sales. She loved painting and doing crafts. She is survived by her sons, Chris King (Erika) of Asheboro and Brandon King (Jennifer Kiser) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Dillon King, Adam Wilson (Sabrina), Sarah Mclane, and Kylie Zimpfer; and great grandchildren, Everly Mclane and Wesley Wilson.

Melinda Varner Fenton

October 15, 1971 — April 29, 2024

Melinda Varner Fenton, age 52, of Asheboro passed away on April 29, 2024, at Randolph Hospital. Ms. Fenton was born in Davidson County on October 15, 1971, to Jerry and Aleta Duckett Varner and was preceded in death by her father. Melinda was a strong lady who always had a positive attitude. She was Godly, forgiving, and loving. Melinda was very determined and adventurous, never letting anything stop her. She was sel ess and always put others rst. She was always there to talk and be supportive. Melinda made friends everywhere she went. Melinda loved to crochet and enjoyed vacations with her family, especially to the beach, and loved listening to music and her sweets. She is survived by her mother, Aleta Varner of Asheboro; daughter and homie, Ashley McDowell (Jason) of Asheboro; sons, Michael Varner (Monica) of Asheboro and Samuel Fenton of the home; grandchildren, Keira McDowell, Arin McDowell, EJ Varner, Victoria Varner, and Julius Varner; sisters, Tanya Turner of Garner and Erica Vickrey (Christopher) of Asheboro; and several nieces and nephews.

Frankie “Bobbie” Bowman McNeill King

July 12, 1934 — April 24, 2024

Frankie “Bobbie” Bowman McNeill King, age 89, of Seagrove passed away on April 24, 2024, at her home. Mrs. King was born in Surry County on July 12, 1934, to Robert and Annie Bowman. She retired from Jockey International. In addition to her parents, Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, Grady King, her half-sister, Dot McNeill and half-brother, Bernie Stevens. Bobbie was a very caring and compassionate lady who was always there for her children. Bobbie had a green thumb and loved to work in her vegetable garden and cook. She enjoyed sewing, shing, and being outdoors. She is survived by her sons, Ronald McNeill and wife Wanda of Seagrove and Roger D. McNeill and wife Dana of Fancy Gap, VA; daughter, Bonnie Ellis and husband Tom of Nashville, NC; 3 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Robin Renee Butcher Duke

January 31, 1970 — April 22, 2024

Robin Renee Butcher Duke, age 54, of Asheboro passed away on April 22, 2024, at her home. Mrs. Duke was born in Asheboro on January 31, 1970, to Robert and Carolyn Bolick Butcher. In addition to her parents, Robin was preceded in death by her brother, Tony Butcher. Robin liked to lay in the sun and ride down the river. Robin loved all animals. She is survived by her husband, Lee Duke; stepson, Zachary Duke and wife Ashley of Asheboro; and grandchild, Keegan Duke.

Kenneth Alford Thomas

June 3, 1946 — April 27, 2024

Mr. Kenneth Alford Thomas age 77 of Asheboro passed away Saturday morning, April 27th. 2024 at the Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro. Mr. Thomas was a truck driver for R&H Transportation for over 35 years. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1965 being deployed to Vietnam where he served until 1967 leaving with the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Thomas was a godly man loving his church and the church family. He loved playing golf with his “gol ng buddies”. Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife of over 50 years Ameryles Thomas of the home, one daughter Delane (Basher) Pierce Jr. of Sophia, one Brother Dexter Joseph Thomas of Logan West Virginia, one Sister Margaret Ann Spencer of Asheboro, two grandchildren Basher Pierce 3rd. and Brandy Pierce Macon. one great-grandchild Adalynn Jane Macon. Special Nephew Kread Solesbee of the home and special niece Jennifer (Shane) Hunt of Greensboro. Several other nieces and nephews.

Berkley Goal “Butch” Hardee, Jr.

December 8, 1954 — April 30, 2024

Berkley Goal “Butch” Hardee, Jr, 69, met his Heavenly Father on Monday evening (4/30/2024), surrounded by his loving family. He was the only son of Berkley G. “Buck” Hardee, Sr. and JoNita Gore Hardee, born on December 8, 1954. Butch was a member of the 1973 graduating class of Asheboro High School, where he developed many good friendships that lasted the rest of his life. Following high school, Butch attended Pembroke University, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pembroke University in 1976. Butch loved all types of water sports. From waterskiing at Badin Lake to racing sailboats, he was always looking for his next adventure on the water. He was widely known for his barefoot waterskiing performances that he would give at Badin Lake. His love for the water drew him to own several boats over his lifetime, from sailboats and pontoons to speedboats and jet skis. And his love for the water also drew him to the beach, one of his favorite places to be. He enjoyed spending a lot of his time over the last few years in the salty air at the beach. Butch was a very hard worker his whole life. He was the second-generation owner of Melvin’s Department & Variety in Randleman (now Melvin’s True Value), where he loved serving the community for over 30 years. He always said, “Our customers are our extended family,” and he loved many of his customers just like they were his family. His career in the retail industry started at a young age, with his dad taking him to work at Eagle’s Department Store in downtown Asheboro. Butch’s dad would sit him on a stool and pay him a penny for every bag of popcorn he sold. Butch always told that his secret to selling so many bags of popcorn was that he added lots of butter. His dad would tell him that the butter was cutting his pro t, but Butch said it was the butter that made it sell! When Butch retired from the retail industry in 2020, he did not sit still. With remodeling and landscaping projects to gardening and everything in between, he continued to work hard and stay busy right to the end of his life. Butch never met a stranger, as he was always quick to crack a joke and knew how to make easy conversation. He made fast friends with people everywhere he went. We admire the way that he lived his life to the fullest! Butch was preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson, Blake Arlen Hardee. The family that is left to cherish Butch’s loving memories are: his loving wife of 38 years, Brenda Terry Hardee; son, Berkley G. Hardee III (Brad) and wife, Christy; daughter, Ashley Terry Peterson and husband, Brian; son, Aaron Lee Hardee; grandchildren, Madison Hardee, Kerrigan Peterson, Quinn Peterson and Berkley G. Hardee IV (Berk); and sisters, Marsha Robson, Dianne Ho man (Ed) and Jori Jones (Phillip).

STATE & NATION

United Methodists make wide-ranging changes to welcome gay worshipers

The church’s General Conference, held over 11 days in Charlotte, voted to recognize same-sex marriages and allow gay clergy

By Peter Smith

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century’s worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. E e McAvoy took a longer view.

“Oh, it didn’t take days, honey,” she said. It took decades of activism for a change that was “so very healing,” said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week’s UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement — not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally “big-tent” and culturally mainstream congrega-

tions — some predating America’s independence.

The nation’s largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and in uence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and col-

leges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last week’s General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America’s religious calendar — impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience — clergy doing ordinations and marriages that de-

ed church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

“A part of me still doesn’t believe it,” said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

“We’ve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way,” said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. “Our tears have turned into tears of joy.”

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church — but said bigger issues loom.

“We’re an aging denomination,” he said. “We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I don’t see how this vote addresses any of that.”

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar

Bystander’s role changing in era of livestreaming

The Charlotte stando was an illustration of how social media has changed a crisis situation

By Erik Verduzco and Leah Willingham

Associated Press

The

CHARLOTTE — Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered ri es descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gun re from the direction of his neighbor’s house.

As bullets ew just feet away, Chhoeun took out his phone and started livestreaming the stando between o cials and a man wanted for possession of a rearm by an ex-felon and eeing to elude.

By the end of the ordeal, ve people — four o cers and the shooter — were dead and more injured in the deadliest single-day incident for U.S. law enforcement since 2016.

The deadly shootout also illus-

trated how smartphone-wielding bystanders don’t always run for cover when bullets start to y. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. Experts say the reaction re ects the new role that bystanders play in the age of smartphones.

“It’s become sort of a social norm,” said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg. Humans always have had trouble de ning the responsibilities of a bystander in a crisis situation, North said. It’s not always safe to intervene, as with the situation in Charlotte, and people

can feel helpless when they’re doing nothing. Social media has provided a third option.

The “new responsibility of the bystander” in the digital era is to take a record of what happened on their phones, she said.

“It used to be, ‘If you see something, say something,’” North said. “Now, it’s, ‘If you see something, start recording.’”

Chhoeun had been about to leave for work when U.S. marshals blocked his driveway and he was forced to huddle for safety in his garage, his keys in the ignition of his truck. He crouched by the door knocking for his son to let him in with one hand and recording with the other.

Chhoeun said he never would have risked his life to shoot a video if he hadn’t been locked outside. But since he was, he thought: “I might just live it, you know, get everybody in the world to see also that I’ve witnessed that. I didn’t see that coming.”

Rissa Reign, a youth coordinator who lives in the neighborhood, said she was cleaning her house when she heard gun re and walked out to nd out what was happening.

challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s — some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and don’t have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

“There is no silver bullet” for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022 — less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter of its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disa liate.

“The General Conference did not listen to us,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. “We do not believe we know better than Jesus.”

She began recording when she heard sirens, thinking she would share the video to Charlit, a Facebook group with 62,000 members where residents post about news and events. She had no idea how serious the situation had become until a SWAT vehicle pulled up behind her.

“Once we were out there, it was, ‘Oh, no. This is an active situation,’” she said. “And the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of something way bigger than what you thought.”

Reign saw livestreaming as a way to keep the community informed, she said.

“Seeing that really puts things in perspective and lets you know that is really real, not just reading it or hearing about it in the news,” she said of the live stream video. “When you really see it, you can, you know, you know that it’s real.”

In Chhoeun’s video, two agents can be seen sheltering behind a vehicle. Another agent is shown by a fence in his yard, dropping to the ground as what appear to be bullets spray the area around him.

“It was so, so sad for law enforcement,” he said. “I know they are not choosing to die on my backyard, but just do their job. And that’s what happened to them, left their family behind.”

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

People take photos last Tuesday of a home where a shootout between a suspect and o cers occurred last Monday in Charlotte.

PETER SMITH / AP PHOTO

The Rev. David Meredith, left, and the Rev. Austin Adkinson sing during a gathering of those in the LGBTQ community and their allies outside the Charlotte Convention Center last Thursday in Charlotte.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history Hindenburg explodes; Alan Shepard travels to space

Thatcher takes over No. 10 and Secretariat wins at Churchill Downs

The Associated Press

MAY 2

1863: During the Civil War, Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was accidentally wounded by his own men at Chancellorsville, Virginia; he died eight days later.

1890: The Oklahoma Territory was organized.

1941: General Mills began shipping its new cereal, “Cheerioats,” to six test markets. (The cereal was later renamed “Cheerios.”)

1997: Tony Blair, whose new Labour Party crushed John Major’s long-reigning Conservatives in a national election, became at age 43 Britain’s youngest prime minister in 185 years.

MAY 3

1802: Washington, D.C., was incorporated as a city.

1937: Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel “Gone with the Wind.”

1979: Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher was chosen to become Britain’s rst female prime minister as the Tories ousted the incumbent Labour government in parliamentary elections.

MAY 4

1776: Rhode Island declared its freedom from England, two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

1932: Mobster Al Capone, convicted of income-tax evasion, entered the federal penitentiary in Atlanta. (Capone was later transferred to Alcatraz Island.)

1970: Ohio National Guardsmen opened re during an antiwar protest at Kent State University, killing four students

MURRAY BECKER / AP PHOTO

The German zeppelin Hindenburg bursts into ames as it noses toward the mooring post at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937.

and wounding nine others.

MAY 5

1494: During his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica.

1821: Napoleon Bonaparte, 51, died in exile on the island of St. Helena.

1945: In the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing the pregnant wife of a minister and ve children.

1961: Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became America’s rst space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital ight aboard Mercury capsule Freedom 7.

1973: Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the rst of his Triple Crown victories, in a time of 1:59.4, a record that still stands.

MAY 6

1935: The Works Progress Administration began operating under an executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1937: The hydrogen- lled German airship Hindenburg caught re and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst,

New Jersey; 35 of the 97 people on board were killed along with a crewman on the ground.

1954: Medical student Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, in 3:59.4.

MAY 7

1915: A German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania o the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board.

1939: Germany and Italy announced a military and political alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis.

1945: Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, ending its role in World War II.

MAY 8

1541: Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.

1978: David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the “Son of Sam” shootings that claimed six lives and terri ed New Yorkers. Berkowitz was later sentenced to six consecutive life prison terms.

AP PHOTO

Margaret Thatcher, left, stands outside No. 10 Downing St. on May 4, 1979, after being asked to form Britain’s new government. Secretariat, with jockey Ron Turcotte up, passes the twin spires of Churchill Downs during the running of the 99th Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 5, 1973.

AP PHOTO

‘The

Backyard Bird Chronicles’ highlights birdwatching

Kenn Kau man highlights “The Birds that Audubon Missed”

The Associated Press

BIRDWATCHING has become a cherished pastime for many since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people stuck at home for months looked out their windows for entertainment and immersed themselves into the natural world, many of them for the rst time.

