North State Journal Vol. 6, Issue 10

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 10

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

Adviser suggests Biden still wears mask outside out of habit Wilmington, Del. One of President Joe Biden’s top White House advisers suggested that he’s still wearing a mask outdoors out of habit although the latest public health guidance says he doesn’t need it.

Questioned about Biden’s practice, senior adviser Anita Dunn told CNN that she realized that she was also still wearing her mask outdoors even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated people like her and Biden can stop wearing masks outside when they’re alone or not among strangers.

“I myself found that I was still wearing my mask outdoors this week, because it has become such a matter of habit,” Dunn said. “He’s always taken his role as sending a signal to follow the science very seriously.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO VIA INDEPENDENCE FUND

Spring Food Fest coming to state fairgrounds Raleigh The N.C. Department of Agriculture is holding a threeday event with over 75 food vendors at the N.C. State Fairgrounds on May 21-23, 2021.

Admission tickets will be $8 for adults and $4 for youth 6-12.

A statement from the department says the event is a walk-up, take-out event, and in accordance with Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive orders, face masks are required when social distancing cannot be maintained.

NSJ STAFF

Former US Attorney named acting DA in 3 NC counties Raleigh The most recent U.S. attorney for western North Carolina is filling a district attorney’s position vacated last week when a judge removed the DA from office for “willful misconduct.”

Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Andrew Murray as the acting local prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.

Murray was previously the Mecklenburg County district attorney before he was nominated in 2017 by President Donald Trump and confirmed to become the top federal prosecutor based in Charlotte. He and most other U.S. attorneys were asked to resign after President Joe Biden took office.

The removal of Greg Newman — a rare occurrence in state jurisprudence — followed a campaign by families of crime victims who alleged Newman had mishandled cases and failed to prosecute felonies.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NC House speaker backs increased penalties for riots, civil disorder Raleigh N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) introduced legislation significantly increasing penalties for rioting and related crimes within the state on Tuesday.

House Bill 805 would increase penalties for inciting a riot that leads to death, engaging in riots, and engaging in riots that lead to the physical injury of a first responder.

“Riots and looting devastated many North Carolina downtowns last year at a time when many small businesses were already struggling,” said Moore. “This legislation will seek to deter future riots and increase penalties on those who engage in this anti-social anarchy.”

Victims would be able to recover treble damages, court costs and attorneys’ fees, according to the measure.

NSJ STAFF

Gov. Roy Cooper signs House Bill 138, Adopt Wounded Heroes Day, a bill to honor those who sustained injuries while serving their country in the U.S. Armed Forces in this April 21, 2021, photo. Seen behind Cooper are elected officials (including Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Speaker of the N.C. House TIm Moore and Majority Leader John Bell) and some of the wounded veterans (including Sgt. Michael Verardo, standing directly behind Cooper) whom the bill seeks to honor.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

House majority leader talks state budget, Emergency Management revamp Bell: In a state of emergency, I believe we should have all hands on deck, not just one set of hands

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Previously, North State Journal sat down with House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) to chat about some of the military-related bills he has had a hand in this session.

Bell also talked about revamping the way the state and governor respond to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s proposed budget and what the state’s budget might look like.

With regard to the Emergency Powers Act, Bell reiterated comments he made during debate on the House floor prior to its passage along party lines by the House. House Bill 264 would amend the governor’s ability to extend state of emergency-based orders unilaterally and indefinitely, as Cooper has done over the last year. The Senate has passed a similar bill requiring Council of State approval of emergency declarations within 10 days.

“In a state of emergency, I believe we should have all hands on deck, not just one set of hands,” Bell said.

“It was partisan, and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they viewed it as a power grab or taking power away from the governor,” said Bell.

“This doesn’t change anything for the governor except he has to get Council of State authority or approval when we’re in state of emergency, which is no different than what he has done up until he didn’t get what he wanted. Then he looked at how he could unilaterally navigate around that.”

Bell said that lawmakers run bills every year that are basically “lessons learned.” He said the

General Assembly would be filing a “disaster mitigation piece” after what had been learned during hurricanes and floods that have hit the state.

“We’ve never experienced a pandemic before. We saw some issues in state government,” Bell said. “We have addressed those, and now we’re looking at the issue where, hey, we probably need more heads involved in this, instead of one person unilaterally dictating what happens to the whole entire state. So, that’s why we wanted to include the Council of State.

“When you look at the Council of State, you’ve got Commissioner Troxler sitting there, who feeds this entire state — it’s the largest economic impact. Why not include him? You’ve got Catherine Truitt, the secretary of Public Instruction. Why not include her?” asked Bell. “All these people that oversee entities of government, that control and oversee government and have an impact on everyday life. Why not include them in the conversation?”

Other states like Kansas, Ohio and New York are looking at similar legislation after pandemic orders continued to be extended, often unilaterally, by state governors. Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the state mask mandate enacted by the governor was unconstitutional.

“It’s both red and blue states,” Bell said, “But at the end of the day, our country and our state was not founded on unilateral rule. There’s no unilateral rule in a constitutional republic.”

Bell continued, “You are seeing these things start to unfold. Just over the last couple weeks you saw where the governor lifted executive orders, and it was very ironic that he lifted the executive orders right before a verdict in a lawsuit.”

Referencing a Jan. 9 Raleigh See BELL, page A2

Charlotte-based nonprofit to lead training program on vets in crisis

By David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — While a lot of legislation gets caught up in partisan battles, two veteran-related bills (House Bill 138, Adopt Wounded Heroes Day; and House Bill 370, No Veteran Left Behind Act) have seen unanimous support. Behind both bills is Charlotte-based veteran-support nonprofit The Independence Fund, which is fighting to help those returning from military service with issues surrounding physical and mental health.

The first bill, Adopt Wounded Heroes Day, sailed through both chambers unanimously and was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper on April 21. According to the

bill language, the act adopts “the 24th day of April of each year as Wounded Heroes Day in honor of Army Sgt. Michael Verardo.”

Verardo lives in Union County with his wife, Sarah, who is the CEO of The Independence Fund.

After serving in the 82nd Airborne and being deployed to active combat, Verardo was severely injured in an attack from an IED (improvised explosive device). He lost his left leg, much of his left arm and has had countless surgeries to various parts of his body.

“We were very blessed to have unanimous, bipartisan support for Wounded Heroes Day and then roll right into No Veteran See INDEPENDENCE, page A2

Wake County Schools administrator denies Critical Race Theory offerings

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — In a previous article, it was reported that the state’s largest school district had been partnering with a training firm founded and run by state Rep. Graig Meyer (D-Orange) to provide “equity” training.

That organization, the Equity Collaborative, has contracted with Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) for training that included a recently pulled course, titled “Intro to Critical Race Theory.” It had also conducted a “Racial Equity Institute” and other professional development courses that utilize the controversial Critical Race Theory.

Assistant superintendent of the WCPSS Office of Equity Affairs (OEA) Rodney Trice wrote an email on March 21 to the WCPSS board members about “the emails and calls some of us have received about Critical Race Theory.”

In spite of all evidence to the contrary, Trice refuted the idea that the district had used Critical Race Theory. In his email, Trice told the district’s school board members that “Critical Race Theory has not been and is not incorporated in the PL plans/offerings within the district.”

In that email, Trice also gave an oversimplified description of Critical Race Theory to the board, defining it as “an approach used to See WCPSS, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: MORE THAN CONQUERORS

5.5.21 #281

“Liberty's story”

ROMANS 8:37-39

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

37

Visit us online nsjonline.com The eight-week series on the Beatitudes taught us about the blessings of living life aware of the deficiencies we all have that can only be resolved by Christ. With the salvation and redemption provided through Jesus, we can see a path to victory over the grave, the problems of the world and sin itself.

In his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul explained in further detail the salvation offered through the gospel of Christ. Paul tells the Romans, “we are more than conquerors” through Christ. These words came during a violent time when the victors in battle took more than victory. Conquering meant living, while being conquered meant loss of property, sovereignty and life.

Jesus makes us more than conquerors, because his salvation allows us to lose and still win. In the time of the Romans, people had to conquer or be conquered. But Jesus was stripped of his freedom, crucified and killed and still conquered all. Through Christ, we can be meek, hungry, thirsty and merciful and still achieve victory.

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

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BELL from page A1 News and Observer article, Bell cited that Cooper had stated that when the pandemic “turns the corner,” that “all things were on the table” with regard to amending the Emergency Management Act. “He said that. We have the statement,” Bell said.

“It may be as soon as we turn the corner on this pandemic, and later on in the summer and fall; that may be something we want to look at,” Cooper said, and added that he believes they have been “complying with the law,” and that “the court decisions have shown that.”

Bell said that the governor made fast restriction changes “the day before the finalization of a court case that did not look good” for him.

The Wayne County lawmaker also brought up the governor’s disparate treatment of bars and restaurants, saying that no one has been able to tell him why one was being forced to stay closed while the other one was allowed to be open.

On the topic of the budget, Bell called Cooper’s budget a “wish list.”

“The governor’s budget is a political document,” Bell said. “It is everything that he’s run on and that all people that support him want and wish they could have.” He said

INDEPENDENCE from page A1 Left Behind,” Sam Johnson, executive vice president of the Independence Fund, told NSJ in an interview.

Johnson said legislators told him they hadn’t seen anything in decades sail that quickly that had money attached to it.

While no money was attached to the Wounded Heroes Day bill, No Veteran Left Behind, which is now in the Senate, has $1 million of nonrecurring funds attached for a Veterans Justice Intervention pilot program that trains law enforcement, first responders and others who may encounter veterans in crisis, on how best to deal with potentially explosive situations.

No Veteran Left Behind was passed unanimously by the House, and Johnson said he is not concerned about it passing the Senate. He said the only controversy he sees in the Senate surrounds whether to increase the funding.

“They’re looking at doing potentially a statewide thing, versus just a 10-county pilot,” Johnson said of the discussions in the Senate.

In the House version, the pilot program would cover 10 military-heavy counties, including those that host Army base Fort Bragg, Marine Corps installations Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Whether it is a 10-county pilot or a statewide program once it reaches the governor’s desk, Johnson said they are confident they

PUBLIC DOMAIN

that approach didn’t start with Cooper but has been something that has gone on “throughout the years.”

The governor’s proposed budget has increased spending of around 12%, which is roughly $2.8 billion.

Included in Cooper’s proposal are seven bonds totaling around $4.7 billion in new debt, as well as Medicaid expansion for 600,000 people at the cost of $500 million.

“What you saw was a great big laundry list of his agenda and a wish list. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a land of wishes,” Bell said.

“We have to actually have fiscal restraint and be responsible to move the state forward. That is why we are not in a situation where we have shortfalls. We have surpluses. That’s why you’ve seen our tax reform and our policies we put in during the last 10 years work, and that’s why our economy here is strong.”

Like his past budgets, Cooper attempts to cut the popular Opportunity Scholarship for low-income students and earmarks $800,000 for an “Office of Equity Affairs” for the Department of Public Instruction.

Bell noted Cooper’s opposition to the scholarships and also commented on Medicaid Expansion, stating that “we’re not going to ex-

can manage the program since they are a national-level organization.

He said the program would involve trainings “not only for law enforcement but other first responders and community stakeholders to ask, how do we interact with our veteran population?”

One example of something that will be in the training is how they identify a veteran. Johnson said first responders will be trained to ask, “Have you served?” rather than, “Are you a veteran?”

“A lot of veterans won’t identify as veterans, because they think a veteran is someone that served in combat, or combat wounded, or a Silver Star recipient, as opposed to, if you ask the simple question, ‘Have you ever served?’, many people will be inclined to say, ‘Yes, we have.’ Which will indicate to our first responders not that they need to be handled with kid gloves, but just differently than your normal run-of-the-mill case.”

Johnson said it’s also important for law enforcement to be trained to understand how sensitive cases are when dealing with a veteran who has PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and substance abuse issues.

If there’s a veteran having a mental health crisis, he said, “don’t go in [blaring] lights and sirens.

There are some little nuances with dealing with veterans.”

Johnson gave a couple examples of when this kind of training has made a big difference.

“One of the kids that works for me is, I like to say, a good case.

pand Medicaid. We’re not even going to have that discussion.” He went on to say that lawmakers “do believe in access to care, because that is an issue that we need to address here in North Carolina” and that they were working on it, specifically mentioning telehealth options.

Cooper’s budget includes a nearly 10% raise over the biennium to teachers; whereas, the other state employees would not receive even half of that amount.

Due in part to Cooper’s executive orders and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ StrongSchools Toolkit, the state’s K-12 students weren’t allowed to attend school in-person and had to be taught using remote instruction.

Bell said state employees and non-instructional employees who could not work remotely like teachers did were “shorted” by Cooper.

“They [non-instructional education staff] were there day in and day out delivering meals when even kids were not in school,” Bell said. “And you look at our frontline workers through state government, that just frankly were neglected in the governor’s budget, and I hope we will be able to correct that.”

Cooper has vetoed every budget sent to him since assuming office in 2017. Currently, he holds the veto

“I think that narrative gets out a lot that, ‘Oh, you know, a veteran has PTSD and he’s broken.’ Listen, I have PTSD, and I have to deal with it, but I’m not broken, and neither are these veterans.”

Sam Johnson, VP of The Independence Fund, Inc. He’d been in the Army, 82nd Airborne, probably six or seven years.

Deployed four times in six years, I think.”

Johnson said this man was in Afghanistan, in what Johnson called “high-intensity conflict,” and when he came back, he was having marital problems, drinking a lot and living life recklessly.

“He got a DUI, and was on his way to a second DUI, when someone said, ‘Look, there’s something more going on than you just acting the fool,’” Johnson said. “He was able to be seen by a veteran treatment court, and they identified some of these issues. They worked on his substance abuse, and now he’s been clean for at least three years now and living a productive life. That could have turned out a lot differently if he got thrown back into the legal system here.”

Johnson said a big part of the issue is realizing the interrelated nature of PTSD and substance

“Saint Paul Writing His Epistles” by Velentin de Boulogne (circa 1618) is a painting in the holdings of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas.

GARY D. ROBERTSON | AP PHOTO

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, left, R-Kings Mountain, speaks to reporters, with Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Eden, and House Majority Leader John Bell, right, R-Wayne, at a news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 at state GOP headquarters in Raleigh. record with 54, the most recent veto was a bill that would have returned K-12 students to full-time, in-person instruction.

“I think Gov. Cooper has the opportunity to figure out what he wants his legacy to be,” said Bell when asked if he thought the governor would veto this year’s budget.

“Does he want to work with us and

better the state, or does he want to be known as the governor to veto the most bills in history?”

Bell said that Democrats in both chambers of the legislature have said they want to work on the budget, and Republicans are hoping those Democrats will “join us and put forth a very strong, bipartisan budget for the state.”

abuse for many veterans who are struggling to re-integrate to civilian life.

“What we find with our veterans is, they’re co-morbidities, especially with the PTSD and substance abuse. You have to treat them together; whereas, the VA’s philosophy is that they treat them two totally different ways.”

He mentioned an organization down in Texas, called Warrior’s Heart, that treats them together. The second case Johnson mentioned involved getting another struggling veteran, also from the 82 Airborne, down to Texas for this holistic treatment.

The man gathered up his firearms, told his wife goodbye and left their home in Cumberland County. Worried about his safety, she called the police, who, according to Johnson, were expecting a “death by cop” scenario. But when he was found in neighboring Nash County, one of the responding officers was a veteran and decided to take a different approach.

“They had a veteran on the police force who said, ‘Hey, let me just go out and talk to this guy, not with lights and sirens; just let me talk to him.’ So he went out and talked to him and realized he needed help. We were able to work through the VA to get him to a substance abuse center down in Texas, and now he’s doing just fantastic.”

Johnson said The Independence Fund is starting with North Carolina when pursuing legislation, because they are based in Charlotte, but they are already

in talks with “Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania and potentially Rhode Island” as well to do the same in those states.

Johnson also said they started with North Carolina, because “We’re trying to make sure we truly are making North Carolina one of the most veteran-friendly states in America.”

He said with all the major military bases, including Fort Bragg, which is the largest in the world, N.C. is still only ninth in veteran population, only one place ahead of where the state ranks overall in population at 10th.

“And that’s what we’re trying to change; we’re trying to change that narrative as well,” he said. “North Carolina, you really want it to be not just lip service that it’s a veteran friendly state. We are trying to show that it is a veteran-friendly place. That was one the main purposes behind Wounded Heroes Day, being one of the first states to recognize wounded heroes.”

Lastly, Johnson wanted to make sure that people understand that veterans do not need this kind of legislation because they are “broken” or because they need special treatment.

“I think that narrative gets out a lot that, ‘Oh, you know, a veteran has PTSD and he’s broken.’ Listen, I have PTSD, and I have to deal with it, but I’m not broken, and neither are these veterans,” Johnson said. “We’re just doing this so we can get back the social connectedness for these veterans, and they can go on and be productive members of society.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

A3

Audit ends question on contract signed by State Board of Education chair Audit found contract was signed ‘without required approvals’

WOODY MARSHALL | AP PHOTO

Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., smiles as he speaks to his supporters at his election party in Bermuda Run, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, after defeating Kathy Manning in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District race.

Rep. Ted Budd enters North Carolina U.S. Senate race

By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina U.S. Rep. Ted Budd announced on April 28 that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 2022 Senate election.

The staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, first elected to Congress in 2016, aims to push back against what he considers a radical agenda under President Joe Biden.

In his announcement video, the 49-year-old highlighted his upbringing in Davie County, noted he is a proud shooting-range owner and said that he and his wife read Dr. Seuss books to their children and that “they turned out just fine.”

Budd is the third major GOP candidate to enter the race. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory have also declared their Senate bids.

The congressman struggled in grade school with dyslexia, grew up on a farm and got an MBA from Wake Forest University. He worked for his family’s landscaping and janitorial business and created a company with his father that invested in agricultural businesses.

Budd went to Congress after getting the most votes in a 17-candidate GOP primary in 2016. He won the general election later that year and has been

reelected twice.

He’s now looking to present himself as a political outsider with more relevant experience than his opponents.

“I’m the only one that brings a career in small business, not big government,” Budd said in a Wednesday afternoon interview. “I’ve made payroll; I’ve created jobs; I’ve felt the sting of high taxes; I’ve grown up on a family farm here in Davie County. I think I’m the only one that brings that combination to the race.”

Central to Budd’s campaign will be issues of immigration, religious liberty and the economy.

But perhaps even more critical is the former president’s support.

Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, has not yet ruled out a Senate run. Budd said he met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last Thursday and Friday and also communicated with Lara Trump last week.

“I can’t tell you what she’s going to decide personally, but I can tell you that she’s a good friend and we’re both very supportive of each other,” Budd said, noting he did not secure the former president’s endorsement as Trump gives space for his daughter-in-law to enter the contest if she so desires.

Bobbie Richardson, chairman of North Carolina’s Democratic Party, said in a statement that Budd is a “far-right Freedom

Caucus extremist” who “followed Donald Trump off the election fraud cliff when he undermined our democracy, spread dangerous and false conspiracy theories, and fought to overturn the election results even after the violent insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th.”

In a statement, Walker welcomed Budd’s candidacy but took aim at McCrory by alluding to his 2008 and 2016 gubernatorial election defeats.

“All conservatives in North Carolina must stand together so we do not elect another establishment politician to the Senate who says one thing when running and does another when elected,” Walker said, adding that the party “must stay grounded in finally giving our state conservative leadership in the Senate and not gambling on a career politician who has lost more statewide races than he’s won.”

Including his primary victories, McCrory has won more statewide races than he’s lost.

McCrory began his political career in 1989 on Charlotte’s city council and later became the city’s longest-serving mayor.

“Ted ran for office in 2016. Pat McCrory ran for office in 1989,” said Jonathan Felts, a childhood friend of Budd’s and senior adviser to the campaign. “If you want to label one of those a career politician, I think it’s pretty clear which one that would be.”

ated and led the contract negotiations via phone calls and his private Gmail email account rather than his public State Board email account,” wrote Johnson. “Based on those same emails, it is evident

By A.P. Dillon that Davis did not work alone and North State Journal instead proactively sought to inRALEIGH — An audit pub- volve Buxton in the negotiations lished by the State Auditor Beth and closely followed Buxton’s guidWood has ended the question ance to award the contract to the raised about the appropriateness vendor.”

Johnson’s letters and documenof a contract signed off on by the State Board of Education chair- tation also raised questions about actions by former State Board Atman Eric Davis.

Wood’s audit found that Davis torney Eric Snider, who Johnson signed the contract “without re- said “actively worked to block DPI staff’s efforts.” quired approvals.”

Wood’s audit did not make menThe recommendation in the tion of the alleged false audit states that the statements, but the “Chairman of the State State Board of EducaBoard of Education tion’s response included should review and ad- "Based on in the audit said the dehere to policies and prothose same partment accepted the cedures for contracts to findings of the audit. ensure all proper ap- emails, it is In his letter, Johnson provals and signatures evident that said the Department of are obtained.”

Public Instruction inIn June of 2020, for- Davis did not vestigated the contract mer State Superinten- work alone and concluded that that dent Mark Johnson Davis and Buxton had sent a letter to Wood’s and instead “violated state law by office asking her to proactively evading vendor-comlook at a 2019 consought to petition for state funds tract between the N.C. and that they “were not State Board of Educa- involve truthful in their public tion (NCSBE) and the Buxton in the statements when quesSouthern Regional Ednegotiations tioned on this matter.” ucation Board (SREB).

Johnson also pointed At the heart of John- and closely out that Buxton had a son’s request was the conflict of interest, havassertion that Davis followed ing worked for SREB and now-former board Buxton’s in the past. Buxton, member J.B. Buxton guidance to who had been appointhad been discussing ed by Gov. Roy Cooper, the contract in email. award the was named president The contract, worth contract." of Durham Technical $30,822, was finalized Community College the by the men but apparsame month the SREB ently was never brought Former State invoice was questioned before the board per Superintendent

by Johnson. Davis forprocurement policy inMark Johnson mally announced Buxvolving contracts of ton’s departure in Sep$25,000 or more. tember 2020.

When Johnson’s It is unclear how much money agency received the invoice to pay SREB, he formally questioned Da- North Carolina or the NCSBE has vis about it and if protocols had paid SREB over the years, but the been followed. According to John- figure is likely dwarfed by grants son’s letter, Davis refused to an- SREB has received from various foundations and other sources. swer “basic questions.”

“Buxton was similarly disingen- One example is the nearly $69 miluous at the same meeting when lion SREB has received since 2009 asked about his involvement,” from the Bill and Melinda Gates Johnson wrote to Wood. “Buxton Foundation.

In economic interest statements falsely claimed, ‘I don’t know the details of the contract. I was not filed with the state, Buxton listed business income from consultinvolved in the contract.’”

“Based on the attached public ing for both SREB and the Bill and records, it appears Buxton initi- Melinda Gates Foundation.

WCPSS from page A1 examine race in society.” He went on to say that it was “first used in legal scholarship in the 1970s, other disciplines, including education, began to employ it in the 80s and 90s as a theory to understand race and racism in their domains.

“From a professional standpoint, I believe Critical Race Theory has limited utility in the K-12 setting,” Trice wrote.

Trice gave the board five bullet points on Critical Race Theory: Race is a significant social construct used to organize society but not biologically significant.

Critical Race Theory critiques notions of colorblindness, meritocracy, and the neutrality of law in society.

Critical Race Theory calls for institutional commitments to righting past wrongs caused by institutions, which describes what is often referred to as social justice.

Critical Race Theory advocates for centering the experiences of those most impacted by race and racism as a form of truth and knowledge.

Race intersects with other aspects of the human condition, such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, etc. These cross points are known in the Critical Race Theory field of study as intersectionality.

“I don’t know how every one of those bullet points beyond the first one isn’t setting off alarms,” Dr. James Lindsey told North State Journal in an email. “It’s also a complete distortion (by specification) to say that Critical Race Theory doesn’t have applications within K-12. Critical Pedagogy is the relevant domain, and since 1994 it has taken on tons of the views of Critical Race Theory.”

Lindsay is an author, mathematician and political commentator.

MARK LENNIHAN | AP PHOTO

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona talks to high school students on April 29, 2021.

Republican lawmakers have warned the Biden administration not to push Critical Race Theory lesson plans to schools.

He is also the founder of the website “The New Discourses,” which takes an apolitical look at a number of “social justice” movements, including Critical Race Theory.

“More or less everything education does around the topic of race now is Critical Race Theory based.

1619 Project? [It’s] CRT revisionist history,” wrote Lindsay, adding that if one looks up Critical Race Theory, you’ll see immediately that historical revisionism is one of its primary tools.

Lindsay also said the intended goal of “culturally responsive” or “racially aware” lessons is “to create a critical race consciousness, i.e., Critical Race Theory’s main objective.” He also took a look at some of Trice’s bullet points, noting several were “alarming.”

About bullet point number four, Lindsay pointed out that “Teaching them [children] that their own personal lived experience of oppression (and, by extension, guilt about complicity in oppression for those in ‘dominant’ classes) is a

form of TRUTH and knowledge is utterly consistent with the Critical Race Theory objective and also totally bogus.”

In his email to the board, Trice also addressed the “equity” camp held on school property prior to the pandemic.

“The teacher conference (EdCamp Equity) that some blogs are referring to was hosted in WCPSS, but not sponsored by the district.

In full transparency, educators in WCPSS helped organize the conference with educators from other Triangle districts. Educators from all over the state attended and presented at the conference.”

Despite Trice’s hosting claim, the event incurred catering costs of over $2,000 and a rental fee to hold the event was held on district school property. Both the catering and fee Trice signed off on and both were paid for by WCPSS. One of Trice’s OEA employees, Christina Spears, organized the camp in February 2020 and on in the year prior, both of which were held on a

WCPSS school property.

The 2020 camp had some sponsors who donated “swag” items, including gift cards to places like the Olive Garden and Starbucks. Additionally, some attendees won $25 pre-paid VISA gift cards, “Teaching Tolerance Kits” and “How to be an antiracist” t-shirts.

The formation of the OEA during the 2014-15 school year was the result of a complaint filed by the N.C. NAACP along with several racial and social justice advocacy groups over the higher rate of suspension of minority students, often referred to as the “school to prison pipeline.” Creation of an OEA is specifically mentioned in a 2018 agreement between the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and WCPSS. Since its inception, the OEA has conducted systematic “white privilege training” across WCPSS for staff and teachers through the Equity Collaborative and using a course called “Courageous Conver-

sations” produced by Pacific Education Group, an entity founded by Glenn Singleton.

The department has also pressed for the use of “Social Justice Standards” created by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s newly renamed education offshoot, Learning for Justice. The offshoot had previously been named Teaching Tolerance.

One of the first OEA staff hires made by Trice was a former Southern Poverty Law Center/Teaching Tolerance employee. The OEA, which began with two to three staffers, has grown to at least eight and as of 2020 had combined salaries of over $650,000. The OEA’s budget, which includes salaries and benefits has also grown from around $250,519 in 2014-15 to $1.63 million in 2019-2020.

Last year, just after the death of George Floyd, the OEA launched a “Black Lives Matter”-themed website infused with Critical Race Theory content. The site contained links to the official Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Learning for Justice websites as well as a section on how to be an “ally” to BLM. WHOIS domain records indicate that Trice had registered the site. WCPSS told North State Journal that Trice “used his own money to host the site,” because “the district web site could not produce the type of presentation he wished to create.”

The original site also featured BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, a self-described “trained Marxist.” Cullors was removed from the front page sometime during December of 2020. Cullors has recently come under fire from other BLM activists for multiple real estate purchases totaling $3.2 million.

The OEA’s BLM site drew criticism from parents, who launched a petition for its removal. The district did not respond to the parents’ petition; however, following a recent records request by North State Journal, the site appears to have been taken down.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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Murphy

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

to

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Jones & Blount

Farms across North Carolina schedule spring events open to the public RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Agriculture released a list of agritourism events taking place through Memorial Day across the state. Farms will offer reservation-only and timed-ticketed events for small groups for a wide variety of outdoor activities for all ages.

“Interest in agritourism activities continues to grow as people are looking for activities they can do outdoors and socially distance,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“North Carolina agritourism farms have gotten creative when it comes to family friendly activities.

You will find many farms offering pickyour-own events for flower bouquets, strawberries or other crops; farm-to-table dinners; workshops; yoga with farm animals and shopping opportunities.

There’s really no limit to Alpaca Farm Winding Stair Farm the fun activities visitors Shaka Farm Fresh Ventures Murphy Franklin Old Fort will find on a farm.”

Woodland Harvest Mountain Fresh Orchards “Visitors are Mountain Farm Hendersonville Wildcat Ridge Farm West Jefferson encouraged to Clyde Mount Gilead Farm download the Leicester CATHIS Farm Triple BBB Vineyard Visit NC Farms Lillington Shelby app to discover Brookhaven Mill Farm more than 1,000 Greensboro Late Bloomers destinations and Woodcrest Farm Flower Farm and Forge Elkin farms nearby and Fine Family Farm Hillsborough Denton across the state,” Good Karma Ranch the press release Iron Station Millstone Creek Our Local Farm Orchards reads.

Smithfield

PHOTO VIA N.C. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Gov. Roy Cooper briefs media from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

Gov. Roy Cooper holds 60% of all NC’s legislative vetoes

Garner Farms Inc. Newport

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Dawson Solar/Wind Farms Castle

Winton Farmers Market Winton

WDW Strawberry Farm Princeton

Ramsuer

WEST

PIEDMONT

Child, 12, charged in father’s death

Sheriff: Heavily armed gunman among 5 dead in home standoff Watauga County A gunman who killed himself, two deputies and his mother and stepfather in a 13hour home standoff had a large cache of weapons and may have been contemplating an attack in public, a sheriff said. Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman said George Wyatt Ligon, 58, and his wife, Michelle, 61, were killed Wednesday, and the shooting suspect, Isaac Alton Barnes, 32, died at the scene. Barnes was Michelle Ligon’s son and the man’s stepson. Hagaman told reporters that family members had expressed worries about the large number of weapons in Barnes’ possession.

AP

Prosecutor removed for ‘willful misconduct’ Henderson County District attorney Greg Newman is being removed from his elected office after a judge issued an order finding the prosecutor engaged in “willful misconduct.” The removal of the top prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties, is only the third of its kind in state history. Families of crime victims alleged Newman had mishandled cases and failed to prosecute felonies.

Newman was to leave office and lose his pay immediately. Newman can appeal but has not announced whether he will.

Yancey County A 12-year-old was charged with firstdegree murder in his father’s killing. The child is accused of fatally shooting his 37-year-old father Monday night at the trailer where they lived, near Burnsville.

The victim was identified as Vernal Kilburn. Investigators said they recovered a rifle in the trailer where the family lived.

The juvenile, who was not named because he is underage, was taken to a juvenile justice facility.

AP

Blue Ridge Parkway names 1st woman to lead park in 86 years Buncombe County Tracy Swartout takes on a massive role and makes Western North Carolina history as she becomes the new Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent this spring. Swartout, a 21year veteran of the National Park Service, takes over the reins May 23 of the busiest unit of the National Park Service, with its challenges of ever-increasing visitation and concurrent crumbling infrastructure, while also becoming the first woman in the parkway’s 86-year history to lead the world-famous park on the North CarolinaVirginia border. Swartout, 48, takes the role left open since J.D. Lee retired last August.