Best-selling novelist Amy Tan of “The Joy Luck Club” fame is among about 45 million Americans the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has estimated are birders, with many investing seriously in their passion by purchasing birdseed and bird-watching accessories.

Now, with entries from her nature journal and astonishing illustrations thanks to lessons in bird illustration, Tan has published “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” about an obsession that dates back to before the pandemic.

Tan’s book is the latest to grab onto the popularity of birdwatching.

Coming out on May 7 is another book sure to delight amateur naturalists: “The Birds that Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness” by Kenn Kaufman. Kaufman, an avid birder since childhood, has authored more than a dozen books, including his own Kaufman Field Guides.

In his latest, he tells of the competition among naturalists and John James Audubon, who

VIA AP, LEFT, AND AVID READER PRESS VIA AP

KNOPF

“The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan, left, and “The Birds that Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness” by Kenn Kaufman.

is known for his e orts in the 1800s to describe and illustrate all the birds he could nd.

Amid the rivalries, fraud and plagiarism, “The Birds in America,” Audubon’s seminal collection of 435 life-size prints, missed many winged creatures yet discovered, including some common songbirds, hawks and sandpipers.

Tan could only identify three bird species when she rst embraced birdwatching as a pastime.

The number of species she could identify steadily grew to 63 as she lured more birds to the area behind her home with a view of San Francisco Bay, seed, feeders and a colorful rooftop garden.

“I’ve been spending more hours a day staring at birds than writing,” she notes at one point.

“How can I not? Just outside my o ce, four edgling scrub jays are learning survival skills.”

“We’ve been shut down by COVID-19, required to stay home,” she wrote on March 19, 2020. “Almost everything seems like a potential transmitter of disease and death — the groceries, a door knob, another person. But not the birds. The birds are a balm.”

Tan watches in delight as edglings learn to get food from her feeders and worries about the e ect of smoke from res in California’s north.

Tan eventually becomes controlled by birds, feeding them 700-800 squirmy beetle larvae a day at a cost of some $250 a month. She leaves alpaca yarn outside for an Oak Titmouse’s nest and hopes mealworms, suet and sun ower ensure more edglings reach adulthood. She learns to stay motionless for long periods, even in the cold, to silently observe.

“One must su er for beauty, happily, for birds,” she writes.

Morgan Wallen court appearance in chair-throwing case postponed

The singer has been charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment

By Kimberlee Kruesi

The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An initial hearing for country music star Morgan Wallen was postponed Friday until August in a case in which he’s accused of throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar and nearly hitting two police ocers.

Wallen’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, told reporters that the case is “very complicated” and promised that the singer, who had waived his right to be there Friday, would be at the postponed hearing on Aug. 15.

“I think everybody generally

wins if you can resolve it in a manner that everybody can live with,” Robinson said.

The “One Thing at a Time” singer has been charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

According to an arrest afdavit, the chair that Wallen is accused of throwing o the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7 landed about a yard from the o cers, who spoke to witnesses and reviewed security footage.

Witnesses told o cers that they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it o the roof and laugh about it.

Robinson declined to say whether he believes Wallen threw the chair and instead pointed to a statement Wallen issued in which he said he accepted “responsibility” and

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

was “not proud” of his behavior. The statement did not include an apology but did mention making “amends” and touching base with law enforcement. Wallen, one of the biggest names in contemporary country, is currently on a stadium tour.

The “One Thing at a Time” album spent 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 in 2023 and was the most-consumed album in the U.S. last year. Top 10 hits from the album included “Last Night,” “You Proof” and “Thinkin’ Bout Me.”

In 2021, Wallen was suspended inde nitely from his label after video surfaced of him shouting a racial slur. In 2020, he was arrested on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges after being kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar in downtown Nashville.

famous birthdays this week

The Associated Press

May 5

Actor John Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings,” ″Raiders of the Lost Ark”) is 80. Former MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 79.

Actor Henry Cavill (“Man of Steel,” ″The Tudors”) is 41. Singer Adele is 36.

May 6

Host Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars,” new “Hollywood Squares”) is 69. Actress Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) is 64. Actor George Clooney is 63.

May 7

Drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead is 78. Drummer Prairie Prince (The Tubes) is 74. Actor Traci Lords is 56.

May 8

“The NFL Today” commentator, former NFL coach and NC State alumnus Bill Cowher is 67. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 60. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 49.

May 9

Guitarist Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly and The Crickets is 87. Actress Candice Bergen is 78. Musician Billy Joel is 75. Actor John Corbett (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” ″Northern Exposure”) is 63. Rapper Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan is 54. Actor Rosario Dawson is 45. TV personality Audrina Patridge (“The Hills”) is 39.

May 10

Singer Bono of U2 is 64. Super model Linda Evangelista is 59. Rapper Young MC is 57. Actor Erik Palladino (“ER”) is 56. Actor Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live,” ″Kenan and Kel”) is 46.

JUSTIN BERL / AP PHOTO

Bill Cowher, former NC State football player and Super Bowlwinning coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, turned 67 on Wednesday.

PAT ROQUE / AP PHOTO

Linda Evangelista turns 59 on Friday.

ADAM NADEL / AP PHOTO

MTV News anchor Kurt Loder turned 79 Sunday.

the stream

Brooke Shields is ‘Mother of the Bride’

The Obamas get their rst narrative project on Net ix with “Bodkin”

The Associated Press

ZAC EFRON and Jeremy Allen White starring in the family wrestling dynasty lm “The Iron Claw” and Brooke Shields playing the unwitting title role in the romantic comedy “Mother of the Bride” on Net ix are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Whether or not you know anything about the tragedies that befell the Von Erich family wrestling dynasty, “The Iron Claw” is well worth a watch. Zac Efron stars as one of the brothers, Kevin, in an ensemble cast that includes Harris Dickinson and Jeremy Allen White as his brothers, Lily James as his wife, and Holt McCallany and Maura Tierney as his parents. In her AP review, Jocelyn Noveck wrote that “Efron, with his rockhard physique and ’70s mullet, turns in some of the most a ecting work of his career. White, too, is excellent if more inscrutable as Kerry, initially the golden boy until his own brush with disaster sends him into a downward spiral.” It’ll be available on MAX on Friday.

Brooke Shields is the titular mother of the bride in a new romantic comedy coming to Netix on Thursday. The conceit here is that her daughter (Miranda Cosgrove) is getting married and she doesn’t nd out until she arrives at the island resort where it’s happening that the groom is the son of the guy who broke her heart in college, played by Benjamin Bratt. “Mother of the Bride” was directed by Mark Waters (“Mean Girls” and “Just Like Heaven”).

“The Idea of You” is good fun and Anne Hathaway looks incredible in it, but it’s on the lighter side. If you want to continue a Hatha-thon with something dark and moody, look no further than William Oldroyd’s “Eileen,” coming to Hulu on Friday. Hathaway is otherworldly as the glamorous, martini-swilling Rebecca Saint John, an endlessly quotable Hitchcock blonde with a doctorate

NETFLIX/NETFLIX/DISNEY+ VIA AP

Promotional art for the Net ix series “Bodkin,” left, the Net ix lm “Mother of the Bride,” center, and the Disney+ series “Dr. Who.”

from Harvard, in this stylish adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel. She becomes an object of fascination for Thomasin McKenzie’s mousy Eileen when she glides into the dreary juvenile detention center where they both work one winter, in Massachusetts 1964. The deranged, noir cousin to “The Idea of You,” there is also some irting and dancing and drinking in “Eileen,” but with a shocking twist looming.

MUSIC TO STREAM

One of the best alternative albums of the year may very well be the soundtrack to the

A24 thriller about two teenagers watching a mysterious latenight television show, “I Saw the TV Glow.” The o cial trailer for the lm arrived with a spooky rendition of the Broken Social Scene track “Anthems of a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” as performed by Yeule — the perfect introduction to an ambitious compilation. Other highlights that may not get their shine next to big names like Boygenius’ Phoebe Bridgers and Caroline Polacheck but very much deserve the nod: Philly twangyemo greats Sadurn, the ascendent power indie-pop of Jay Som, and the experimental compositions of L’rain.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly star in the new limited series “Dark Matter.” Edgerton plays Jason, an unful lled physics teacher who is attacked one night by a masked man who also drugs him. When he comes to, Jason nds himself in an alternate timeline of his life where he’s a world-famous physicist. Jason’s wife, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and son don’t exist in this alternate version, and he ghts to return to them. “Dark Matter” is based on the book by Blake Crouch. It premieres Wednesday. If you’re counting down the days until school’s out for summer, the new “Pretty Little Liars” returns Thursday on Max. The teen slasher series picks up at the beginning of summer vacation where our ve nal girls have to attend summer school for falling behind while they were being targeted by a serial killer. The “Liars” do nd time for summer jobs and summer romances with new cast member Antonio Cipriano (“National Treasure: Edge of History”) as a love interest for Bailee Madison’s Imogen. In Net ix’s “Bodkin,” debuting Thursday, a podcaster, a journalist and her researcher team up to solve a decades-old murder in a small town in Ireland. Each has their own reason for needing to crack the case. As they get closer to the truth, the trio learns some peo -

ple prefer to keep secrets buried in the past. The dark comedic mystery series is the rst narrative project from the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground.

Fire up the TARDIS, Ncuti Gatwa is the 15th Doctor Who when the series makes its Disney+ debut Friday. Gatwa’s Doctor is accompanied on his time-traveling adventures with companion Ruby Sunday, portrayed by Millie Gibson.

After bringing the world of Anne Rice to television with season one of “Interview with the Vampire” (and later, “Mayfair Witches”) on AMC, the series returns Sunday. It’s about Louis de Pointe du Lac, who sits down for a second interview with a veteran journalist named Daniel, played by Eric Bogosian. Louis says he’s a vampire and had years prior given Daniel an interview that was o -the-record. Louis claims he was seduced and turned into a vampire in the early 1900s by Lestat de Lioncourt. Season two begins with Daniel viewing Louis as an unreliable narrator because his details from the two interviews don’t match. It also explores the love a air of Louis and vampire Armand, played by new cast member Assad Zaman, and how the vampire Lestat still has a hold on Louis. “Interview with the Vampire” also streams on AMC+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Video Games 101 teaches us that if you have to go underground, you’re going to be attacked by all sorts of ghastly beasts. Animal Well, from indie publisher Bigmode, takes a di erent approach. This cave has some creatures you might not expect, like amingos and kangaroos, and some of them are helpful rather than hostile. “It’s not that you’re not welcome,” says solo designer Billy Basso. “It’s just that they were here rst.” The result is a combat-free but still tricky labyrinth with more than 250 puzzle- lled rooms. The graphics are refreshingly weird, coloring old-fashioned pixel art with an eerie bioluminescence, and the soundtrack is lled with spooky echoes. Start spelunking Thursday on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

BRIAN ROEDEL / A24 VIA AP

Zac Efron, right, stars in “The Iron Claw.”

JEONG PARK / NEON VIA AP

Anne Hathaway, left, and Thomasin McKenzie team up in “Eileen.”

HOKE COUNTY

The spirit of competition

Hoke County Schools held its annual Special Olympics event on Friday at Raz Autry Stadium. This was the rst full Special Olympics since 2020, with more 90 student athletes competing and more than 220 participating overall. Pictured is Jalen Bowers and his family bringing in the Special Olympics torch.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Dept of Ed renews

FAFSA push

Though close to 9 million FAFSA college nancial aid forms have been submitted, many students have yet to ll out the form.

The US Department of Education is rolling out a new campaign to encourage lling out the form, providing funding to schools, nonpro ts and community organizations to boost FAFSA awareness and submissions.

The department says it has made “signi cant progress” to address issues with the new FAFSA form, with most schools sending student aid o ers ahead of upcoming admissions deadlines.

Previously, North Carolina public colleges, including App State and the UNC system, extended admission deadlines to May 15 after widespread issues with the FAFSA form.

NC DOI urges hurricane prep

This is national hurricane preparedness week, reminds NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

With hurricane season starting June 1, Causey suggests to double check your insurance to verify that it covers oods (for homeowners) and your personal belongings (for renters).

The ood insurance is particularly important, as policies through the National Flood Insurance Program take 30 days to take e ect.

His o ce also suggests putting together an emergency kit with copies of essential documents, medications and rst aid supplies as a general best practice.

For more insurance information and advice, visit ncdoi.gov.

Hoke commish defends county, apologizes in lengthy speech

Commissioner Allen Thomas spoke for 10 minutes about the records lawsuit

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

AN OTHERWISE ROUTINE county commissioner meeting about rezoning, solar farms and health insurance coverage of drugs like Ozempic started o on a more controversial note Monday.

Hoke Commissioner Allen Thomas passionately defended the county and the Board of Commissioners in a 10-minute speech addressing a government transparency lawsuit led last month by the News-Journal newspaper. In the lawsuit, the paper al-

leges the county has stonewalled a series of requests for records related to the use of county funds for construction projects, commissioner stipends and travel expenses, and advertisements on Hoke County property.

In a special session last week, Chairman James Leach gave a more generalized and rambling speech to onlookers, while Thomas seemed more hurt than upset.

“If you all were to go back and look at all the meetings you would see that I don’t talk a lot during County Commissioner meetings. I vote yes or no, and I move on,” Thomas said. “So, I hope to use that time now because I have a few remarks that I would like to share regarding this divisive issue that we found ourselves to be in.”

He then addressed the news-

“Hoke County government has nothing to hide.

Commissioner Allen Thomas

paper directly — with the paper’s publisher in the front row — noting that the paper said “after months of asking for and not receiving the requested public records,” a lawsuit was led asking the court to order Hoke County to turn over the records.

“We’ve seen on Facebook, many people commenting about Hoke County government hiding records. I’ve seen comments about Hoke County government burning records. That’s a popular

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Elizabeth Dole, 18 others

The two-time Cabinet secretary was recognized for her public service

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, actor Michelle Yeoh, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh. Also honored was North Carolina’s own Elizabeth Dole, recognized for her lifetime of public service across a variety of arenas.

In a release from the White House announcing the recognition, Dole’s work as a U.S. senator, as Transportation secretary under President Reagan and Labor secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and as president of the American Red Cross was mentioned.

Also cited was her work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation supporting military caregivers — the spouses, friends and family members who support our nation’s wounded veterans — through advocacy and recognition of that service. Elizabeth Dole, now 87, was born in Salisbury in Rowan County. She graduated from Duke University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending grad

school at Oxford and Harvard. She received a master’s degree in education and a law degree from Harvard.

After decades of political service, including a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 (four years after her husband, Bob Dole, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential race), she returned to North Carolina to run for Senate in 2002, serving a single six-year term.

She lost to Sen. Kay Hagan in 2008, making Dole the last Republican to lose a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. In 2012, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help the caregivers of wounded warriors. Her husband, a longtime senator from Kansas, was

one now,” Thomas continued. “It has created the illusion that the whole county has something to hide. I didn’t speak at the specially called meeting, but I’ll speak now. We have nothing to hide.”

Thomas’ issue appears to stem from the News-Journal’s assertion that “Hoke government ofcials” had repeatedly ignored their requests for documents.

“The average person would take that to mean ‘we,’ the Hoke County government o cials. And that’s why you see people so upset. They see their county commissioners refusing a public records request,” Thomas said.

“That’s not the case.” He said the commissioners were surprised to learn of the issue and that none of them had

See COUNTY, page A2

partially paralyzed from severe injuries sustained during combat in World War II. Dole seemed delighted to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last week at the White House.

In a curious bit of trivia, Dole joins Secretary Elaine Chao — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife — as the only two women to have served as both secretary of Transportation and secretary of Labor who have also been married to a Senate majority leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

COUNTY from page A1

been made aware of the request until the lawsuit was led, going on to say that the paper should have picked up the phone and called the board members — noting that he had spoken to representatives from the News-Journal seven times since September, none of those in relation to the public records request — to raise the issue.

“I had no idea that they requested these forms,” he said.

“It feels as if this was planned ... because ... if they truly wanted to know, they would have done what the district attorney did when he led a FOIA request to receive records about anoth-

er elected body. He gave me a phone call. That same day, I was on the phone with our attorney and we had those records to him within two days. He called me and we made it happen within two days.”

He then got more directly confrontational, saying, “I would imagine most reasonable people would believe that before a newspaper sued their government, they’d done everything in their power to receive the documents that they requested, and nothing was successful. ... Do you feel the news journalists did everything they could before they led this lawsuit?”

It was to this interrogatory that representatives from the

News-Journal began speaking directly to the board, leading Leach to threaten to have them removed from the room by a Sheri ’s deputy if they continued to interrupt.

“My grandfather said, ‘A hit dog will holler,’” Thomas noted before asking, “Am I wrong? Am I out of place?”

He went on to note that family members had called him asking if he was going to “go to jail over this mess” without realizing that it was a civil matter, not criminal.

He then promised to release the documents but claimed “what the News-Journal has asked for is going to be the largest public records request this

April 30

• John Monroy-Pulido, 33, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI).

May 1

• Garrett Fuquan Jackson, 35, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of attempted common law robbery.

• Terrell Elliott, 41, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.

• Cirilo Ramirez Domiguez, 24, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI).

May 3

• Revoncus Richardson, 19, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of possessing a stolen firearm and cyberstalking.

• Donovan Lee Locklear, 32, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of assault on a female.

May 6

• Aaron Zamion Maynor, 26, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and assault inflicting serious bodily injury.

• Darrick Wayne Davis, 45, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of felony breaking and entering without force, obtaining property by false pretense, possessing methamphetamine, and misdemeanor larceny.

• Makayla Lashay McGill, 30, was booked into the Hoke County Jail on charges of failing to stop for a light and siren.

county has ever received. ... We’re talking thousands and thousands of pages of records. ... We can’t miss one.”

Thomas then revealed that sta members involved in the records request had been counseled over the issue and said that even though he was disappointed that it had to come to a lawsuit, he still wanted to apologize. “I want to apologize that we have not given you the records,” he said. “Am I upset? Yes. But, even in my anger, I apologize that you have not received them. And I promise that you will receive the documents that you requested. The same way I started, I will end: Hoke County government has nothing to hide.”

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

‘Pharmacy

benefit managers’ need more legislative oversight

Big PBMs often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

AS A PHARMACIST, I have seen rst-hand the impact today’s big pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) have on patients they claim to serve. Most patients don’t realize that PBMs control the price you pay at the pharmacy counter. While PBMs promote health plan cost savings to businesses for their employees, their records often tell a di erent story. Thankfully, in Raleigh and in Washington, lawmakers are nally waking up to the role PBMs play in drug pricing.

For years, PBMs have operated in the shadows, signing up employers to trust them and utilize their services, while e ectively evading any oversight attempts by state regulators. In 2021, the NC General Assembly passed a ban on the practice of rebate accumulating, which PBMs used to deny patients their due savings from drug discount programs.

How did PBMs escape oversight? The answer is that just a handful of large PBMs control 80% of the U.S. market. The PBMs then lobby Congress and oversight agencies to prevent any questioning of their business practices. This market domination is problematic because with no legal mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, PBMs can hide behind harmful, pro tmotivated pricing practices while employers and patients pay the price.

Traditional PBMs tout their size and scale as factors that secure better deals for clients. It is true that big PBMs can procure drugs in larger quantities at wholesale

Cameras in the courtroom

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity.

I READ ALL THE UPDATES from the reporters in the court room. But it just isn’t the same as watching it yourself.

I want to actually see it. I want to see how Donald Trump reacts when he hears his former aides testify. I want to hear for myself the testimony of the witnesses against him, and the cross-examination. I want to judge for myself what the judge has to say about Trump’s violation of the gag order.

You can watch pundits talk about the trial 24/7 on cable news, from whatever perspective you choose. But most of them only know what I know, from reading the updates from the limited number of reporters lucky enough to secure access to seats in the courtroom. They aren’t seeing and hearing what is really going on.

There is no reason why we should still be stuck in the past getting our news secondhand rather than seeing it for ourselves.

The old fear was that cameras would somehow turn courtrooms into circus tents and undermine the seriousness of what was going on or that lawyers would pay too much attention to the cameras. That makes no sense. What we see instead of the serious goings-on in the courtroom is the circus outside, when Trump sounds o to the press. What sense does that make?

The judicial system has been politicized, unfortunately. The answer to restoring con dence is sunshine — to actually let people see and hear what is going on inside, and judge for themselves.

This is a historic event. A former president and one of two men who will be our next president is standing trial. Whether and how the public responds to the trial and its verdict will shape history. Trump has done everything he can to put o any judgment of him, but he found one judge who would have none of it, and insisted that the

prices, but they often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Recently in Washington, lawmakers asked the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), a large PBM, to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx unit, along with CVS/Aetna’s Caremark and Cigna’s Express Scripts, now control 80% of the PBM market. With $370 billion in revenues last year, UnitedHealth has grown so big that it now employs more than 10% of all physicians in America and even owns an FDIC-insured bank that can advance payments to providers on pending claims!

With this large of a share of the market, the American people deserve some oversight and questions to be answered. I am urging the Senate Finance Committee to keep asking companies like UnitedHealth Group to explain its rapid consolidation of the market, as well as its vertical integration that is limiting consumer choice and hurting patients at the pharmacy counter.

It is past time PBMs are held accountable for their impact on healthcare costs, and leaders in Washington need to pass PBM oversight measures. This legislation and oversight will nally bring accountability and reform to this broken system and put the focus back on patients, where it belongs.

NC Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) is a pharmacist by trade and represents Montgomery and Stanly counties in the NC General Assembly.

trial go forward. He is doing everything he can to ensure an orderly process, and by my (secondhand) lights, he is doing a ne job of it. But what do I really know? I’ve not heard any of it directly.

The one legitimate concern is the jury’s anonymity. It would certainly be interesting and illuminating to be able to see how the jury reacts: When I’m involved in trials, I watch the jury the same way I used to watch the reactions of voters in focus groups. But in the interests of protecting their anonymity, the cameras can be positioned so as to shield the jury from public view. That is a compromise worth making. But it hardly justi es blocking our view of the rest of the proceeding.

Because ultimately, in a trial like this one, there are two juries. The other one, and the one that may count the most in the long run, is the public, the voters, the people who will judge not only if Trump is indeed guilty of the enumerated felonies but if he has the character to be the next president of the United States.

The legal pundits can debate all day about whether Alvin Bragg has legitimately turned misdemeanor violations of falsi ed business records — which there seems no question that Trump did — into felonies by alleging that they were done to interfere with the election. Did he do it to win — or avoid losing — women voters, and thus violate election laws, or simply to avoid telling his wife?

Whether or not he was engaged in an unlawful conspiracy or just an ugly cover-up is not only a legal question. For voters, this trial is a measure of character. The judgment voters must make is whether this man has the character to be our next president. To make that judgment based on secondhand reviews is not nearly as fair and e ective as it would be if we could literally see what’s going on.

COLUMN | WAYNE SASSER

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

HOKE SPORTS

Desi

McDonough

Hoke County, girls’ soccer

Desi McDonough is a senior on the Hoke County girls’ soccer team. McDonough had a big game in Hoke’s regular season nale, a 6-1 win over Scotland. She scored two goals and assisted on a third, taking some degree of responsibility for half of the Bucks’ scoring. She also added a steal. For the season, McDonough is tied for second on the team in goals and assists.

Hoke girls’ rugby wins state title in rst year

North State Journal

HOKE COUNTY’s rstyear rugby team had an outstanding debut season, while two more spring sports teams found out their postseason fates as the NCHSAA released its brackets.

Rugby

The Hoke County Lady Bucks had an outstanding inaugural year. In their rst year as a club team representing the school, the Lady Bucks won the tier 2 state championship. Hoke topped Cardinals Academy, 32-17, at Guilford College to take the title.

Softball

Hoke County fell in the rst round of the Sandhills Conference Tournament, losing to

Southern Lee, 12-1. The Bucks were held to three hits—singles by juniors Bailey Mass and Brianna Harrell, and a double by freshman McKenzie Freeman, who also drove in the only run of the game for Hoke, plating freshman Niya Jones.

Now Hoke County heads to the NCHSAA playo s after receiving a bid in the 4A bracket. The Bucks drew a No. 29 seed and will open with No. 4 seed Laney. Topping the Buccaneers will be a tall task as they enter with a 17-2 record and a Mideastern Conference title.

Baseball

Hoke County saw its season come to an end in the Sandhills Conference tournament when the Bucks lost to Richmond, 12-2. It was the ninth

straight loss for Hoke, who nished the season with a 2-21 record. Hoke was left out of the playo s when the NCHSAA released the brackets.

Soccer

Girls’

Hoke won just one of thenal three games of the regular season last week. The Bucks were shut out in back-to-back games with Pinecrest, losing 2-0 at home and 4-0 on the road. Hoke then salvaged a win in the season nale with a 6-1 win over Scotland.

Hoke nished the regular season with a 5-12-3 record, 3-8-1 in the Sandhills. Hoke nished sixth in the conference, which earned them a conference tournament opening game with third-place Pinecrest, which will be the third game between the two teams in an eight-day span.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PHOTOS COURTESY HOKE COUNTY RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

Hoke’s girls’ rugby team celebrates its state championship, putting an exclamation point on the team’s debut season.

CLIP AND SAVE!

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE SPORTS

South Carolina court orders ACC to provide Clemson with ESPN agreements

Clemson, SC

A South Carolina court has order the Atlantic Coast Conference to provide Clemson with agreements between itself and ESPN the school has sought in its lawsuit in trying to leave its longtime home. The ve-page order was released last Friday and provided the ACC protections against the agreements handed over coming out publicly. Clemson sued the ACC in March over its grantof-rights agreement that ties the school’s media rights to the league through 2036. Florida State has also sued the ACC in an attempt to free itself from the conference.