AP

AP

EAST

Woman gets 50 years for distributing child porn

Governor pardons man who had murder convictions vacated Durham County Gov. Roy Cooper granted a pardon of innocence to Darryl Anthony Howard, 58, imprisoned for two decades before his murder convictions were vacated. Howard received an 80-year sentence in 1995 for the 1991 deaths of 29-year-old Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda. In 2014, Judge Orlando Hudson threw out Howard’s sentence, saying the prosecutor had failed to share with defense attorneys evidence that pointed to other suspects. But Howard remained in prison until August 2016. Hudson ordered a new trial and freed him after DNA evidence showed he wasn’t involved. The Durham district attorney dismissed the case.

AP

1 dead, 2 hurt in helicopter crash Rockingham County The pilot of a Duke Energy helicopter was killed when the aircraft went down in a wooded area while surveying power lines.

Two other people aboard the helicopter were injured. The passengers were able to escape the wreckage. One was taken by ambulance to UNC-Rockingham and the second passenger was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Health Care in WinstonSalem. Their conditions were not known immediately. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, and an earlier statement from the Charlotte-based utility said it is also was investigating the crash.

Man killed near high school

Man dies after accident at ATV park

Guilford County Alyson Brooke Saunders, 25, of Greensboro, was sentenced to 50 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for using children in her care to produce child pornography. While employed at a day care facility in early 2019, Saunders admitted to using five children in her care to create sexually explicit images and videos, including some in which she also engaged in hands-on sexual abuse of some of the children. Saunders then sent the images and videos to a co-conspirator, to post them on the internet.

Wayne County A 21-year-old man has died after an accident at an ATV park. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the accident occurred Friday night at the Busco Beach and ATV Park in Goldsboro. The man was riding an ATV on an uneven trail which pitched the vehicle up onto its rear wheels. The sheriff’s office said the man was thrown back and struck his head on the ATV. He was wearing head protection but nevertheless died at the scene. Authorities withheld identification of the victim pending notification of family.

AP

AP

Teen charged in fatal shooting of relative

‘1619 Project’ writer to join UNC journalism school faculty Orange County Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative journalist Nikole HannahJones will join the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s journalism school in July as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism. Hannah-Jones, who covers civil rights and racial justice for The New York Times Magazine, won the 2020 Pulitzer for commentary for an essay she wrote as part of The 1619 Project, which highlights the long-term consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans. Hannah-Jones earned a master’s degree at UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media in 2003.

Cumberland County A 16-year-old has been charged with shooting a 69-year-old relative to death. The teen was taken into custody on a first-degree murder charge Thursday in the slaying of Randy Michael King, Fayetteville police said. The suspect, who is not being identified because he is underage, called 911 to report he had just shot a relative. Officers found King dead in an upstairs room with multiple gunshot wounds.

The exact relationship between the two and the circumstances surrounding the shooting were not given.

Washington County Cedric Gillard, 35, of Plymouth, was shot several times and killed inside the entrance of Carol’s Variety Store. Police issued an arrest warrant for the alleged murderer, Brandon Carter, 44, of Roper. He is considered armed and dangerous. The shooting occurred close to Washington County High School last Wednesday, forcing the school to go into lockdown.

WITN

RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper has three more years to extend his record as the most veto-happy North Carolina governor, already having executed 54 of the 89 vetoes in the state’s history.

Traditionally known as a “weak governor” state, North Carolina was the last state in the nation to grant its governor a veto, which passed in 1996.

The first gubernatorial veto was issued by former Gov. Mike Easley on Nov. 3, 2002. In a handwritten note, Easley said the bill, which would have expanded appointments given to the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore, did not meet the statutory requirements to appoint members to serve on certain boards and commissions.

Easley vetoed nine bills total in his eight years as governor.

His successor, Beverly Perdue, vetoed a total of 20 bills in her four years as governor. All but one of her vetoes occurred in the two years following the Republican takeover of the General Assembly in 2011.

She vetoed the state budget in 2011, leading to a legislative override, of which former House Speaker and now two-

term U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’ called “the proudest moment of my political career.”

Following a decision not to run for re-election, Republican Pat McCrory succeeded Perdue in a blowout but would also serve just one term as governor.

McCrory vetoed six bills, four of which saw legislative overrides.

After defeating McCrory to become the state’s chief executive, Cooper’s veto pen has been busy.

In the first biennium after becoming governor, Cooper vetoed a total of 28 bills on issues ranging from the makeup of the N.C. Court of Appeals and the State Board of Elections to the state budget.

Legislative Republicans held supermajorities in the General Assembly, though, and were able to override 23 of those 28 vetoes.

In the second half of his first term, Cooper vetoed a total of 25 bills, and perhaps more importantly for the governor, none were overridden after legislative Democrats were able to win enough seats to sustain the vetoes.

As of May 4, Cooper has just one veto in the current legislative year — SB 37, the bill to reopen schools, which ultimately saw a compromise pact agreed upon by the legislative and the governor.

Police shoot man with shotgun Camden County Samuel Jacob Hickman, 25, was shot by police while trying to break into his ex-girlfriend’s home, armed with a shotgun. The woman called 911, and, while on the line, Hickman fired the shotgun into the door to gain entry.

By the time police arrived, the intoxicated Hickman had fled. When located, he pointed his gun at deputies and was shot several times. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Percentage of legislative vetoes by governor

Pat McCrory (R)

since 1997

2013-2017

Roy Cooper 60.67% Pat McCrory 6.74% Bev Perdue 22.47%

6.74%

Mike Easley 10.11% 60.67%

ABC 11

Bev Perdue (D)

22.47%

2009-2013

10.11%

Roy Cooper (D)

AP

2017-present

Mike Easley (D)

AP

2001-2009

AP

Pentagon chief calls for ‘new vision’ for American defense

By Robert Burns The Associated Press NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — In his first major speech as Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin on Friday called for developing a “new vision” for American defense in the face of emerging cyber and space threats and the prospect of fighting bigger wars.

Reflecting President Joe Biden’s promise to put diplomacy first in dealing with foreign policy problems, Austin said the military should provide leverage that diplomats can use to prevent conflict.

His comments suggested a contrast with what critics call the militarization of U.S. foreign policy in recent decades.

“U.S. military isn’t meant to stand apart, but to buttress U.S. diplomacy and advance a foreign policy that employs all of our instruments of national power,” Austin said.

He chose to spell out his ideas at Pearl Harbor, at the center of U.S. military power in the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting U.S. concerns that China’s rapid modernization and growing assertiveness make it a powerful adversary. Notably, Austin in his speech did not explic-

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL/HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER VIA AP

Adm. John C. Aquilino, left to right, Adm. Philip S. Davidson with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley participate during at a Change of Command ceremony for the U.S Indo-Pacific Command, Friday, April 30, 2021, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam west of Honolulu. itly mention China or North Korea.

In his first four-plus months as defense secretary, Austin has focused less on big policy pronouncements and more on immediate issues like the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and launching broad reviews of defense strategy.

Speaking with the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Mis-

souri Memorial in the background, Austin cautioned that the U.S. military cannot be satisfied with believing it is the strongest and most capability military in the world today — “not at a time when our potential adversaries are very deliberately working to blunt our edge.”

He appeared to be referring to China, which other officials say has ac-

celerated its military modernization and sped up its construction of a wide range of sophisticated weaponry while the U.S. was focused for two decades on combatting extremist groups like al-Qaida in Afghanistan and, more recently, the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Austin, who spent more than 40 years in the Army, including as the top American commander in Iraq during the last years of U.S. combat there, noted that he had spent most of the past two decades in “the last of the old wars.”

“The way that we fight the next major war is going to look very different from the way that we fought the last ones,” he said. “We all need to drive toward a new vision of what it means to defend our nation.”

He spoke at a ceremony marking the arrival of Adm. John Aquilino as the new commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Adm. Philip Davidson, who has been outspoken in his concerns that China is proceeding with urgency to be in position to potentially take Taiwan by force within several years.

In his departing remarks at the ceremony, Davidson repeated his

assertion that China is using “pernicious” behavior to challenge U.S. dominance in the region and to remake the international order in its image.

Austin mentioned no specific potential flashpoints for conflict in the Indo-Pacific region but said the U.S. must develop a new vision of defense that takes greater advantage of new technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing, which he described as a framework that allows data to be processed while it’s being collected, and to absorb and share it instantaneously.

Austin said U.S. defense will continue to rest on maintaining deterrence, which he described as “fixing a basic truth within the minds of our potential foes: The costs and risks of aggression are out of line with any conceivable benefit.”

To keep that deterrent effect, the U.S. military must use existing capabilities, develop new ones, and use all of them in new and networked ways, “hand in hand with our allies and partners.” This should be accomplished in alignment with U.S. diplomatic goals and efforts, he added, in order to prevent conflict from breaking out in the first place.

“It’s always easier to stamp out a small ember than to put out a raging fire,” he said.

Deputy shooting becomes part of city’s long history on race

By Ben Finley The Associated Press ELIZABETH CITY — The murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was wrapping up when Dakwon Gibbs told a friend that George Floyd’s killing — and others like it — would never happen in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

“I said, ‘We live in a city that’s too small; we’re a small community,’” said Gibbs, 22. “And two days later it happened. I thought wrong. I thought very wrong.”

The fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. by sheriff’s deputies has sent shock waves through this small, majority black city in the state’s rural northeastern corner.

Despite holding an important place in African American history in the 19th and 20th centuries, Elizabeth City seemed too close-knit and too out-of-the-way to become a flashpoint in the 21st, some residents say.

That changed when Brown, 42, was shot by Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies serving drug-related search and arrest warrants at his house on April 21. Brown, who was black, was behind the wheel of his car when he was shot five times, according to an independent au-

topsy commissioned by his family.

The shooting has sparked protests each night, with marchers demanding release of the video and police reform. Throngs of police and television camera crews have descended onto the city’s riverfront downtown.

“We see all this stuff happening all over the world, but we never thought that something like this would happen in our town,” City Council member Gabriel Adkins said during an emergency meeting called after the shooting.

“And people are afraid. ... They are afraid that, you know, the riots are going to start,” Adkins said.

Surrounded by miles of oceanflat farmland, Elizabeth City is a quaint-looking urban hub for a relatively isolated region. The economy is anchored in large part by a large U.S. Coast Guard base, which often deploys rescue missions into the nearby Atlantic Ocean. It is also home to Elizabeth City State University, a historically black university founded in 1891. Still, more than one in five people live in poverty in the city.

The city is about an hour drive from Virginia’s Hampton Roads region as well as the Outer Banks. But it’s not a place many people drive

In this April 22, 2021, file photo, a woman sits in a downtown doorway in Elizabeth City.

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

through — or have heard of.

“I’m sorry that this is the first time many folks are hearing about Elizabeth City,” said Melissa Stuckey, a history professor at the university.

The city sits on the Pasquotank River and sprang up in the 19th century because of its proximity to the Great Dismal Swamp. Cypress and cedar trees were logged for their rot-proof lumber and turned into ship masts and fence posts.

Enslaved Americans were put to work there. But the swamp was

also a place where they sought refuge after escaping bondage.

During the Civil War, black troops marched to Elizabeth City after President Abraham Lincoln allowed African Americans to enlist. They participated in raids that liberated nearby plantations.

By the 1940s, the city boasted a strong black business community.

And in the 1960s, residents of Elizabeth City — and students at its university — worked to desegregate the region’s businesses, with many getting arrested.

“In a lot of ways, I see what is happening on our streets today as a part of a longer history of black freedom struggles in the region and in the United States,” Stuckey said.

“But it’s a moment that we can draw from the past to kind of take heart in what it is that people are doing right now on the streets.”

Linwood Gallop, 52, an electrician, has marched in every single protest since the day Brown was killed. He grew up in the same neighborhood where Brown was shot, catching the school bus on the corner and buying nickel candies from a nearby store.

Although Gallop only knew Brown in passing, he dismisses any suggestion by authorities that the shooting was justified.

“They’re trying to criminalize us. But we know each other. It’s too personal,” Gallop said. “That’s why it’s not working here.”

Gallop also pointed out that it was county sheriff’s deputies working as part of a drug task force who shot Brown — not the city’s police force.

“I cannot think of a police officer shooting somebody in 30 years here — we’re not used to that happening here,” Gallop said. “If we don’t know you, we know somebody who knows you. We can literally call someone up and be like, ‘Hey man, the police are looking for you. Go downtown.’”

A6

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Amtrak’s got the disappearing railroad blues

In a good year for Amtrak, 3% of America’s population of 331 million may ride a train.

AMERICANS LOVE the idea and nostalgia of trains. They just don’t ever buy a ticket and get on a train to go somewhere.

Singer-songwriters love the romance of riding the rails with hobos.

Arlo Guthrie’s “City of New Orleans” is a paean to days gone by, which painted a poignant scene of an America left far behind. “Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail” sounds like a typical passenger load on many Amtrak routes today.

If rail travel was economically feasible in the 21st century, Elon Musk would have already taken over the rail system as a privately-owned business and run it with no federal subsidy, as he has done with SpaceX. Even Elon Musk couldn’t make Amtrak work in America. Based solely on numbers and economics, it is time for America to close Amtrak down and put it out of business.

The problem is that Joe Biden and Democrats love the idea of mass transit so much they want to throw $100 billion more of your tax money at Amtrak despite its constant failures. They really and truly believe with all their heart and soul that by doing so, Americans will junk 100 million gas-guzzling cars and ride the rails with them in the name of combatting climate change.

Good luck with that.

Amtrak doesn’t keep statistics on who actually uses Amtrak, only aggregated totals such as passenger-miles and on-loadings and offloadings. In a good year for Amtrak, it appears as if only 3% of America’s 331 million residents may ride a train.

Some people ride Amtrak one time a year — or ever. Maybe 12 million people ride Amtrak in a good year. Most of Amtrak’s ridership consists of businessmen and lawyers commuting multiple times per week from Washington to Philadelphia to New York to Boston in the Northeast Corridor.

That’s right. Massive annual subsidies of $2 billion goes to prop up Amtrak so wealthy businessmen and lawyers in Gucci loafers can avoid air traffic delays at Reagan and LaGuardia airports and get to and from major business centers cheaply. These are the same people progressives want to tax to death, by the way.

President Biden commuted every day from his home in Delaware to Washington where he served in the Senate for 36 years. He could have accounted for over 14,400 federally subsidized Amtrak trips all by himself

during his Senate career.

No wonder he loves Amtrak so much. But that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to love it as well. Every one of his trips, as well as those of other Amtrak riders, is subsidized by the federal taxpayer up to $125 per round trip annually.

The amount of taxpayer subsidy flushed down the Amtrak drain since day one of operations in 1971 is mind-numbingly large. Amtrak has received an average of $2 billion annually for years to remain operational.

President Biden and his progressive friends really don’t understand who or what Americans are. Americans are not Europeans who queue up for everything. Americans switch lanes all the time to find a faster way.

Americans don’t want to wait in a dingy station waiting for a train that is two hours late which will take 25 hours to get to Chicago. Americans want to fly from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago non-stop in 75 minutes.

Amtrak exposes the misguided emotional thinking that goes on in the minds of big government advocates. Progressive idealists assume without any evidence that “everyone they know” will ditch their Ford F-150 to hop aboard the Amtrak Green Express in order to save the planet.

I know one liberal who is so concerned about global warming that he rides a bus from Chapel Hill to work in Raleigh and back every day.

He is the only person I know who does that. I respect him for it. But there are not enough like him to justify spending what Biden and the Progressives want to spend on Amtrak.

Americans are Americans whether they are liberal or conservative.

They want their freedom first. Everything else comes second, including being told what to do by bureaucrats in Washington.

If the Progressives running the Biden administration want to build a cross-country high-speed monorail system that elevates over cities, travels 1000 mph and delivers freight at several points along the way, then we might have a conversation. Anything that cuts the cost of freight by 90%, like the Erie Canal did in the early 19th century, is worth discussing.

Amtrak is not worth fixing. Amtrak has had the disappearing railroad blues for decades. Let it go.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Sen. Tim Scott’s emergence as a Republican leader terrifies Democrats, media

“Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country.”

SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-S.C.) gave the Republican response to President Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last week.

Some of the reactions to it from Democrats were so unhinged that if one didn’t know any better one would think it was former President Donald Trump who spoke after Biden’s speech.

In his remarks, Scott acknowledged he had been subjected to racism but noted that a lot of it came from progressives who claim to be accepting of different viewpoints. He also pushed back on the toxic woke dogma that Democrats now whole-heartedly embrace.

“Today, kids again are being taught that the color of their skin defines them — and if they look a certain way, they’re an oppressor,” he said. “From colleges to corporations to our culture, people are making money and gaining power by pretending we haven’t made any progress, by doubling down on the divisions we’ve worked so hard to heal.”

“You know this stuff is wrong,” he stated. “Hear me clearly: America is not a racist country.”

So-called “tolerant” leftists on Twitter erupted in outrage. Among them were prominent left-wing activists who frequently use social media as a sounding board to test radical ideas. They got “Uncle Tim” (a different version of the racist slur “Uncle Tom” designed specifically for Scott) to trend. Twitter, which had previously claimed that trends of a racist, sexist or threatening nature would not be allowed to appear in the trending column, allowed “Uncle Tim” to trend for over 11 hours before taking action.

What followed the despicable trends about Scott on social media were attempts to gloss over the nasty reactions to his speech. The Washington Post, for example, only included one mention of the “Uncle Tim” trend in their write-up on how what he said “ignited a fiery debate” on race in America.

Even worse, some white liberals, including some in the media, took to what’s called “whitesplaining” to Scott about how he supposedly didn’t know what he was talking about regarding racism in America.

“Now, Tim Scott, he does not seem to understand,” Joy Behar, a co-

host on ABC’s “The View” argued the day after Scott spoke. “And a lot of them don’t seem to understand. The difference between a racist country and a systemic — systemic racism. They don’t seem to get the difference.”

The problem with all these hot takes is that they completely ignored the overall message from Scott’s speech, which was one of hope, optimism, and a can-do spirit — that anyone in this country, no matter their race, could fulfill their dreams if they worked hard enough at it.

Also, Scott didn’t say racism didn’t still exist in America.

Unfortunately, it will always exist to a certain extent. What he said was the country as a whole was not racist. Big difference.

What was reaffirmed after Scott spoke last week is that the left does not like it at all when the right punctures big holes in their narratives, especially when those punctures come from a Republican who is from a minority group (black, Hispanic, women, etc.). As a result, they will respond in a way that exposes the sham nature of their claims of being the “tolerant” party.

Democrats do not tolerate minorities who go against the grain.

That goes double for any minority who emerges as a leader in the Republican Party. Such leaders terrify the left because they can’t be controlled and because they have the potential to get other minorities to question every bad thing the left has told them about this country.

For that, Republican leaders like Scott are viciously smeared and called every vile name in the book. Fortunately, Scott doesn’t let it deter him from causing the kind of “good trouble” that enrages his political opposition.

More, please.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021 COLUMN MARY ZAHRAN

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

The 2020 Census: Small Republican gains in a nation hunkered down

Sean Trende of Real Clear Politics predicts a Republican net gain of four seats.

THE COVID-DELAYED results of the 2020 census are finally in, with totals for the 50 states and the District of Columbia at nearly one-third of a billion — 331,449,281 — and with surprises having to do with the short run and what French historians call the “longue duree.”

The short-term news revolves around the function for which the framers of the Constitution mandated the world’s first regularly scheduled census: the reapportionment of seats of the House of Representatives among the states. That’s done according to a 1941 statutory formula that the Census Bureau conveniently applies.

The results were underwhelming. Only seven seats out of 435 were switched from one state to the other. Texas gained two, and Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon gained one each. Losing one each were California (for the first time in history), Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Readers who keep up with these things will recognize that population and representation continue to flow from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and west and, generally, from Democratic states to Republican states. But they will also recognize the changes are small, nothing like the censuses in which one state gained eight seats (California in 1960) or another lost five (New York in 1980).

The partisan effects are likely to be small as well, expert forecasters agree. Sean Trende of Real Clear Politics predicts a Republican net gain of four seats. The Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman pegs it at 3.5 and Kyle Kondik of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at two. Not quite enough to overturn the 222-213 majority Democrats won in November 2020.

All three emphasize that the redistricting processes within the states could produce a wide range of results. According to Wasserman, Republicans control redistricting in states with 187 districts, Democrats in states with 75 districts and theoretically bipartisan commissions in states with 121 districts. Control is split between parties in states with 46 districts, and six states have just one district each.

That’s less of an advantage than Republicans had in the 2010 cycle and about the same as they had in the 2000 cycle; it’s less than the advantages Democrats had in the 1960, 1970 and 1980 cycles. Democrats’ advantages then derived from their majorities in northern metro areas and near monopolies in the South. Republicans’ more recent advantages are due mainly to the clustering of Democratic voters in central cities, sympathetic suburbs and university towns, while Republican voters are more evenly spread around the country.

As for the long-term effects, the 2020 census shows less population change and less internal migration than government and private estimators expected, based on models from previous decades. Arizona grew 3.3% less than the census estimate and didn’t gain the seat widely forecast, and Texas and Florida each fell a seat short of expected gains.

On the other hand, population outflows were less than expected, especially in New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The latter two didn’t lose seats as expected, and New York was only 89 people short of not losing a seat for the first time since 1940.

Speaking of which, the picture the census paints of the 2010-20 decade closely resembles that of the long-past decade of 1930-40. In those 10 years, dominated by the Great Depression of 1929-33 and its echo in the Roosevelt Recession of 1937-39, the nation’s population increased by only 7.3%.

That’s eerily similar to the 7.4% in the decade that just ended, dominated by the sluggish Obama recovery of 2009-16 and the downscaledriven, pre-COVID Trump upturn of 2017-19.

These two stand out as the lowest population growth intervals in American history; in every other 10-year period, the nation’s population has grown by double-digit (rounded off) percentages.

In each case, the previous decade was a poor guide for the one that followed, because the earlier one featured an abrupt decline, almost to zero, in immigration from abroad. That was the intended result of the 1924 Immigration Act. It was the unintended (and largely unnoticed) result of the housing price collapse in 2007, which struck first in markets with heavy Hispanic immigration. New York started gaining House seats after the 1892-1924 Ellis Island immigration ended; California stopped gaining them after the 1982-2007 inflow from Mexico stopped.

The 1930s were a decade when, with the picturesque exception of the Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl in the Great Plains, Americans hunkered down and cultivated their gardens.

The 2010s turn out to be a decade when Americans, to a greater extent than appreciated by demographers and forecasters, hunkered down and cultivated their grievances in what The New York Times’ Ross Douthat describes as our “decadent society.”

By 1940, Americans had settled into a period of partisan parity and gridlock: Democrats won the presidency in four of six elections, from 1940 to 1960, but a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats controlled Congress for almost all that time. Partisan parity and gridlock are certainly familiar now: Joe Biden’s congressional majorities are almost identical to George W. Bush’s 20 years ago.

But some things can change. The census conducted on April 1, 1940, came just weeks before the fall of France and the accession of Winston Churchill. Within months, Depression America became Wartime America, and then, a few years later, it became Postwar America: No more hunkering down. As America emerges from lockdown, are similar changes and challenges ahead?

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

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Why did Biden Census Bureau add 2.5 million more residents to blue-state population count?

The evidence is now only circumstantial, but when errors or revisions are almost all only in one direction, the alarm bells appropriately go off.

THERE IS SOMETHING VERY FISHY about the new 2020 Census Bureau data determining which states picked up seats and which states lost seats.

Most all of the revisions to the original estimates have moved in one direction: Population gains were added to blue states, and population losses were subtracted from red states.

The December revisions in population estimates under the Biden Census Bureau added some 2.5 million blue-state residents and subtracted more than 500,000 red-state residents. These population estimates determine how many electoral votes each state receives for presidential elections and the number of congressional seats in each state.

Is this a mere coincidence?

These population estimates determine how many electoral votes each state receives for presidential elections and the number of congressional seats in each state.

Remember, the House of Representatives is razor-thin today, with the Democrats sporting just a six-seat majority with five seats currently vacant. So, a switch in a handful of seats in 2022 elections could flip the House and take the gavel away from current Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats. A shift of 3 million in population is the equivalent of four seats moving from Republican to Democrat.

The original projections for the Census reapportionment had New York losing two seats, Rhode Island losing a seat and Illinois perhaps losing two seats. Instead, New York and Illinois only lost one seat, and Rhode Island lost no seats.

Meanwhile, Texas was expected to gain three seats, Florida two seats and Arizona one seat.

Instead, Texas gained only two seats, Florida only one and Arizona none.

Was the Census Bureau count rigged? Was it manipulated by the Biden team to hand more seats to the Democrats and to get more money — federal spending is often allocated based on population — for the blue states?

The evidence is now only circumstantial, but when errors or revisions are almost all only in one

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direction, the alarm bells appropriately go off.

Here are some of the strange outcomes in the Census revisions just released: No. 1: New York — We’ve been tracking the annual population/migration changes between states since the last census in 2010. Over the past decade, New York LOST about 1.3 million residents on net to other states. (This does not include immigration, births and deaths.) Still, this is a population loss that is the equivalent of two, maybe three, lost congressional seats. But the final numbers ADDED approximately 860,000.

That’s roughly twice the population of Buffalo and Rochester — combined. This is the state that has lost by far the largest population over the past decade.

No. 2: Many deep-blue states had 2020 census numbers significantly revised upward from their December estimates: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

No. 3: Many red states had 2020 census numbers lower than their 2020 estimates: Arizona, North Carolina and South Carolina.

No. 4: Going back to the 2010 Census, the final head count in every state was within 0.4% of the original estimate, and 30 of them were within 0.2%. This time around, 19 states were more than 1% off, 7 were more than 2% off, NY was more than 3.8% off, and NJ was more than 4.5% off.

No. 5: Virtually every one of the large deviations from the estimates favored Democrats.

Just five states in the 2020 census were within the same margin (0.41%) that all states were within from the 2010 census.

Maybe the 2010 estimates were abnormally accurate, or maybe the 2020 estimates were abnormally inaccurate. The Census Bureau needs to tell Congress why these revisions under President Joe Biden were so much larger than normal and so weighted in one direction: toward the blue states.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an economic consultant with FreedomWorks.

Progressive politics and the English language “IF THOUGHT CORRUPTS LANGUAGE, language can also corrupt thought.” — George Orwell In 1946, George Orwell wrote “Politics and the English Language,” an essay in which he criticizes the use of language by politicians to obscure rather than to clarify ideas. Asserting that our language has declined as our civilization has also declined, Orwell suggests that a speaker’s inaccuracy with language makes it easy for listeners to form foolish or misguided thoughts because of careless or indifferent oratory.

I would suggest that Biden, who progressives, who are had been a frequently “inaccurate” in their moderate speech, are neither careless nor indifferent in their choice Democrat of words. In fact, they choose for decades, their words carefully and continued deliberately for the sole purpose to describe of concealing their true intent.

Joe Biden’s presidential himself in this campaign was built on this way during strategy. Biden, who had been his campaign a moderate Democrat for despite the decades, continued to describe himself in this way during fact that his campaign despite the his policy fact that his policy platform platform was written almost entirely was written

by Bernie Sanders and other almost progressives. What voters heard for months was that Biden was entirely a “moderate.” What they didn’t

by Bernie hear was what kind of policies Sanders he would enact if elected. and other President Biden wasted no time showing voters exactly progressives. what his policies were just hours after his inauguration. In a matter of minutes, he signed an executive order that shut down the Keystone XL pipeline and terminated thousands of jobs attached to this project. He also signed an executive order that opened up our southern border and allowed tens of thousands of immigrants to enter and be released into our country without any vetting process to check their health status or criminal history.

So much for moderate Joe. When the number of immigrants coming in began to rise dramatically, the Biden administration went into language lockdown, refusing to use the word “crisis” to describe what was clearly becoming a crisis. The situation was called a “challenge,” but never a “crisis,” even as existing facilities were rapidly running out of room to house people. President Biden, in a moment of accidental honesty, finally used the forbidden word when speaking to reporters in Delaware in midApril. It has not been used in his administration since and has probably been banished to the same dustbin where the word “moderate” resides.

Progressives have interesting relationships with other words as well. The word “infrastructure” has undergone a dizzying metamorphosis of late. Traditionally, this word refers to things like roads and bridges, but in the brave, new world of the radical left, “infrastructure” can be almost anything. In Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure bill, only about 25% at the most goes toward what is generally considered infrastructure — roads, public transit systems, and bridges. The remaining 75% is for climate change initiatives and social programs, which, for some unknown reason, are considered infrastructure.

If the Senate passes this bill, the money used to repair a suspension bridge in your state and the money used for your grandmother’s in-home nursing care will come from the same pot. Let’s just hope the employees assigned to do these jobs never get their work orders mixed up.

Finally, let’s look at the word “unity.” President Biden used this word countless times during his campaign and eight times in his inauguration speech. He promised that, unlike President Trump, he would be a uniter and not a divider. In the short time that Biden has been in office, he has united us. He has united the Democrats against the Republicans and the Republicans against the Democrats. He has united half of America in the belief that our nation is much better off now that Trump is out of office, and the other half in the belief that the Biden administration has no shortage of bad policies that will destroy this country.

At least progressives are consistent in their abuse of language. At this point, we can assume that any words they speak are meant to conceal, not reveal, their true intent. And if we are ever foolish enough to believe any of their rhetoric, we should remember Orwell’s warning that “political language…is designed to make lies sound truthful.”

Progressives may be many things, but truthful isn’t one of them.

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline. com or 3101 Industrial Dr. Suite 105.

Raleigh, N.C. 27609. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

NATION & WORLD

100 years old: Low-key centenary for Northern Ireland

By Pan Pylsa The Associated Press LONDON — Northern Ireland marked what is widely considered to be its centenary on Monday, with Queen Elizabeth II stressing the need for “reconciliation, equality and mutual understanding” as she sent her “warmest good wishes” to its people.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to London, said the U.S. will continue to encourage the U.K. and the European Union “to prioritize political and economic stability in Northern Ireland” as they work through their post-Brexit relationship.

Northern Ireland was created on May 3, 1921, when the Government of Ireland Act came into effect and partitioned the island of Ireland into two separate entities.

Northern Ireland became part of the U.K. alongside England, Scot-

land and Wales, while the rest of Ireland would later that year become what was then known as the Irish Free State.

Much like the day that Northern Ireland was founded 100 years ago, there were no huge celebrations or grand ceremonies Monday, given the sharply differing views on its creation and subsequent history. Restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have also led to all commemorations this year being scaled back.

Since its creation, Northern Ireland society has been split between those who want to remain in the U.K. and those who wish to see Northern Ireland become part of the Republic of Ireland. For decades, that fissure fueled sectarian violence: the so-called Troubles, which resulted in around 3,500 deaths.

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 formalized power-sharing

arrangements between unionists and nationalists. It’s not always been a smooth process politically, with the two sides often unable to reach agreement on how to govern, and there’s been sporadic outbreaks of violence.

“This anniversary reminds us of our complex history, and provides an opportunity to reflect on our togetherness and our diversity,” the queen said in a statement.