MLB

MLB, Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering, custom- t pants

Major League Baseball uniforms will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization will be available to all players beginning in 2025. MLB and Nike said the uniform adjustments will be made following conversations with players, clubs and equipment managers. Some players in spring training complained about the t and look. The white pants worn by some teams are see-through enough to clearly show tuckedin jersey tops. Nike also is working to address the slight color di erences between jerseys and pants of some gray road uniforms, as well as the discoloration that can occur because of sweat.

TENNIS

Tennis star Billie Jean King getting Breakfast of Champions treatment, will appear on Wheaties box

Minneapolis Billie Jean King is a 39-time Grand Slam champion and an equal rights champion — and now she’s getting the Breakfast of Champions treatment. The twice-inducted tennis Hall of Famer will appear on a limited-edition box of Wheaties. The cereal maker announced the orange packages with King on the cover will be available at stores around the U.S. later this month. King was a driving force behind the creation of the women’s professional tennis tour, equal prize money for women and men, and the passage of Title IX. King, 80, won 39 titles across singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Georgia’s Smart becomes nation’s highest-paid college football coach at $13M annually

Athens, Ga.

Georgia’s Kirby Smart agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million. Smart surpasses Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, set to make $11 million in 2024. Smart gets a bump in salary of $1.75 million annually as part of the deal, which ties him to the Bulldogs through 2033. He could also receive up to $1.55 million per year in bonuses based on the new 12-team playo structure, an increase from $1.3 million under the previous terms. Athletic director Josh Brooks got an extension that raises his salary to $1.275 million annually.

Larson wins closest nish in NASCAR Cup Series history

The Hendrick Motorsports driver edged Chris Buescher at the nish line at Kansas to win by .001 seconds

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson came around Chris Buescher on the nal lap and banged doors with him all the way to the nish line Sunday, where he was declared the winner of the Cup Series race by o cials at Kansas Speedway in the closest nish in NASCAR history.

The o cial margin was a thousandth of a second — every bit as close as the Kentucky Derby a day earlier — and Buescher was left both dumbfounded and dejected. His team had begun to celebrate before learning he had nished second.

The dramatic nale came after a caution for Kyle Busch’s spin forced a green-whitecheckered nish. Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the last lap, then came around him on the outside of the

nal corner. Buescher looked as if he had pulled in front, and even Larson thought he had nished second, before the call came through that he had won.

“That was wild,” Larson said. “I was thankful for that caution. We were dying pretty bad. I was happy to come out third.”

It was a brilliant start to a busy month of May for Larson, who will attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day Memorial Day weekend. The win was the second of the season for him in the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, and a bit of retribution nishing second to Denny Hamlin last week at Dover and in the spring race at Kansas a year ago. Martin Truex Jr. nished fourth on Sunday and Hamlin, who had the lead on the nal restart, faded back to fth place.

Meanwhile, Buescher was left questioning the grainy blackand-white images of the photo nish, and the entire Ford contingent — which has yet to win in any of NASCAR’s top three series this year — had to rue the closest miss in its history.

“I don’t know what to say right

now,” Buescher said, shaking his head while standing beside his No. 17 car. “I haven’t seen a replay other than just the picture, and I sure can’t see in that picture. That sucks to be that close.”

Making it a bigger bummer for Buescher was the fact that he had overcome a big miscue midway through the race. He had just won the second stage and led the eld onto pit road when a crew member came over the wall too soon. The penalty sent him to the rear of the eld, and he had to spend much of the nal stage working his way back to the front.

Ultimately, he opted for a different pit strategy along with Hamlin, who had his own share of problems on pit road. And it might have worked out for them had the race nished under green. Instead, the late caution forced all the leaders to pit.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said. Christopher Bell started on the pole but struggled to run up front all day in a race that began after a 3 1/2-hour delay because of rain, nishing sixth. He was followed by Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch, whose spin brought out the

last caution. Noah Gragson and Michael McDowell gave Ford two more cars in the top 10.

Yellow ags

There were no cautions other than for stage breaks until Jimmie Johnson wrecked with 91 laps to go. The seven-time champion, back in the No. 84 for the second consecutive week, was hit from behind by Corey LaJoie after he checked up.

“Just trying to set up for the corner, I got a little help from behind and just kind of hanging on from there,” Johnson said.

The yellow ags then came in quickly: Hamlin made contact with Austin Cindric, sending the No. 2 into a wreck that spun out Bubba Wallace and McDowell. Harrison Burton wrecked on the restart, then Joey Logano did on the next one.

Odds and ends

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. nished 16th in his rst race since signing a contract extension with JTG Daugherty Racing. He also did it after going for a wild ride in his sprint car on Saturday night at nearby Lakeside Speedway. ... Gragson has had strong back-to-back weeks after nishing sixth at Dover. ... The series heads to Darlington next for its annual throwback weekend.

Irving is still perfect in closeout games, moving on with Doncic and Mavericks

The former Duke star is 13-0 with a chance to end a playo series

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving wowed the crowd with a crossover move that helped create just enough space for him to let y with a leaning 3-pointer.

Luka Doncic’s co-star with the Dallas Mavericks was bumped and fell with the shot in the air, and his teammates were right there to mob him when the shot went in as the whistle blew.

The four-point play was a punctuating moment in a 114101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night that sent the Mavericks into the second round of the playo s with a 4-2 series victory. Dallas beat LA for the rst time in three rst-round tries over the past ve seasons — and Irving improved to 13-0 in closeout games for his career.

“When I think about 13-0 in closeout games in general, I just know you’ve just got to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit,” said Irving, who scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half. “It’s one of the hardest

round playo series.

things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit.”

The fth-seeded Mavericks play top seed, Oklahoma City, in the second round.

“Never in doubt with Kai,” Doncic said. “It’s amazing to see the kind of plays he makes.”

The Mavs added Irving at the trade deadline last year, hoping to create an All-Star pairing that would at least match

the run to the West nals from 2022. Instead, injuries and inconsistencies kept the chemistry from developing, and Dallas missed the playo s.

Irving’s health was a big part of a surge into the top six in the West over the nal two months of this season when it appeared the play-in tournament might have to be the route. Now the Mavs have a series

victory in the rst postseason together for two players with a combined 13 All-Star appearances.

“I’m just in awe each and every night,” said P.J. Washington, a trade deadline addition this year and a key provider of 3-point shooting and defense. “They’re special players and they make special plays each and every night.”

Irving was 10 of 13 from the eld in the second half, starting with a layup that broke a 52-52 halftime tie. After a 3-pointer from Doncic, Irving added a 3 for an 8-0 run. Dallas didn’t trail again.

Irving hasn’t been scoring early — just 10 points combined in the rst quarters of the six games against LA. But he’s been scoring late.

The 28 points in the second half of the clincher matched Irving’s playo career high for a half. And in a Game 4 loss, Irving scored all 40 of his points after the Clippers had taken a 31-point lead as Dallas rallied to take the lead before losing by ve.

“Just his calmness, his energy was always positive in the locker room,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “And that’s just the leadership and trust that the guys have on the oor with him.”

NBA

JEFFREY MCWHORTER / AP PHOTO

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes the ball as he falls in between Los Angeles Clippers defenders during the rst

COLIN E. BRALEY / AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson (5) crosses the nish line milliseconds in front of Chris Buescher (17) for the win during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Last-minute candidate Mulino wins Panama’s presidential election

The former security minister was supported by banned former President Ricardo Martinelli

By Juan Zamorano and Megan Janetsky

The Associated Press

PANAMA CITY — José Raúl

Mulino, the stand-in for former President Ricardo Martinelli in Panama’s presidential election, was set to become the new leader of the Central American nation as authorities uno cially called the race Sunday night after his three nearest rivals conceded.

The 64-year-old former security minister had nearly 35% of the votes with more than 92% of the votes counted, giving him a nine-point lead over his nearest competitor.

Mulino replaced Martinelli as candidate after the rebrand former leader was banned from running after being sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering.

“Mission accomplished,” Mulino told a crowd of supporters, adding an expletive for emphasis. “This is perhaps the most important date of my life, and the greatest responsibility of a Panamanian falls on my shoulders and my family to lead the destiny of the nation.”

In his speech, he nodded to Martinelli, saying: “When you invited me to be vice president, I never imagined this.”

Mulino, a less charismatic politician, coasted on Martinelli’s popularity and the booming economy seen under the former leader as Martinelli campaigned while staying in the Nicaraguan Embassy, where he had sought asylum.

Now, following one of the most tumultuous elections in Panama’s recent history, Mulino is about to become the new leader of a country with pressing challenges and simmering discontent among many.

The president will grapple with a slowed economy, historic levels of migration, a drought

that is handicapping transit in the Panama Canal and the economic aftermath of mass anti-mining protests last year.

“It’s a very bizarre situation, unprecedented. I haven’t seen anything quite like this, not only in Panama but any other Latin American country that I could think of,” said Michael Shifter, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue. “Panama is in for a tumultuous period.”

Preliminary results showed that more than 77% of eligible voters cast ballots, a historic turnout in a country where voting is not obligatory, further

underscoring the importance of the election in the minds of Panamanians.

Panama doesn’t have a runo system, so the candidate with the biggest share of votes wins.

Mulino, running under the Achieving Goals and Alliance parties, faced o against anti-corruption candidate Ricardo Lombana, who trailed in second, former President Martín Torrijos and former candidate Rómulo Roux.

All three conceded Sunday evening, and outgoing President Laurentino Cortizo’s o ce said he called Mulino to o er con-

gratulations and pledge to work with him for an orderly transition.

Mulino’s ties with Martinelli are what seemed to pull him across the nish line. Mulino ran on the promise to usher in another wave of economic prosperity, and stop migration through the Darien Gap, the perilous jungle region overlapping Colombia and Panama that was traversed by half a million migrants last year.

The lawyer also vowed to help his ally in his legal woes. After voting Sunday, Mulino strolled into the Nicaraguan Embassy trailed by photographers and wrapped Martinelli in a big hug, saying, “Brother, we’re going to win!”

Before even half of the votes had been counted, supporters in Mulino’s campaign headquarters erupted in celebration, singing and waving ags.

Martinelli posted a blurry photo of his face on the X social media platform, writing: “This is the face of a happy and content man.” Now that Mulino is on his way in, what remains unclear is if the president-elect will become “Martinelli’s puppet” or if he’ll chart his own path, Shifter said.

The presidential race had been in uncertain waters until Friday morning when Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that Mulino was permitted to run. It said he was eligible despite allegations that his candidacy wasn’t legitimate because he wasn’t elected in a primary.

Mulino faces an uphill battle moving forward, on the economy especially. Last year, the Central American nation was roiled for weeks by mass anti-government protests, which came to encapsulate deeper discontent among citizens.

Amid rising tensions, Russia announces nuclear drills

The move comes as Western o cials talk of deepening involvement in Ukraine

The Associated Press

RUSSIA SAID MONDAY it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battle eld nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by senior Western o cials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fth term in o ce and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

The drills are a response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western ocials regarding the Russian Federation,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It was the rst time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exer-

cises. Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battle eld. They are less powerful than strategic weapons — massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are capable of obliterating entire cities.

The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies about becoming more deeply engaged in the 2-year-old war, where the Kremlin’s forces have gained an upper hand amid Ukraine’s shortage of manpower and weapons. Some of Ukraine’s Western partners have previously expressed concern that the con ict could spill beyond Ukraine into a war between NATO and Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn’t exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and U.K.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv’s forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Some other NATO countries providing weapons to Kyiv have balked at that possibility.

The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, height-

“It’s a new round of escalation. It’s unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

ening tension between Russia and NATO. The war already has placed signi cant strain on relations between Moscow and the West.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron’s recent statement and other remarks by British and U.S. o cials had prompted the nuclear drills.

“It’s a new round of escalation,” Peskov said, referring to what the Kremlin regarded as provocative statements. “It’s unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned both the French and British ambassadors.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the nuclear exercises “contribute to increasing instability.”

“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council that’s chaired by Putin, said comments by Macron and Cameron risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.” It wasn’t the rst time Europe’s military support for Ukraine has prompted nuclear saber-rattling. In March 2023, after the U.K.’s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium, Putin said he intended to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine neighbor Belarus.

The ministry said the exercise is intended to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to ful ll combat tasks” and will be held on Putin’s orders. The maneuvers will involve missile units of the Southern Military District along with

the air force and the navy, it said.

The Russian announcement stirred little reaction in Ukraine, where the spokesman for the Military Intelligence agency, Andrii Yusov, said on national television: “Nuclear blackmail is a usual practice of Putin’s regime; it does not constitute major news.”

Western o cials have blamed Russia for threatening a wider war through provocative acts. NATO countries said last week they are deeply concerned by a campaign of hybrid activities on the military alliance’s soil, accusing Moscow of being behind them and saying they represent a security threat.

Peskov dismissed those claims as “new, unfounded accusations leveled at our country.”

While Ukraine’s army is largely pinned down on the 600mile front line due to a shortage of troops and ammunition after more than two years of ghting, it has used its long-range repower to hit targets deep inside Russia.

In what has largely been a war of attrition, Russia also has relied heavily on long-range missiles, artillery and drones to wreak damage on Ukraine.

MATIAS DELACROIX / AP PHOTO

Presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino addresses supporters Sunday after winning on the day of the general election in Panama City.