“It is clear that reconciliation, equality and mutual understanding cannot be taken for granted, and will require sustained fortitude and commitment,” she added.

The queen also referred to “treasured” memories she shared in Northern Ireland with her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last month at 99.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also marked the date, describing it as a “very significant” anniversary and stressed the im-

portance of reflecting on the “complex history” of the past 100 years.

“People from all parts of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and across the globe, will approach this anniversary in different ways, with differing perspectives,” he said.

In recent weeks, there have been outbreaks of violence across Northern Ireland, with the unionist community particularly aghast at post-Brexit trade rules that took effect this year. These imposed customs checks on some goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., which did not exist when the U.K. was part of the EU. Although no major celebrations were held, plans to mark the centenary this year included tree-planting projects. Every school was given a native tree to plant in their grounds and many will explore what the future will look like in the next 100 years.

“Across generations, the people of Northern Ireland are choosing to build an inclusive, prosperous, and hopeful society, strengthened by the gains of the peace process,” the queen said. “May this be our guiding thread in the coming years.”

Congo declares end to latest Ebola outbreak in nation’s east Kinshasa, Congo Congo has declared an end to the latest Ebola outbreak, which killed six people in its east.

Congo’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Jean-Jacques Mbungani, on Monday announced the end of the outbreak that began Feb. 7 in the town of Butembo in the North Kivu province.

The World Health Organization also confirmed the end to the outbreak, congratulating Congo on combatting it within three months. There were 12 cases of Ebola, with six deaths and six recoveries in four health zones in the North Kivu province, according to WHO. The last two patients had been discharged from the Ebola Treatment Center of Katwa in Butembo on March 24.

This was the 12th Ebola outbreak in conflict-ridden Congo since the virus was first discovered in the country in 1976 and the third to hit the country in less than a year. Its onset came less than three months after Congo’s 11th outbreak in the western province of Equateur officially ended in November.

A 2018 outbreak in eastern Congo was the second deadliest in the world, killing 2,299 people before it was ended in June. That outbreak lasted for nearly two years and was fought amid unprecedented challenges, including entrenched conflict between armed groups, the world’s largest measles epidemic, and the spread of COVID-19.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russia turns to China to make Sputnik shots to meet demand LIAM MCBURNEY | PA VIA AP

A display on grass celebrating the 100 year centenary of Northern Ireland, in Ballyduff, Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland, Monday, May 3, 2021.

US officials in Mideast to reassure jittery allies over Iran The Associated Press ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Top Biden administration officials and U.S. senators crisscrossed the Middle East on Monday, seeking to assuage growing unease among Gulf Arab partners over America’s re-engagement with Iran and other policy shifts in the region.

The trips come as the U.S. and Iran, through intermediaries in Vienna, discuss a return to Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that former President Donald Trump abandoned three years ago.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies, excluded from Obama-era nuclear negotiations, have repeatedly pressed for a seat at the table, insisting that any return to the accord must address Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for regional proxies.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a key Biden ally dispatched on overseas diplomatic missions, told reporters in the UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi that he hoped to allay the sheikhdom’s “understandable and legitimate concerns” about the return to the landmark deal and to create “broader engagement” with Gulf partners.

Coons said “close consultation” with the UAE about the ongoing talks in Vienna was “important, expected and happening,” adding that he hopes the Emiratis “may not just be notified, but actually help.”

What that means remains unclear, as Gulf states now watch with resignation as negotiations gain traction in the Austrian capital. When asked to elaborate, Coons balked at the suggestion that the UAE’s input had acquired any greater significance in talks with Iran over the last five years.

“I did not in any way mean to suggest that there was some deal in

KAMRAN JEBREILI | AP PHOTO

U.S. Senator Chris Coons, left, looks at Senator Chris Van Hollen during a press briefing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, May 3, 2021. the works where the Emiratis would be securing anything,” he said. “Vienna is the place where the United States government, the administration, is negotiating.”

Regional tensions are rising. To pressure the Biden administration to lift sanctions and come back into compliance with the deal, Iran has steadily violated the accord’s limitations on nuclear enrichment and stockpiles of enriched uranium.

The long shadow war between Israel and Iran has intensified, with suspected Israeli attacks on Iranian ships in volatile Mideast waterways and at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

In a tour intended to boost “long-standing political, economic, cultural, and security ties,” several senior Biden administration officials are touring Arab capitals, with Brett McGurk from the National Security Council and Derek Chollet from the State Department, among others, stopping in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Amman and Cairo this week.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., joined the flurry of diplomatic ac-

tivity in the region this week, jetting to Oman, Qatar and Jordan for talks on a political solution to the war in Yemen. In an interview with The Associated Press from Amman, Murphy credited the influence of the Biden administration on recent steps in the region to defuse tensions, such as a Saudi cease-fire initiative floated to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and secret talks between archenemies Iran and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, Biden announced the end of U.S. support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

However, Murphy warned, “so long as we’re still sanctioning the hell out of the Iranian economy ... it’s going to be hard to push the Houthis to a cease-fire.”

Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers “is very important, perhaps critical to peace in Yemen,” he added, and without it, “the Iranians are going to see Yemen as an opportunity to make mischief against the United States and our allies.”

The visits follow the Biden administration’s decision to move

ahead with Trump-era arms sales to Gulf countries, including a $23 billion transfer of F-35 combat aircraft, Reaper drones and other advanced weapons to the UAE, despite objections from Democrats wary of states’ entanglement in the devastating war in Yemen, authoritarian policies and ties to China.

Coons, chairman of a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, helped introduce legislation last year designed to block the sale of fighters to the UAE. He said that he discussed those concerns with Emirati officials during his two-day visit.

“In a number of robust conversations with senior (Emirati) leaders, I’ve been reassured I think appropriately,” Coons said, without elaborating. “But I need to return to Washington to hear from our administration ... exactly how this is being resolved and addressed.”

The senator also has become known for his sharp criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and tactics in Yemen, where U.S.backed Saudi coalition airstrikes have killed thousands of civilians.

The Trump administration, which cultivated close ties to the powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, approved a nuclear cooperation deal to share technology with the kingdom for its nuclear power venture, including plans to build several civilian reactors.

The cooperation has sparked concerns among some U.S. senators skeptical of Saudi Arabia’s intentions.

Although Coons declined to share what he knew of the kingdom’s nuclear technology plans, he said the disastrous war in Yemen has “left us with concerns about our ability to trust the Saudis with technology that they acquire from us.”

He added: “Iran is not the only concerning player.”

Taipei, Taiwan Russia is turning to multiple Chinese firms to manufacture the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in an effort to speed up production as demand soars for its shot.

Russia has announced three deals totaling 260 million doses with Chinese vaccine companies in recent weeks. It’s a decision that could mean quicker access to a shot for countries in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa that have ordered Russia’s vaccine, as the U.S. and the European Union focus on domestic vaccination needs.

Experts have questioned whether Russia can fulfill its pledge to countries across the world. While pledging hundreds of millions of doses, it has only delivered a fraction.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said demand for Sputnik V significantly exceeds Russia’s domestic production capacity.

To boost production, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which bankrolled Sputnik V, has signed agreements with multiple drug makers in other countries, including India, South Korea, Brazil, Serbia, Turkey and Italy.

There are few indications, however, that manufacturers abroad have made any large amounts of the vaccine so far.

Airfinity, a London-based science analytics company, estimates Russia agreed to supply some 630 million doses of Sputnik V to over 100 countries, with only 11.5 million doses exported so far.

RDIF declined to disclose how many doses are going to other countries. Through April 27, less than 27 million two-dose sets of Sputnik V have been reportedly produced in Russia.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

SPORTS

High school football title game previews, B3

SEAN RAYFORD | AP PHOTO

The Carolina Panthers selected South Carolina defensive back Jaycee Horn, left, with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Patience a virtue for Panthers in successful 2021 draft

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Panthers pick up options on Darnold, Moore Charlotte The Carolina Panthers upped their commitment to Sam Darnold on Friday, picking up the fifth-year option on the quarterback’s rookie contract.

He will now make $18.9 million for the 2022 season.

Darnold’s contract would have expired after the 2021 season, and he would have become an unrestricted free agent if the Panthers had not picked up the fifth-year option. With the move, the Panthers solidified their quarterback position for the next two seasons.

Carolina passed on Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the eighth pick in Thursday night’s draft, instead taking cornerback Jaycee Horn from South Carolina. The team also confirmed it has picked up wide receiver D.J. Moore’s fifth-year option, which will pay him $11.1 million in 2022.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Gottfried, staff placed on leave by Cal State Northridge Los Angeles Cal State Northridge placed men’s basketball coach Mark Gottfried and his entire staff on paid leave last Thursday amid allegations of rules violations within the program.

Gottfried was hired in 2018 by the school despite being at the center of a wideranging federal investigation into cheating and payment of players and recruits in college basketball during his time at NC State. The case also entangled several other schools, players and Adidas.

The family of Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Smith Jr. allegedly received $40,000 for Smith to play for the Wolfpack.

Gottfried has coached the Matadors to a 37-51 record the past three seasons.

SEAN LAVOINE | AHL

Paul Schonfelder lifts the Calder Cup after the Charlotte Checkers won the American Hockey League title in 2019.

Schonfelder is in his first season as the Hurricanes’ goalie coach.

The man behind the Hurricanes’ masked men Hurricanes first-year goalie coach Paul Schonfelder has Carolina’s netminders — particularly longtime pupil Alex Nedeljkovic — thriving

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Paul Schonfelder probably knew his playing career was coming to an end when his stint with the Cape Fear FireAntz was followed by stops with teams named the IceHogs and Mudbugs.

No matter — he had a fallback plan.

“I always had a background in coaching,” the Hurricanes’ firstyear goalie coach said. “And it was something I was passionate about. When I stopped playing, I went right into coaching.”

Schonfelder might be one of the few new faces in Raleigh this season, but familiarity has certainly played a role in his contributions to this year’s team.

After years of doing private lessons and coaching in the Canadian and U.S. college ranks, Schonfelder got his break when he was hired by the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s, where he had played parts of three junior seasons. That led to high-profile opportunities with Hockey Canada.

Eventually, NHL teams came calling — and seemingly all at once.

“I got four phone calls within the span of like six hours from

Carolina filled needs, just not in the predicted order

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

four different teams asking if I was interested in the development job,” the 40-year-old Schonfelder said of the summer of 2017.

Carolina was the only team with which he didn’t have any ties, but he did know the team’s top goalie prospect.

“When I was in Ottawa, I saw quite a bit of Ned,” Schonfelder said of goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, the 2014 second-round pick and former OHL star who was in his second pro season. “And, obviously, he was a star in junior and I knew what he was kind of all about. … He was kind of my main guy that I’d be working with. So it all just lined up. I had a good feeling, so that was that. I accepted the job and away you go.”

Schonfelder — who calls his approach “open-minded” — left behind the marathon days he was putting in as both a junior coach and doing private lessons to focus on the development job, splitting time between the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers and with his wife and young daughter back in Ottawa while keeping tabs on all of the Hurricanes’ goalie prospects sprinkled throughout North America.

But Nedeljkovic was his main focus.

“When he was able to be there, he was putting in the work and looking at video just like we’re doing now,” Nedeljkovic said. “Even when he wasn’t there, he was watching video, watching games

THE THEME for the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 draft might have been “wait for it.”

The team had plenty of needs and addressed a large number of them in the three days of selections. The Panthers just didn’t shop in the order most fans and media observers expected them to.

It appeared that the first round couldn’t have gone better for the Panthers. Regardless of which way the team wanted to go first, their man appeared to have fallen to them. If Carolina wanted to draft its quarterback of the future, both Justin Fields and Mac Jones were still available when the team went on the clock with pick No. 8.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer had also made no secret that the team would consider trading down. And with two of the five franchise quarterbacks still on the board, it appeared that the Panthers’ real estate was very valuable to some of the quarterback-hungry teams below them. A short time later, the Bears would trade two first-round picks, a fourth and a fifth to move up nine spots for Fields, so the Panthers could have easily gotten a similar haul.

Or the Panthers could have stayed put and gotten Rashawn Slater, widely considered the second-best offensive lineman in the draft. The Northwestern tackle would have filled a big hole on the Carolina line and had been mocked to the team in many pre-draft predictions.

Instead, Fitterer uncorked a curveball that froze the rest of the league. The Panthers remained at No. 8 and chose a cornerback, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn.

Corner was a position of need for the Panthers, but, a year after Carolina used every draft pick on defense, it was thought that the offense would get some much-needed attention early in the draft.

Fitterer said it was a case of taking the best available talent.

“He was just the top-rated player on our board,” the general manager said. “We saw someone that could come in and make an immediate impact for us as a starter, as a corner, playing the opposite of Donte [Jackson]. He’ll do a great job for us. We see him as his potential is unlimited and the immediate impact is why we did it.”

The team received plenty of offers for the eighth spot, but they “didn’t match walking away from Jaycee, that’s why we didn’t do it,” Fitterer said.

In other words, yes, the team needs offensive help … wait for it.

Fitterer hinted that the Panthers considered trad-

See HURRICANES, page B4

See PANTHERS, page B3

“I love my wife dearly, but I take Scott’s opinion.”

Panthers coach Matt Rhule on team GM Scott Fitterer

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

5.5.21

TRENDING

Eric McClure: The former NASCAR driver died Sunday, his family and the series said. He was 42. No details were given about his death. McClure had posted on social media as recently as Saturday.

The Washington County sheriff’s office said McClure’s body was sent to Roanoke for an autopsy. McClure was the nephew of former Cup team owner Larry McClure and spent the majority of his career racing in the Xfinity Series. He made 288 career starts over 14 seasons with a career‑best finish of eighth at Daytona in 2013. He last raced in 2016.

Carmelo Anthony: The Trail Blazers’ 36-year-old forward moved into 10th place on the NBA’s career scoring list with 14 points against the Hawks on Monday night. Anthony now has 27,318 points in his career, surpassing Elvin Hayes (27,313) to move into the top 10. Next up for Anthony: Moses Malone at 27,409 points In the past two seasons, Anthony has passed nine players on the career scoring list: Alex English, Kevin Garnett, John Havlicek, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and now Hayes.

Paul Campbell: The Marlins’ rookie right-hander was suspended 80 games on Monday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in violation of MLB’s drug program. The 25-year-old Campbell, a Rule 5 acquisition in December from Tampa Bay, said he never knowingly ingested the PED, or had even heard of it. He was 0-2 with an 8.74 ERA in five games and 111/3 innings.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

HORSE RACING

Trainer Bob Baffert won his record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby on Saturday when Medina Spirit led from start to finish to take the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Jockey John Velazquez won the Derby for the second straight year and fourth time overall. At 12-1 odds, Medina Spirit paid 26.20 to win. Mandaloun and Hod Rod Charlie finished second and third, respectively.

SCOTT EKLUND | AP PHOTO

“Prove the few that always believed in you right. Prove yourself right.”

Rams quarterback and former Wake Forest starter John Wolford encouraging players who were not selected in last week’s NFL Draft.

JEFF ROBERSON | AP PHOTO

SOCCER

BARRINGTON COOMBS | PA VIA AP

JEFF CHIU | AP PHOTO

Manchester United fans forced the postponement of a Premier League game on Sunday against Liverpool after the stadium was stormed and access into Old Trafford blocked as supporters demanded the Glazer family sell the club. The Glazers, who also own the NFL’s Buccaneers, purchased Manchester United in 2006.

Athletics left-hander Jesús Luzardo is out indefinitely after breaking the pinkie finger on his pitching hand when he thumped a table while playing a video game before his start Saturday.

Luzardo wound up pitching three innings and allowed six runs, three of them earned. He is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in six starts this season.

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

“Every day I woke up and the wrist was feeling better.”

Hornets rookie guard LaMelo Ball after Charlotte’s win Saturday over Detroit in his first game since suffering a broken wrist March 20.

MLB

NASCAR

PRIME NUMBER

4 Career hat tricks for Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho after he scored three times in Carolina’s 5-2 win Monday over the Blackhawks. Aho has notched all four of his hat tricks at PNC Arena.

COLIN E. BRALEY | AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch became the 10th different driver in 11 races to win on the NASCAR Cup Series this season, taking the aptly named Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. The win gave Busch — who was celebrating his 36th birthday — a victory in 17 consecutive seasons, matching David Pearson for the second‑longest streak in Cup history and one year behind Richard Petty’s record of 18.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B3

Prep football nears May conclusion with title games The season, delayed in the fall due to the pandemic, will come to a close with eight championship games this week

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

JEFFREY CAMARATI | UNC ATHLETICS

Abby Allen, who scored in UNC’s 2-0 win last Friday over Denver, and the Tar Heels advanced into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament bracket and are looking to bring a 22nd national title back to Chapel Hill.

In-state teams advance in NCAA soccer tournaments With the men’s and women’s tournaments being played in N.C., four local schools advanced to the Sweet 16

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal THE HOME-STATE advantage was kind to North Carolina teams playing in the NCAA’s postseason soccer tournaments last week.

With all games being played at venues around the Old North State, teams from UNC, Duke and Wake Forest all advanced to the Sweet 16 round of their respective brackets, with the Tar Heels still alive and kicking on both the men’s and women’s sides.

UNC’s second-seeded women will play Washington on Wednesday at 3 p.m. while ninth-seeded Duke takes on Ole Miss at noon.

The Tar Heels men, who advanced by beating in-state rival Charlotte, will face Washington on Thursday at 3 p.m., followed at 9 p.m. with the fifth-seeded Deacons matched against Kentucky.

All games will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Not everyone was able to take advantage of the friendly surroundings. Despite playing on their home fields, Campbell’s women and UNC Greensboro’s men were beaten in the opening round of the tournament, with the Camels falling 1-0 to Iowa and the Spartans losing a 3-2 decision to Omaha on a goal in the 87th minute.

High Point’s men (2-0 to Georgetown) and Elon’s women (1-0 to Milwaukee) were also beaten in opening-round games.

Of the teams that survived, UNC’s women (16-1-0) had by far the easiest time advancing. Seeking

their record 22nd national championship, coach Anson Dorrance’s Tar Heels beat Denver 2-0 at the Matthews SportsPlex on Friday.

Rachel Dorwart had a goal and an assist, and Abby Allen also scored to provide the offense. Keeper Claudia Dickey needed to make only two saves on the way to her 13th shutout of the season.

Washington (10-3-4) earned its date with UNC by beating Liberty 3-0 and surviving a penalty kick shootout for a win against St. Louis.

Duke’s road to the Sweet 16 took a detour into a pair of overtimes before the Blue Devils (11-5-3) came away with a 2-1 win against Arizona State in Greenville.

Sophie Jones scored off an assist from Maggie Graham 2:34 into the second extra period to secure the victory after the Sun Devils tied the game with a goal late in regulation time.

Tess Boade opened the scoring in the first half with an unassisted goal. Goalie Ruthie Jones made three saves to preserve the victory.

The Blue Devils’ next opponent, Ole Miss, beat Southern Cal 3-2 in a shootout.

Two overtimes weren’t enough to decide the opening-round men’s game between UNC and Charlotte in Cary.

The schools played to a 1-1 draw through regulation after the teams traded a pair of late goals. Akeim Clarke put the Tar Heels (8-4-1) ahead in the 74th minute before Joe Brito answered right back for the 49ers (6-4-1) by netting a bending free kick with less than five minutes remaining.

Charlotte nearly won the game in the first overtime when Preston Popp hit the crossbar from 15 yards out.

The 49ers’ luck didn’t get any better in the shootout, thanks to UNC

21 National championships for the UNC women’s soccer team, which advanced to the Round of 16 and will face Washington on Wednesday goalie Alec Smir. After the teams traded goals in the first round, Smir made spectacular saves on Axel Sigurdason and Matteo Busio. The Tar Heels took advantage by getting goals from Milo Garvanian and Ernest Bawa to close the game out.

UNC’s next opponent, fourth-seeded Stanford, beat Omaha 1-0 in overtime in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the score. The Cardinal (10-2-1) outshot the upstart Summit League champions by a 25-2 margin.

Wake Forest, meanwhile, got a pair of goals from Omar Hernandez and a little help from its opponent in the form of a first-half own goal to hold off Coastal Carolina.

The Deacons (12-2-2) appeared to be in charge after Hernandez scored his second of the game on a long-range strike from Kyle Holcomb. But they had to sweat out the final eight minutes after the Chanticleers’ Claudio Repetto scored on a breakaway to narrow the margin to one.

Wake now takes on Kentucky (12-4-2), a 2-0 winner in its opening game against New Hampshire.

In accordance with NCAA rules, attendance for all games is limited to 50% capacity. All games are available through live streaming.

THE TERM “SPRING FOOTBALL’ takes on new meaning this weekend when the N.C. High School Athletic Association holds its state championship games in Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

Titles in eight subdivisions will be up for grabs as a climax to an abbreviated season shifted from its traditional fall schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The games will feature many of the usual suspects. Four of the eight champions from 2019 are back to defend their titles, while three runners-up have returned looking to come home with the trophy this time. There are also three teams — Rolesville, Cleveland and St. Pauls — making their first appearance in a state final.

Here’s the rundown on this year’s title matchups.

4AA: Vance vs. Rolesville Saturday, 5 p.m., Carter-Finley Stadium Wake Forest-Rolesville played for the 4AA title in 2010. Three years later, the schools split.

While Wake Forest went on to win three state championships, upstart Rolesville had never beaten its new rival until this year — including a 24-21 double-overtime victory last week that sent the Rams (9-0) to their first state final in any sport. Quarterback Byrum Brown has thrown for 1,879 yards and 20 touchdowns.

While Rolesville is saying hello to the big stage, Vance, the defending state champion, is saying goodbye. The Charlotte school will be renamed for civil rights leader Julius L. Chambers this fall. The Cougars (9-1) are a veteran crew led by quarterback Austin Grier. But they have also added some new firepower in sophomore Daylan Smothers, who ran for 170 yards and two scores last week against Myers Park.

4A: Grimsley vs. Cardinal Gibbons Friday, 7 p.m., Kenan Stadium In one of two matchups of undefeated teams, the Crusaders (9-0) look to redeem themselves after falling just short of their first state title in a 2019 loss to East Forsyth. Gibbons is powered by a defense that has recorded an incredible 75.5 tackles for loss, including 25.5 by lineman John Caramanico. Running backs Donovan Shepard and Brock Biestek are the top offensive weapons.

Whirlies quarterback Alonza Barnett was sacked six times and intercepted twice in last week’s West region final against Butler, but he also threw for touchdowns of 58 and 49 yards while also running for a 26-yard score to lift Grimsley (9-0) into its first state title game since 2005.

3AA: Mount Tabor vs. Cleveland Thursday, 7 p.m., Kenan Stadium

CARLOS OSORIO | AP PHOTO

The Panthers used their second pick in the third round to select Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble.

PANTHERS from page B1 ing up to get lineman Penei Sewell when he was still available after the fifth pick. When Sewell went to the Lions the pick before Carolina’s, it was just a case of Horn being higher on the board than Slater.

Fields was a tempting talent, but the Panthers had more pressing needs.

“We brought Sam [Darnold] here for a reason,” coach Matt Rhule said. “We’re excited to see what he can do. We’re excited to give him an opportunity. We traded for him because we believe in his potential. At the same time, to us corner is a position, if you go back to last year, there were times we just couldn’t get off the field.”

With tempting linemen available in the next round, the Panthers traded down, eventually collecting and using a team-record 11

picks in the draft. Carolina took receiver Terrance Marshall Jr. out of LSU in the second round, then got their lineman in the third, selecting BYU tackle Brady Christensen.

“I was at the BYU pro day, and he was really impressive in person,” Fitterer said. “Then you hear about the character, the work ethic, the intelligence, the toughness, that’s what really sold us on him.”

Rhule also praised Christensen’s versatility and said the team could plug him in at guard or tackle, depending on need.

Carolina continued to add to the offense, taking Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble later in the round. The Panthers also added a running back (Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard) in the fourth, and in the sixth round took a guard (Deonte Brown of Alabama) and receiver (South Carolina’s Shi Smith).

Carolina also added another cornerback — Washington’s Keith Taylor in the fifth — and defensive line depth in Iowa tackle Daviyon Nixon in the fifth and Kentucky tackle Phil Hoskins in the seventh.

The team used its third sixthround pick on long snapper Thomas Fletcher of Alabama.

The team put a premium on power conferences, taking six SEC players, including three with national championship rings. The Panthers also selected from the Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten and Notre Dame.

All told, the Panthers entered the draft with seven picks and came out with 11 players and an extra pick for next season. Not a bad first draft for Fitterer despite some early agita in the fanbase. Everyone just needed to … wait for it.

“I love my wife dearly, but I take Scott’s opinion,” coach Rhule said.

The second matchup of undefeated teams features two programs looking for their first state title. While Mount Tabor (10-0) has come close before, losing in the final in both 2003 and ’07, Cleveland (10-0) has advanced to the title game for the first time in school history.

The Spartans are a physical team that overwhelmed the competition during the regular season with four wins by 40 points or more but has also proven its ability to win close games in the playoffs — including Friday’s come-from-behind 24-20 victory against Dudley in the West region final.

The Rams, whose school opened its doors in 2011, also rallied from an early deficit to beat rival Clayton 49-21 behind 258 passing yards, 111 rushing yards and four touchdowns from junior quarterback Skyler Locklear.

3A: Charlotte Catholic vs. Havelock Friday, 7 p.m., Carter-Finley Stadium Two perennial powerhouses meet up in a rematch of the 2017 championship game. Charlotte Catholic won that matchup, the

first of its four consecutive state title victories.

This year’s Cougars (8-1) are a veteran unit that has allowed an average of just 11 points per game with three shutouts. They forced three turnovers in last week’s 24-14 win against Monroe. Senior Paul Neel is the top offensive threat with five 100-yard rushing efforts on the way to 1,044 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Havelock (10-0) will provide a stiff challenge thanks to the passing of sophomore Andrew Frazier, the running of senior Kamarro Edwards and a defense that has produced 28 sacks and 12 interceptions. Although the Rams have made only one state championship final over the past six years, they played in four straight — winning three titles — from 2011-14.

2AA: Salisbury vs. St. Pauls Thursday, 7 p.m., Carter-Finley Stadium Salisbury played for the state title in 2019 but was anything but a favorite to return to the final as a seventh seed in the West this year. The Hornets (8-2) upset their way through the bracket by beating No. 2 Maiden in the opening round then rallying in the fourth quarter to upset top-seeded North Davidson 24-20 on a 22-yard field goal by Wade Robbins with 1:09 remaining.

St. Pauls (8-0) had to overcome a COVID-19 outbreak that forced it to cancel its first three games. The Bulldogs, making their first state final appearance, rely heavily on a stout defense and a ground game that features a 1,000-yard rusher in KeMarion Baldwin.

2A: Mountain Heritage vs. Reidsville Saturday, 5 p.m., Kenan Stadium The Rams (9-0) are looking for their third straight title in their fifth consecutive appearance in the 2A final. Senior quarterback Kyle Pinnix is the trigger man for Reidsville’s balanced offense that also includes all-state wide receiver Breon Pass, who is also an all-state point guard signed to play for NC State.

Mountain Heritage (7-1) is playing for a title for the first time since 2009. The Cougars punched their ticket with a dramatic 30-29 victory against Hendersonville in which they stopped a two-point conversion attempt in overtime.

1AA: East Surry vs. Tarboro Saturday, noon, Kenan Stadium The Cardinals (9-1) and Vikings (8-0) meet for the third straight 1AA final, with each team having won once.

East Surry won’t have dynamic quarterback Jefferson Boaz, who set a championship game record by throwing for 478 yards and accounting for eight touchdowns in its 2019 win against Tarboro. But it will have his younger brother Folger, a sophomore who has thrown for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Cardinals will likely have to put up a big number against an equally explosive Tarboro offense that has scored 62 or more points in each of its postseason wins.

The Vikings, state champions in both 2017 and ’18, are powered by a ground attack with four backs that average better than 10 yards per carry and a defense that has forced 22 turnovers.

1A: Murphy vs. Northside-Pinetown Saturday, noon, Carter-Finley Stadium Murphy (9-1) avenged a loss in the 2019 West final and its only regular-season defeat by beating defending state champion Robbinsville 24-14 on Friday in a game that saw the backfield duo of Ty Laney and Ray Rathburn combine for 260 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Seeded fifth in the East, Northside (8-2) has averaged 42 points per game in its three playoff victories, including a 47-6 drubbing of defending state runner-up Northampton County on Friday to advance to its first state final since 2000. Like Murphy, the Panthers do most of their damage on the ground with James Gorham (248 yards, four TDs), Mitch Godley (164 yards, one TD) and Tyler Modlin (66 yards, two TDs) accounting for all their team’s yardage in the region final.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

18 players from NC selected in NFL Draft Thirteen players from instate colleges and five from North Carolina high schools heard their names called

By Shawn Krest North State Journal NORTH CAROLINA was well represented in last weekend’s NFL Draft. One out of every 14 players drafted — 18 of 259 — either played high school or college football in the state. Another 13 have already signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents after not getting selected.

Duke had four players selected, the most for the Blue Devils since 1973. UNC had five, its most since 2017. ECU had a player taken for the first time since 2017. NC State (six straight years), Wake Forest (five) and Appalachian State (two) also continued streaks of having a player chosen in the draft.

North Carolina running back Javonte Williams was the first player with local connections to get the call, going in the second round, No. 35 overall, to the Broncos. GM George Paton called Williams “one of our favorite players in the draft.”

Coach Vic Fangio agreed, saying, “He was a guy that was pretty unanimous in the building there.

Coaches, scouts — everybody that took a look at the guy liked him.”

He’ll team with starter Melvin Gordon to create a tandem attack.

“I have always been a fan of his, so coming in and picking stuff from his game will be a huge start for me,” Williams said.

Hickory’s Landon Dickerson was the next local player off the

board. The Alabama center, recovering from ACL surgery, was taken early in the second round, 37th overall, by the Eagles. Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman said the knee injury was the only reason the team was able to land Dickerson, telling the media he didn’t “think that there was any chance” Dickerson would have still been available if other teams weren’t concerned about his medical history.

“I think you understand there’s risk-reward in it,” he said. “I think we rely on our medical staff to figure out the best way to handle these.” He’ll get the chance to beat out starting center Jason Kelce this year.

Carlos Basham was the third local player taken in round two. The Wake Forest edge rusher will bring the “Boogie” to Buffalo after the Bills took him No. 29 in the second round, 61st overall.

Round three saw a quartet of locals get drafted.

NC State defensive tackle Alim McNeill led the way going eighth in the round, No. 72 overall, to Detroit. UNC linebacker Chazz Surratt went 78th overall when the Vikings took him. Winston-Salem’s Divine Deablo, who played defensive back at Virginia Tech, was the 80th overall by the Raiders. Dyami Brown closed out the third round for the state when the North Carolina wide receiver went 82nd overall to the Washington Football Team.

The fourth round saw three more local products selected.

Michael Carter, the other half of UNC’s running back by committee, went with the round’s second pick, 107th overall, to the Jets.

NELL REDMON | AP PHOTO

The Buffalo Bills selected Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham with the 61st overall pick in the second round of last week’s NFL Draft.

Duke edge rusher Chris Rumph was taken 118th overall by the Chargers, East Carolina offensive tackle D’Ante Smith went with the compensatory picks at the end of the round, No. 34 in the fourth and 139th overall, when the Bengals chose him.