James E Williams Jr.

November 1, 1972 — May 3, 2024

Mr. James E. Williams Jr. age, 51 transitioned from Earth to Glory on May 3, 2024. He was the son of the late James E. Williams Sr. and Laura Lee Smith. He leaves to cherish his loving memories his wife, Frieda Williams; children: Jayme, Keyshanda, Keshawn, Keyshanya, Keshandre; sisters: Sebrena Murphy, Laronda Williams, Levette, Mabia, Barbia, Gvin, Bridgett; brother, George Williams; ve grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. James will be greatly missed.

Doris P Gates

August 11, 1939 — May 3, 2024

Ms. Doris Gates age, 84 went home to rest with her Heavenly Father on May 3, 2024. She leaves to cherish her loving memories her children: Sharon Gates, Everette Maurice Gates, Jamari T. Gates; sisters: Helen Purcell, Lois Love, Margaret Priest, Elizabeth Ray; two grandchildren, six great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Doris will be greatly missed.

Jimmy Ray Elledge

July 15, 1949 — May 5, 2024

Mr. Jimmy Ray Elledge, of Raeford, NC went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 05, 2024, at the age of 74. Jimmy was born in Abbeville, South Carolina on July 15, 1949, to the late Benjamin and Hazel Elledge. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Elledge. Jimmy was a faithful member of Hillcrest Baptist Church of Raeford. He was dedicated to his job as a sewing machine technician at Burlington Mills Industry. He had a passion for cars and animals, and had an admirable lust for life. Jimmy is survived by his niece, Brittany Elledge; his lifelong best friend, Ronnie Floyd; and his neighbors, Heath and Linda Pittman.

James Purcell

June 8, 1952 — May 5, 2024

Mr. James Purcell age, 71 went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on May 5, 2024.

Carroll Scarboro, Jr.

July 10, 1937 — May 1, 2024

Mr. Carroll Scarboro, Jr., of Raeford, NC went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 01, 2024, at the age of 86. Carroll was born on July 10, 1937, in Hoke County, NC to the late Lacy and Lois Scarboro. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Scarboro. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Laurinburg. He enjoyed shing, gardening, and tinkering in his shop. One of his biggest passions was aviation. Carroll had a real love for, and tremendous knowledge about aviation in all forms. He got his private pilot’s license and loved to y for any reason, and that later led to a profession for him. Carroll was a man of many endeavors. After high school, he served his country in the Army National Guard. Between the Guard and Reserves, he served for ve years. He then worked at Burlington mills for a period of time, and worked HVAC and other various jobs in Scotland County. He owned a Western Auto Store and Sears Catalog Store in Hoke County for several years. The job he held the longest was spraying crops for farmers in Scotland County. Carroll is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan McLeod Scarboro; children, Debra Scarboro Fox (Randall) and Brian Douglas Scarboro (Andrea); grandchildren, Clint, Spencer, Alexander, and Emily; great grandchildren, Joshua, Sarah, and Logan; and one sister, Betty Skipper.

Ruben Dario Westin

September 9, 1957 — April 30, 2024

Ruben (Ruby) Westin, 66, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2024, surrounded by his family. Ruben was born September 9, 1957, in New Jersey to his late parents, Ruben and Virginia. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Aggie, brother David, and is survived by his four children, Dawn, Judy Marie, Brittany and Jonathan; his four grandchildren Aubree, Zayn, Oakley, Chayce; his sisters Blanca and Linda, and his nieces, nephews and cousins who he loved dearly. He made his homes in New Jersey, Georgia, and North Carolina. Professionally, Ruben worked as a director in Regulatory A airs for product safety in New Jersey and Georgia, travelled domestically and internationally, and actively participated in conferences world-wide on environmental safety. He enjoyed his jobs and giving back to the community in positive ways. He is widely known for putting others before himself, and fully enjoyed making others smile with his quirky jokes. All who crossed his path only have good memories of him. Ruben loved the Jersey shore, Florida, the theater, and traveling with his family to Disney and any amusements park he would nd along the way. His family was always his #1 priority. He loved spending every minute with his family, friends and dogs.

Alafay (Revels) Newton

April 10, 1951 — April 28, 2024

Ms. Alafay (Fay) Revels Newton was born April 10, 1951, and transitioned to her heavenly home at the age of 73. Her parents were the late Mrs. Mary Sue Locklear Trogdon and step father, Mr. Austin Ray Trogdon, and father Timothy Revels in Robeson County. Ms. Newton was preceded in death by her husband, Duncan Newton; her son, Robbie Wayne Revels; and one brother, Earnest Revels. Sister Fay was a C.N.A worker who loved taking care of her patients. Her hobbies included yard work, baking, xing candy, craft making (along with her husband, Duncan’s wood working skills), going out to eat, and relaxing at home with her exceptional two dogs, Harley and Princess. Most importantly, she loved to testify about the love of family and friends at her church, Macedonia Holiness Methodist Church. Ms. Newton is survived by two sisters, Debora Revels and Theresa Byrd (Robin); three brothers, Kenneth Revels (Harvelene), Mitchell Locklear (Thea), and Ronnie Locklear (Nancy); four grandchildren; two great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and a special nephew that she loved to visit on Saturdays, Kenneth Wayne Revels, Jr. (Papa); many cousins; and a host of other relatives, friends, and church family to cherish her memories.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

STATE & NATION

United Methodists make wide-ranging changes to welcome gay worshipers

The church’s General Conference, held over 11 days in Charlotte, voted to recognize same-sex marriages and allow gay clergy

By Peter Smith

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century’s worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. E e McAvoy took a longer view.

“Oh, it didn’t take days, honey,” she said. It took decades of activism for a change that was “so very healing,” said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week’s UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement — not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally “big-tent” and culturally mainstream congrega-

tions — some predating America’s independence.

The nation’s largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and in uence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and col-

leges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last week’s General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America’s religious calendar — impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience — clergy doing ordinations and marriages that de-

ed church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

“A part of me still doesn’t believe it,” said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

“We’ve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way,” said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. “Our tears have turned into tears of joy.”

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church — but said bigger issues loom.

“We’re an aging denomination,” he said. “We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I don’t see how this vote addresses any of that.”

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar

Bystander’s role changing in era of livestreaming

The Charlotte stando was an illustration of how social media has changed a crisis situation

By Erik Verduzco and Leah Willingham

Associated Press

The

CHARLOTTE — Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered ri es descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gun re from the direction of his neighbor’s house.

As bullets ew just feet away, Chhoeun took out his phone and started livestreaming the stando between o cials and a man wanted for possession of a rearm by an ex-felon and eeing to elude.

By the end of the ordeal, ve people — four o cers and the shooter — were dead and more injured in the deadliest single-day incident for U.S. law enforcement since 2016.

The deadly shootout also illus-

trated how smartphone-wielding bystanders don’t always run for cover when bullets start to y. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. Experts say the reaction re ects the new role that bystanders play in the age of smartphones.

“It’s become sort of a social norm,” said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg. Humans always have had trouble de ning the responsibilities of a bystander in a crisis situation, North said. It’s not always safe to intervene, as with the situation in Charlotte, and people

can feel helpless when they’re doing nothing. Social media has provided a third option.

The “new responsibility of the bystander” in the digital era is to take a record of what happened on their phones, she said.

“It used to be, ‘If you see something, say something,’” North said. “Now, it’s, ‘If you see something, start recording.’”

Chhoeun had been about to leave for work when U.S. marshals blocked his driveway and he was forced to huddle for safety in his garage, his keys in the ignition of his truck. He crouched by the door knocking for his son to let him in with one hand and recording with the other.

Chhoeun said he never would have risked his life to shoot a video if he hadn’t been locked outside. But since he was, he thought: “I might just live it, you know, get everybody in the world to see also that I’ve witnessed that. I didn’t see that coming.”

Rissa Reign, a youth coordinator who lives in the neighborhood, said she was cleaning her house when she heard gun re and walked out to nd out what was happening.

challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s — some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and don’t have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

“There is no silver bullet” for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022 — less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter of its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disa liate.

“The General Conference did not listen to us,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. “We do not believe we know better than Jesus.”

She began recording when she heard sirens, thinking she would share the video to Charlit, a Facebook group with 62,000 members where residents post about news and events. She had no idea how serious the situation had become until a SWAT vehicle pulled up behind her.

“Once we were out there, it was, ‘Oh, no. This is an active situation,’” she said. “And the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of something way bigger than what you thought.”

Reign saw livestreaming as a way to keep the community informed, she said.

“Seeing that really puts things in perspective and lets you know that is really real, not just reading it or hearing about it in the news,” she said of the live stream video. “When you really see it, you can, you know, you know that it’s real.”

In Chhoeun’s video, two agents can be seen sheltering behind a vehicle. Another agent is shown by a fence in his yard, dropping to the ground as what appear to be bullets spray the area around him.

“It was so, so sad for law enforcement,” he said. “I know they are not choosing to die on my backyard, but just do their job. And that’s what happened to them, left their family behind.”

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

People take photos last Tuesday of a home where a shootout between a suspect and o cers occurred last Monday in Charlotte.

PETER SMITH / AP PHOTO

The Rev. David Meredith, left, and the Rev. Austin Adkinson sing during a gathering of those in the LGBTQ community and their allies outside the Charlotte Convention Center last Thursday in Charlotte.

Paying respects

Representatives of law enforcement agencies from around the state gathered in Statesville Tuesday morning for the 39th Annual North Carolina Peace O cers’ Memorial Day Ceremony. The ceremony carried an even heavier tone this year, following so closely with the line of duty deaths of a U.S. Marshal, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department o cer and two N.C. Department of Corrections o cers in Charlotte last week. Above, the N.C. Wildlife Law Enforcement Honor Guard stands with a Raleigh PD cruiser.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Dept of Ed renews

FAFSA push

Though close to 9 million FAFSA college nancial aid forms have been submitted, many students have yet to ll out the form.

The US Department of Education is rolling out a new campaign to encourage lling out the form, providing funding to schools, nonpro ts and community organizations to boost FAFSA awareness and submissions.

The department says it has made “signi cant progress” to address issues with the new FAFSA form, with most schools sending student aid o ers ahead of upcoming admissions deadlines.

Previously, North Carolina public colleges, including App State and the UNC system, extended admission deadlines to May 15 after widespread issues with the FAFSA form.

NC DOI urges hurricane prep

This is national hurricane preparedness week, reminds NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

With hurricane season starting June 1, Causey suggests to double check your insurance to verify that it covers oods (for homeowners) and your personal belongings (for renters).

The ood insurance is particularly important, as policies through the National Flood Insurance Program take 30 days to take e ect.

His o ce also suggests putting together an emergency kit with copies of essential documents, medications and rst aid supplies as a general best practice.

For more insurance information and advice, visit ncdoi.gov.

Forsyth County approves economic package for John Deere expansion

The development would create a new manufacturing facility and more than 150 full-time jobs

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

THE FORSYTH COUNTY Board of Commissioners approved an economic development package for a John Deere manufacturing project at its May 2 meeting.

“Currently, this company manufactures construction machinery,” said Hasani Mitchell. “At the Forsyth County location, the company intends to manufacture excavators and the company is considering launching a facility near existing manufacturing sites either here in the United States or also in Mexico.”

John Deere is proposing to invest $70 million in capital in-

vestment divided between real property ($47 million) and machinery and equipment ($23 million).

The facility would be located in Kernersville which would allow the company to leverage existing manufacturing overhead.

The economic development is projected to create at least 151 full-time jobs with an average wage of $64,362 and generate $2,938,907 in net county tax revenue over 10 years. The county’s contribution covers a veyear term with a maximum incentive of $944,006.

“We’re very happy to have this expansion to the John Deere complex,” said chair Don Martin. In a separate hearing, commissioners approved an amendment to chapters 4 and 5 of the UDO in order to adjust various requirements in a few residential districts.

“This amendment is intend-

ed to reduce rezoning requests to higher density multifamily districts by allowing more design exibility in lower-density multifamily districts,” said city/county planner Chris Murphy. “The purpose is to enable multifamily developments to meet maximum zoning density while accommodating site constraints such as creeks, oodplains, steeper slopes and et cetera.”

Five budgetary items were approved, including the appropriation of $4.5 million in behavioral health funds across 34 programs, $3.3 million in opioid settlement funds across 24 programs, $11.4 million in unreserved fund balance to establish the 2023 PayGo capital projects ordinance, an appropriation of $220,000 in fund balance from the re tax districts and property taxes from the countywide overlay re service district for the purchase of a new re truck, and an amendment to the 2016 Schools capital

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Elizabeth Dole, 18 others

The two-time Cabinet secretary was recognized for her public service

By Jordan Golson Twin City Herald

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, actor Michelle Yeoh, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh. Also honored was North Carolina’s own Elizabeth Dole, recognized for her lifetime of public service across a variety of arenas.

In a release from the White House announcing the recognition, Dole’s work as a U.S. senator, as Transportation secretary under President Reagan and Labor secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and as president of the American Red Cross was mentioned.