Four of the picks in round five hailed from North Carolina, either by hometown or college.

The Jets decided to corner the market on Michael Carters, taking the Duke corner a round after taking the UNC running back. This Carter went 154th overall. Teammate Noah Gray became the third Blue Devil drafted when the Chiefs took the tight end with pick 162nd pick. App State saw a player selected when corner Shemar Jean-

Charles went to the Packers with a compensatory pick, No. 34 in the fifth, 178th overall. The compensatory picks also gave Greenville’s Cornell Powell a chance to go in the fifth. The Clemson wide receiver went to the Chiefs at 181st overall.

Four more players from the area went in round six before the state was shut out in the seventh round.

Two North Carolina natives went first, with Concord’s Hamsah Nasirildeen, a defensive back from FSU, going to the Jets at No. 186 and Raleigh running back Larry Rountree III, late of Missouri, to the Chargers at 198th overall.

A fourth Blue Devil was drafted when the Cardinals took edge rusher Victor Dimukeje with the

210th pick, and a fifth Tar Heel went off the board when the Bears tapped receiver Dazz Newsome at 221nd overall.

Here are the undrafted free agents from local schools also signed with teams: Duke: Mark Gilbert, CB (Steelers); Devery Hamilton, OL (Raiders); Deon Jackson, RB (Colts); NC State: Cary Angeline, TE (Cardinals); Joe Sculthorpe, OL (Falcons); Wake Forest: Jamie Newman, QB (Eagles); Sage Surratt, WR (Lions); Charlotte: Ben DeLuca, QB (Chargers); Tre Harbison, RB (Browns); Romeo McKnight, DE (Browns); NC Central: Bryan Mills, CB (Seahawks); NC A&T: Mac McCain III, CB (Broncos); East Carolina: Blake Proehl, WR (Vikings).

HURRICANES from page B1

CHUCK BURTON | AP PHOTO

Rory McIlroy, pictured during the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship, will look to win the tournament for a third time this week at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.

Stellar field marks return of Wells Fargo Championship Charlotte’s Quail Hollow hosts 10 of the world’s top 15 players this week

By Shawn Krest North State Journal LIKE MOST sporting events this year, the Wells Fargo Championship is back — but not quite back to normal.

The prestigious PGA event, held annually at Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club, was canceled last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organizers estimate that the loss of the tournament, which normally draws an average of 190,000 fans to the course, cost the area $60 million in revenue.

Fans will be allowed this year, but precautions due to the lingering pandemic will make it a different experience from the last time they teed it up in Charlotte in 2019.

Ticket sales are capped at 30% of capacity, or approximately 57,000 people for the week. Shuttles will be available but social distancing requirements will likely cause large delays, organizers warn. There will be no bleachers this year, so fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

Food and merchandise sales will be cashless, and players will not shake hands, fist bump or sign au-

tographs for fans.

Still, it will be professional golf and, from the looks of the field, high-level professional golf at that.

With 10 of the top 15 players in the PGA competing, the Wells Fargo promises to have the best field at a golf event since last month’s Masters. With the PGA Championship coming up shortly, this is one of the last chances for the sport’s top golfers to get their game in shape for the next major tournament.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is not playing, but the rest of the world’s top five players are all committed. That includes Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. None of the four have won or finished runner-up at the Wells Fargo before, although Thomas won on the course in 2017 when the PGA Championship was held at Quail Hollow.

No Wells Fargo winner has ever defended his title, but 2019 winner Max Homa is back to give it a try. He won by three shots two years ago over Joel Dahmen, who is also back. Other previous winners looking to take the tournament again include Sean O’Hair (2009), Rory McIlroy (2010, 2015), Lucas Glover (2011), Rickie Fowler (2012), J.B. Holmes (2014), James Hahn (2016), Brian Harman (2017) and Jason Day (2018). The only one of the last 11 winners not

the Wells Fargo, but the legend has always done well on the course with a dozen top-12 finishes in his 17 appearances.

Two golfers familiar to area fans received the tournament’s sponPrevious winners of the Wells sor’s exemptions. Akshay Bhatia, a Fargo Championship who will be Wake Forest resident who turned pro two years ago, will look to in this week’s field, including break through at the event in front two-time champion Rory McIlroy of his home-state fans. He earned his first career PGA top 10 earlier this year after getting another in this year’s field is 2013 champion sponsor’s exemption.

Wake Forest alumnus Will ZalaDerek Ernst.

McIlroy will be a player to watch toris, who had a near miss at the this week. He’s the only two-time Masters, received the other exempwinner in the tournament’s histo- tion. He hasn’t missed a cut yet this ry and set the course record in each year and will look to build off his win. He hasn’t won a tournament success at Augusta National.

Two other former Demon Deasince 2019 and has missed two cuts, including the Masters, since cons are in the field — Bill Haas switching swing coaches. If any- and Webb Simpson. The 38-yearthing can snap him out of his re- old Haas has made just three of cent slump, it’s the Quail Hollow 12 cuts this season and hasn’t won course where he’s seen so much since 2015. His last top-10 finish was in 2019. success.

With top-12 finishes in three of Another former winner hoping the familiar course turns around his last four events, Simpson is a his recent fortunes is Fowler. He golfer to watch. He finished runrecorded his first career PGA win ner-up to McIlroy in 2015.

The only other alumnus of a colat the Wells Fargo nine years ago and finished fourth the last time lege in the state who will be comthe event was played. Since then, peting at the Wells Fargo Champihe’s fallen on hard times with just onship is former Duke Blue Devil two top-10 finishes in his last 29 Kevin Streelman. He has a thirdevents, which helped knock him place finish and two top-10s this year, and he is looking for his first out of the world top-100 rankings.

Phil Mickelson has never won win on the tour since 2014.

9

and sending me clips.”

Under Schonfelder’s tutelage, Nedeljkovic was named the AHL’s top goalie for the 2018-19 season with the Checkers, and the duo won a Calder Cup together that year.

When Carolina switched its AHL affiliation to Chicago before this season, the organization moved Jason Muzzatti to its development role and promoted Schonfelder to the NHL team.

“The changing of the minor league team, the location of that, [Muzzatti] actually lives a lot closer to [Chicago],” coach Rod Brind’Amour said of the flip. “There were just a lot of things that made that move. I think the relationship that Paul has with Ned didn’t hurt that.”

The young goalie found himself in a three-way competition and on waivers this season, and Schonfelder was tasked with managing the trio that also includes Petr Mrazek and James Reimer — meaning he was also a “sounding board” for the members of the crowded crease.

Having Schonfelder with him in Raleigh helped Nedeljkovic stay patient and wait for his chance.

“He always helped me get better, and you can’t ask for much more,” Nedeljkovic said. “I really appreciate everything he’s done for me. It’s been fun to grow and progress, and for both of us to take the jump together and to do this has been awesome.”

The wait was worth it. Nedeljkovic is 15-4-3 with an NHL-best 1.89 goals-against average and .932 save percentage among goalies with at least 11 starts, and he is a candidate for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL’s top rookie.

“Now that he’s actually getting the opportunity, he’s taken advantage of it,” Schonfelder said of Nedeljkovic. “He’s prepared himself and, so far, it’s been really good for him.”

The same goes for other Hurricanes players on that Checkers championship team — Jake Bean, Morgan Geekie, Martin Necas and Steven Lorentz — who have all carved out roles on this year’s NHL squad.

“When you win a championship with people, it’s a special bond, right?” Schonfelder said. “And when you have that special bond, that championship, anybody that gets rewarded and moves on and is in a better place, you’re super happy to see it.”

Schonfelder now has a chance to make even more bonds with a championship-level team, this time for hockey’s top prize.

“The culture that we have here now — I haven’t been around a long time, but I’ve been around enough to realize a bad one and a really good one,” Schonfelder said. “What Rod’s done with this team, and the culture is first-class. … Everybody’s pulling the rope in the right direction.”

g Kong flu,” 1977 evidence that the ins in China.

OVID-19 mpletely ve it came out of a

markets and financial outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserveis China’s currency, we would not be able to fund any of these emergency Chernobyl. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and currency depreciation.

China has to pay for their aberrant ways and decisions through economic and financial means. Diplomacy has obviously not worked to bring China into the civilized world of 21st century health, hygiene and fair trade. Totalitarian communist regimes never take the blame or express sincere regret and remorse, because that is not what totalitarian governments do. They take advantage of every weakness they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the adversaries push back.

That is, unless an exogenous event happens such as the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989.

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

Senators in Washington are already talking about the possibility of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in debt we owe them as one way to get China to “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Chinese “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected representatives to hold China accountable in tangible financial ways for this disaster.

It is about time they are expected to operate as responsible citizens of the world like any other modern nation.

We need The result: a reduc originated in Wuhan Province probably from the completely transparency According to the Neal out Robbins, unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came of aUni Metrics and Evaluati and Chinese honesty Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior biowarfare lab run by the communist army.opinion editor administratio from our Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and Trump regulation of peak outbreak was re their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other scientific experts ventilators by nearly choice than to build redundant manufacturing elsewhere purely — we need to plantsAugust by nearly 12,0 for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery know what they Here’s the problem reliability concerns. know, what they questions will al The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is tothat offer First, what is the tr and when U.S. tax credits to companies whodon’t will source at least half of their important because it theyThere hope to production back in the United States. is approximately $120 be open or closed, wh billion worth of American direct investment plants and equipment know what in they more in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65liberalized billion by soci don’t. ought to lock down fu comparison.

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Business & Economy

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VISUAL VOICES

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

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A7

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home hina lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in which C orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americans THIS WEEK, virus, according to members ofTHE theand fede ied to tell the world there were only “THIS IS DA around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spread t are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Americans have rldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psalm 118:24). catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related deaths has led to wo Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak.

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by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly orders go into June. ty of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily reverse — but ayer at least $2.4 trillion in added working from home worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, United States over Gov.The has cost the U.S. taxp Here in North Democratic Roycrisis Cooper stated during normal.” questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and orders.

The Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” the Bible our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions more Federa coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know yet”asifin the nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancin he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve and dad, Easter directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong markets and financial outlets.

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There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able toa Perhaps If he it, questions should be asked as to the Wedoes needdecide to extend WALTER E. WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what therolls government tells into us about when it’s safe to begin the in Oakland, The result: a reduction inwithout expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflation currency pandemic. massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fea A member of and Apple’s legal team exhibit boxes the Ronald V. Dellums building Calif., as the company faces off in federal court against Epic Games on justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we COVID-19 know yet” if the May process returning back normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washington Institu For me, my faith is government Monday, 3, 2021. of Epic, maker of the to video game Fortnite, charges that Apple has transformed App Store into illegal There is 100% agreement, its outside oftransparency China, that depreciation. must do this an out ofCOVID-19 an monopoly. abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m ant ways and decisions through making.

As I celebra and honesty originated in at Wuhan Province probably from the completely China has to pay for their aberr provide a all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over and the unsanitary wet markets. administration, theand expected need for hosp plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians 1:4, whi Chernobyl. unregulated believe it Trump came of at a home economic financial means.

D fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and message offor an undetermined become a ry 30% commission on payments gue ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, orld of 21st century health, hygiene affliction, so that we biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized scientific amount of timeexperts why models predicting hundreds of cases w hope that willof thousands made on we Fortnite through bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly 13,000 and theSony’s number of ov unist regimes never take blame affliction, with the co Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalitarian are reliable.

PlayStation Microsoft’s Xbox and comm — we need to once again enjoy of this state who when they can get back to providing for their families, will demand August by nearly 12,000. rse, because that is not what God.” That is what their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other or express sincere regret and rem Nintendo’s consoles well To know date, what I’ve gone what the stateSwitch has asked andas then they along with ndetermined answers.

Here’s the problem: We During still don’t know the ans sporting events, take advantage of every weakness Ifthe you are celebrat choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian governments do. The other devices. same citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely theasway I’ve also had questions about housands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy to reopen. pushing until they win or the reflect on this concerts, family questioning, Doren highlightfor national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find in also adversaries andmessa keep the data.

StateasRepublican have, too. living inand a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatality and rate?c ed evidence showing those three God’s example don’t and when reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with video game have accountsociety ked and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it consoles determines whether certain nt happens such asThe the Chernobyl this difficult time.

Th The most direct waywere to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exogenous ev they to disaster corruption. financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those church services ed for about $10.5 billion of the questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — believe that event, not the Staropportunities Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers for a U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of their meltdown in 1986.

Some experts know what theythe data and asking questioning when we can startthat getting back Trial highlights fierce and many more $13.1 billion in that revenue Fortpast 13continue years as part of a strate- simply Sponsored

by Union and our communities safe. But we still more liberalized society presumes wide spreat Sponsored by should also the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In this same spirit bit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what production back in the United States.

There is though approximately program of are Reagan, led directly to do, last I to normal as they are$120 conspiracy theorists or people who competition for app nite has brought into Epic the gy crafted by its late co-founder, don’t. after our own asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping ne “Rather than investing inget themselves billion worth offormula, American in plants and equipment game’s in release in 2017.

Steve Jobs.

The Epicdirect con- investment otherwise don’t care if they or1989. others sick. in evolving checked. title of a recent study,commissions ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration date.

We’ve seen case fatality rates — Concord, the number of Cd temporary In a high in China.

Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Apple CEO Tim Cook -- Jobs’ tends, is designed to make it as difinnovation, Epic invested Since when did questioning government at all levels become aisbad tech battle between Cary“Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but b eady talking about the possibility to buy aare 3-D sacrifices aresuccessor hand-picked -- willsupposed testificult as possible for consumers to thing? That is what free citizens living Senators inmoney Washington alr in a free society were based Games and soon- comparison.

Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was weEpic in lawyers, PR and policy are people who shape, or form.

So while should remain vigilant and stay safe, at and the denominator are likely wrong.

We don’t k debt we owe as oneopinion way toand get analysis fy during the trial, too, but his apstop its products and of serhealth care workers CEOthem Anbuying investment tax credit 30% on U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in over. toconsultants do,half lastof I checked. done bysurvey Areo, an ranks to-be RTP neighbor, Apple in an effort pearance isn’t expected until near same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated vices. or $60 people have actually died of coronavirus.

Some the so yick. have caused the US. the Don’t hold your today, American manufacturing China to “pay” for the damage digital magazine.

By the way, Areo is short first concern as we go along in this, course, isdrama my family.

I’m NCbad asbuta ask “Top 5”elected theall end of aofcourtroom that “The most prevalent flower in toMy see” become normal.” number been overestimated, given that classifi to happen your of the benefits foraAreopagitica, a speech delivered by investment to the is U.S. would cost theget U.S.all Treasury $18 billion in has breath waiting a Chinese worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried Ifor will.

After “Jub will unfold before only a handful the walled garden the Venus fly y were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patients, untable in tangible financial ways for state for in business John Milton defense of free speech. tax revenue spread overKatherine a few years. $18 billion lost revenue hold Chinacan acc Apple provides without suffering fromin the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during thepeople 2009to pandemic, of mask-wearing being altrap,” said Epic lawyer

By Michael Liedtke Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. sources suggest the number is dramatically under decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster. lowed inside eachallday because of up Forrest. Later, Forrest highlight- I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because of this brings The Associated Press NorthI’m Carolina nowMatthews ranks say has paying.”

Lindsay and Peter Boghossian that also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah e, is my family.

Stacey manyas people are dying home. d to operate as responsible citizens of undertaking to save our notmany of defeated enemies in pandemic the Itrestrictions. is at about timenot they are expect ed expert testimony that own will economy, be way too memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer to repeat.

No. 4 among the nation’s topsomething drastically wrong ied I will.

After has gone and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue how mn ation.

While the trial will involve mosubmitted during the trial that esSAN RAMON, Calif.

— Apple’s past. the world like any other modern performing in thewithin 2021 certain But what alsoKaren makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia,states especially Apple attorney Dunn 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus.

Some scientists sugges ments of high intrigue that could reaped profit marlucrative app store was alternately timated ChinaApple has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American Best and Worst for fields within theStates humanities.

They call divulge secrets, of this brings upsurvey gins of 75% 78% portrayed as a price-gouging mo- business of identified casesclosely couldguarded be an order of the magnitude Business conducted nowtofor theduring past 302018 years. They have made no secret that they these fields “grievance studies,” where Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion nuts and bolts of the case will likeand 2019, even though Jobs pubnopoly and a hub of world-changrefer notscholarship to repeat. number of people who have had coronavirus and n

by Chief Executive magazine. is not so much based upon intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and ly hinge on more mundane matters Tim Sweeney acknowledged that licly said the company didn’t exing innovation during the preamost everyone has For the latest Chief finding truth butreport, upon attending to the dollar theofreserve with their renminbi. the company is trying to increase such as market definitions. pect to make large as sums money currency ble to a trial that may reshape the replace

Fixingn.c. college FAST corruption

FACTS

Apple’s ‘walled garden’ faces Epic attack in app store trial A6

Approved Logos

social grievances.

Grievance Executive surveyed 383 CEOsscholars technological landscape. bully students, administrators across the country in March and other The contrasting portraits were departments into adhering about their opinions of all to their drawn on Monday as lawyers for worldview.

Theresults worldview is 50 states. The werethey promote Apple and its foe, Cary, N.C.-based neither nor rigorous. Grievance releasedscientific last week.

EDITORIAL Epic Games, outlined their cases | studies of rose disciplines such as Northconsist Carolina two in an Oakland, California, federsociology, gender studies, spots fromanthropology, its No. 6 ranking al court before U.S. District Judge queer studies, sexuality in 2020.

But this year isn’tand thecritical race Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will studies. first time the Tar Heel state decide the case.

In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, has been a top-five choice of While Apple depicted its app Lindsay and Boghossian started business leaders surveyed. In store as an invaluable service besubmitting bogus academic papers to loved by consumers and develop2019, North Carolina ranked academic journals in cultural, queer, fourthgender, in the nationwide survey studies ers alike, Epic Games attacked it race, fat and sexuality of determine CEOs and inif2018 tied forpass peer as a breakthrough idea that has to theyitwould morphed into an instrument of fithird with one other state. seriousness of and the be virus and the review accepted for need publication.

“Our top-tier ranking inask the that nancial exploitation that illegally Acceptance of dubious y with how people who simplyresearch locks out competition.

Chief Executive magazine editors found sympathetic to their n thingsjournal can start getting back to The trial, expected to last most survey is more great news, intersectional or postmodern leftist vision with contempt. of this month, revolves around the right the heels Applethe problem of of theon world wouldofprove a societylow simply must accept without 15% to 30% commission that Apannouncing North Carolina academic standards. s us about when it’s safe to begin thepapers ple charges for subscriptions and asSeveral the home itsfake first of of the research purchases made from apps downalcy. were accepted for publication.

The Fat East Coast campus, which loaded from its store -- the only us, and we the right to ask those Studies published a hoax paper willhave bringjournal $1 billion in new when did one accessible Since on the iPhone, iPad that argued the term was home orders are in and place all bodybuilding over the investment 3,000 and iPod. questioning and should be replaced new jobs tosuch the state,” said hem get exclusionary in states, as Michigan, Epic, the maker of the popular with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive Christopher Chung, chief eeling isolated and/or anxious about Fortnite video government game, laid out evipoliticized performance.”

One reviewer executive officer of the ng for their families, will demand dence drawn mostly from Apple’s at all levels said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Economic Development internal documents in an attempt article and believe it has an important becomehas a built a Partnership of North to prove the company vels should be as forthcoming contribution to make to as thethey field and this Carolina. digital “walled garden” during bad thing? the again, not vague answers, but answer journal.”

“We’re grateful to add this “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what ents believability. recognition to others North Feminism as an Intersectional Reply to at we can to keep our families, free citizens Carolina has achieved in major Neoliberal and Feminism,” was fe. But we shouldrankings, alsoChoice still continue business including living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a ecause while stay-at-home beingreasonable No.journal 1 on Forbes’ Bestworkers. The feminist for social society were y shouldpaper also have an expiration States for Business list three consisted in part of adate. rewritten years in a row.” supposed d it is not normal.

Not in any way,Two other passage from Mein Kampf.

In addition to asking d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at including papers were published, to do, last I CEOs their view of all“new “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity mfortable withfor this so-called checked. states, the survey alsoThis paper’s subject at Urban Dog Parks.” explored their site selection was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape priorities.

The criteria they paper eventually forced Boghossian, Pluckrose and Lindsaytax to prematurely out valued most included under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer policy (37 percent ranked dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing. it first), regulatory climate Some papers (35 percent) andaccepted talent for publication in academic(25 journals advocated training availability percent), men like dogs and punishing according to Chief Executive white male college students for historical slavery by magazine. asking them to sitininChief silence on the floor in The top states chains during class and Executive’s latest surveyto ofbe expected to learn from the discomfort. Other papers CEOs are Texas, followed by celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life Florida, Tennessee, North choice and advocated treating privately Carolina and Indiana. The conducted masturbation as a form of worst place, according the sexual violence againstto women.

Typically, survey, is No. 50 California, academic journal editors send submitted bested out slightly

by No. 49 papers to referees for review. In New York, No. 48 Illinois, for publication, recommending acceptance No. 47reviewers New Jersey, No. 46 papers glowing many gave these Washington and No. 45 praise.

Massachusetts.

HighZach costsGoldberg ran Political scientist remained a factor studies for the concepts through certain grievance lowest-performing states. to see how often the Lexis/Nexis database, 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

north STA

Epic contends the iPhone has from the app store when it opened its current annual revenue of about $5.1 billion through its own app become so ingrained in society in 2008.

The app store is now an integral store. The Epic store, which is cur- that the device and its peripheral Jason piece of a services division that rently banned from the iPhone and services such as the app store has STACEY MATTHEWS generated nearly $17 billion in rev- other Apple products, charges a become a market by itself. As part enue during the first three months 12% commission on in-app trans- of that argument, Epic contends actions. That model isn’t profitable the Apple should be forced to open of this year alone.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON Apple brushed off Epic’s argu- yet, Sweeney said, but he predict- up its walled garden to alternaments as a case brimming with ed the Epic store will start mak- tive options, such as allowing othunfounded allegations made by a ing money during the next three or er app stores and payment options besides its own. company that wants to get rid of four years.

“The garden could have a door,” “Epic is solely seeking changes the app store commission to increase its own profits while free- to Apple’s future behavior,” Swee- Epic lawyer Forrest insisted. “It loading off an iPhone ecosystem ney testified so the company won’t was artificially closed.”

Apple DAY Inc. isthe seeking a farmade, more let us r that has cost more than $100 bil- have to pay higher commissions “THIS IS THE lord has WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home into definition place.

I understand the market that and still be able to offer Fortnite broaderfallen lion to build. in it” (Psalm 118:24). orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I’m unea Karen Dunn, Apple’s attorney, and other games on the iPhone. would encompass the consoles, I know during this challenging time of soc are having adjust to what is being called the Fortnite “new normal.” questions about the data, and wh computers and other devices that Apple ousted from its app that pointed to to Epic’s internal docuworking home orplay losing a job, it diffi people use to games.

To becircle storethrough last August tried to from ments strategy calledat least Someoutlining of theseaorders extend theafter endEpic of this month. normal arevideo treated inmay some that point,us the Cupertino, be glad” asprove the Bible tells to do.

However, as aasC use its own payment system.

“Project Liberty” that paved a way Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re treated as though we California, company cited an in- me oftel Sweeney also acknowledged forHere Fortnite to purposefully and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded j in North Carolina,breach Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the government ternal Epic and analysis donefor, last even year in the m viits app store contract last summer that Epic decided to brazenly have to be thankful hopeful aand recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning back to norm its contract to that concluded 38% of Fortnite usset up a showdown over the olateLenten and with Apple pandemic. state’s May. No. the Thegame government works for on mobile makeinto a point.

“I wanted to show ers who play fees. stay-at-home orders will extend For me, my faith is an important part my da Easter seasons If“Rather he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the questions.

And the longer than investing in inno- the world through action exactly devices also rely on consoles andofstay-atAs I celebrated with my family, justification it. And answerswhat should like “we country, and stricter some ofI other devices, asEaster well. the provide abe vague ones the not ramifications ofmaking.

Apple’s vation, Epic for invested inthe lawyers, 1:4,part which us our Lord “comf of itsreminds case, Apple is also policies were,” of he testified. Corinthians As PR and consultants in an ef- of must dopolicy this out of an abundance caution.” the more people, sitting at home message the roughly 2 billion affliction, so thatwhen we may becan able toback comfort those In to histhe cross-examination, Applewhohighlighting fort getneed all oftothe Apple It to will bebenefits explained in detail people of this state they get to provid hope that weDoren will repeatedly smartphones that run on lawyer Richard provides paying,”jobless Dunn and affliction, other with the comfort which we ourselves ar are being without told to remain at home for an undetermined answers. oncewhy again enjoy pressed Epic seemed God.” to have Google’s Android software, which said. amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state allows alternative to season, down- I urgele In sworn testimony, Epic CEO no problem sporting paying events, a mandatoIf you are celebrating theways Easter

VISUAL VOICES

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

are reliable. can be with those answers — and reflect and be comforted, that concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and thenon this message with details that give theirso statem God’sabout example andWe comfort in need arou mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions shouldallallthose continue to do w gatherings, this difficult time.

Through faith and by helping o the data. State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s church services confident we willtoemerge out of this pandemic strb Unfortunately, when certain types ofand questions get asked, there is ask questions about the data, many more this same spirit, I continue to be inspired the by sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understandable, after our own helping neighbors. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start neighbors getting back This is all new to Americans, a temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior named to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form.

So while weTanne shoul printer andwe plastic to make fa sacrifices are sick. money to buy a 3-D otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others the same time shouldn’t get co health care workers out of his own home.

Since when did questioning government a bad normal.” over. at all levels become thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. to do, last I checked.

My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contributor to Re suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat.

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

2021 Honda Odyssey review, B7

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B6

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 4/30 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$2,356,119,376 Add Receipts:

$232,021,032 Less Disbursements:

$101,418,393 Reserved Cash:

$696,826,645 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$5,094,550,904

US trade deficit hits record $74.4 billion in March

By Martin Crutsinger The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. trade deficit surged to a record $74.4 billion in March as an improving U.S. economy drove purchases of imported foreign goods.

The deficit, the gap between what America buys from abroad and what it sells to other countries, was 5.6% greater than the February gap of $70.5 billion, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.

Imports rose 6.3% to $274.5 billion while exports increased 6.6% to $200 billion. The U.S. imports so much more than it exports that in dollar terms, the rise in imports was greater.

The politically sensitive trade deficit with China rose 11.6% to

$27.7 billion which, as usual, was the largest deficit with any single country.

Through the first three months of this year, the U.S. trade deficit totals $212.8 billion, up 64.2% from the deficit during the same period last year, a time when the U.S. economy was essentially shut down by the coronavirus pandemic.

The United States recorded a deficit for all of 2020 of $681 billion, the largest annual gap since 2008 as the coronavirus disrupted global commerce and confounded then-President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies.

The U.S. economy is recovering much faster than the rest of the world and that is playing out in trade numbers as the gap widens.

Americans are starting to spend again, while U.S. exporters are

facing sluggish overseas demand in nations slower to recover.

“Stronger U.S. growth compared to trading partners will lead the trade deficit to grow in 2021,” said Oren Klachen, lead U.S. economist. “U.S. domestic demand will keep a strong pull on imports, thanks to improved health conditions, re-openings and historic fiscal expansion.”

During his four years in office, Trump pursued a get-tough trade strategy that employed punitive tariffs on other country’s products as a way of wiping out America’s trade deficits with the rest of the world and restoring millions of lost manufacturing jobs.

Trump sought to narrow the trade gap by imposing tariffs on imported goods on a scale not seen since the trade wars of the 1930s that contributed to push-

ing the United States and the rest of the world into a Great Depression.

Trump’s efforts failed to alter trade imbalances and angered U.S. allies along with competitors such as China. So far, however, the Biden administration has not rolled back the Trump policies.

Some analysts believe that President Joe Biden is proceeding with caution because reversing all of Trump’s policies could heighten risks for a Democrat who is close to unions. Organized labor has long complained about America’s pre-Trump free trade policies.

For March, America’s surplus in services trade, items such as airline flights and consulting fees, shrank to new decade low of $17.1 billion, a drop that analysts blamed on COVID-19 restrictions that have limited tourism. Normally, the United States is able to reduce its overall deficit by a larger amount thanks to larger surpluses in services trade.

The deficit in goods totaled a record $91.6 billion in March, up from a March goods deficit of $87.9 billion.

RDU board approves new vendor agreements RDU Airport The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board approved agreements Friday with vendors who will operate food and beverage delivery and ATM and currency exchange services at the airport.

In late February, Host International Inc. informed RDU that as of early June, it would no longer provide commissary services, including post-security warehousing and deliveries of food and beverage to restaurants in the terminals. The Authority Board voted to contract with Newrest RDU, LLC as a short-term solution until a longterm agreement for this essential airport service can be implemented.

“Without this interim measure, airport vendors would not be able to receive food and beverage deliveries,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority.

The Authority Board also voted to transition RDU Currency and Business Services, LLC, the airport’s largest ATM and currency exchange provider, to CLS Management Services, Inc. The new vendor began operating ATMs and currency exchange in the terminals May 1.

Growth in US manufacturing slowed in April from March high Washington, D.C. Growth in U.S. manufacturing slowed slightly in April partly due to a snarled global supply chain after hitting a 37-year high in March. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity fell last month to a reading of 60.7. That was down from a March reading of 64.7, which had been the highest level since December 1983.

Any reading above 50 indicates manufacturing is expanding. April was the 11th consecutive month manufacturing has grown after contracting in April 2020, when the country was struggling to deal with the shutdowns caused by a global pandemic. The slowdown in April reflected a number of problems facing U.S. factories including disruptions in supply chains for critical components such as computer chips. But the ISM report showed that optimistic comments about the future compared with cautious statements from companies came in at a ratio of 11- to-1 up from an 8-to-1 ratio in March. All six of the biggest manufacturing industries including fabricated metal products, chemical products, food and beverages, and computer and electronic products, registered moderate to strong growth in April.

APPLE from page B5 load apps.

The different way that Google manages apps on Android is one example that Apple believes proves that consumers have other choices, but many of them prefer keeping their digital experiences within a carefully controlled walled garden.

Epic is “asking us to remove our competitive advantage,” Apple lawyer Dunn said. “Epic wants us to be Android, but we don’t want to be.”

Epic also is suing Google in a separate case accusing that company of illegally gouging apps through its Play store for Android devices.

LYNN SLADKY | AP PHOTO

Crew members stand on the bow as the CMA CGM Argentina arrives at PortMiami, the largest container ship to call at a Florida port, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Miami.

Democrats must find narrow path to curb high medicine prices

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s call for authorizing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices has energized Democrats on a politically popular idea they’ve been pushing for nearly 20 years only to encounter frustration.

But they still lack a clear path to enact legislation. That’s because a small number of Democrats remain uneasy over government price curbs on pharmaceutical companies.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will need every Democratic vote in a narrowly divided Congress. Otherwise Democrats may have to settle for a compromise that stops short of their goal. Or they could take the issue into the 2022 midterm elections.

“There is a path,” said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., one of Pelosi’s lieutenants. “But there’s also a challenge, and the challenge is we’ve got razor-thin margins.”

“This is not a done deal,” continued Welch. “We’ve got a president and a speaker, but ‘pharma’ is very powerful.” Pharma is a nickname for the industry and for its main lobbying group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA. The industry lobbying group PhRMA is considered one of the most skilled in Washington. Its mission: to preserve a clause in the 2003 law that created Medicare’s pharmacy benefit barring the government from interfering in price negotiations among drugmakers and insurers. That was enacted before $1,000 pills became old hat.

PhRMA CEO Stephen Ubl served notice after Biden’s speech to Congress last week that the industry stands ready to defend its

prerogative. “Giving the government the power to arbitrarily determine the price of medicines is not the right approach,” he said in a statement, arguing it would stifle innovation. Such measured language belies the group’s clout.

It’s usually among the top five spenders on Washington lobbying and networks with allied groups in the states.

“I don’t think anybody is fully prepared for the onslaught we expect from PhRMA,” said Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, a coalition backing Medicare negotiations. “We are going to see a much bigger stepped-up game.”

Pelosi put Medicare negotiations back in play with the reintroduction of an ambitious bill she powered through the House in 2019. Medicare would use an average of lower prices in other economically advanced countries to negotiate on top drugs.

Companies that refused to deal would be hit with a steep tax.

Drugmakers who hike prices above the rate of inflation would owe rebates to Medicare. Hundreds of billions of dollars potentially saved would be plowed back into other health care programs. Private insurers covering working-age people would be able to secure Medicare’s lower prices.

“We’ve been working on this for almost a generation—it’s time to do that,” Pelosi told reporters last week. The “cost of health care is a challenge to America’s working families because of the cost of prescription drugs.”

She called it “a central issue for us.”

In his speech to Congress, Biden invited lawmakers to imagine the possibilities. “The money we save, which is billions of dollars, can go to strengthening the Affordable Care Act and expand Medicare benefits without costing taxpayers an addi-

ELISE AMENDOLA | AP PHOTO

In this June 15, 2018, file photo, pharmaceuticals are seen in North Andover, Mass. tional penny,” the president said.

“It is within our power to do it.

Let’s do it now. We’ve talked about it long enough.”

But Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is urging Biden to lower his sights a bit. Grassley opposes negotiating authority for Medicare but supports requiring drugmakers to pay rebates for price hikes above the inflation rate — a potential compromise.

“I hope the president reconsiders the liberal pipe dream in favor of the big bipartisan win,” said Grassley.

A former Trump White House health policy adviser suggests coronavirus vaccines have put the pharmaceutical industry in a stronger position. The small number of Democrats balking at price negotiations “actually want to help patients while preserving an industry that just saved civilization,” said Joe Grogan.

Yet polls have consistently shown strong public support for authorizing Medicare to negotiate. “This is very high among the concerns of voters, and also heavily promised by Biden in the campaign,” said policy expert

John Rother, a longtime advocate of drug price curbs.

One option for Pelosi and Schumer would be to splice the Medicare legislation into a mammoth bill delivering Biden’s “American Jobs Plan” promises on social programs and infrastructure. Such a vehicle would seem to offer the greatest chance to pass drug pricing curbs. But the political dynamics are different in each chamber. What might work in the House may get nowhere in the Senate.

With its 50-50 split, the Senate is looking like the choke point. The overwhelming majority of Democrats are in favor of Medicare negotiations, but a few are undeclared.

Among them is Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, whose office says he believes “any drug pricing bill must deliver real savings for consumers at the pharmacy counter, not just achieve savings to the government or overall system.”

“It’s going to be a heavy lift,” said policy expert Rother. “But I don’t think you know for sure until you try it.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B7

2021 Honda Odyssey

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HONDA

A family-friendly crossover alternative Even if it’s still a bit of a mom car

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — Crossovers are some of the most popular vehicles in America. It’s easy to see why: your driving position is elevated and comfortable; there’s lots of cargo space; and, because they’re built on the same car-based platform, they don’t have a trucky ride.

It’s all things to all people.

Sure, they can’t be as sporty as a car or go off-roading like an actual SUV, but no one cares. For trips to Whole Foods or schlepping the kids to soccer practice, they’re perfect. But long before the crossover boom, we had an ideal vehicle for the after-school run: the humble minivan.

For folks of a certain age, it was almost a given that your parents would, at some point, have a minivan. Mine had a Dodge Caravan, the first one that had sliding doors on both sides. And much to my chagrin, sitting in the third row most of the time, it did not have the optional rear-seat climate control system.

But with sliding doors, removable seats, and a spacious interior, it was perfect for family road trips and hauling epic amounts of trash to the town dump. Like a crossover, minivans get decent gas mileage and have a solid, car-like ride. They can haul tons of gear and people, and they’re easy to get in and out of — much easier than a crossover if you have difficulty moving around.

But then, one day, the minivan suddenly became uncool. It became a mom car as if features like good

visibility and lots of legroom were drawbacks. And soon enough, the crossover came along, and the minivan was history. Or is it?

Over the past decade, the Honda Odyssey has been America’s bestselling minivan. And moving 1.1 million of them in that time is no small feat, though Honda sold almost four times as many CR-Vs over the same period. The point is that the minivan is far from dead, though it occupies a bit of a niche position these days.

But what a minivan this is. I drove the top-of-the-line 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite this week and came away very impressed. It has the standard minivan features you’d expect. We have captain’s chairs in the second row, power sliding doors, and a third-row bench seat that yeets away into the floor with a modest yank. But Honda also stuffed it with all sorts of surprise-and-delight goodies that are perfect for anyone trying to get their kids from point A to point B and back again.

Those captain’s chairs that I mentioned are perfect for giving each kid their own space, but it does impede access to the rear bench seat a bit by forcing people to climb over those chairs to get to the back. In the Odyssey, each captain’s chair has a handle near the floor that makes it slide back-and-forth horizontally. That means you can push the chairs together to create a pseudo-bench or to give better access to the third row.

There’s a power moonroof above the front seats, so mom and dad get to see some sky. Backseat passengers get something to look at, too, thanks to a flip-down TV screen in the ceiling. This is nothing new, of course, but it comes

REAR SEAT REMINDER

with a Blu-Ray player and two pairs of Bluetooth headphones so the kids can quietly watch Frozen 2 for the 12,000th time without the parents going insane.

If your kids are a little young for headphones, there’s even a camera mounted in the roof above the second row so you can spy if your kids are asleep on the front infotainment screen. There’s a less high-tech drop-down mirror in the ceiling, too, if you want to be a bit more analog.

That old Dodge Caravan didn’t have roll-down power windows in the sliding doors, but the Odyssey does. Sure, this is normal these days, but I would have killed for some fresh air when I was in the third row as a teenager. There are also manual roll-up sunshades to keep the sun off the little ones on a long trip. Honda’s designers have done their research.

Perhaps my favorite feature in the 2021 Odyssey is the wildly clever HondaVAC. It’s an actu-

al Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner hidden away in a side-wall of the rear cargo area. Pull open a door, and a hose pops out, letting you suck up whatever bits of Cheerios, Cheetos, or chorizo that end up scattered about the rear seats.

Unfortunately, as of the 2022 model year, the HondaVAC is no longer. Shop-Vac, the supplier that sold the mini-vac to Honda, has gone out of business. At least the twelve glorious full-sized cup holders won’t be going anywhere.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B8

features Thank You, Teachers!

Americans update their closets as they emerge from pandemic The Associated Press

By Dan Reeves For the North State Journal GREENSBORO — A resounding “Thank You” was captured in high definition from the basketball court at Irving Park Elementary School in Greensboro last month. To celebrate national teacher appreciation week and to honor educators for their fortitude during the pandemic, Adam Paul of Greensboro-based live event streaming and production company 7 Cinematics created a heartwarming video featuring students singing and dancing to Natalie Merchant’s “Kind and Generous.” “My son goes to Irving Park Elementary and we have a lot of teachers in our family,” says Paul.

“Teachers were not getting the respect and notoriety they deserved, so we wanted to do something special for them, so we did what we do best at 7 Cinematics: film music events.”

Fraught with the challenges of teaching music online during the pandemic, Irving Park Elementary musical director Jonathan Drye was amazed by the concept. “When Adam called me I was overwhelmed with how much support he had for Irving Park and for the music program,” Drye says. Drye spent a week rehearsing “Kind and Generous” with students grades K-5 which culminated in a fun and unique experience his students never had before.

The message Drye hopes the video will convey is a genuine gesture of gratitude for teachers everywhere. “The whole hope for me is that people will see that teachers have done more than we ever been asked to before, particularly those in the arts field,” says Drye. “We basically had to reinvent the world, and I hope there’s a better appreciation for what teachers actually do.”

Special Event Services out of Winston-Salem provided audio, lighting, and stage effects adding to the overall feel of a live music event. “I think this was our call to action during the pandemic,” says Jeff Cranfill of Special Event Services. “At the end of the day what we’re here to do is to use our craft to make people feel good.”

Produced with filming and audio equipment usually reserved for large-scale concert events, the final product comes off as a high-definition musical production and a virtual thank you card for teachers everywhere. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Natalie Merchant was honored to take part in the celebration by sharing it herself and thanking a teacher who impacted and influenced her.

To view the video, go to https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=jyOgLOm3eH0. Paul and his team urge viewers to also thank a teacher and consider donating to a school of your choice.

NEW YORK — After a year of being stuck in sweatpants, pajamas and fuzzy slippers, Americans are starting to dress up and go out again.

Levi Strauss is seeing a resurgence in denim while demand for dresses at Macy’s, Anthropologie and Nordstrom is going up as proms and weddings resume. And teen retailer American Eagle Outfitters said sales are rising due to “pent-up” demand for its fashions.

During the three months ended February, market research firm NPD Group said jeans and casual pants began to cut their previous declines by more than half, indicating consumers are gearing up to spend more time out of the home. And more than half of U.S. consumers plan to buy clothing in the coming months, catapulting it back to the top category of anticipated spending, followed by footwear and beauty products, according to NPD’s consumer survey.

“My plan is to dress up and enjoy the things in my wardrobe,” said Beth Embrescia, 51, an executive fundraiser who for the last year paired dressy tops with sweatpants and Birkenstocks for work Zoom calls but recently bought collared shirts and loafers with a wedge heel while on a recent vacation in Florida. “I will not be going out to dinner in joggers.”

Such signs of renewed interest offer a much-needed boost for clothing sales, which have been in the dumps for a year. They also serve as hopeful indications of a strong economic recovery as Americans show more willingness to travel and dine out as President Joe Biden’s vaccination plan proceeds ahead of schedule.

Major transactions at full service restaurants rose more than twofold this March compared to year ago, though down 25% compared to two years ago, according to NPD. Hotels are making a come-

back too, with demand during the week ended April 11 surging more than fourfold compared with a year ago and up 10.9% compared with the same week in 2019, according to Koddi, an advertising technology company.

Through the first 20 days in April, the Transportation Security Administration screened an average of 1.4 million people per day, a significant climb from a year ago when the number was just under 99,000 a day. But travel is still off from 2019, which averaged more than 2.3 million people a day over a comparable period.

The data on clothing sales is preliminary, and retailers and designers are still trying to figure out how a year of being homebound will change the way people think about dressing up. Casual wear was already strong before COVID-19, and many experts believe the pandemic only accelerated the trend.

A year ago, Los Angeles-based fashion designer Kevan Hall quickly moved away from his trademark gowns and cocktail dresses to caftans, tunics and pullon pants. Now Hall is adding back some dressier looks, but he’s eliminating the full skirts and scaling back the beading in favor of simple gowns and dresses in knit and tulle fabrics.

“I don’t know whether women will ever want to go back to being with so much structure,” said Hall, who has been getting calls from clients and stores in recent weeks asking for dressed-up looks. “I think people are going to lean into comfort even more — even when they are getting dressed for evening or galas.”

Retail executives are also looking at how business attire will change. While some corporations are starting to re-open their offices, many are extending workfrom-home indefinitely or moving to a hybrid model, eliminating the need for office wear five days a

week.

At the onset of the pandemic, sales of clothing and accessories cratered when non-essential stores were forced to temporarily close.

But now business is starting to rebound above pre-pandemic levels . In March, spending at clothing and accessory stores rose 18.3% to $22.86 billion from the month before, according to the Commerce Department’s most recent monthly retail report. That was almost double compared with the same month in March 2020 and up 2.3% compared with March 2019.

Retailers, burned by the sudden switch away from formal looks last year, are being cautious about how much to add back.

Janice Elliott, a buyer for designer clothing boutique Gus Mayer’s Nashville, Tennessee location, says she’s optimistic about people’s return to going-out-clothes this spring and fall, but she’s staying away from ordering items like structured sheaths and leaning toward flowy cotton dresses.

Before the pandemic, more than 50% of the business at Gus Mayer was in formal clothes; during the height of COVID-19, that fell to less than 10%.

“I think there is going to be a pent-up demand, but I still think there will be a more relaxed way of dressing going forward,” Elliott said.

Deirdre Quinn, CEO and co-founder of upscale clothing brand Lafayette 148 New York, says her team is designing multi-purpose items like blouses that can be worn from day into evening.

She noted that business was down 30% last year from a year earlier and this year has started out weak. Quinn hasn’t seen any pickup in dresses yet and believes sales won’t rebound to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.

“I don’t want to rush back to where we were,” she said. “I am going to control how quickly I grow.

It is a reset time.”

Help Wanted: In pandemic, worry about finding summer workers

By Philip Marcelo The Associated Press BOSTON, Mass. — The owner of seafood restaurants on Cape Cod has eliminated lunch service and delayed the opening of some locations because his summertime influx of foreign workers hasn’t arrived yet.

More than a thousand miles away, a Jamaican couple is fretting about whether the rest of their extended family can join them for the seasonal migration to the popular beach destination south of Boston that’s been a crucial lifeline for them for decades.

As vaccinated Americans start to get comfortable traveling again, popular summer destinations are anticipating a busy season. But hotel, restaurant and retail store owners warn that staffing shortages exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic could force them to limit occupancy, curtail hours and services or shut down facilities entirely just as they’re starting to bounce back from a grim year.

The problem, they say, is twofold: The annual influx of seasonal foreign workers has stalled in places because of the pandemic. Businesses have also struggled to attract U.S. workers, even as many have redoubled their efforts to hire locally amid high unemployment.

“It’s the ‘Hunger Games’ for these employers, fighting for getting these guest workers into the country while also trying everything they can to recruit domestically,” said Brian Crawford, an executive vice president for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a Washington, D.C.based industry group. “It’s really frustrating. They’re trying to regain their footing after this disastrous pandemic but they just can’t catch a break.”

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden let expire a controver-

sial ban on temporary worker visas such as the J-1 program for students and the H-2B program for nonagricultural laborers imposed by former President Donald Trump.

But American embassies and consulates remain closed or severely short-staffed in many countries. The U.S. has also imposed restrictions on travelers from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil and South Africa because of the emergence of new virus variants or rising COVID-19 cases.

Advocates for the J-1 program, which brings in about 300,000 foreign students annually, urged the State Department in a letter Thursday to exempt the applicants from the travel bans and provide other relief so they can start their summer jobs. Ilir Zherka, head of the Alliance for International Exchange, which sent the letter along with more than 500 supporting groups and companies, argued the J-1 program doesn’t just benefit local economies, but also helps strengthen national security by promoting understanding and appreciation of U.S. culture.

Supporters of the H-2B program, meanwhile, have renewed their call to overhaul the program, which is capped at 66,000 visas per fiscal year. The Biden administration, citing the summer demand from employers, said Tuesday it will approve an additional 22,000 H-2B visas, but lawmakers from New England and other regions that rely on the visas for tourism, landscaping, forestry, fish processing and other seasonal trades say that’s still inadequate.

“That’s infinitesimal. It isn’t anywhere close to the need,” said Congressman Bill Keating, a Democrat representing Cape Cod. Cem Küçükgenç (Gem KooCHOOK-gench), a 22-year-old engineering student at Middle East

“I will not be going out to dinner in joggers.” executive fundraiser Beth Embrescia, 51

Bartender Denis Angelov, of Provincetown, Mass., left, serves sparking wine to Julie Skaller, left, and her husband David Skaller, right, both of Brewster, N.Y., at Tin Pan Alley restaurant, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Provincetown.

STEVEN SEINE | AP PHOTO

Technical University in Turkey, is among thousands of foreign students worldwide awaiting approval for a J-1 visa.

He’s slated to work at a waterfront restaurant in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, this summer, but the U.S. Embassy in Ankara recently announced that it won’t be unable to process temporary work visas in time for the summer season.

Turkey has imposed a partial lockdown as the coronavirus surges there, but Küçükgenç is still holding out hope the embassy might relent if virus cases subside.

“I graduate next year,” he said.

“I’m not sure when I’ll have another chance.”

In Jamaica, Freda Powell says she and her husband have secured their H-2B visas and will arrive on Cape Cod, where they’ve worked in retail stores and restaurants for roughly 20 summers now, in early May. But the 55-year-old worries her siblings and other relatives might not be so lucky. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston has temporarily halted visa processing because of rising COVID-19 cases in her country, she says.

“In Jamaica, you can work, but it’s hand to mouth,” Powell said.

“With the money you make in the U.S., you can buy a car, fix the house, send your kids to school and build savings.”

The uncertainty around international hires has forced American businesses to redouble their efforts to hire domestically, or make

tough compromises until reinforcements can arrive.

In New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Christmas-themed amusement park Santa’s Village is promising college students free housing and utilities.

In California’s Sonoma Valley, business leaders in the famous winemaking region are exploring the idea of pooling employees, among other workforce initiatives.

Mark Bodenhamer, head of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, said a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch could possibly share employees with one that does the majority of its business during evening hours.

“Those solutions are complicated and costly,” he said. “But at this point, it’s all hands on deck.”

In North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the tourist season is already in full swing, but staff shortages abound, according to Karen Brown, head of the beach region’s chamber of commerce.

Some restaurants have been forced to shut down once a week or halt curbside service, while in some hotels, managers are helping maids turn over rooms, she said.

“Everyone is pitching in where they can just to keep the wheels on the bus,” Brown said.

Mac Hay, who owns seafood restaurants and markets on Cape Cod, is among the business owners who have their doubts that extra efforts to hire American workers will pay off.

On a given year, he estimates

about a third of his 350-person summer workforce ultimately has to come from seasonal visa workers from Mexico, Jamaica and elsewhere when the jobs aren’t filled locally.

Hay argues the foreign workers are the “backbone kitchen staff” — the line cooks, food prep workers and dishwashers — who make it possible for him to hire Americans for jobs they’re seeking, such as waiting tables, bartending and management.

“We simply won’t be able to meet demand without an increased workforce,” he said.

Business owners and experts say there are myriad reasons why U.S. citizens aren’t rushing to respond to the job boom, from COVID-19-related worries to child care issues or simply a decision to collect unemployment benefits, which have been increased and extended through the summer season in most places.

But the need for international workers on Cape Cod — where soaring housing costs have been a major barrier to generating a substantial homegrown workforce — boils down to a simple math problem, Hay said.

Provincetown, a popular gay resort community at the very tip of the cape, has just 2,200 yearround residents, yet restaurants like Hay’s employ about 2,000 workers in high season alone.

“We’re on a dead-end street up here, basically,” he said. “There’s no one else coming.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Bill and Melinda Gates announce they are getting divorced

By Sally Ho The Associated Press SEATTLE — Bill and Melinda Gates said Monday that they are divorcing but would keep working together at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world.

In identical tweets, the Microsoft co-founder and his wife said they had made the decision to end their marriage of 27 years.

“We have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives,” they said in a statement. “We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”

Bill Gates was formerly the world’s richest person and his fortune is estimated at well over $100 billion. How the couple end up settling their estate and any impact on the foundation will be closely watched, especially after another high-profile Seattle-area billionaire couple recently ended their marriage.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos finalized their divorce in 2019. MacKenzie Scott has since remarried and now focuses on her own philanthropy after receiving a 4% stake in Ama-

ELAINE THOMPSON | AP PHOTO

In this Feb. 1, 2019, file photo, Bill and Melinda Gates smile at each other during an interview in Kirkland, Wash. zon, worth more than $36 billion.

The Gateses were married in 1994 in Hawaii. They met after she began working at Microsoft as a product manager in 1987.

In her 2019 memoir, “The Moment of Lift,” Melinda Gates wrote about her childhood, life and private struggles as the wife of a public icon and stay-at-home mom with three kids. She won Bill Gates’ heart after meeting at a work dinner, sharing a mutual

love of puzzles and beating him at a math game.

She also detailed the ways they navigated imbalances in their marriage and parenting journey and noted how working together at the foundation made their relationship better.

“Bill and I are equal partners,” Melinda Gates said in a 2019 interview with The Associated Press. “Men and women should be equal at work.”

The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the most influential private foundation in the world, with an endowment worth nearly $50 billion. It has focused on global health and development and U.S. education issues since incorporating in 2000.

While both are global figures, Melinda Gates has increasingly built her profile as a champion of women and girls. The former tech business executive launched her private Pivotal Ventures investment and incubation company in 2015 and recently partnered with Scott for a newly announced equity challenge.

David Callahan, founder of the Insider Philanthropy website and author of “The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age” says it’s too early to know how the divorce will affect the Gates foundation and the wider philanthropic community.

Although the couple say they will continue to work together at their foundation, Callahan suggests Melinda Gates could still pursue her own philanthropic work.

“You can imagine two separate tracks where they’re both working together at the foundation, and each is pursuing their own independent philanthropy outside the foundation,” Callahan said.

He said the possibility of Melinda Gates opening another philanthropic foundation would have a dramatic impact.

“Nobody knows what the terms are of their divorce agreement. But if Melinda Gates ends up with just some portion of that wealth and

B9 “You can imagine two separate tracks where they’re both working together at the foundation, and each is pursuing their own independent philanthropy outside the foundation.”

David Callahan, founder of Insider Philanthropy turns to creating her own foundation, it would be among one of the biggest foundations probably in America,” Callahan said.

As the public face of the foundation’s COVID-19 grants and advocacy work, Bill Gates has come under fire for being a staunch supporter of intellectual property rights for vaccine makers. While the tech icon says protecting the shots’ recipes will ensure incentives for research and development, critics claim that mentality hampers supply in favor of drug company profits.

Last year, Bill Gates said he was stepping down from Microsoft’s board to focus on philanthropy.

He was Microsoft’s CEO until 2000 and since then has gradually scaled back his involvement in the company he started with Paul Allen in 1975. He transitioned out of a day-to-day role in Microsoft in 2008 and served as chairman of the board until 2014.

ALYSSANDRA TARANTINO | AP PHOTO

A visitor kneels in front of the Last Judgement fresco by the Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo inside the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Museums on the occasion of the museum’s reopening, in Rome, Monday, May 3, 2021.

Attention travelers! EU proposes reopening external borders

By Samuel Petrequin The Associated Press BRUSSELS — In an announcement sure to be welcomed by travelers worldwide, EU officials on Monday proposed easing restrictions on visiting the 27-nation bloc as vaccination campaigns across the continent gather speed.

Travel to the European Union is currently extremely limited except for a handful of countries with low infection rates. But with the summer tourist season looming, the European Commission hopes the new recommendations will dramatically expand that list.

“The Commission proposes to allow entry to the EU for nonessential reasons not only for all persons coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation, but also all people who have received the last recommended dose of an EU-authorized vaccine,” it said.

Coronavirus vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency, the bloc’s drug regula-

tor, include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The EMA has not approved any vaccines from Russia or China as of yet but is looking at data for Russia’s Sputnik V jab.

EU officials believe the bloc’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign will soon be “a game changer” in the fight against the deadly virus. Its proposal will be discussed with EU ambassadors this week and the Commission hopes it could enter into force by June.

EU nations could also individually decide to accept travelers immunized with vaccines listed

by WHO for emergency use. The U.N. health agency has approved the same four vaccines as the EMA, and is expected to make a ruling soon on China’s Sinopharm vaccine.

Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said fully-vaccinated travelers coming from outside the EU should be allowed to visit Europe but insisted that the proposal’s goal is not to exempt them from testing or quarantines upon

arrival.

“This still remains very much in the hands of the member states,” he said.

The Commission also proposed raising the threshold of new COVID-19 cases that is used to determine the countries from which all travel should be permitted.

“Nonessential travel regardless of individual vaccination status is currently permitted from seven countries with a good epidemiological situation,” it said, proposing to increase 14-day cumulative COVID-19 infection rate per 100,000 inhabitants from 25 to 100.

“This remains considerably below the current EU average, which is over 420,” it said.

It was unclear which countries would actually make the cut but an EU official who was not authorized to be quoted by name because the proposal has yet to be adopted said Israel would definitely be on the list.

“The UK, question mark, the

U.S., for the time being, not quite,” he said. “But we see how quickly the situation in the U.S. is evolving, notably for the rate of vaccination.”

In case the infection situation deteriorates in a non-EU country, the Commission proposed an “emergency brake” to stop dangerous virus variants from entering the bloc through quickly enacted travel limits.

EU officials and nations are also talking about introducing COVID-19 certificates aimed at facilitating travel across the region this summer. The documents, sometimes called coronavirus passports or green certificates, would be given to EU residents who can prove they have been vaccinated or prove they have recovered from COVID-19.

“Until the digital green certificate is operational, member states should be able to accept certificates from non-EU countries,” the Commission said, adding that unvaccinated children should be able to travel with their vaccinat-

ed parents if they provide a negative PCR test.

Hungary jumped ahead of its fellow EU nations on Saturday, loosening several COVID-19 restrictions for people with government-issued immunity cards. The cards were given out to those who have had one vaccine dose or those who recovered from COVID-19.

People with the plastic cards could enter indoor dining rooms, hotels, theaters, cinemas, spas, gyms, libraries, museums and other recreational venues in Hungary.

The whole issue of COVID-19 passports is fraught in many parts of the world, with critics saying they discriminate against people in poorer nations or younger people who do not have access to vaccines in many countries. The Hungarian government moved ahead with its own certificates because it has been inoculating its people with a variety of vaccines, including jabs from China and Russia that have not been approved by the EMA.

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 309

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Gin Cheng Chen (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Gin Cheng Chen) to Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation, Trustee(s), dated November 2, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 7746, at Page 0466 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP56 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DALLAS T. WARREN, JR. DATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7725 AT PAGE 46 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in or near City of Fayetteville, Cross Creek Township, Cumberland County, NC and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Unit 204, in a subdivision known as Fountainhead Condominiums, Phase Three, according to a plat of the same being duly recorded in Condo Book 7, Page 144, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 206 Fountainhead Lane, Unit #204, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Property Address: 206 Fountainhead Lane #204, Fayetteville, NC 28301 Tax ID#: 0437-24-4567

By Fee Simple Deed from Elmwood Partners, LLC as set forth in Deed Book 7668, Page 0358 and recorded on 8/8/2007, Cumberland County Records.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. 7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also

being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the

property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1270595 - 12996

public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:30AM on May 10, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Dallas T. Warren, Jr., dated September 18, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $85,500.00, and recorded in Book 7725 at Page 46 of the Cumberland County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record.

Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

And Being more commonly known as: 762 Gayron Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311

hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

Address of property: 762 Gayron Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Tax Parcel ID: 0429-77-8640 Present Record Owners: Dallas T. Warren, Jr.

21 SP 97 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

2021 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:

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Dallas T. Warren, Jr. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven

RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on May 12,

Said property is commonly known as 4512 Woodswallow Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28312.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Barry Maieritsch and wife, Heidi Maieritsch.

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

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,

20 SP 152 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

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

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.

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Barry Maieritsch, and Wife Heidi Maieritsch to NETCO, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated November 24, 2015 and recorded on January 8, 2016 in Book 9784 at Page 570, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lloyd J. Almond a/k/a Lloyd J. Almond, III to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated May 16, 2014 and recorded on May 29, 2014 in Book 09438 at Page 0561, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

BEING ALL OF LOT 249 IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS BAYWOOD, SECTION FIVE, PART ONE, AND THE SAME BEING DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 91, PAGE 61, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW lS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, STATE OF North Carolina, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 5 OF LAKE VIEW TERRACE TOWNHOUSES, SECTION I, AS SHOWN ON PLAT DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 48, PAGE 3, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on May 19, 2021 at 01:30 PM, and will

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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 144

BEGINNING at a stake in the eastern property line of Greenland Drive which beginning point is North 7 degrees 36 minutes East 198 feet from the intersection of the northern property line of Ashford Avenue with the eastern property line of Greenland Drive runs thence with and along the eastern property line of Greenland Drive, North 7 degrees 36 minutes East 66 feet to a stake, cornering; thence South 82 degrees 24 minutes East 134 feet 3 inches to a stake, cornering; thence South 7 degrees 38 minutes West 66 feet to a stake, cornering; thence North 82 degrees 24 minutes West 134 feet to the place of beginning; and BEING all of Lots 227 and 226 and a part of Lots Nos 225 and 228 of Greenland, a subdivision plat of which is recorded in Book of Plats No. 9 page 6, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 816 Greenland Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Frank Edward Siler, Jr. and Hadley E. Dullnig (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Frank Edward Siler, Jr.) to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), dated March 19, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 9142, at Page 527 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on May 17, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 122

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Robert A. Bell as to a 1/4 Interest (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Robert A. Bell, as to a 4/24 Interest and William J. Milbourne, III, as to a 2/24 Interest) to F. Stuart Clarke, Trustee(s), dated the 8th day of July, 2011, and recorded in Book 8677, Page 769, in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2021 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: FIRST TRACT: BEGINNING at a stake on the Southwest side of the Yadkin Road, at a point or place of said road and the intersection of the Fort Bragg Reservation line, thence along and with said Yadkin Road, South 39 degrees East 1.51 chains to a stake; thence South 67 degrees West 15.51 chains to a stake in L.A. Fillyaw’s line; thence along and with the Fillyaw Line, in a Northeasterly direction 5.23 chains to a stake in the Fort Bragg Reservation line; thence along and with the Fort Bragg Reservation line, North 86 degrees East 13.71 chains to the place of BEGINNING. Containing five acres, more or less.

SECOND TRACT: BEGINNING at a stake in the South line of the Yadkin Road, approximately 100 feet from the point of intersection of the Yadkin Road and the Fort Bragg Reservation line; thence South 61 degrees 23 minutes West 4 chains and 90 links to a stake; thence South 37 degrees 45 minutes East 2 chains and 55 links

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21 SP 117 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lenuel Collazo and Melissa Collazo, in the original amount of $120,537.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Advantage Loans, Inc., dated August 31, 2009 and recorded on September 1, 2009 in Book 8237, Page 560, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on May 18, 2021, and will sell to the highest bidder for

Said property is commonly known as 382 Terrace Court, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset

Parcel Identification No. 0428-80-1610 Property Address: 816 Greenland Fayetteville, NC 28305

Drive,

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

to a stake, Alex Stewart’s line; thence along and with Stewart’s line, in a northeasterly direction, 4 chains and 90 links to a stake in the southwest line of the Yadkin Road; thence along and with the Yadkin Road, North 37 degrees 45 minutes West 1 chain and 49 links to the point or place of BEGINNING. Containing one acre, more or less.