Also cited was her work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation supporting military caregivers — the spouses, friends and family members who support our nation’s wounded veterans — through advocacy and recognition of that service.

Elizabeth Dole, now 87, was born in Salisbury in Rowan County. She graduated from Duke University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending grad

school at Oxford and Harvard. She received a master’s degree in education and a law degree from Harvard. After decades of political service, including a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 (four years after her husband, Bob Dole, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential race), she returned to North Carolina to run for Senate in 2002, serving a single six-year term. She lost to Sen. Kay Hagan in 2008, making Dole the last Republican to lose a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina.

In 2012, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help the caregivers of wounded warriors. Her husband, a longtime senator from Kansas, was

project ordinance to appropriate

$1.4 million in additional funding for maintenance and capital projects.

11 grant and contractural items were also approved, with the largest being a $7.4 million grant agreement between Forsyth County and NCDOT for the rehabilitation of Taxiway Alpha at Smith Reynolds Airport.

“Taxiway Alpha at Smith Reynolds Airport is in terrible condition and the state DOT has allocated funds for the project,” said airport director Mark Davidson. “The taxiway is about over a mile long, 60-feet wide and the plan is to mill up six inches of the existing asphalt down to the concrete bases and then put down what they call P-401 FAA approved asphalt. It equates to about 23,800 tons of asphalt.”

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 16.

partially paralyzed from severe injuries sustained during combat in World War II. Dole seemed delighted to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last week at the White House.

In a curious bit of trivia, Dole joins Secretary Elaine Chao — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife — as the only two women to have served as both secretary of Transportation and secretary of Labor who have also been married to a Senate majority leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

PHOTO COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

“Join the conversation”

Uwharrie Forest coyote tests positive for rabies

Attacks on humans have created concern

By Bob Sutton Twin City Herald

THE U.S. FOREST Service is warning visitors following coyote attacks on a trail in the Uwharrie National Forest, after an animal tested positive for rabies.

Montgomery County Animal Services con rmed late last week that the coyote responsible for recent attacks had the rabies virus.

“Recent months have wit-

nessed a notable rise in conrmed and suspected cases of rabies in both wild and domestic animals, particularly in the western portions of our county,” stated a press release from the agency.

Adam Rondeau of the U.S. Forest Service said Monday that Montgomery County ofcials are handling the coyote case, which occurred in that county. The Uwharrie National Forest also includes land in Randolph and Davidson counties.

Of particular concern to ofcials is that increased interaction between humans and

animals heightens the risk of transmission and consequent health e ects.

In what was termed an isolated incident in late April, two individuals received minor injuries after being attacked by a coyote on the Uwharrie Trail near Big Island Creek.

The U.S. Forest Service and other wildlife o cials had worked to locate the coyote involved, as coyote attacks on humans are rare.

According to a news release, encountering coyotes and other wildlife can be a common occurrence in the Uwharrie National Forest. O cials offered the following tips:

• Know before you go — contact the District Ranger’s o ce (open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or visit the National Forests in North Carolina’s webpage for

the latest alerts and safety information.

• Never approach any wildlife when in the forest. If an animal appears to be in distress, contact the District Ranger’s o ce or county animal control.

• When camping, make sure to secure all food and trash to avoid attracting wildlife. Prepare food at least 100 yards away from sleeping areas.

• If you are injured during an encounter with wildlife, seek immediate medical attention.

Also, advice on the topic from animal control o cials to safeguard against rabies includes regular veterinary visits for cats, ferrets and dogs; supervise pets during outdoor activities; secure trash cans and pet food containers; and seal openings and gaps around homes to keep out wildlife.

We stand corrected

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

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

‘Pharmacy benefit managers’ need more legislative oversight

AS A PHARMACIST, I have seen rsthand the impact today’s big pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) have on patients they claim to serve. Most patients don’t realize that PBMs control the price you pay at the pharmacy counter. While PBMs promote health plan cost savings to businesses for their employees, their records often tell a di erent story. Thankfully, in Raleigh and in Washington, lawmakers are nally waking up to the role PBMs play in drug pricing.

For years, PBMs have operated in the shadows, signing up employers to trust them and utilize their services, while e ectively evading any oversight attempts by state regulators. In 2021, the NC General Assembly passed a ban on the practice of rebate accumulating, which PBMs used to deny patients their due savings from drug discount programs.

How did PBMs escape oversight? The answer is that just a handful of large PBMs control 80% of the U.S. market. The PBMs then lobby Congress and oversight agencies to prevent any questioning of their business practices. This market domination is problematic because with no legal mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, PBMs can hide behind harmful, pro t-motivated pricing practices while employers and patients pay the price.

Traditional PBMs tout their size and scale as factors that secure better deals for clients. It is true that big PBMs can procure drugs in larger

quantities at wholesale prices, but they often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Recently in Washington, lawmakers asked the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), a large PBM, to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx unit, along with CVS/Aetna’s Caremark and Cigna’s Express Scripts, now control 80% of the PBM market. With $370 billion in revenues last year, UnitedHealth has grown so big that it now employs more than 10% of all physicians in America and even owns an FDIC-insured bank that can advance payments to providers on pending claims!

With this large of a share of the market, the American people deserve some oversight and questions to be answered. I am urging the Senate Finance Committee to keep asking companies like UnitedHealth Group to explain its rapid consolidation of the market, as well as its vertical integration that is limiting consumer choice and hurting patients at the pharmacy counter.

It is past time PBMs are held accountable for their impact on healthcare costs, and leaders in Washington need to pass PBM oversight measures. This legislation and oversight will nally bring accountability and reform to this broken system and put the focus back on patients, where it belongs.

NC Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) is a pharmacist by trade and represents Montgomery and Stanly counties in the N.C. General Assembly.

COLUMN | WAYNE SASSER

Big PBMs often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

PHOTO BY JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION FOR WALGREENS / AP IMAGES

A Walgreens pharmacy in Los Angeles.

Forsyth SPORTS

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE SPORTS

South Carolina court orders ACC to provide Clemson with ESPN agreements

Clemson, SC

A South Carolina court has order the Atlantic Coast Conference to provide Clemson with agreements between itself and ESPN the school has sought in its lawsuit in trying to leave its longtime home. The ve-page order was released last Friday and provided the ACC protections against the agreements handed over coming out publicly. Clemson sued the ACC in March over its grant-ofrights agreement that ties the school’s media rights to the league through 2036. Florida State has also sued the ACC in an attempt to free itself from the conference.

MLB MLB, Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering, custom- t pants

Major League Baseball uniforms will have larger lettering on the back of jerseys and individual pant customization will be available to all players beginning in 2025. MLB and Nike said the uniform adjustments will be made following conversations with players, clubs and equipment managers. Some players in spring training complained about the t and look. The white pants worn by some teams are see-through enough to clearly show tuckedin jersey tops. Nike also is working to address the slight color di erences between jerseys and pants of some gray road uniforms, as well as the discoloration that can occur because of sweat.

TENNIS

Tennis legend

Billie Jean King getting Breakfast of Champions treatment; will appear on Wheaties box

Minneapolis

Billie Jean King is a 39-time Grand Slam champion and an equal rights champion — and now she’s getting the Breakfast of Champions treatment. The twiceinducted tennis Hall of Famer will appear on a limited-edition box of Wheaties. The cereal maker announced the orange packages with King on the cover will be available at stores around the U.S. later this month. King was a driving force behind the creation of the women’s professional tennis tour, equal prize money for women and men, and the passage of Title IX. King, 80, won 39 titles across singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments.

Larson wins closest nish in NASCAR Cup Series history

The Hendrick Motorsports driver edged Chris Buescher at the nish line at Kansas to win by .001 seconds

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson came around Chris Buescher on the final lap and banged doors with him all the way to the finish line Sunday, where he was declared the winner of the Cup Series race by officials at Kansas Speedway in the closest finish in NASCAR history.

The official margin was a thousandth of a second — every bit as close as the Kentucky Derby a day earlier — and Buescher was left both dumbfounded and dejected. His team had begun to celebrate before learning he had finished second.

The dramatic finale came after a caution for Kyle Busch’s spin forced a green-white-checkered finish. Larson pulled behind Buescher on the backstretch of the last lap, then came around him on the outside of the final corner. Buescher looked as if he had pulled in front, and even Larson thought he had finished second, before the call came through that he had won.

“That was wild,” Larson said. “I was thankful for that caution. We were dying pretty bad. I was happy to come out third.”

It was a brilliant start to a busy month of May for Larson, who will attempt to run the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day Memorial Day weekend. The win was the second of the season for him in the No. 5 car for Hendrick Motorsports, and a bit of retribution nishing second to Denny Hamlin last week at Dover and in the spring race at Kansas a year ago.

Martin Truex Jr. nished fourth on Sunday and Hamlin, who had the lead on the nal restart, faded back to fth place.

Meanwhile, Buescher was left questioning the grainy black-and-white images of the photo nish, and the entire Ford contingent — which has yet to win in any of NASCAR’s top three series this year — had to rue the closest miss in its history.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said, shaking his head while standing beside his No. 17 car.

“I haven’t seen a replay other than just

the picture, and I sure can’t see in that picture. That sucks to be that close.”

Making it a bigger bummer for Buescher was the fact that he had overcome a big miscue midway through the race. He had just won the second stage and led the eld onto pit road when a crew member came over the wall too soon. The penalty sent him to the rear of the eld, and he had to spend much of the nal stage working his way back to the front.

Ultimately, he opted for a di erent pit strategy along with Hamlin, who had his own share of problems on pit road. And it might have worked out for them had the race nished under green. Instead, the late caution forced all the leaders to pit.

“I don’t know what to say right now,” Buescher said.

Christopher Bell started on the pole but struggled to run up front all day in a race that began after a 3 1/2-hour delay because of rain, nishing sixth. He was followed by Alex Bowman and Kyle Busch, whose spin brought out the last caution. Noah Gragson and Michael McDowell gave Ford two more cars in the top 10.

Yellow ags

There were no cautions other than for stage breaks until Jimmie Johnson wrecked with 91 laps to go. The seven-time champion, back in the No. 84 for the second consecutive week, was hit from behind by Corey LaJoie after he checked up.

“Just trying to set up for the corner, I got a little help from behind and just kind of hanging on from there,” Johnson said.

The yellow ags then came in quickly: Hamlin made contact with Austin Cindric, sending the No. 2 into a wreck that spun out Bubba Wallace and McDowell. Harrison Burton wrecked on the restart, then Joey Logano did on the next one.

Odds and ends

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. nished 16th in his rst race since signing a contract extension with JTG Daugherty Racing. He also did it after going for a wild ride in his sprint car on Saturday night at nearby Lakeside Speedway. ... Gragson has had strong back-to-back weeks after nishing sixth at Dover. ... The series heads to Darlington next for its annual throwback weekend.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Connor Bruning

East Forsyth, boys’ lacrosse

Connor Bruning is a senior on the East Forsyth boys’ lacrosse team.

The Eagles were eliminated from the NCHSAA playo s in the second round, but Bruning went out on his shield. He had outstanding performances in both playo games, scoring ve goals in an 18-11 opening-round win over Southeast Guilford. He had his ve scores on 10 shots on goal and also added four ground balls. In an 8-6 loss to RJ Reynolds, he had two goals in three shots on goal and added two assists. He also had four ground balls in that game.

For the year, Bruning was second on East Forsyth in goals and assists and led the Eagles in shot percentage and draws won.

Irving is still perfect in closeout games, moving on with Doncic and the Mavericks

The former Duke star is 13-0 with the chance to end a playo series

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving wowed the crowd with a crossover move that helped create just enough space for him to let y with a leaning 3-pointer.

Luka Doncic’s co-star with the Dallas Mavericks was bumped and fell with the shot in the air, and his teammates were right there to mob him when the shot went in as the whistle blew.

The four-point play was a punctuating moment in a 114101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night that sent the Mavericks into the second round of the playo s with a 4-2 series victory.

Dallas beat LA for the rst time in three rst-round tries over the past ve seasons — and Irving improved to 13-0 in closeout games for his career.

“When I think about 13-0 in closeout games in general, I just know you’ve just got to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit,” said Irving, who scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half. “It’s one of the hardest things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit.”

The fth-seeded Mavericks play top seed, Oklahoma City, in the second round.

“Never in doubt with Kai,” Doncic said. “It’s amazing to see the kind of plays he makes.”

The Mavs added Irving at the trade deadline last year, hoping to create an All-Star pairing that would at least match

the run to the West nals from 2022. Instead, injuries and inconsistencies kept the chemistry from developing, and Dallas missed the playo s.

Irving’s health was a big part of a surge into the top six in the West over the nal two months of this season when it appeared

the play-in tournament might have to be the route.

Now the Mavs have a series victory in the rst postseason together for two players with a combined 13 All-Star appearances.

“I’m just in awe each and every night,” said P.J. Washington, a trade deadline addition this year and a key provider of 3-point shooting and defense.

“They’re special players and they make special plays each and every night.”