THIRD TRACT: BEGINNING at a stake in the southwest margin of the Yadkin Road, about eight miles West of Fayetteville near the Fort Bragg Reservation, at the intersection of a small road, C.J. Cain’s corner, and also in the beginning corner of a tract of 13 1/5th acres, of which this is a part, and running thence with the western margin of the Yadkin Road, North 37 degrees 45 minutes West one chain and forty-nine links to a stake; thence South 64 degrees 30 minutes West four chains and ninety links to a stake; thence South 37 degrees 45 minutes East two chains and fifty-five links to a stake in C.J. Cain’s line; thence with his line, North 42 degrees East four chains and ninety-seven links to the BEGINNING, containing one acre, excepting a small strip taken by the Public Road, and being the same land described in a deed from Gus Karatskis to Tom West, dated the 27th day of March, 1942; recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 442, at Page 251. Reference is also made to the deed from Alex Stewart and wife, to Gus Karatskis recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 439, at Page 45.

FOURTH TRACT: BEGINNING at a point, said beginning point being North 65 degrees 01 minutes East 25.6 feet from the fourth corner (counting the beginning corner) of the tract described in a deed of trust from Tom West and wife, Carrie B. West, to Howard Holderness, Trustee, and Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, dated November 1, 1956, and recorded in Book 719, Page 511, of the Cumberland County Registry, and running thence North 65 degrees 01 minutes East 164.4 feet to an iron pipe; thence South 37 degrees 45 minutes East 125.0 feet to an iron pipe; thence South 42 degrees 09 minutes West 162.83 feet to an iron pipe; thence North 37 degrees 45 minutes West approximately 189.8 feet to the BEGINNING. Together with improvements located thereon;

cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot Number 41, in a subdivision known as Pebble Creek, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 84, Page 166, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 2547 Silverbell Loop, Fayetteville, NC 28304. Tax ID: 0405-66-4690 Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five 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 certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Lloyd J. Almond.

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

The date of this Notice is April 19, 2021.

LLG TRUSTEE LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 18-103356

Parkway,

Suite

400

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days,

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-21570-FC01

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-01077-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. 7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in

this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

said property being located at 6505 & 6511 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Right and easement of ingress and egress over and upon a strip of land described as follows: BEGINNING at a point, said point being North 42 degrees East 25.4 feet from the third corner (counting the beginning corner) of the tract described in the deed of trust from Tom West and wife, Carrie B. West, to Howard Holderness, Trustee, and Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, dated November 1, 1956, and recorded in Book 719, at Page 511, of the Cumberland County Registry, and running thence South 42 degrees West 25 feet to the said corner; thence North 37 degrees 45 minutes West 336.60 feet to a stake, the fourth corner of the tract described in said Book 719, Page 511; thence North 65 degrees 01 minutes East 25 feet to a point; thence South 37 degrees 45 minutes East approximately 325 feet to the beginning.

Deed References: Book 2578, Page 864 and Book 2971, Page 430.

employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit.

The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a

rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1319553 (FC.FAY)

LESS AND EXCEPTING THEREFROM AND/OR SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING: 1. CP&L Right of Way recorded in Book 641, Page 200; 2. Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Permit recorded in Book 746, Page 476; 3. Deed to Dept. of Transportation recorded in Book 3391; Page 493; 4. PWC Easement recorded in Book 3430, Page 277; 5. Non-warranty Deed recorded in Book 6889; Page 767; 6. Warranty Deed recorded in Book 6889; Page 773; 7. Boundary Line Agreement recorded in Book 6889, Page 785; and 8.

Quitclaim Deed recorded in Book 7709, Page 756. rustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS 4521.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS 7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys,

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are Lenuel Collazo and wife Melissa Collazo.

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 effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that

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

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: January N. Taylor, Bar #33512 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2688 - 6277

Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jtaylor@mtglaw.com

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

B11

TAKE NOTICE

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 21SP101 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RAY ANTHONY PRESSLEY AND BARBARA JEAN PRESSLEY DATED JUNE 29, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1711 AT PAGE 104 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 75

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Bobbie G. Chaudoin, Jr. and Phyllis K. Chaudoin (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Phyllis K. Chaudoin) to Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., Trustee(s), dated May 12, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 2222, at Page 281 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on May 19, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Lexington in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more

JOHNSTON 19 SP 137 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Debora S. Stout and Steven Strothman to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated June 28, 2007 and recorded on July 2, 2007 in Book 3374 at Page 502 and rerecorded/ modified/corrected on March 13, 2019 in Book 5308, Page 328 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on June 8, 2020 in Book 5611, Page 16, Johnston County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 82

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Alexus Nicole Chanthadara (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Alexus Nicole Chanthadara) to Donald G. Walton, Jr., Trustee(s), dated May 31, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 4956, at Page 46 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 21SP15 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT LEE LAMBETH, JR. AND MELINDA LAMBETH DATED AUGUST 21, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE1990 AT PAGE 1655 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 117

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David Harris and Julia Harris (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David Harris and Julia Harris) to N. Deane Brunson, Trustee(s), dated March 13, 2003, and recorded in Book No. 2095, at Page 541 in Union County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the

WAKE AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 18 SP 822

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Christine M. Thompson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Christine M. Thompson) to National Corporate Research, Ltd., Trustee(s), dated June 25, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 12632, at Page 1926 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on May 10, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Garner in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1879

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James L. Weeks, Jr. and Iris Staton Weeks (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James L. Weeks, Jr. and Iris Staton Weeks) to Fidelity National Title Company of New York, a New York Corporation, Trustee(s), dated April 20, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 012521, at Page 01390 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on May 17, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ray Anthony Pressley and Barbara Jean Pressley, dated June 29, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $42,275.00, and recorded in Book 1711 at Page 104 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 705 Tussey St, Lexington, NC 27292 Tax Parcel ID: 6735-01-28-8127 Present Record Owners: Barbara Jean Pressley And Being more commonly known as: 705 Tussey St, Lexington, NC 27292 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Barbara Jean Pressley.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities

arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued

particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Midway Township, Davidson County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being Lot Number Twenty-One (21) of Brandon Acres, Section Two, as shown on map of same recorded in Plat Book 18, Page 49, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Davidson County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 107 Brandon Court, Lexington, North Carolina.

Being the same premises conveyed unto Bobbie G. Chaudoin, Jr. and wife, Phyllis K. Chaudoin, by virtue of deed from Christopher C. Wilkes and wife, Vickie C. Wilkes dated June 27, 1997, recorded July 9, 1997 in Book 1039, Page 1776, Davidson County, NC. Parcel ID: 13031D0000021 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and

conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the

loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on May 18, 2021 at 12:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 27, Hidden Hills Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 20, Page 195, Johnston County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 147 Canyon Road, Clayton, NC 27520.

door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on May 20, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 8 as shown on recombination survey showing new Lots 7 & 8 East Jacksonville Property of Howard & Sons Rental prepared by John L. Pierce & Associates, P.A. on January 31, 2008 and recorded in Map Book 55, Page 223, Slide M-577, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1604 Hargett Street, Jacksonville, 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. §4521.23.

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).

because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on May 18, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Robert Lee Lambeth, Jr. and Melinda Lambeth, dated August 21, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $79,392.00, and recorded in Book RE1990 at Page 1655 of the Randolph County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

3582 Address of property: Hwy 134, Asheboro, NC 27205 Tax Parcel ID:

NC

customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on May 13, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 105, Phase 1B of Cornerstone Subdivision, as same is shown on plat thereof recorded in Plat Cabinet F at File 386, Union County, North Carolina Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2301 Jacobs Court, Monroe, North Carolina.

The Deed of Trust was modified by the following:

A Loan Modification recorded on February 2, 2015, in Book No. 06375, at Page 0403.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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.

ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against JB YOUNG, deceased, of Wake County, N.C., are notified to exhibit

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

7657239488 Present Record Owners: Robert Lee Lambeth, Jr.

And Being more commonly known as: 3582 NC Hwy 134, Asheboro, NC 27205 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Robert Lee Lambeth, Jr. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid

§7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

the same to the undersigned on or before August 2, 2021, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent

described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron in the southern right of way of Dubose Street at the corner of Edgebrook Drive; thence running along the right of way of Dubose Street South 47 degrees 20’ East 105.50 feet to an iron; thence continuing South 42 degrees 40’ West 163.89 feet to an iron; thence North 33 degrees 32’ 43” West 108.63 feet to an iron; thence North 42 degrees 40’ East 138.00 feet to an iron, according to a survey by Vernon Wayne Johnson, R.L.S., dated June 9, 2000, and being all of Lot 94 and a portion of Lot 93, Edgebrook Subdivision, as depicted in Map Book 1969, Page 315, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1211 Dubose Street, Garner, North Carolina.

The Deed of Trust was modified by the following:

A Loan Modification recorded on January 25, 2016, in Book No. 16273, at Page 425.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as

for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on May 17, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Wake County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 85, Section I, Summit Ridge Subdivision as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1976, Page 12, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3748 Dusty Lane, Raleigh, 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. §4521.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to

The Estate of

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a

return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at

taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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

The date of this Notice is April 26, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-111288

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2515 - 5736

bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-02901-FC01

least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 4180 - 15037

to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is April 27, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-111103

Parkway,

Suite

400

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice

the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the

are asked to make immediate payment.

This 28th day of April 2021.

Charlene F. Young, Executor, c/o Lisa

sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 4064 - 14386

M. Schreiner, Stam Law Firm, PLLC, 510 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502 North State Journal: April 28, May 5, 12

and 19, 2021

well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property

for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale

date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1236739 - 11136

this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey

include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale

date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1156 - 13044

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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Stanly County Journal

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCC

Pictured are the top three teams for the 2021 Stanly Classic: First place team — Clint Miller Exterminating, with players Phil Miller, Kevin Lentz, John Dyer, and Jeremy Hurst; Second place team — Brady Services, with players Ryan Hughes, Aaron Hughes, Clayton Hank, and Michael Hendricks; and Third place team — First Citizens Bank, with players Brett Speight, Jody Cook, Brett Lowder, and Michael Snyder, Jr.

The tournament raised $59,635 with proceeds going towards scholarships for students and institutional program needs.”

18th annual Stanly Classic golf tournament raises $60K for SCC

By David Larson Stanly County Journal

grams, was held April 23 at the Tillery Tradition Country Club in Mount Gilead.

“On behalf of Stanly Community College and the SCC Foundation, I would like to sincerely thank everyone that made this year’s tournament a success,” said Jeania Martin, executive director of the

SCC Foundation, in a press release.

According to the release, 17 teams participated, and major sponsors included (Platinum Level) First Bank Insurance Services and Uwharrie Bank, and Uwharrie Investment Advisors; (Gold Level) J.T. Russell & Sons, Inc. and ScanOnline; (Silver Level) Miche-

Jeania Martin, executive director of the SCC Foundation

ALBEMARLE — The 18th annual Stanly Classic, an annual golf tournament put on by the Stanly Community College Foundation which raises money for the community college’s educational pro-

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Biscuitville to open new location in Albemarle at former Sagebrush Steakhouse

Man doesn’t face charges for tortoise rides Stanly County A man will not be charged after he allowed adults to ride his tortoise. Photos surfaced online of people sitting on the shell of the tortoise in Albemarle. Police investigated and found that the tortoise is part of a turtle rescue group that travels to different zoos to interact with people. The man had the proper paperwork to own and handle the tortoise, so police and wildlife officials determined no laws were broken.

WCCB

Police charge 2 with shooting each other at mall Mecklenburg County Police say two men who shot each other in a confrontation at a shopping mall are facing criminal charges. Pineville Police said Sunday they have charged both Kevion Harris, 32, and Jamie G’Vantay Williams, 24, with assault with a deadly weapon and firearms possession by a convicted felon. Police evacuated the Carolina Place Mall Saturday afternoon when the shooting broke out. Both men were injured, and police said Sunday they are recovering from their injuries at hospitals. Their injuries are not considered life threatening. No other injuries were reported.

AP

Helicopter pilot killed in crash Union County A helicopter pilot has died after a crash. The Union County Sheriff’s Office said the helicopter was cropdusting fields when it reportedly became tangled in power lines. The crash occurred Sunday near Bell Mill Road near Wingate, a few miles southeast of Charlotte. The sheriff’s office said the pilot was the only person aboard the helicopter when it crashed.

AP

Human remains found on site during site prep

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — For Stanly County residents looking to add to their breakfast menu, a new dining option is set to arrive in Albemarle.

Biscuitville Fresh Southern, a privately held regional fast-food restaurant chain, has officially gained approval by the city and county to build a new location at the former Sagebrush Steakhouse site at 623 NC Highway 24-27.

The estimated opening date for Biscuitville’s Albemarle location has not been made public; a marketing consultant for the company told SCJ that a press release could be weeks or months away.

Originally founded in 1966 by Maurice Jennings as a pizza restaurant, the Burlington-based compa-

ny specializes in Southern cuisine and breakfast foods, with 62 locations throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

“We’re excited anytime a well-established brand makes a location decision to be in Stanly County,” Candice Boyd Lowder, director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission, told SCJ on Monday. “We feel like we can definitely support an additional restaurant in Albemarle and we’re thankful for the city’s partnership with our office and Retail Strategies to continue retail improvement.”

Ever since signing a contract with the city in 2014, Retail Strategies, LLC — a national retail firm based out of Birmingham, Alabama — has assisted in helping to boost Albemarle’s business market.

On Dec. 7, Albemarle Economic Development director Keith Tunnell presented the city council with a report documenting that 11 retailers, 200 new jobs and over $26 mil-

Norwood Manufacturing expanding in Stanly HVAC manufacturer to add 5 jobs and $700k in equipment

By David Larson Stanly County Journal NORWOOD — Norwood Manufacturing, a Stanly County manufacturer of heating, venting and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, announced April 30 that it plans to expand its operations in the county. The company, which is a subsidiary of Burnham Holdings, will add five new jobs and around $700,000 of investments in new machinery and equipment, accord-

ing to a press release.

“Norwood Manufacturing, Inc. (NMI) has been in operation since 2004 in Stanly County,” Robert Farlow, plant manager at NMI, said in the release. “Supported by the growth of Thermo Products, LLC, its sister company in Denton, NC, NMI has been able to continue to invest in equipment and add high skilled jobs to its Norwood facility.

We look forward to future opportunities, as we partner with Stanly County Economic Development Commission and the Town of Norwood.”

Incentives were approved by both the Stanly County Board of Commissioners and the Town of Nor-

“While the demolition crew was taking the building down, they discovered the remains of a male subject inside the business, and it looks like he has been there for quite some time.”

Albemarle Police Chief David Dulin lion in total investments have arrived since the city’s partnership with Retail Strategies began.

Amidst the news of a business coming to the spot of the old Sagebrush, a contractor on site has been in charge of the crews tasked with demolishing the building. According to a report by the Albemarle Police Department, a crewmember

lin US11, Nature’s Vision Landscaping, and LaBella Associates.

“The tournament raised $59,635 with proceeds going towards scholarships for students and institutional program needs,” Martin said. “We are grateful to our corporate sponsors, golf committee, volunteers, and in-kind partners who supported the 18th Annual Stanly Classic Golf Tournament.”

The Stanly Community College Foundation was established by the SCC Trustees in 1978 as a nonprofit with the mission of raising money in support of the school.

discovered human remains on the premises during a routine demolition procedure this past Thursday afternoon.

“While the demolition crew was taking the building down, they discovered the remains of a male subject inside the business, and it looks like he has been there for quite some time,” Albemarle Police Chief David Dulin told SCJ. “The body is very decomposed, and right now it’s being taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy to possibly get some identification on this subject. There was no wallet in the pocket to indicate who this was.”

Dulin said that the autopsy results could possibly generate a timeline as to how long the remains had been there.

“We don’t have any active missing person reports to compare that to, and we haven’t had anybody reach out to us yet. We’re looking through a few avenues of people that maybe we haven’t seen in a while,” Dulin continued. “We can at least get some dental records or see if there are some previously broken bones that we can put together with the history of someone we may know.”

Anyone with information about the identity of the subject call 704984-9500 to reach the Albemarle Police Department or call 704-9849511 to leave an anonymous tip.

wood earlier in April.

“On behalf of Stanly County Commissioners, we are pleased to see an existing company grow and need additional equipment,” Bill Lawhon, chairman of the board of commissioners said, adding that “this growth will result in five more jobs for the citizens of Stanly County.”

Burnham Holdings and its subsidiaries like Norwood Manufacturing manufacture “thermal and interior comfort solutions used in a wide range of residential, commercial, and industrial applications” for the HVAC industry.

“The Norwood Town Council congratulates Norwood Manufacturing on their pending expansion,” said Norwood Mayor Linda Campbell. “We are pleased to partner with the business community to stimulate the economy and expand employment opportunities.

We wish Norwood Manufacturing every success as they grow and expand.”

“We are pleased to partner with the business community to stimulate the economy and expand employment opportunities. We wish Norwood Manufacturing every success as they grow and expand.”

Norwood Mayor Linda Campbell

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

2 WEDNESDAY

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THURSDAY

MAY 6

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72° 48° 11%

FRIDAY

MAY 7

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73° 46° 7%

SATURDAY

MAY 8

77° 56° 1%

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MONDAY

SUNDAY

MAY 10

MAY 9

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85° 64° 4%

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG 2) Felony Possession Of Marijuana (F), 3) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 4) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at Nc Hwy 24/27 @ Endy Rd., Endy, NC, on 4/30/2021

♦ Rupp, Kevin Glenn (W /M/64) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (M), at Courthouse, Albemarle, NC, on 5/3/2021

♦ Allen, Emanuel Lamont Clark (B /M/24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 203 Doody Ave, Norwood, NC, on 4/28/2021

♦ Sandifer, Charla Michelle (W /F/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Montgomery Ave, Albemarle, NC, on 5/3/2021 ♦ Helms, Samuel Delane (W /M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Montgomery Ave/ S Fourth Street, Albemarle, NC, on 5/3/2021 ♦ Baldwin, Paul Edward (B /M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny After Break/enter (F), 2) Misdemeanor Larceny (M), and 3) Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (M), at Norwood, Norwood, NC, on 5/2/2021 ♦ Phothisane, Kittipong (A /M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Simple Possess Sch Iv Cs (m) (M) and 2) Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (M), at Norwood, NC, on 5/2/2021 ♦ Griffith, Bradford (W /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Resisting Public Officer (M), 2) Intoxicated And Disruptive (M), and 3) First Deg Tresp Enter/remain (M), at 109 Hunter Ct, Oakboro, NC, on 5/1/2021 ♦ Moua, Fucha Timothy (A /M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Probation Violation (F) and 2) Felony Probation Violation (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 4/30/2021 ♦ Cuttino, Rashaun Maurice (B /M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Sch Vi Cs (F),

MAY 11

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ Goodman, Wynter Mae (W /F/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Dwlr Not Impaired Rev (M), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 5/3/2021

♦ Lowery, Ravelle Antonio (B /M/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Resisting Public Officer (M), 2) Flee/elude Arrest W/mv (f) (F), 3) Fail To Heed Light Or Siren (M), 4) No Operators License (M), 5) Reckless Driving To Endanger (M), 6) Fict/alt Title/reg Card/tag (M), 7) Aggressive Driving (M), 8) Hit/run Leave Scene Prop Dam (M), and 9) Speed Competition (M), at Old Charlotte Road, Albemarle, NC, on 5/3/2021

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TUESDAY

♦ Mcmanus, Jasper Ray (W M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Breaking Or Entering (m), M (M),at 311 S Second St, Albemarle, on 04/29/2021

♦ Lowery, Elbert Nathaniel (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 20068 Silver Rd, Oakboro, NC, on 4/28/2021 ♦ Wheeler, Dennis Wayne (W /M/43) Arrest on chrg of Intoxicated And Disruptive (M), at 24/27, Albemarle, NC, on 4/28/2021

♦ Locklear, Albert Shannon (W /M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 116 South Main Street, Norwood, NC, on 4/27/2021 ♦ Harris, Michael Paul (B /M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Cocaine (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 606 Marion St, Badin, NC, on 4/27/2021 ♦ Bruton, William Christopher (B /M/33) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at Nc 24/27Lakewood Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 4/27/2021

♦ Doris Swaringen Cavin, 83, of Albemarle, passed away April 27. ♦ Bill Wilhoit, 71, of Albemarle, passed away April 29. ♦ Stephanie Renee Holt Yarbrough, 44, of Stanfield, passed away April 29.

♦ Love, Amanda Jane (W F, 30) Arrest on chrg of Breaking Or Entering (m), M (M), at311 S Second St, Albemarle, on 04/29/2021

♦ Furr, Braxton Lee (W /M/47) Arrest on chrg of First Deg Tresp Enter/remain, M (M), at N Main/s Stanly School, Norwood, NC, on 4/28/2021

♦ Smith, Braiden James (W /M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Speed Competition (M) and 2) Flee/elude Arrest W/mv (f) (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 4/27/2021

♦ Rhodes, Joseph Lee (W M, 33) Arrest on chrg of True Bill Of Indictment, F (F), at 126S Third St, Albemarle, on 04/27/2021 ♦ Gautier, Zachary Randall (W M, 28) Arrest on chrg of Resisting Public Officer, M(M), at 1705 E Main St, Albemarle, on 04/28/2021

♦ Bates, Kayla M (W /F/26) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired, M (M), at Lake Head Rd/ Vineyard Rd, Norwood, NC, on 4/28/2021

♦ Moua, Fuchee Matt (A /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Larceny (F) Felony Conspiracy (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 4/28/2021 14:45.

♦ Patterson, James Terry (W M, 32) Arrest on chrg of Habitual Breaking/entering (F), at126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 04/27/2021

♦ Canupp, Joe Ira (W M, 66) Arrest on chrg of First Deg Tresp Enter/remain, M (M), at467 W Main St/railroad St, Albemarle, on 04/29/2021 ♦ Maldonado, Kevin Melendez (W M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault (M), at 301Yadkin St, Albemarle, on 04/29/2021. ♦ Faulkner, Timothy Allen (W M, 34) Arrest on chrg of Larceny By Changing PriceTag, M (M), at 781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 04/26/2021 ♦ Abbott, Charlotta Ann (B F, 53) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive From Justice (F), at 1316Lowder St, Albemarle, on 04/26/2021 ♦ Cundiff, Brendan Curtis (B M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 1401N Sixth St, Albemarle, on 05/02/2021

♦ Tommy Joe Burris, 62, of Albemarle, passed away April 30. ♦ Geraldine Ann Furr Fink, 74, passed away April 30. ♦ Jimmy Arlen Thompson, 87. of Richfield, passed away April 30. ♦ Frances Ellen Smith Huneycutt, 77, of Locust, passed away May 2.

♦ Villarreal, Leslie Mae (W F, 19) Arrest on chrg of Assault And Battery, M (M), at 408Grigg St, Albemarle, on 05/02/2021. ♦ Ward, Lisa Carol (W F, 45) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at 315 SSecond St, Albemarle, on 05/03/2021 ♦ Maldonado, Kevin Melendez (W M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Assault Phy Inj EmergencyPrsn (F), at 301 Yadkin St, Albemarle, on 05/03/2021

See OBITS, page 7

Olympia Dukakis, Oscar-winning ‘Moonstruck’ star, dies at 89

By Brooke Lefferts The Associated Press MAPLEWOOD, N.J. — Olympia Dukakis, the veteran stage and screen actor whose flair for maternal roles helped her win an Oscar as Cher’s mother in the romantic comedy “Moonstruck,” has died.

She was 89.

Dukakis died Saturday morning in her home in New York City, according to Allison Levy, her agent at Innovative Artists. A cause of death was not immediately released, but her family said in a statement that she had been in failing health for months.

Dukakis won her Oscar through a surprising chain of circumstances, beginning with author Nora Ephron’s recommendation that she play Meryl Streep’s mother in the film version of Ephron’s book “Heartburn.” Dukakis got the role, but her scenes were cut from the film. To make it up to her, director Mike Nichols cast her in his hit play “Social Security.” Director Norman Jewison saw her in that role and cast her in “Moonstruck.”

Dukakis won the Oscar for best supporting actress and Cher took home the trophy for best actress.

She referred to her 1988 win as “the year of the Dukakii” because it was also the year Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, her cousin, was the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. At the ceremony, she held her Oscar high over her head and called out: “OK, Michael, let’s go!”

In 1989, her Oscar statuette was stolen from Dukakis’ New Jersey home.

“We’re not pretentious,” her husband, actor Louis Zorich, said at the time. “We kept the Oscar in the kitchen.”

Dukakis, who was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, had yearned to be an actor from an early age and had hoped to study drama in college. Her Greek immigrant parents insisted she pursue a more practical education, so she studied physical therapy at Boston University on a scholarship from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked at an under-

REED SAXON | AP PHOTO

In this Jan. 24, 1988 file photo, Actress Olympia Dukakis, winner of a Golden Globe for “Best Performance in a Supporting Role” and Cher, winner of the “Best Performance by an Actress in a musical or comedy”, hold the awards they received for performances in the hit movie “Moonstruck” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. staffed hospital in Marmet, West Virginia, and at the Hospital for Contagious Diseases in Boston.

But the lure of the theater eventually led her to study drama at Boston University.

It was a shocking change, she told an interviewer in 1988, noting that she had gone from the calm world of science to one where students routinely screamed at the teachers.

“I thought they were all nuts,” she said. “It was wonderful.”

Her first graduate school performance was a disaster, however, as she sat wordless on the stage.

After a teacher helped cure her stage fright, she began working in summer stock theaters. In 1960,

she made her off-Broadway debut and two years later had a small part in “The Aspern Papers” on Broadway.

After three years with a Boston regional theater, Dukakis moved to New York and married Zorich.

During their first years of marriage, acting jobs were scarce, and Dukakis worked as a bartender, waitress and other jobs.

She and Zorich had three children — Christina, Peter and Stefan. They decided it was too hard to raise children in New York with limited income, so they moved the family to a century-old house in Montclair, a New Jersey suburb of New York.

Her Oscar victory kept the

motherly film roles coming. She was Kirstie Alley’s mom in “Look Who’s Talking” and its sequel “Look Who’s Talking Too,” the sardonic widow in “Steel Magnolias” and the overbearing wife of Jack Lemmon (and mother of Ted Danson) in “Dad.” Her recent projects included the 2019 TV miniseries “Tales of the City” and the upcoming film “Not to Forgot.”

But the stage was her first love.

“My ambition wasn’t to win the Oscar,” she commented after her “Moonstruck” win. “It was to play the great parts.”

She accomplished that in such New York productions as Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her

Children,” Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and Tennessee Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo.”

In 2000, she was on Broadway in Martin Sherman’s one-actor play “Rose,” and received a Drama Desk Award nomination for the role of an 80-year-old survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. For two decades she ran the Whole Theater Company in Montclair, New Jersey, specializing in classic dramas.

Zorich died in January 2018 at age 93.

Dukakis is survived by her children Christina, Stefan and Peter; her brother Apollo Dukakis; and four grandchildren.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

3

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Biden’s first 100 days: Big on rhetoric, small on results

For over an hour, all the American people heard were promises of how the government is going to fix every problem you face from the cradle to the grave.

LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN marked his first 100 days in office. I give him an A on his rhetoric but an F on his results. Here’s why.

President Biden called for unity and bipartisanship in his inaugural address. I was at the inauguration to demonstrate my commitment to our nation’s peaceful transfer of power. I have always worked across the aisle on bipartisan solutions and hope to work with the president whenever possible.

The reality is, on issues like COVID relief, infrastructure and immigration, there are many bipartisan answers on which Republicans and Democrats agree. I have solutions for each of these areas and hoped President Biden was sincere in his calls for bipartisanship.

However, while the president gave a great inaugural speech, unfortunately his actions since then have not matched his rhetoric.

So far, the president has yet to reach out to House Republican leadership to discuss any issue facing our country. In fact, he’s taken bipartisan issues and made them partisan.

While President Trump was in office, we passed five bipartisan measures in Congress to respond to the pandemic. President Biden forced a massive so-called COVID bill through without any Republican input and without a single Republican vote. This was because the bill only had 9% dedicated to combating the virus.

Through executive action, President Biden eliminated jobs in our country and has threatened more, especially in our crucial energy sector. Gas prices have already risen 159% over one year ago and the attacks on American energy will only make the problem worse.

The president has also made our country less safe.

From the Biden border crisis he created by bringing back “catch and release,” to restrictive gun control, to failing to listen to boots on the ground in Afghanistan — President Biden’s actions are threatening our public health at home and our security around the world.

But this is just the beginning.

On Wednesday, President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress to outline even more massive spending and dangerous policies.

To quote President Reagan: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

For over an hour, all the American people heard were promises of how the government is going to fix every problem you face from the cradle

to the grave.

All added up, Biden’s proposed spending spree just in his first 100 days equals an astonishing $6 trillion. That’s more than the cost of the whole government in a single year and 30% of the entire American economy.

The president outlined what would be the largest tax hike in decades to help pay for his agenda. He also spoke about his infrastructure plan.

I support investing in needed infrastructure to improve our roads, bridges, highways, ports, airports and expand broadband to rural areas of our state. However, the $2.3 trillion proposal by Washington Democrats devotes just 6% ($115 billion) to traditional infrastructure, while more money ($174 billion) goes to subsidize electric vehicles. This is not the way to bring our country together and rebuild America.

Together with my Republican colleagues, I’m working on a proposal that is actually bipartisan and spends more money on roads and bridges, despite being a quarter of the cost of the Democrat plan. That is the kind of common sense that is lacking in Washington.

While President Biden outlined his priorities, there was something missing: solutions to end the Biden border crisis he created.

The president waited until an hour into his speech to mention the word border. Yet instead of laying out a plan to stop the 233% increase in fentanyl seizures, 5,018 individuals with criminal records arrested

by Border Patrol, and a 400% increase in migrant apprehensions compared to last year, the president proposed a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. This, along with reversing Trump-era policies that worked, will only make this crisis worse. Now, $86 million of your hard-earned tax dollars are being spent to house the massive influx of illegal immigrants in hotel rooms. We might as well have a massive “open” sign hanging from the border wall that President Biden stopped building (though the contractors are still being paid).

Clearly our country faces numerous challenges. But we faced challenges before, and we have always overcome them by uniting around our shared values. This is a moment when we need bipartisanship and leadership, not empty rhetoric.

I hope in the next 100 days, President Biden will work with Republicans like he promised. Like Sen. Tim Scott said on Wednesday, we will remain focused on solutions that grow our economy, keep us safe, fix the crisis at the border, and help you and every American family succeed.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

The ugly reaction to Tim Scott’s speech is telling The left’s demeaning of any African American who strays from leftist orthodoxy is one of the ugliest acceptable smears in our political discourse.

SOUTH CAROLINA SEN. TIM SCOTT gave a competent Republican response to Joe Biden’s mendacious speech to Congress this week. Considering the failed history of the opposition responses, being competent is no easy accomplishment. And boy, the contrived, hyperbolic outrage and derision we saw from liberal talking heads was something to behold.

Some of it was just farcical. Take MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, who argued that Scott’s speech, in which the senator dared praise the Trump administration for its work on vaccines, was “delivered from a planet where facts don’t matter.” It’s almost perfunctory at this point to make such claims, whether there is evidence or not. Operation Warp Speed, Wallace argued, “didn’t do anything to get a needle in the arms, so a lot of disinformation.”

Well, the effort did help boost the lifesaving innovation that flows through those needles — not to mention, it also led to a million doses being dispensed daily by the time Joe Biden got his own shot.

But Scott’s most controversial statement, allegedly, was to contend that, “America is not a racist country.” All the usual suspects took to social media to mock the senator for simultaneously contending that the nation wasn’t racist and pointing out that he had personally experienced bigotry. Of course, America is a racist nation, they wailed, before getting “Uncle Tim” trending on Twitter to try and prove it. The left’s demeaning of any African American who strays from leftist orthodoxy

STEFANI REYNOLDS | POOL VIA AP, FILE

In this Feb. 13, 2021, file photo, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., departs Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

is one of the ugliest acceptable smears in our political discourse.

Scott’s two claims are wholly compatible.

Bad actors and ugly ideas exist among people of all nations, and always will, and yet that does not necessarily mean the nation itself is fundamentally, legally, culturally or systemically racist. We can always do better, but by the world’s standards, the United States is likely the least racist place.

Indeed, Scott never alleged that racism was nonexistent in America. To do so would have been absurd. Scott, in fact, wrote a policereform bill that Democrats such as Harris, Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin had shut down using the filibuster, which they now call a “relic of Jim Crow.”

In any event, at CNN, political analyst Van Jones maintained that Scott’s message “was nonsense” and that the senator had lost African Americans “by the tens of millions” by denying what everyone knew was true about the United States. This was the tone across left-wing media.

Yet, the very next morning, when asked

by ABC News about Scott’s comments, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “I don’t think America is a racist country, but we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country and its existence today.”

It’s one thing to see flagrant double standards in politics, and another thing to hear two people say the same thing within 24 hours and be treated completely differently. Is Harris spinning “nonsense” as well? Is Harris losing “tens of millions” of black voters for saying the obvious? If not, why not? Or are liberals simply trying to smear Scott as a quisling because they’re worried about his appeal? (That last question is rhetorical.)

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NBA

Magic coach Clifford clears COVID-19 protocols Orlando, Fla. Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford has cleared NBA health and safety protocols for COVID-19 and will return to the bench Wednesday night against Boston. Clifford has missed the past five games because of COVID-19 protocols. He tested positive for the virus last month while in between two vaccination shots. Assistant Tyrone Corbin has served as acting coach. The 59-year-old Clifford coached Charlotte from 2013-18 and is in his third season with Magic. He was previously an assistant in Orlando from 2007-12 and also served in that role with the Knicks, Rockets and Lakers in his 21-year NBA coaching career.

MLB

Struggling Mets fire two coaches St. Louis Mets fire hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant Tom Slater The scuffling New York Mets fired hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Tom Slater on Monday night. The moves were made following a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that dropped the Mets to 11-12. Several accomplished hitters are off to slow starts, including $341 million newcomer Francisco Lindor, who is hitless in his last 25 plate appearances and batting .163 overall. Minor league hitting coordinator Hugh Quattlebaum and farm director Kevin Howard will join the major league coaching staff to replace Davis and Slater, respectively.

COLIN E. BRALEY | AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Busch celebrates birthday with win at Kansas Busch became the latest driver to clinch a playoff berth in a Cup Series season full of parity

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Busch thought he had a thirdplace car Sunday. His crew chief, Ben Beshore, though it was good enough for second.

Both of them turned out to be wrong.

Instead, Busch was perfect on a pair of late restarts and won a twolap sprint to the finish at Kansas Speedway, becoming the 10th different winner through the first 11 races of a topsy-turvy NASCAR Cup Series season.

On his 36th birthday, no less.

“We ran up front all day,” Busch said. “Just trying to make adjustments all day long to get it where we wanted. The final adjustments were a positive for us. Didn’t necessarily take us from a third-place car to a winning car, but the restarts did.”

Busch had stalked Kyle Larson all afternoon before beating him on a late restart to take the lead.

Then, after another caution in the closing laps, Busch followed up his Truck Series win Saturday night by earning another trip to Victory Lane.

“That’s a Kyle Busch win right there,” he said with a smile.

It’s his 17th straight season with a win, tying David Pearson for second on the all-time list and moving him within one of Richard Petty’s

record streak. It also was his first with Beshore calling the shots from the pit box, and it gives Joe Gibbs Racing three drivers qualified for the playoffs along with Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell.

“I felt like we were a second-place car to the 5 car all day, to be honest,” Beshore said. “Kyle just did an amazing job on the last couple of restarts there, taking the lead and then keeping it on the last couple.”

Kevin Harvick overcame a tire mishap on a late pit stop and took advantage of some chaos on the final restart to finish second. Brad Keselowski dominated the early laps before following his win at Talladega last week by finishing third, and Matt DiBenedetto and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

Larson led a race-high 132 laps before his day ended in 19th place and bitter disappointment.

Even after he was beaten by Busch on that late restart, he had another chance when Bell got sideways in Turn 4 to bring out another caution. But on the restart with two laps to go, Larson got trapped behind Ryan Blaney and wound up getting him sideways while trying to give him a push, taking both of them out of contention.

“I planned on pushing Blaney as hard as I could,” Larson said, “and I guess I was pushing too hard.”

It was nearly a perfect finish for his team owner, Rick Hendrick, whose late son Ricky won his only Truck Series race at Kansas in 2001. Just as Larson did in winning at Las Vegas, he was driving the red, white and blue paint scheme that was nearly identical to the one Hendrick drove 20 years ago.

Ricky Hendrick died along with nine others in a plane crash on Oct. 24, 2004, near Martinsville, Virginia.

Denny Hamlin, also searching for his first win, had a similarly frustrating finish. He had taken the lead on a restart with 32 to go before Larson applied pressure from behind and Hamlin wound up slapping the wall to bring out a caution.

“He’s had a bunch of seconds, but this is a long, hard season,” said Coy Gibbs, the vice chairman and chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing, who remains confident that the fourth car in his stable will reach Victory Lane soon.

“I think it’s important to get on a roll and carry that into the playoffs,” Gibbs said. “That’s kind of what we’re looking at.”

NHL

Houser, in first game since last March, wins in NHL debut Buffalo, N.Y. Sabres goalie Michael Houser stopped 34 shots to win his NHL debut, beating the Islanders 4-2 on Monday night. Houser spent the past 8½ seasons in the minor leagues. It was his first game since March 7, 2020, with Cincinnati of the ECHL. Buffalo signed goalie Stefanos Lekkas to a professional tryout deal on Monday so he could back up Houser due to injuries to goalies Dustin Tokarski, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark. Sabres assistant coach Mike Bales — the Hurricanes goalie coach for two seasons — served as Buffalo’s emergency backup.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Baylor names WNBA’s Collen to replace Mulkey Waco, Texas WNBA coach Nicki Collen has been hired as the new Baylor women’s coach, taking over a program that has won three national championships and the last 11 Big 12 regular season titles. Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades made the announcement Monday night. Collen, who had coached the Atlanta Dream the past three seasons, replaces Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey and will be formally introduced Wednesday on the Waco campus. Mulkey left Baylor last month after 21 seasons to return to her home state to take over at LSU.

Baffert mulling Medina Spirit’s next step after Derby win The Preakness Stakes is May 15 in Baltimore

By Gary B. Graves The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Medina Spirit’s surprising Kentucky Derby victory gave Bob Baffert a good problem to have — figuring out where to hang another sign on his barn’s already crowded wall of glory.

As Baffert digests a record seventh Derby win that even caught him off guard, the Hall of Fame trainer and the horse’s connections must determine whether the dark brown colt will turn around quickly for the 146th Preakness on May 15 in Baltimore, where a collection of rested horses and revenge-minded competitors await.

“He came out of it well,” Baffert said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “It takes about a week to determine, so I’m going to come back next weekend and see. I don’t see anything that would discourage me right now.”

Similar wait-and-see decisions loomed on the backside a day after the 147th Derby returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date.

Shorter than the Derby at 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness sets up well for horses that skipped Churchill Downs for the sprint at Pimlico Race Course. Not to mention a chance for redemption for competitors that fell short to Medina Spirit.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said thirdplace finisher Rock Your World would not be among them, looking instead to run the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 5 in New York. Todd Pletcher, whose quartet of entrants finished no higher than ninth (Known Agenda), planned to return to New York to regroup and then “think about some major decisions with those horses.”

JEFF ROBERSON | AP PHOTO

Trainer Bob Baffert hands the winner's trophy to jockey John Velazquez after their victory with Medina Spirit in the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Meanwhile, Brad Cox planned to talk with connections for runner-up Mandaloun and 5-2 Derby favorite Essential Quality, who finished fourth. Though disappointed with falling short in his first Derby, the Louisville-born trainer was encouraged by both finishing in the top four of the 19-horse field.

After a head-scratching sixth in the Louisiana Derby, Mandaloun provided a pleasant surprise on Saturday by chasing Medina Spirit down the stretch before falling half a length short. Cox insisted Essential Quality was the Derby’s best horse and just created extra distance for himself in the turns trying to contend.

“He ran a huge race, very proud of his effort, he and Mandaloun,”

Cox said. “He was fourth-best at a mile and a quarter. He lost a lot of ground around both turns.”

Asked if he wanted to run the Preakness, Cox said: “I have a desire if I feel like my horses are doing really well. I just really have to base it off of them.”

Baffert might throw another one of his pupils into the Preakness mix.

He preceded his availability with reporters by working Concert Tour, who finished third in the Arkansas Derby. A decision by owners Gary and Mary West looms for the colt with three wins.

In the meantime, Baffert basked in the afterglow of Medina Spirit’s biggest victory.

His lone Derby entrant was

somewhat under the radar at 12-1 odds following consecutive second-place finishes, including one against Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby. Medina Spirit quickly set the line behind him, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.02.

The two-time Triple Crown winner was careful not to make any projections about his latest Derby champ, whom he briefly paraded in front of a gathering outside his barn. Baffert then led him inside for a well-deserved rest before his next chapter.

“It was just a thrill to watch him do it and fight on,” Baffert said. “He came back, he’s handling it quite well. He wasn’t as tired as I thought he might be. A big race like that, but he handled it quite well.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

5

Pfeiffer men’s lacrosse wins first USA South East Division Title The Falcons will host Piedmont on Saturday with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament on the line

ELAINE THOMPSON | AP PHOTO

Former NFL Phillip Adams is accused of killing six people and then himself last month, and his family said the after-effects of his football career played a role in his change in demeanor.

Rock Hill killings raise sport safety concerns Known as ‘Football City, USA,’ the home of the Panthers’ future practice facility is reeling after Phillip Adams allegedly killed six people and then himself

By Michelle Liu The Associated Press ROCK HILL, S.C. — Any visitor to Rock Hill, South Carolina, soon learns that “Football City, USA” basks in the glory of the dozens of youth leaguers who have gone on to win college championships and land coveted NFL contracts.

Competitive football is so essential to the city of 75,000 that a longtime high school coach can’t even pause to watch a nearby middle school game, lest he be accused of recruiting. But in the aftermath of a mass shooting by a popular homegrown player whose family blamed football for his troubles, some parents and coaches are facing tough questions about the role the sport plays in children’s lives.

Phillip Adams, whose NFL career is still celebrated on the county tourism website, is accused of killing Dr. Robert Lesslie, his wife, their two grandchildren and two air conditioning technicians at the doctor’s home before killing himself last month. Investigators haven’t said what might have prompted the deadly attack.

People who knew the Rock

Hill High graduate as a kind and mild-mannered young man are wondering if head injuries he suffered as a player affected his mental health. A probe of his brain was ordered to see whether he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a possibly degenerative disease that has been shown to cause violent mood swings and other cognitive disorders in some athletes.

His father, Alonzo Adams, told WCNC-TV that “he was a good kid, and I think the football messed him up.” And his sister, Lauren Adams, told USA Today that her brother’s “mental health degraded fast and terribly bad” in recent years, leaving him with “extremely concerning” signs of mental illness, including an escalating temper.

Rock Hill is renowned for bringing up aspiring players through small fry teams and catapulting them into the pros. At least 37 athletes from the city’s three public high schools have played in the NFL, according to a list maintained by one of the coaches that goes back to the 1950s. Current pros include New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore and former No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

But awareness is growing nationwide among parents, players and spectators about the potentially lasting impacts of sports

“It’s made me rethink some things with my own children.

And I love football. Still very passionate about the sport.”

David Sweem, South Carolina’s Brain Injury Safety Net Task Force concussions, and that includes Rock Hill.

Ed Paat, who runs a nonprofit in town, played football as a kid decades ago. Now 42, he and his wife are steering their four kids toward other sports, like gymnastics and jiu jitsu, in light of the emerging research and events including the shooting.

“For our family, it’s not something that’s an option,” Paat said.

“The more we learn about CTE, brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries — for us there are just other avenues for athletics that don’t have such a potential for longterm medical effects.”

David Sweem, a former athletic trainer and football coach who now serves on South Carolina’s Brain Injury Safety Net Task Force, said he’s noticed that parents are definitely more aware of football’s head injury risks. “It’s made me rethink some things with my own children. And I love football. Still very passionate about the sport,” he said.

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal MISENHEIMER — The Pfeiffer Falcons men’s lacrosse team won its first USA South Athletic Conference’s East Division title in program history with a 13-11 victory over Greensboro last Saturday.

The Falcons (11-1, 8-0) are now set to return to Lefko Field this Saturday at 1 p.m. to host the Piedmont Lions (6-4, 5-0) for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Lions are coming off a 17-3 victory over Huntingdon (5-6, 3-2) on Friday that earned them the USA South’s West Division Title.

Pfeiffer’s latest win over the Greensboro Pride (10-3, 6-2) was easily the team’s closest game in months, spanning back to its only loss of the year — a Feb. 24 nonconference matchup with Southern Virginia (6-8, 2-1 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference) that preceded a 10-game winning streak and undefeated record in conference play.

Saturday’s contest was a back-and-forth affair for the majority of the game; both teams went into halftime with five goals on the board.

“This was the third time we played this team and, obviously, they weren’t going to just lay down and roll over — we knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Pfeiffer coach Tucker Nelson said. “Their goalie came out and was phenomenal with 12 saves in the first half. We weren’t shooting great, so that kept them in the game a little more. Once we got up by two or three, we felt pretty confident that we were going to win the game.”

Falcons senior Jared Nelson made history in the second quarter as he set the new NCAA alltime career assists record with 292, blazing past the record of 287 that was set in 1974 by Rick Gilbert of Hobart College.

“That’s a great accomplishment by Jared,” Tucker Nelson said. “He owes a lot of his teammates and coaching staff credit, and he always will give it to them. His ability and willingness to work so hard individually and do the little things is the reason he has become so good.”

In the third quarter, senior Corey Choberka broke a 7-7 tie to give Pfeiffer a slight edge followed by five more Falcons goals the rest of the game. While Greensboro put up four more goals of its own in the fourth quarter, the Pride failed to overcome Pfeiffer’s second-half offense.

Sophomore Quinn Becraft led the Falcons with five goals, while Greensboro sophomore Austin Abourjilie led both teams with seven goals.

292 Career assists for Falcons senior Jared Nelson, passing the NCAA record 287 set by Hobart College’s Rick Gilbert in 1974.

Bobby Unser, Indy 500 champ in great racing family, dies The New Mexico-raised open-wheel racer, who won three times at the Brickyard, was 87

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press THERE WASN’T much Bobby Unser wouldn’t do to promote the Indianapolis 500, which is how he found himself at a show-and-tell at an Indiana elementary school a few years ago.

He had the famed Indy 500 winners’ Borg-Warner Trophy with him and proudly showed the students the Unser legacy. He pointed to the nine places where their faces are sculpted into the sterling silver — four spots for his little brother, Al; three for himself; two for nephew Al Jr. One girl had a question: If his brother was there four times and he was there only three, was his brother the better racer?

It was one of few times anyone had seen Unser speechless.

Unser, who began racing jalopies in New Mexico and went on to become a beloved figure across racing and part of the only pair of brothers to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” died Sunday at 87. He died at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of natural causes, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said.

“There simply was no one quite like Bobby Unser,” said Roger Penske, now the speedway owner. “Beyond his many wins and accomplishments, Bobby was a true racer that raised the performance of everyone around him. He was also one of the most colorful characters in motorsports.”

Unser was a member of one America’s most famed racing families and one of the greatest drivers in the history of the speedway, capturing the race in 1968, 1975 and 1981.

“He is part of the Mount

AP PHOTO

Bobby Unser celebrates winning the 52nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1968. The three-time Brickyard winner died Sunday at 87.

Rushmore of Indy,” said Dario Franchitti, another three-time Indy 500 winner.

Unser’s final Indy 500 victory in a Penske entry was one of the most contentious outcomes and is still disputed to this day.

Unser won from the pole and beat Mario Andretti by 5.18 seconds, but officials ruled Unser passed cars illegally while exiting the pit lane under caution — drawing a penalty that docked

him one position and moved Andretti to winner.

Penske and Unser appealed and after a lengthy process the penalty was rescinded in October of that year.

Unser was one of six members of the Unser family to race in the Indianapolis 500; an older brother, Jerry, died in a crash preparing for the 1959 Indy 500.

Al Unser is one of only three drivers to win the Indy 500 four

times — 1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987. The Unser family tradition stretched to Al Unser’s son, Al Unser Jr., who won Indy in 1992 and 1994.

Bobby Unser was one of just 10 drivers to win the 500 at least three times, and Unser and Rick Mears are the only drivers to win the 500 in three different decades.

After his driving career, Unser moved to a 20-year broadcasting career and won an Emmy Award

as part of the ABC Sports broadcast team for “Outstanding Live Sports Special” for its coverage of the 1989 Indianapolis 500.

He was in the booth in 1987 when he called brother Al’s record-tying fourth 500 victory, and again in 1992 when nephew Al Unser Jr. won Indy for the first time in the closest 500 finish.

Unser is survived by his wife, Lisa; sons Bobby Jr. and Robby; and daughters Cindy and Jeri.

ment. area.”

EMPHIS, Tenn. — Faced For Nutbush resident He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the itals, states across the country matched with the worry th virus. onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, Maythe 5, 2021 “All around, people are scared,” could lose stores that are ts facilities and performance the neighborhood. Offici he said. es into backup treatment sites Their fears are not unfounded. ven’t said if stores would oronavirus patients.

In this majority-black city along the Gateway facility was What some Memphis, Tenthe Mississippi River, lawmakers If they did, shopping wo e, residents don’t get is why in and community leaders have been come more difficult for re r city, a shopping center in the sounding the alarm over what they especially for those who ar dle of a predominantly black, see as a disturbing trend of the vi- have no means of transpo income residential neighborrus killing African Americans at a to stores located farther aw d has been chosen.

“For people who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conNutbush resident Patricia Har- car, what do they do?” ask ed that an influx of patients ris wondered aloud if city officials ris, who spoke to The Ass m Memphis, as well as nearby were “trying to contaminate” the Press while lugging a bott sissippi, Arkansas and rural tergent, a package of bott neighborhood.

Tennessee, will strain hospiActivist Earle Fisher, an Afri- ter and other items from t Their fears are echoed across ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO can American Memphis pastor, A Lot to her car. She note country: Governors, mayors understands the anxiety. “This grocery store recently clos health By experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, An identical statehood bill shows Gateway Shopping Center Kevin Freking passed the House in 2020, but it The Associated Press is an honest and reasonable con- her house and she already es are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. died in the then-Republican-concern and skepticism,” Fisher said. travel farther to get to Gat tructing makeshift medical WASHINGTON, D.C. — A long- trolled Senate. Now, with the 2020 “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. shot bid to pass legislation that elections having given Democrats got to consider the people black people to be righteously a Chinese restaurant and other Lee has disclosed a few: the Mun New York City, they’re turnwould make the District of Colum- control of both chambers of Conskeptical of governmental inter- neighborhood,” she said. “W Center inWhite Nashville, o the Javits Center convention gress and the House, the some businesses. bia the nation’s 51st state got a sic littleCity have beenConvention pushing to eliminate the longer on Locating a treatment center for vention that did not consult with need to make the neighb Center, in Chicago, theFriday.

McCormick Chattanooga filibuster so that only a simple ma- coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.”

Democratic Sen. JoeinManchin worse than |itAPalready is.” the Knoxville Expo Center — all e Convention Center; and J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE PHOTO jorityfrom in the residential Senate wouldneighbe need- es two problems, residents say: West Virginia said that hesites op- away U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Doug McGowen, the city’s chief dy, Utah,ofthe Mountain Amerposes unilateral action by Con- ed to get legislation passed. The Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, arrives to operating officer, said the Gate- phis Democrat, said the d could potentiallyhearing expose borhoods.

Expo Center.

D.C. statehood bid would be one of Ithold gress to make the nation’s capital a confirmation forthem Tommy Beaudreau of Alaska, at the Capitol, in Washington, D.C. way site was being considered be- doesn’t make sense. to the virus amid concerns that The Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. aArmy Corps of Engistate and that he believes it needs the initiatives that could conceiv“I’m sure there are othe blacks are contracting COVID-19 cause it could potentially accomter in ably the pass Nutbush neighborhood s has been locations under such a scenario. to bescouting done through a constitutional hood bill, said Constitution the armed forces, but they have no that, so why not do it the right way Still, such a tactic would require amendment.

He said prior Repubwould work, and they Tennessee, and officials here of Memphis is different. The cen- at higher rates; and it could force modate hundreds of beds. He said that the does not prohibit the granting voting representation in Congress. and let the people vote and see if total Democratic unity, and Frilican and Democratic administrathoseofrather t compiled a list of 35 possi- ter features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used statehood to Washington, D.C. It neighbo Del.site, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the they want a change,” Manchin said. day’s radio interview with Manchin close. tions thought the same thing. it would hold only mildly ill into a residential backup sites. They haven’t re- store, a Rent-A-Center, a FamiSuch an amendment would not District of Columbia’s nonvoting does lay out the process by which “They all came to the same con- demonstrated anew that they don’t Cohen said. coronavirus who could resident andacommuly Dollar, a beauty supply shop, ed the whole list, but Gov. Bill to make states be are admitted, though, “and of Congress,patients did not mengoNutbush up for an election.

Rather, pro- member have it. clusion.

If Congress wants

6

Manchin pans DC statehood bill in another break with Dems

Manchin has also stated unD.C. a state, it should propose a constitutional amendment,” Man- equivocally that he will not vote to chin said in an interview with the eliminate or weaken the filibuster.

West Virginia MetroNews radio He is among a handful of Demonetwork. “It should propose a con- cratic senators who have not openstitutional amendment and let the ly supported the D.C. statehood initiative. people of America vote.”

Republicans argued during Earlier this month, the House approved a bill strictly along par- the House vote that the measure ty lines to make the District of Co- wouldn’t withstand judicial scrulumbia a state with one representa- tiny. Manchin said he would “tell tive and two senators, while a tiny his friends” that if they pursued sliver of land including the White statehood through legislation, “you House, the U.S. Capitol and the Na- know it’s going to go to the Supreme tional Mall would remain a federal Court.”

“Every legalofscholar has told us district. bin Salman, a son King Salman, Associated Press

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

assented to the deal.

“I go with the consent, so I UBAI, United Arab Emiragree,” the prince said, chuckling, — OPEC, Russia and other roducing nations on Sunday drawing a round of applause from ized an unprecedented pro- those on the video call.

But it had not been smiles and ion cut of nearly 10 million els, or a 10th of global supply, laughs for weeks after the socalled OPEC+ group of OPEC opes of boosting

By Lolita crashing C. Baldor pricmembers and other nations failed mid the coronavirus pandemic The Associated Press in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said.

Tenproduction cuts, sending pricThis couldWASHINGTON, be the largestD.C. re- — on years after they and killed es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply ion in production fromfound OPEC bin maybe Laden, lonU.S. Navy criticized Russia days earlier over perhaps Osama a decade, SEALs are undergoing a major what it described as comments said U.S. Energy transition to Secretary improve leadership critical of the kingdom, which Brouillette, who and expand theircredited commando capaident Donald bilities to Trump’s better battleperthreats finds from itself trying to appease global powers like China Rusa longtime OPEC critic. l involvement in getting duel-and Trump, sia.

Even U.S. senators had warned parties to the table and helpnew plan cuts the number of to end SEAL a The price war between Saudi Arabia to find a way to platoons by as much as 30% boost prices as American shale di Arabiaand and Russia. increases their size to make firms il pricesthe have collapsed as the teams more lethal and able to face far-higher production sophisticated maritimecosts. and American troops had been navirus counter and the COVID-19 undersea And there deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes haveadversaries. largely haltwill be a new, intensive first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, lobal travel and slowed downscreening process for the Navy’s elite warriors over concerns of Iranir energy-chugging sectors to get higher-quality leaders attacks after as manufacturing.

It the hasforcean scandals that rocked andretaliation amid regional tensions. stated involved the oilcharges industry in sexual of murder, assault andpumps drug use.more “They’ve spent over the last U.S., which now Adm. H. Wyman Howard month waging war on American e than anyRear other country. top commander for the SEALs, oping intelligence networks and ut someIII, producers have been oil producers while we are defendlaid out his plans in an exclusive in- finding and hitting targets, said ing theirs.

Thiswho is not howNaval friends ctant to terview ease supply. car- Press.

Howard, heads Spewith TheThe Associated treat friends,” said Sen. Kevininnd other nations on Sunday He said the Navy’s special opera- cial Warfare Command, which the SEALs and special tionsMexico forces have been focused on cludes Cramer, a Republican fromtheNorth ed to allow to cut only combatant-craft crewmen. counterterrorism but warfare before the OPEC+ deal.

000 barrels a month, a operations stick- Dakota, of these things transfernowanmust begin initially to evolve beyond U.S.“Many producers have arealready point for accord those missions. For the past two de- able, but now we need to put presbeen reducing output. The Amerhed Friday marathon cades,after manyahave been fighting in sure on ourselves to operate against ican Petroleum o conference between peer threats.” Institute laudthe deserts of Iraq23 andnamountains saying it s. The nations togetherNow agreed As aglobal result, pact, Howard is adding of Afghanistan. they areedfo-Sunday’s personnel to thenations’ SEAL platoons cused on going backatoday sea. will help get other state-to ut 9.7 million barrels up capabilities cyberthe and That decision ownedbeef oil production to in follow ughout May and June.reflects the broadelectronic warfare and unmanned er Pentagon strategy to prioritize he group reached the deal just lead of U.S. producers that are tryChina and Russia, which are rap- systems, honing their skills to colto plunging demand. s before markets re- ing lect intelligence and deceive and deidlyAsian growing their militaries andto adjust Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internatrying to expand their influence feat the enemy. make commitments of its on own al benchmark Brent “We are putting pressure ouraround the globe.crude U.S. defense evolve andwas understand our leaders believe two decades of selves to production cuts, but able to ed at just over $31 that a barrel gapsobvious in capability and what our war against and extremshow the — that plunging American shale militants producers have drained resources, caus- true survivability is against these demand because of the pandemggle. ists ing America to lose ground against threats” posed by global competiic is expected to slash U.S. oil proideo aired by theand Saudi-owned tors, he said.

Moscow Beijing. lite channel Al-Arabiyafightduction.

Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of The counterterrorism had navalOil operations, saidBijan the goal is to benefits, that allowing the SEALs Iranian Minister Zanwed the itsmoment Saudi the SEALs into the to sharpen skills in develganeh better also integrate told state television rgy Minister Princetheir Abdulaziz

posed amendment to the Constitution would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority of both chambers of Congress, and then legislatures in 38 states must ratify the language adopted by Congress in order for the amendment to become valid.

D.C. has long chafed under its relationship with Congress, which has the power to essentially veto or alter any local laws. Its population is larger than that of Wyoming or Vermont and its estimated 690,000 residents pay federal taxes, vote for president and serve in

tion Manchin by name in a statement her office released Friday. But it was clearly intended as a rebuttal to his comments.

“First, no new state was admitted by constitutional amendment,” Norton said. “All 37 new states were admitted by Congress, and there has never been a successful constitutional challenge to the admission of a state. The Constitution commits admission decisions solely to Congress.”

Campbell Wallace, a spokesperson for Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and sponsor of the Senate’s state-

D.C. is now taking those same steps that 37 other states have taken since 1791.”

“Our population has exploded over the past decade as more people recognize DC as one of the hottest places in the nation. People know that DC is a welcoming and diverse hub of opportunity — a place that has something for everyone,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement.

“Of course, even with more American citizens living in DC than in two other states, the one thing we still don’t have is a vote in Congress.”

Navy SEALs to shift from counterterrorism to global threats

Navy leaders also chafed as Navy This May 4, SEALs broke away from their “qui2020, photo et professional” ethos, publicizprovided by ing their participation in the raid the U.S. Navy into Pakistan that killed bin Ladshows SEAL en, the al-Qaida leader responsible candidates for plotting the 9/11 attacks. Two participating SEALs wrote books about the misin “surf sion, prompting a rebuke from the immersion” Naval Special Warfare commander during Basic at the time, Rear Adm. Brian Losey.

Underwater “A critical tenant of our ethos is Demolition/ ‘I do not advertise the nature of my SEAL work, nor seek recognition for my (BUD/S) training at the actions,’” he said.

Since taking over last September, Naval Special Howard reached out to the Army Warfare on ENERGY (NSW) Center and the Marine Corps for ideas SAUDI how to better screen his commando in Coronado, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minist forces and assess them as they move Calif.

Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summitthrough of the Group 20 energy the ranks.of Almost immedi-minister his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, toately, coordinate a response to plummet he instituted a “double blind” MC1 ANTHONY WALKER | U.S. NAVY VIA AP prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn inprocess global for demand dueinterviews to the pandem candidate that was being used by the Army, so that neither side is influenced by acGallagher on war crimes charges tually seeing the other.

Navy’s missions at sea. praise. that“AsKuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés In addition, he is intensifying the the Navy Special Warfare that included murder of an Islamic “The pure Manuel López Obrador, had said the United Arab Emirates would with moresize psy-of the cu community returns more and State militant captive and attempt- screening process precedented, but, Friday that he had agreed with cut another 2 million barrels of more to its maritime roots, their ed murder in the shootings of civil- chological assessments to evalu- then ag ate personality And he isthe ex- corona ians during a that 2017 deployment to compenincreased integration them acrossatop the the is traits. the impact Trump the U.S. will oil a day between assessments done by said M Fleet — deal. above, The under, and on the Iraq. sate what Mexico cannot panding having on demand,” add toother OPEC+ three countries peers ofan canGallagher was acquitted sea not — will unequivocally enhance medand Ghulam, energy an the proposed cuts. of all the subordinates did immediately acknowledge our unique maritime capabilities charges except one, posing in photos didates up for review. The increased Raymond James.

“The big Oil Deal with OPEC the cutusthemselves, though with the dead captive. A jury recom- scrutiny, said Howard, will extend to help compete and win againstZanand others Plus done.