Irving was 10 of 13 from the eld in the second half, starting with a layup that broke a 52-52 halftime tie. After a 3-pointer from Doncic, Irving added a 3 for an 8-0 run. Dallas didn’t trail again.

Irving hasn’t been scoring early — just 10 points combined in the rst quarters of the six games against LA. But he’s been scoring late.

The 28 points in the second half of the clincher matched Irving’s playo career high for a half. And in a Game 4 loss, Irving scored all 40 of his points after the Clippers had taken a 31-point lead as Dallas rallied to take the lead before losing by ve.

“Just his calmness, his energy was always positive in the locker room,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “And that’s just the leadership and trust that the guys have on the oor with him.”

JEFFREY MCWHORTER / AP PHOTO

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes the ball as he falls in between Los Angeles Clippers defenders during the rst round playo series.

STATE & NATION

United Methodists make wide-ranging changes to welcome gay worshipers

The church’s General Conference, held over 11 days in Charlotte, voted to recognize same-sex marriages and allow gay clergy

By Peter Smith

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century’s worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. E e McAvoy took a longer view.

“Oh, it didn’t take days, honey,” she said. It took decades of activism for a change that was “so very healing,” said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week’s UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement — not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally “big-tent” and culturally mainstream congrega-

tions — some predating America’s independence.

The nation’s largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and in uence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and col-

leges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last week’s General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America’s religious calendar — impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience — clergy doing ordinations and marriages that de-

ed church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

“A part of me still doesn’t believe it,” said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

“We’ve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way,” said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. “Our tears have turned into tears of joy.”

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church — but said bigger issues loom.

“We’re an aging denomination,” he said. “We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I don’t see how this vote addresses any of that.”

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar

Bystander’s role changing in era of livestreaming

The Charlotte stando was an illustration of how social media has changed a crisis situation

By Erik Verduzco and Leah Willingham

Associated Press

The

CHARLOTTE — Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered ri es descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gun re from the direction of his neighbor’s house.

As bullets ew just feet away, Chhoeun took out his phone and started livestreaming the stando between o cials and a man wanted for possession of a rearm by an ex-felon and eeing to elude.

By the end of the ordeal, ve people — four o cers and the shooter — were dead and more injured in the deadliest single-day incident for U.S. law enforcement since 2016.

The deadly shootout also illus-

trated how smartphone-wielding bystanders don’t always run for cover when bullets start to y. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. Experts say the reaction re ects the new role that bystanders play in the age of smartphones.

“It’s become sort of a social norm,” said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg. Humans always have had trouble de ning the responsibilities of a bystander in a crisis situation, North said. It’s not always safe to intervene, as with the situation in Charlotte, and people

can feel helpless when they’re doing nothing. Social media has provided a third option.

The “new responsibility of the bystander” in the digital era is to take a record of what happened on their phones, she said.

“It used to be, ‘If you see something, say something,’” North said. “Now, it’s, ‘If you see something, start recording.’”

Chhoeun had been about to leave for work when U.S. marshals blocked his driveway and he was forced to huddle for safety in his garage, his keys in the ignition of his truck. He crouched by the door knocking for his son to let him in with one hand and recording with the other.

Chhoeun said he never would have risked his life to shoot a video if he hadn’t been locked outside. But since he was, he thought: “I might just live it, you know, get everybody in the world to see also that I’ve witnessed that. I didn’t see that coming.”

Rissa Reign, a youth coordinator who lives in the neighborhood, said she was cleaning her house when she heard gun re and walked out to nd out what was happening.

challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s — some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and don’t have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

“There is no silver bullet” for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022 — less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter of its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disa liate.

“The General Conference did not listen to us,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. “We do not believe we know better than Jesus.”

She began recording when she heard sirens, thinking she would share the video to Charlit, a Facebook group with 62,000 members where residents post about news and events. She had no idea how serious the situation had become until a SWAT vehicle pulled up behind her.

“Once we were out there, it was, ‘Oh, no. This is an active situation,’” she said. “And the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of something way bigger than what you thought.”

Reign saw livestreaming as a way to keep the community informed, she said.

“Seeing that really puts things in perspective and lets you know that is really real, not just reading it or hearing about it in the news,” she said of the live stream video. “When you really see it, you can, you know, you know that it’s real.”

In Chhoeun’s video, two agents can be seen sheltering behind a vehicle. Another agent is shown by a fence in his yard, dropping to the ground as what appear to be bullets spray the area around him.

“It was so, so sad for law enforcement,” he said. “I know they are not choosing to die on my backyard, but just do their job. And that’s what happened to them, left their family behind.”

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

People take photos last Tuesday of a home where a shootout between a suspect and o cers occurred on Monday in Charlotte.

PETER SMITH / AP PHOTO

The Rev. David Meredith, left, and the Rev. Austin Adkinson sing during a gathering of those in the LGBTQ community and their allies outside the Charlotte Convention Center last Thursday in Charlotte.

MOORE COUNTY

The thrill of victory

Pinecrest junior Heather Samson (#13) gets one past against Hoke goalkeeper Jianna Gomez on Monday night in the rst round of the conference tournament at Pinecrest. The Patriots topped the Bucks 2-0 to advance. For more sports, turn to Page 3.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Dept of Ed renews

FAFSA push

Though close to 9 million FAFSA college nancial aid forms have been submitted, many students have yet to ll out the form.

The US Department of Education is rolling out a new campaign to encourage lling out the form, providing funding to schools, nonpro ts and community organizations to boost FAFSA awareness and submissions.

The department says it has made “signi cant progress” to address issues with the new FAFSA form, with most schools sending student aid o ers ahead of upcoming admissions deadlines.

Previously, North Carolina public colleges, including App State and the UNC system, extended admission deadlines to May 15 after widespread issues with the FAFSA form.

NC DOI urges hurricane prep

This is national hurricane preparedness week, reminds NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

With hurricane season starting June 1, Causey suggests to double check your insurance to verify that it covers oods (for homeowners) and your personal belongings (for renters).

The ood insurance is particularly important, as policies through the National Flood Insurance Program take 30 days to take e ect.

His o ce also suggests putting together an emergency kit with copies of essential documents, medications and rst aid supplies as a general best practice.

For more insurance information and advice, visit ncdoi.gov.

Moore Board gives schools bond funds for district-wide improvements

With funding left over, Moore Schools will spend on capital improvements

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

The Moore County Board of Commissioners approved a request from the Moore County School System to utilize bond premium funding for the additional purpose of district-wide improvements at its Tuesday, April 16 meeting.

“Bond premium funds are currently purposed for the use of gym modernization and updates,” said assistant superintendent of operations Jenny Purvis. “We currently have ve gyms that are being updated.

We’re in the process of that right now and we estimate that there should be an estimated $3.4 million remaining in those bond

premium funds once we nalize and nish completion of those ve gyms.”

There are a number of improvements on the district’s master list, including replacing gymnasium bleachers at the three high schools, then auditorium rigging and curtains at the schools, plus updates to elementary school playgrounds.

“Other potential district-wide improvements would include projects like Pinckney where we would already be doing HVAC and asbestos abatement and while we’re undertaking that major project, it’s the perfect time to go in and replace oors, lighting and plumbing since we’re already doing extensive work there,” Purvis explained.

It was not immediately clear how many of the projects would be tackled with the funding.

In other business, the Moore Commissioners held a trio of

“We estimate that there should be an estimated $3.4 million remaining in those bond premium funds.”

Jenny Purvis, MCS Assistant Superintendent of Operations

public hearings, all of which were approved.

The rst was to consider an amendment to the road name and addressing ordinance for the addition of seven new roadways.

“A request is hereby made to the board of commissioners to amend the Moore County Road Naming and Addressing Ordinance to add seven road names to the ordinance,” said GIS

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Elizabeth Dole, 18 others

The two-time Cabinet secretary was recognized for her public service

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Medgar Evers, actor Michelle Yeoh, prominent political leaders such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh. Also honored was North Carolina’s own Elizabeth Dole, recognized for her lifetime of public service across a variety of arenas.

In a release from the White House announcing the recognition, Dole’s work as a U.S. senator, as Transportation secretary under President Reagan and Labor secretary under President George H. W. Bush, and as president of the American Red Cross was mentioned.

Also cited was her work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation supporting military caregivers — the spouses, friends and family members who support our nation’s wounded veterans — through advocacy and recognition of that service. Elizabeth Dole, now 87, was born in Salisbury in Rowan County. She graduated from Duke University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in political science before attending grad

school at Oxford and Harvard. She received a master’s degree in education and a law degree from Harvard.

After decades of political service, including a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 (four years after her husband, Bob Dole, lost to Bill Clinton in the 1996 presidential race), she returned to North Carolina to run for Senate in 2002, serving a single six-year term. She lost to Sen. Kay Hagan in 2008, making Dole the last Republican to lose a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. In 2012, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help the caregivers of wounded warriors. Her husband, a longtime senator from Kansas, was

programmer analyst Rachel Smith. “Section 3 of the ordinance states that no new roads outside of the municipal limits in the county of Moore, whether part of the state secondary road system or private, shall be named without the approval of the board of commissioners.”

The new roadways include Bluestone Drive, Candace Lane, Cross Arrow Way, Freida May Lane, Nancy Court, October Road and Palmer Grey Court.

The second was for a rezoning request to rezone 3.77 acres of property located on Murdocksville Road from neighborhood business (B-1) to residential and agricultural (RA-40).

According to representation for the developer, the property has an approved preliminary plat which calls for the development of four lots, each about

See SCHOOLS , page 2

partially paralyzed from severe injuries sustained during combat in World War II. Dole seemed delighted to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last week at the White House.

In a curious bit of trivia, Dole joins Secretary Elaine Chao — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s wife — as the only two women to have served as both secretary of Transportation and secretary of Labor who have also been married to a Senate majority leader.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

We stand corrected

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

Get in touch

Moore County Edition of North State Journal

April 30

• Cindy Bowen Riley, 57 years old, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possessing methamphetamine.

May 1

• Unoma Jane Banks, 41 years old, was arrested by the NC Highway Patrol on a charge of resisting a public officer.

• Eduardo Gonzalez Cruz, 31 years old, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of attempted breaking and/or entering a building.

• James Glen Naquan Douglas, 34 years old, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of attempting to traffic opiates by possession.

May 2

• Robert Paul Burr, 34 years old, was arrested by the Southern Pines Police Department on a charge of felony possession of cocaine.

• Cortnie Michelle Ferguson, 35 years old, was arrested by the Southern Pines Police Department on a charge of felony possession of cocaine.

• Timothy Lee Hayes, 58 years old, was arrested by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia.

May 3

Robby Darrell Britt, 57 years old, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of first-degree trespassing/squatting.

Jonathan Clegg Burns, 42 years old, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office

COLUMN | WAYNE SASSER

‘Pharmacy benefit managers’ need more legislative oversight

AS A PHARMACIST, I have seen rst-hand the impact today’s big pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) have on patients they claim to serve. Most patients don’t realize that PBMs control the price you pay at the pharmacy counter. While PBMs promote health plan cost savings to businesses for their employees, their records often tell a di erent story. Thankfully, in Raleigh and in Washington, lawmakers are nally waking up to the role PBMs play in drug pricing.

For years, PBMs have operated in the shadows, signing up employers to trust them and utilize their services, while e ectively evading any oversight attempts by state regulators. In 2021, the NC General Assembly passed a ban on the practice of rebate accumulating, which PBMs used to deny patients their due savings from drug discount programs.

How did PBMs escape oversight? The answer is that just a handful of large PBMs control 80% of the U.S. market. The PBMs then lobby Congress and oversight agencies to prevent any questioning of their business practices. This market domination is problematic because with no legal mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, PBMs can hide behind harmful, pro tmotivated pricing practices while employers and patients pay the price.

Traditional PBMs tout their size and scale as factors that secure better deals for clients. It is true that big PBMs can procure drugs in larger

40,000 square feet in size. The nal hearing was for an amendment to the UDO: “The Uni ed Development Ordinance has existing language regarding prohibited uses within the Highway Corridor Overlay District that shows speci c use types that are prohibited in the Urban Transition sub-district located in the Highway Corridor Over-

quantities at wholesale prices, but they often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Recently in Washington, lawmakers asked the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), a large PBM, to testify before the Senate Finance Committee. UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx unit, along with CVS/Aetna’s Caremark and Cigna’s Express Scripts, now control 80% of the PBM market. With $370 billion in revenues last year, UnitedHealth has grown so big that it now employs more than 10% of all physicians in America and even owns an FDIC-insured bank that can advance payments to providers on pending claims! With this large of a share of the market, the American people deserve some oversight and questions to be answered. I am urging the Senate Finance Committee to keep asking companies like UnitedHealth Group to explain its rapid consolidation of the market, as well as its vertical integration that is limiting consumer choice and hurting patients at the pharmacy counter.

It is past time PBMs are held accountable for their impact on healthcare costs, and leaders in Washington need to pass PBM oversight measures. This legislation and oversight will nally bring accountability and reform to this broken system and put the focus back on patients, where it belongs.

NC Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) is a pharmacist by trade and represents Montgomery and Stanly counties in the NC General Assembly.

lay District,” said planning director Debra Ensminger. “The ordinance should be amended to remove the residential use of a personal workshop or storage building, as a prohibited use, to comply with the intent of the overlay district and its e ect on commercial versus residential uses. So the corridor only applies to commercial, not residential. So this use should be allowed in the urban transition as residential and it’s not for commercial uses, it’s a residential use.” Following the hearings, the board approved each request. In addition the board also approved a $177,512.04 construction contract with McFadden Homes Inc. for the James Street waterline replacement project and a request for state funding for the county’s required VIPER TDMA upgrades, which costs the county approximately $3 million.

MOORE COUNTY

MONDAY

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

May 10

NC Farm

Heritage Day

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come out for the 2nd annual NC Farm Heritage Day on Friday, May 10th and May 11th at the Lee Regional Fair Grounds. Join in the family-fun with something for all ages. There will be antique tractors and engines, demonstrations, blacksmiths and craft vendors to browse. Enjoy live music and there will be food trucks on site. A 1930’s Frick Sawmill will be running, and the tobacco museum will be open. Children’s activities will be available as well. This event is free and open to the public.

BTL Bus Tour: Health and Wellness Event

1 – 3 p.m.

Join at the Vascular Institute of the Pines in collaboration with Forte Fitness as they host The Great North American Form, Fit and Function Tour. Enjoy an afternoon of health, wellness, and fun! Toning, enhancing, rejuvenating and sculpting. Devices on board the bus will be Emface, Emsculpt Neo and Emsella. Experience DanceFit 1:30pm-2:15pm. There will be lite bites, ra es and exclusive pricing. RSVP for free by calling 910-3383381.

Train Day & Cruise In 4 – 7 p.m.

Celebrate Train Day with Hamlet Depot & Museums during the TGIFridays on Main Event. Food trucks will be on site 11am-7pm and. There will be a CruiseIn car show 4pm-7pm.

Pride Youth Night 5 – 7 p.m.

Join for PRIDE Youth Night Out at Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills Baxter Teen Center! Bring your self-expression and creativity to design your own buttons and bracelets. PRIDE Youth Nights are the 2nd Friday of the month! Registration is required. The PRIDE Youth Night is intended to be a safe and a rming space for LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 12-17. We expect everyone to be kind, inclusive, and positive in words and actions with each other. Visit sandhillspride.salsalabs. org for more information.

CRIME LOG

Big PBMs often fail to pass these savings bene ts on to their clients.

Tennis, lacrosse teams still ghting, while baseball, softball suit up

North State Journal sta

PLAYOFFS are underway in boys’ tennis, as well as boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. Baseball and softball are joining the NCHSAA postseason this week. Here’s a look at how the area teams are doing in the brackets. Boys’ tennis

Pinecrest and Union Pines both won their NCHSAA playo openers, while North Moore got a rst-round bye, meaning all three area teams were still alive as of the start of this week, which saw second-round action take place after press time.

North Moore, the No. 10 seed in 1A faced No. 7 Chatham Charter (12-6).

No. 5 Pinecrest advanced via forfeit past No. 28 Garner. The Patriots now face No. 12 Broughton.

No. 10 Union Pines beat No. 23 Franklinton by a 5-4 score and now face No. 7 Cape Fear.

Boys’ Lacrosse

In boys’ lacrosse state playo action, Pinecrest earned a rst-round bye in 4A. The No. 6 seed Patriots then fell to No. 11 Athens Drive, 1110, to end their season. Pinecrest led 4-0 after the rst period but couldn’t

withstand an Athens rally.

Union Pines also drew a rstround bye in 3A. The No. 4 Vikings then topped No. 13 Swansboro in the second round to move on to a date with No. 5 Carrboro in the round of 16. Union Pines jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one period, then managed to cruise to a 12-8 win over Swansboro.

Girls’ Lacrosse

The Pinecrest girls are into the 4A Sweet 16. The No. 6 Patriots had a rst-round bye, then got past No. 11 Laney, 12-11, their sixth win in a row. Allie Hirst had six goals and an assist, while Peyton Page added four goals and three assists in the win. Pinecrest moves on to face No. 3 Chapel Hill.

Union Pines is also in the round of 16, at the 1A/2A/3A level. The Vikings got a rst round bye as the top seed, then hammered No. 16 Havelock, 270. Freshman Makenzie Burnham (1 save) and junior Isabelle Bonillo (2 saves) split time in goal and ended up with a combined shutout. Next up is No. 8 Seaforth.

Baseball

At 13-7, 9-6 I the Mid-Carolina Conference, North Moore got a bid

to the state playo s in the 1A bracket. The No. 9 seed Mustangs face No. 24 East Columbus (9-9).

Pinecrest drew a No. 4 seed in 4A, on the strength of a 21-4 record and 11-1 Sandhills record, good for a regular season title. The Patriots open with No. 29 Green Hope (12-12). At 10-14, 4-8 in the Sandhills, Union Pines did not receive a bid from the NCHSAA. The team says goodbye to seniors Chandler Ring, Austin Mooring, Grey Booker and Tyler Lewis, Softball

North Moore enters the NCHSAA playo s with an 11-9 record, 10-5 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. The Mustangs earned a No. 20 seed in 1A and open with No. 13 Northside - Pinetown (15-4).

Union Pines received a No. 14 seed at 3A after nishing the regular season with a 15-7 record, 9-3 in the Sandhills. The Vikings open with No. 19 Cedar Ridge (12-7-1)

At 2-16, 0-12 in the Sandhills, Pinecrest’s season is over. The NCHSAA passed the Patriots over for a bid, ending the high school careers of seniors Raven Ross-Gillespie, Nakia Collins, Maggie Drake and Anjali Williams.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Maddy Telemeco

Union Pines girls’ lacrosse

Maddy Telemeco is a junior for the Union Pines girls’ lacrosse team. The top-ranked Vikings blew out Havelock, 27-0, in their second-round game in the NCHSAA playo s. Telemeco led the way for Union Pines with 10 points in the game. She scored four goals and added six assists. She also added four ground balls and controlled six draws.

Telemeco leads Union Pines in assists and shot percentage. She’s second in turnovers caused and total points and ranks third on the team in goals.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Audrey Kilgore (3), Sam Lineback (30) and the rest of Pinecrest’s girls’ lacrosse team leaves the eld after a 12-11 win over Laney to advance in the playo s.

obituaries

Coy Hale Richardson

September 10, 1945 — April 29, 2024

Coy Hale Richardson, 78, died peacefully Monday April 29, 2024 at his home surrounded by family. He was born in Moore County to the late Coy and Rachel Pusser Richardson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Ralph Richardson, sisters, Catherine Richardson and Florence Clapp. He graduated from West End High School in 1966. He came to work with Boles Funeral Home in July of 1984, where he compassionately served the families of Moore and surrounding counties for almost 40 years. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he found his greatest joy in the simple pleasures of life: tending to his garden and spending time with his beloved grandchildren. His legacy of love and laughter will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Tina Richardson ; his daughters, Crystal Lynn and Tammy Dutton both of Seven Lakes; grandchildren, Autumn, Rachel, Coy, Scarlette, Luke, and Nate; great grandchildren, Lilly’ann, Walker, and Gri n Hale.

Joel Eugene Smith

November 22, 1945 — May 1, 2024

Joel Eugene Smith, 78, of Venice, FL passed peacefully on May 1, 2024. Born in Yadkinville, NC he was the son of the late Foy Anderson Smith and Daisy Mae Ashburn Smith. Raised in Aberdeen, NC alongside his 4 older sisters, Earline, Anne, Doris, and Lib, whom he a ectionately called “Uba” up until the end. Just after high school, he fell in love and swiftly married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia Gayle Smith on November 28, 1964.

He lived his life as a man of great faith, a member of the Gideons International, and a family man/provider. His true passion was his love for his wife, Gayle and their only child, daughter JoyL. He cherished Gayle's entire family, especially Carolyn, Gayle’s sister, who always brought a smile and her daughters, Teresa, Debbie, and Patricia and their husbands who gave incredible support, especially after Gayle’s passing. As his health continued to decline, he gave his daughter, JoyL, and her husband Je , the greatest gift by allowing them to relocate him from NC to Florida where they could provide care for him during the last year of his life. Taking care of him and having moments of joy together has been a wonderful way to "give back" to a man who gave so much. He is survived by his only daughter JoyL Silva and son-in-law, Je Silva, and his sister, Earline Pryor, and sister Elizabeth Mays, (Uba). He is predeceased by wife Gayle smith, newborn sons Mark Smith, Jonathan Smith, and sisters, Doris Ayers, Anne Gordon.

Brenda Blakely

January 25, 1947 — May 2, 2024

Brenda Blakely, age 77, of West End, NC passed away at her home on May 2, 2024. Brenda was born in Moore County, NC on January 25, 1947, to Arnold Calvin Thomas and Dorothy Virginia Caddell Thomas. She enjoyed trips to the beach, spending time working in her yard, and playing with her greatgrandchildren, Landon and Magnolia. Brenda is survived by her grandchildren, John McKenzie, Nathan McKenzie, Dillon McKenzie (Jessica), Lauryn Lewis (Joseph), and her sister, Debbie Thomas Coleman. Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Donald Blakely, and her children, Donald “Bruce” Blakely and Dawn Thompson.

Lewis Clayton Garner

January 7, 1935 — April 30, 2024

Lewis Clayton Garner, 89 of Carthage, passed away on April 30, 2024 at FirstHealth Hospice House. Born on January 7, 1935 in Moore County to the late Gilbert and Macy Melton Garner. Lewis was a retired tobacco farmer. He was an avid fox hunter and was inducted into the Fox Hunter Hall of Fame. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Randy Garner and wife of 71 years Shirley Garner. He is survived by his son, Ronnie Garner and his wife, Pam; daughter-inlaw, Sandra Garner, wife of the late Randy Garner; grandchildren, Heather Herring (Ryan), Kelly Garner Dula (Brian), Jacob Garner (Taylor), Stacey Lynn Cantrell (Brett) and Michael Garner; 14 great grandchildren; brother, Charles Garner; also survived by his sister-in-law, Dot Wilson.

Roy B Longhta, Jr.

February 24, 1932 — May 1, 2024

Roy B. Longhta Jr was born February 24, 1932 in Spring eld, Illinois to the parents of Roy and Hazel Longhta. He had an older sister, Norma, and a younger brother, Gordon. He attended Douglas Elementary school in Spring eld and graduated from Spring eld High School in 1950. In 1956 he married Tove Olsen from Copenhagen, Denmark. They had three children, eight grandchildren. His wife, Tove passed in 2015, after almost 60 years of marriage. Roy is survived by three children and their spouses, Lisa and Don Fields, of Akron, Ohio. Sonja and Bruce Boettcher, of St. Petersburg, Florida. Tom and Janelle Longhta, of St. Petersburg, Florida, 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Tony Neil Locklear

September 24, 1958 — April 26, 2024

Tony Neil Locklear, 65 of Wagram, passed away unexpectedly on April 26, 2024. Born on September 24, 1958 in Hoke County to the late Flora Jane Locklear Ivey. Tony loved being in the outdoors where he enjoyed rabbit hunting. He also had a love of animals, especially horses and dogs. Most of all he loved and was so proud of his grandchildren. In addition to his mother, Tony was preceded in death by one brother, Bobby Locklear. He is survived by one daughter, Kelly Cook (John); brother, Charles Locklear; sisters, Brenda Locklear (Mike), Geraldine Thomas (Eddie) and Sandra Smith (the late David); also survived by two grandsons, Jackson and Drew Cook.

Barbara Brucato LiVolsi

January 15, 1940 — April 28, 2024

Barbara Brucato LiVolsi, 84 of Southern Pines, passed away on April 28, 2024. Born on January 15, 1940 in Stamford, Connecticut to the late John F. Brucato and Jeanette Abbiati Brucato. While still in High School, she met her future husband, Bill LiVolsi. It was love at rst sight for both. They dated for ve years before getting married 64 years ago. Barbara devoted her life to her family and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three siblings, Joseph, Rudolph, and Mary Brucato. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, William S. LiVolsi of Southern Pines; two daughters, Jeanette Mendence (Albert)of Southern Pines and Barbara Conlin (Thomas) of Franklinville; ve grandchildren, William Mendence (Erika), Robert Mendence (Keighly), Gina Drummer (Danté), Jillian Conlin and Thomas Conlin, Jr.; also survived by three great grandchildren.

Sarah Elizabeth Poole Davis

September 28, 1931 — April 26, 2024

Sarah Elizabeth Poole Davis, 92, passed on Saturday, April 26, 2024. Born in West End, she was the daughter of the late Julian Hawley and Lena Booker Poole. In addition to her parents, Sarah was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Paul Hedley Davis, Jr., and grandson Jesse Davis. She was the loving mother of Bruce Davis, wife Katina, and Mike Davis. She was the grandmother of Bruce Nicholas Davis and Jacob Paul Davis and step - grandmother of Larry Snead. She is also survived by her brother Samuel H. Poole, wife Imogen.