This will hun-all the But ganeh attendedGilday the video through ranksGhulam and will help his isrank be reduced, cut-save any adversary,” said inconfera mended may understanding not be enough. dreds of thousands of he energy jobsget aitbetter ence. leaders ting his pension and benefits as statement to the AP. of each service member’s was about to United retire. But President Increasingsaid the size of planned the SEAL cuts “This is character. at least a tempo in the States,” Trump said Officials other process,lief he for said,the willenergy provideindustry intervened andlike or- toThe platoons will add high-tech capa- Donald inTrump a tweet.

“I would thank would stand in the deal, meaning more feedback for individuals so This i dered that Gallagher be allowed to bilities.

And decreasing the numan 8-million-barrel-per-day cut and congratulate President Pu- the global economy. ber of units will allow Howard to retire without losing his SEAL sta- they can improve and will also help is too big to be let to fail and of pair from July through endand of the top leaders commanders with tus. tin of Russia and King Salman rid the force of toxic the leaders liance showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for More recently, a SEAL team pla- the right teams. be more selective in choosing comthisHoward agreement,” said Per M said 16 monthsThat beginning In some cases, said, sailpulledKremlin out of Iraq in 2019 President manders. decision isina2021. direct toon wasThe ors who had gone through amid Vladimir allegations of sexualheld assault. result of will the erosion character Nysveen, the head of ana Putin a joint callalready “This enableinthe rebalancthe initial screening had “Even to Members of SEAL Team 10 were in- King thatofNavy have seen Rystad Energy. tho with Trump and Saudi Sal- SEAL ing theofficials oil markets andwiththe exvolved in cocaine use and tamper- do it again under the new process. in the force. pected rebound of prices by $15 man to express support of the production cuts are small In recent years, SEALs have been ing with drug tests. And Navy SEAL Not all did as well the second time. what needed a It also Putin sepper barrel the short term,” said learned that the somemarket of the offiAdamdeal.

Matthews wassaid sentenced to aspoke“We involved in in a number of high-propostpone the stock about thethat oilscored afilestatement in the midrange are buildi year inarately militarywith prisonTrump for his role in cers scandals. Onefrom of the Nigeria’s most well- oil I thought problem, would havethe wor hazing-related death of an officers that straints known was the arrest of Navy Spe- the 2017 market and other issues. ministry. scored muchnow higher,” he said.

Army Green Beret in Africa. cial Operations Chief Edward avoided.”

Analysts offered cautious Mexico had initially blocked

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

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

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

www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd.

P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

7

obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Doyle Eudy

7

obituaries

James Tarlton

Jimmy Thompson

Geraldine Fink

Stephanie Yarbrough

DOYLE JAMES EUDY, 84, of JAMES ELI TARLTON, 61, JIMMY ARLEN THOMPSON, ON FRIDAY, April 30, 2021, New London, NC, passed away of New London passed away on 87. of Richfield, NC was called Geraldine Ann Furr Fink passed Friday, April 23, 2021 at his home. April 24, 2021 at his home. A peacefully to his heavenly home. away at the age of 74 surrounded STEPHANIE RENEE HOLT His funeral service will be 2 PM graveside service will be held He passed on April 30, 2021 at by family within her home. She YARBROUGH, 44, of Stanfield, Thursday, April 29, 2021 in the at 12PM on Thursday, April 29, Trinity Place which had been his was a beloved wife, mother, Maw NC passed away Thursday, April Stanly Funeral Home Chapel with 2021 at West Concord Cemetery “home away from home” for the Maw, and friend to all. Geraldine, 29, 2021 at her home surrounded Pastor Stoney Benfield officiating. in Concord, NC. Visitation will be past four years. most commonly referred to as be her loving family. Her warmth Burial will follow in Stanly held prior from 9-11am at Stanly Jim was born in Albemarle Deanie, was born on April 25, and humor will be missed by Gardens of Memory. The family Funeral and Cremation Care of on September 3, 1933, to the 1947 to Roy and Evelyn Furr. She those she leaves behind. will receive friends at Stanly Albemarle. late Jasper Colon Thompson and was the oldest of 8 siblings and Stephanie was born August 3, Funeral and Cremation Care from James was born February 4, Grace Lucas Thompson. At an loved each one of them dearly. On 1976 in Charlotte, NC to William 1 PM until 2 PM prior to the hour 1960 in Cabarrus County to the early age he was taught to love July 10, 1965, she married the love “Bill” Holt and Nancy Dodd Holt. of the service. late James Ruffus Tarlton. Mr. God and others. He retired after of her life, Clarence “Bub” Fink.

Survivors include her husband Mr. Eudy was born September 15 years of service from Hartsell Her love and care for him was of 21 years, Scott Edward Jason Tarlton could fix anything.

Tony He Merle Danny Jerry 11, 1936 in Stanly County, NC to enjoyed welding, working on cars, Funeral Home as a Funeral Yarbrough of the home; sons, Alex without measure. They spent their Luther Fincher the late Lawson LeanderEfird Eudy and helping othersSmith in his spare Assistant. Helms life together giving constantly to Yarbrough and Sam Yarbrough; and Cora Bell Herrin Doyle Jim isERLE survived by hisAUSTIN loving others, while father, William Price “Bill” HoltERRY FINCHER ASON Eudy.

EUGENE “GENE” time.

ONY MONROE SMITH, 72, of LORRAINE ANNY PAUL LUTHER, passedalso fromraising their EFIRD, 94, went home to be with Rockwell, NC, went be with wife of 54 HELMS, of Marshville, 65, ofmother, Norwood,Nancy passed away this life on April 3, 2020 at 8:05 retired from Hope Industries Mr. Talton is survived bytohis years,72,Carolyn Milller two daughters, Christy and Cheri. and Dodd Holt of his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ passed away Wednesday,August April 8, 7, unexpectedly Thursday, April 9, Bryan pm. He was surrounded by his family of Willow Grove, PA and later son James Tarlton and girlfriend Thompson ( married Geraldine had a mission in life, Midland; brother, David home in Stanfield.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 2020 McWhorter Hospice HouseSon,2020 at Atrium Healthof Stanly in and holding the hand the love of worked with SCUSA of Stanly JuliannaonShue of New London; 1966 byatRev. Maurice Staley). and that of was to faithfully serve Holt (Vanessa) Midland; fatherGene was born October 9, 1925, in his home surrounded by family. A in Monroe.

Albemarle. his life. Jerry is preceded in death County. He was a member stepdaughter: Elizabeth Russell Jeffrey Lynn Thompson (Sandra); God. Christ magnified within her, in-law and mother-in-law William Cabarrus County to the late Simeon private family service will be held.

Lorraine was born April 28, 1947 Mr. Luther was born March 27, by three siblings, two brothers, Billy of North Albemarle Baptist stepson: Casey Jean and and sheLarry spread God’s word to all and Rae Jason Efird and the late Sarah of EllaNew London; Online condolences can be made at grand-daughter, in Monroe to the late Homer David 1955“Eddie” to the lateYarbrough, Robert FultonJr. and Gilbert Fincher, Richard Church and was a member of the to hisDarren Russell and fiancée Thompson Amber Mullis around her.

SheJoyce had a servant’s Gibson brother-in-law Burris Efird. In addition stanlyfuneralhome.com Austin andand Jewell Delphia-Jane Helen TuckerYarbrough; Luther.

Fincher, and one sister, Barbra parents, he was preceded

by Hardister Tony wasof born August 11, 1947 (Greg); Austin.brother, She was also preceded in Danny was survived by his wife, andMoore.

Albemarle Lodge # 703 A.F. & in death Alexis Albemarle; Ronald Colon heart, and she spread the most William Dale Yarbrough wife wife,aJewell Littleof Efird; sisters, in Stanly County the late Pearlie Thompson death by brothers, and Teddy Burleson Lutherchildren of Norwood; He is survived by his Eleanor A.M. Mr. Eudyhiswas Veteran granddaughter: Leahto Marie (Jane)A.D. of New London, Denise sincere joywife, to all around her. She Lori, and their Lindsay, MaryArmy.

Lambert, Fannie Almond, Smith and Emmer Lee Austin; and sister, Jeremy (Karen) and Kate Fincher of the home,be daughter, the United States Tarlton;Asbury brother: Vernon Tarlton NC; nephews EricJoy C.Austin.

Thompson sons, will always remembered for her Peyton, Jacob Luther and Jackson; along Minnie Furr, Wilma Burleson and Smith. He was the son in law of Pat The family will receive friends Jody Luther; step-sons, Bryan Cindy Fincher Jacobs of Wingate Doyle was preceded in death

by Homer of Stanfield; sister: Godwin andpm Steve Thompson. infectious her contagious withand a close family and Aileen Huskey; and brothers, and Mick CagleAnn where he worked at (Alicia) from 6:00 - 8:00A. pm, Friday, Whitley Gregg extended (Anita) Whitley; NC., son and daughter insmile, law, Tommy his wife, SylivaEfird, Joan Davis Eudy. of Oakboro.

His extended family included laugh, her warmth, dear friends.

Getus Efird and Wayne Efird, the fish house for many years until April 10, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Grandchildren, Daniel Luther and (Tiffany) Fincher of New London her energy, He is survivedSr.by a son, Gregory In lieuheof flowers, memorials the Miller Family, her stories, her love for life, memorial to celebrate opened Anchor House Seafood all Home of Albemarle.

Thewonderful funeral HunterAZado, as well asservice his brother, NC., Step Children, Jimmy (Lisa) A private funeral be be made in Rockwell.

He andFuneral his wife Becky friends serviceand will be at 11:00 amJim on will BobStephanie’s Luther Jr (Lorena), unclebe Jack NC, Wanda (Bob) her students, Doyle Eudy of Stanfield, NC; aservice willmay to Stanly neighbors. family and friends, life will held atLanier of Locust held on April 11, 2020 owned and operated Anchor at Pleasant andpm several lovedMay nieces,2ndKrimminger of Locust NC., Eric brother, Hal Eudy ofSaturday, Mt. Pleasant, and Cremation Care to help theHouse be Saturday sorely missed byHill all Baptist who knew Luther colleagues, and her passion for 4:00 on other Sunday, at at Love’s Grove United Methodist for 25 years before retiring in 2009.

Church in Marshville, officiated nephews and cousins.

(Sharon) Lanier of Charlotte NC., NC; and two grandchildren, family with funeral expenses. him.

Christ.

Carolina Presbyterian Church, Church Cemetery in Stanfield Mr. Smith was a charter member

by Rev. John Miller and Rev. Leon Danny recently retired from Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson Lawson Eudy officiated and Briley Eudy.

He Burial Stanlyand Funeral and Cremation Jim fought a valiant, Geraldine is survived and 406 Renee Rd., Locust, of Midland, Step-grandchildren,

by Rev. Jim White. deacon at Open Door Baptist Whitley.

She will lie in state for 30 Charlotte Pipe andFord Foundry after was also preceded in death by two Care of Albemarle is serving thethe courageous sixtoyear battleShe with lovingly remembered NC 28097, officiated

by Pastor will follow at the Love’ s Grove United Church in Richfield.

He loved minutes prior the service. will a dedicated 37 years and worked Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron by her brothers, Arnold EudyChurch and Worth Tarlton Family.

Disease.

He cemetery. overcame there loving husband, Clarence Ronald Doug Agnew. family Methodist Cemetery, 4360 Lord and his family abundantly. TonyParkinson’s be laid to rest in the church with his sons andThe several other looks (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) Polk Ford Road,Wiley.

Stanfield. was a wonderful husband, father, andmanyShe is survivedalong by her the beloved and family members. with friends Washington, Bethof (Robbie) Setzer,Geraldine is Eudy and a sister, Janelle obstacles way. At friends Fink, 55 years. forward to gathering Survivors include grandfather and could fix anything Trinity husband of 47he years, Paul Helmsas “a Danny spending time at hall Matthew ( also April lovingly ) Wallace, Step Memorials may be made to son Gerald Place was known remembered by her in theloved church fellowship Wayne (Gail) Efird of Albemarle; he put his hands on. of the home; son, Alex (Deanna) his lake house with his family and great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve Prospect Baptist Church, 502 Tough Bird”. daughters, Christy Fink Eudy immediately following the service. daughter Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Helms of Pageland; daughter, Paula friends as well as vacationing with his Washington, Robert Setzer, George Prospect Church Rd, Albemarle, Jim loved hisHelms Lord,offamily, and family.In (Jody) Mount lieuand of Denise flowers, memorials of Stanfield; granddaughters, Becky Cagle Smith of the home, (Cristin Brandt) Mint Hill; Danny enjoyed (Sara) Setzer, Tracyof (Rob) SetzerPleasant, and NC 28001. Kelly Efird Barbee and Lauren friends.

He wanted toGrant, helpand anyone listening Cheri Fink Hopkins (Matthew) may to bebeach made to Carolina sons Walter Smith and Robbie grandchildren, Mason, music and loved to Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, Hartsell Crump; and greatSmith; daughter Kayla Henderson he Raegan brothers, shagPresbyterian dance every chance they could Andrew Underwood, Step grandchildren: great Stanly Funeral and(Justin) Cremation could. Helms; He had a keenBoyce, sense of Concord; Church, P. O. Box grandsons, Ian Patrick Royce, Tim Austin; and sisters, He was an amazing loving great grandchild, Waylon GeorgeEudy, Adam Care of Albemarle is serving theSimmons and (Brandon); grandchildren Danielle, of humor, excellent work ethics, get.369, Joshua Cameron Locust, NCfather, 28097.

Dustin, and Steele Smith, Keaton and Patricia Mullis, andin Angel Tarleton. grandfather and great friend Home to Setzer and Lane brotherEudy, DonaldShawn Lewis Christopher Eudy family. Elliot Jacob Simmons. he took pride a “job well Hartsell Funeral Memorials may be made to Love’s and Ella Henderson; brother David Memorials may be made to the many. He will never be forgotten.

Fincher of Albemarle, NC. done”.

Fishing was his hobby and Hopkins, and of Midland is serving the Grove United Methodist Church, PO Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park A celebration of life will be Jerry Fincher will be laid toTaylor rest on Averette loved God’s Foley; siblings: Ronald Yarbrough family. and Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276.

Karen Stevenson, Ruby Eudy, and passion!!

Rd., SuiteHe 250, Charlotte, NCcreation 28209. announced once the currentMemoriesWednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am Dale Furr and being outdoors!

(Jane)Church. of Oakboro, condolences may shared atat Canton Baptist Dorothy Smith (Nick).

COVID-19 restrictions arebe lifted.

Anyone and Carolyn He is preceded in death by Funeral Home of interested in attending, please(Rick) RSVP of Stanfield; The family wishes to thank the Hartsell Furr Torrence www.hartsellfh.com brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, outpouring of love and emotional Albemarle is serving the Luther at 704-796-2412.

Dr. Phil McCray sisters-in-laws, Vivian Love Furr Claude Smith, Wade Smith, Robert support already extended family. and Pastor(Tommy) Tommy Fincher will of Stanfield, and Kathy Smith, and sister Mary Morris. officiate. during Jim’s illness and care.

He Kenley Furr (Larry) of Stanfield; Memorial contributions can be and numerous cousins, nieces, made to Open Door Baptist Church benefited from the care provided

by Trinity Place and Hospice of and nephews. at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care Stanly and Uwharrie.

Geraldine is predeceased by her of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice The funeral service will be on loving parents, Roy Wilson Furr Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 3:00 and Evelyn Beatrice Furr; and pm at Hartsell Funeral Home her siblings: Shirley Furr Eudy, Lefler Memorial Chapel officiated Kenneth Wilson Furr, Tommy BILLY JOE BURRIS, 85, of

by Revs. Ruth Ann and Ray Sipe.

Allen Furr, Curtis Lee Furr, and Statesville, passed away Friday, Linda will follow at the Luther’s Larry Wayne Furr.

Pauline April 30, 2021 at Gordon Hospice Burial Hatley Lutheran Church Cemetery at Geraldine left detailed House of Statesville.

Tucker 4955 Richfield Rd, Richfield. instructions for her family to He was born September 2, 1935 INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of TheAlbemarle, family requests that celebrate her mission in life, AULINE ELIZABETH in Stanly County to the late Lawson passed away Monday, COVID standards be followed for which has now been completed.

Alexander and the late Jane Eudy.

ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed April 13, 2020. away peacefully at Trinity Place, Linda was born September 18, health safety.

We invite you to join us and In addition to his wife Thelma Albemarle, NCCAVIN on April 11, 2020.

1950 in Concord to thememorials late Jacob and In lieu of flowers, celebrate together. Geraldine’s Jane Burris he was also preceded DORIS SWARINGEN PaulineManor was bornon on Marchin 22,death by son Randy Joe Burris; Claris Tucker. to:The She wasMemorial also preceded may be made Life Celebration will take place passed away at Stanly 1922 in Cabarrus County, NC to the in death by her brother, Terry Lee Fund directed Backpack on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021, at Ray Burris and sister, April 27th, 2021 theRichard age ofAlmond 83. andbrother, lateat John Alice Tucker, and herto twin sister, Brenda Buddies, Mt Zion Lutheran 4 p.m., at Bethel Baptist Church Doris is predeceased

by Almond. Jennie Lee Morgan.

Shirley Ada Ann Lambert Tucker Strickland.

We know Brenda Church P.O.are Box 86 Richfield, of Locust, 617 Bethel Church Rd, her parents, Alonzo Ruby She isand survived by her three The body will lie in state from and Linda in Heaven watching daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), 8:00 AM until 5:00Haire us and NCover 28137 orlaughing.

Luther’s Lutheran Locust, NC 28097. The service PM, Tuesday, Swaringen of Norwood.

Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing Linda was a loving mother, sister, Church Cemetery Upkeep Fund, will be officiated by Pastor Brian HIRLEY MAE Funeral HAIRE, 73, May 4, 2021 at Hartsell Doris is lovingly remembered Oakboro, NC; Kathy and “Nana.” She was a very giving Celebrate the life of AlbemarleApassed away on 4955 Richfield Rd, Richfield, NC Bolding and Dr. William F. Nix. Home of Albemarle.

Graveside by her children(Foreman), Cathy Edwards Hunt (Marc), Albemarle, NC; her and loving person. Linda would April 11, 2020 at Atrium Health of your loved ones.

28137.

Prior to the service, visitation and service officiated by Rev. Jesse of Albemarle and Scott Cavin son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), always do anything she could for Stanly. The family will hold a private Submit obituaries Hartsell Funeral Home receiving of the family will begin Herring graveside and Rev.service GarryforBaker will (Karen) of Murfreesboro.

Washington, DC. She will be greatly others, especially her family.

She Mrs. Haire. of Albemarle is serving the#5, at 2:30 p.m.. Graveside services by her five grandchildren, enjoyed working at FastShop be held atShirley 3:00was PM, May 5, 202112, Grandchildrenmissed are Ginny and death notices born December Rushing Chaney (Shannon), Locust. Linda will be forever loved Thompson family. will follow at the Bethel Church of at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Gulledge (Eric)Heather and Danny 1946 in Washington, DC to the to be published in Michael Elizabeth Michel and greatly missed. late17236 Charles Richard Bateman Locust Cemetery.

Cemetery, Frog Pond Road,and Edwards (Julie) all ofRushing, Albemarle.

SCJ at Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. Survivors include her son, Mae Mulligan Bateman.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety Oakboro.Elizabeth A 30 minute state will be Great grandchildren are Reagan (Jenn), and Woody Hunt as well as Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of Shirley is survived by her husband obits@stanlyjournal.com on him because he cares for you. held prior to the service. and Ethan Gulledge, and Leland Celebrate the life of your loved seven great-grandchildren. She also Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker of 30 years Vaughn Smith of In lieu of flowers, donations can include son, RickPainter Edwards all ofleaves Albemarle.

She is nieces andSurvivors behind cherished and wife, Linda, of Midland; Albemarle; sister Sandra ones. Submit obituaries andto Hospice of Cabarrus nephews. granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 be made Burris (Jane) of Statesville, NC; survived by a sister, Lois Tyler of of Gainesville, VA; half-brother The family expresses its sincere niece; and 2 nephews.

County. in grandchildren Robert and Rebecca Murfreesboro.

Robert Bateman of Stevensville, death notices to be published gratitude to the staff and caregivers The family will receive friends MD; step-children Heather Smith Stanly Funeral and Cremation Burris; brother, Wayne Burris.

Doris was born in Concord, at Trinity Place for the care they from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com of Jacksonville, FL and David Care of Locust is serving the Fink Memorials may be made to NC in 1938. She graduated from provided Pauline.

April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Smith of New London, NC; 4 family.

Alzheimer’s Association, Carolina Enochville HighASchool in 1956service will private graveside be Home in Albemarle.

Linda will step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi Piedmont Chapter, 3800 Shamrock and went to Greensboro Womens held on Monday, April 13, 2020.

A be laid to rest during a private Hentschel of Leesburg, VA and of Pauline’s life andDr., legacy Charlotte, NC 28215.

College. Doriscelebration enjoyed needle Cheryl Hardy of Aylett, VA; 16 grand- committal service at Bethel United will be and held this summer.

Methodist Church, Midland.

Hartsell Funeral Homeand of Gus the work and painting, created nieces and nephews; lieu of flowers, the familyAlbemarle In lieu of flowers, please consider a dog.isStanly Funeral and Cremation serving the Burris many memories In during her time requests donations be made to the memorial donation to Bethel UMC, Care of Albemarle is serving the family. at Spring Arbor of Albemarle.

BrightFocus Foundation at www.

12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC Haire family.

Online condolences may be made In lieu of flowers, donations brightfocus.org.

28107. at www.hartsellfh.com can be made to Hospice of Stanly County.

Condolences for the family may be offered online at www. stanlyfuneralhome.com

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8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

STATE & NATION

‘Black America’s attorney general’ seems to be everywhere

By Aaron Morrison The Associated Press BEN CRUMP, the Rev. Al Sharpton says, is “Black America’s attorney general.”

In less than a decade, the Florida-based attorney has become the voice for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd -- Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked a movement.

He has won multimillion-dollar settlements in cases against law enforcement. He’s pushed cities to ban no-knock warrants. He has told a congressional committee that reform is needed because “it’s become painfully obvious we have two systems of justice; one for white Americans and one for black Americans.”

And he’s stood with black farmers taking on an agribusiness giant, and families exposed to lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.

“He’s a real believer in what he’s doing. He has taken the attacks.

He has taken the cases that others wouldn’t take,” Sharpton said, adding, “People can go to him.

The reason I trust him is because he has never misled me. Good or bad, he’ll tell me the truth about a client.”

These days, he seems to be ev-

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

In this Thursday, April 15, 2021, file photo, attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. erywhere. In April, he joined with George Floyd’s family in celebrating the conviction of ex-cop Derek Chauvin. Then he was among the mourners at the funeral for Daunte Wright, who was shot during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis in the week leading up to Chauvin’s verdict.

After Wright’s funeral, he was back in Florida to call for a federal investigation of a deputy who fatally shot two black teenagers.

And he began this past week demanding that police in North Carolina be more transparent after deputies fatally shot a Black man outside of his house.

Critics see him as an opportunist who never fails to show up amid another tragedy.

“That’s where he wants to be,” said Ronald Haley, a Louisiana attorney, who’s among a network of lawyers Crump works with on lawsuits.

Crump, 51, is a tireless worker who mixes Southern charm, a talent for attracting media attention to his cases and a firm belief that racism afflicts the nation, and the courts are the place to take it on.

Terrence Floyd, the 42-yearold brother of George Floyd, said Crump’s attention and care for his family over the last year has bonded them beyond the attorney-client relationship.

“It feels like it’s more family-based than business,” he said.

“After a while, I went from calling him ‘Mr. Crump’ to calling him ‘Unc,’ like he was one of my uncles.”

Crump’s path to becoming a lawyer and advocate began while growing up in Lumberton, North Carolina, where he was the oldest of nine siblings and step-siblings.

In his book “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People,” he described learning in elementary school that a white classmate’s weekly allowance was as much as what his mother made in a week working two jobs at a shoe factory and a hotel laundry.

“I wanted to understand why people on the white side of the tracks had it so good and black people on our side of the tracks had it so bad,” he wrote.

He often recounts how he learned about the world by reading the newspaper to his grandmother and how his mother taught him the story of famed civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall, who became his hero.

“He has always gravitated toward leadership and being the answer to injustice,” said Sean Pitt-

man, an attorney who has been his friend for 30 years, since they met at Florida State University. There, Crump was president of the Black Student Union and led protests to bring attention to how the school recruited and treated black students.

But his rise from personal injury attorney to a voice of Black America began in 2013 when he represented the family of Trayvon Martin, a teenager killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. He then took on the case for the family of Michael Brown who was fatally shot St. Louis.

Crump organized marches and brought media attention to both of their deaths — each happening during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In recent years he has produced and hosted an A&E documentary “Who Killed Tupac?” and launched a production company to make shows about injustice and civil rights.

Crump even had a brief role in the 2017 film “Marshall,” which tells of the early life of his hero, who became the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice.

His higher profile has brought more scrutiny and turned him into a frequent target. Conservative author Candace Owens in April accused Crump of trying to profit from police shootings and encouraging violent protests.

“Keeping racial issues alive has become a business in America,” she told Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham. “It’s Al Sharpton yesterday, Jesse Jackson tomorrow, Ben Crump today.”

MEXICO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE VIA AP

In this June 15, 2016, file photo provided by the Mexican Attorney General’s Office, Hector “El Guero” Palma, or “Blondie,” one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, is escorted in handcuffs from a helicopter at a federal hangar in Mexico City.

Mexico worries about scorn if another drug lord is released The Associated Press MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador worried Monday that yet another shadowy release of a drug lord is about to make Mexico a target of international ridicule.

Almost eight years ago, drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero walked out of a Mexican prison late at night with an improperly ordered release. He has since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in northern Mexico border state of Sonora.

On Saturday, another top capo of the Sinaloa cartel was about to walk in similar circumstances.

Hector “El Güero” Palma was hours away from freedom after a judge’s secretary sent a letter — on a Saturday and national holiday — saying the government had to release him immediately after he was acquitted on organized crime charges.

“This is a matter of national import,” López Obrador said this

week. “Imagine the suspicion, the jokes, the memes.”

“Something similar happened when Mr. Caro Quintero was released,” López Obrador recalled.

“They accused us from abroad, accused the government of complicity. No foreign government should accuse the Mexican government, and we shouldn’t give them a pretext to do that.”

On Monday, the judge sent another notification saying Palma had to be released by 4 p.m. López Obrador said prosecutors won a 48-hour extension to look for any outstanding warrants that could justify holding him. That runs out on Tuesday. The president has said that if none can be found, Palma should be released.

Mexico is beginning to earn a reputation as a government that, under López Obrador, has released more drug lords than it has captured, part of the president’s stated policy of no longer detaining drug lords to avoid violence.

Former U.S. Ambassador

Christopher Landau said in April that López Obrador views the fight against drug cartels “as a distraction ... So he has basically adopted an agenda of a pretty laissez-faire attitude towards them, which is pretty troubling to our government, obviously.”

López Obrador’s policy hasn’t accomplished much in decreasing drug violence in Mexico, and Palma’s release, like Caro Quintero’s, may only cause more bloodshed.

Known as “El Güero,” or “Blondie,” Palma was a founder and leader of the Sinaloa cartel, along with imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. He and Guzman drew unwanted attention in 1993, when a Roman Catholic cardinal was killed in a shootout between Sinaloa gunmen and the rival Arellano Félix gang at an airport in Guadalajara. The gunmen apparently mistook the cardinal’s luxury car for that of a rival.

Palma was arrested in Mexico in 1995, and served 12 years in Mexico on bribery and weapons

charges before he was extradited to the United States in 2007, where he served nine years of a 16year sentence for cocaine trafficking, before being sent back to Mexico, where he was held for trial on the organized crime charges that he was acquitted of last week.

Mexico’s judicial system is already in low esteem, and the latenight or weekend release orders don’t help its reputation for alleged corruption. López Obrador said he would push for a reform so that such release orders couldn’t be issued on weekends.

While Caro Quintero’s release predates López Obrador’s administration — the president took office in December 2018 — the president has recently said it was “justified,” because supposedly no verdict had been handed down against the drug lord after 27 years in jail.

In fact, there was a verdict; an appeals court improperly overturned it, but the verdict was later upheld by the Supreme Court. It

was too late by then; Caro Quintero was spirited off in a waiting vehicle, is now a fugitive, and has tried to rebuild his old drug empire by fighting other drug gangs for turf in Sonora.

The issue is a particularly thorny one for López Obrador, because in 2019, López Obrador ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman, one of “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, to avoid bloodshed.

López Obrador has said his “hugs not bullets” policy is meant to avoid violence. But murder rates have declined only slightly from their peak in 2019.

Caro Quintero walked free while serving a 40-year sentence for the torture-murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, and has since apparently resumed his role as violent drug trafficker.

Caro Quintero is at the top of the DEA’s most wanted list, with a $20 million reward for his capture.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 32 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

Twin City Herald

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Buttigieg in Raleigh Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, second from right, and Doug Emhoff, right, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, observe the development of concrete materials in the engineering department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Friday, April 30, 2021.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Lewisville man wins $1 million Forsyth County Marvin Northrup became the 10th person to win a million dollars on the Millionaire Maker scratch-off game. After going line dancing in Salisbury, he stopped at a convenience store and bought a pair of $30 tickets. The second one paid off with the top prize. He took home $424,509 after taxes and bought himself a new car.

FOX 8

Man fires gun in W-S club Forsyth County Carlos Ariel Morillo Jimenez, 26, of Winston-Salem, was arrested after firing a gun during a fight at Club Skay.

Jimenez fired the gun into the wall near an unidentified 28-year-old man during an altercation involving several other patrons at the club.

Jimenez was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm, resisting arrest and several other crimes.

FOX 8

Audit: Hurdles slowed COVID-19 grants to poor families in NC

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — Some low-income families in North Carolina missed out on getting coronavirus relief grants last year because of administrative and qualifying hurdles required by the General Assembly, a state audit concluded on Monday.

The legislature in September approved using federal COVID-19 relief funds to give families onetime $335 payments. The “Extra Credit Grant” money was designed to assist with virtual schooling and child-care costs during the pandemic, but could be used for any purpose. Lawmakers tasked the Department of Revenue with managing the program.

More than 1.1 million payments had been sent by the department through December totaling about $375 million, according to State Auditor Beth Wood’s office. They were sent automatically to families who were 2019 tax filers and reported having at least one child age 16 or under.

But parents or guardians who didn’t make enough money in 2019 to file a return were re-

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

In this Tuesday, July 24, 2018, file photo, members of the North Carolina House gather for a special session at the General Assembly in Raleigh. quired to fill out an application to obtain payments. By the end of 2020, about 25,000 payments had been made to those who had applied, the performance audit said.

Wood’s report found that other low-income families didn’t receive payments because of the additional steps the Revenue Department had to complete within a matter of weeks to accept appli-

cations and award payments.

That work included creating application forms and processing requests, as well as conducting outreach efforts that “were inherently limited” and couldn’t immediately reach more families, the audit said.

“As a result, the families most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic did not receive available economic support to assist

with increased virtual learning and child care costs,” auditors wrote.

The department couldn’t determine how many such families failed to receive the payments, but only 9,000 payments had been provided to families who filed by the original Oct. 15 deadline. The deadline was later extended to Dec. 7 after litigation.

Wood’s office recommended that the General Assembly consider directing that information from existing welfare programs such as Medicaid and food stamps be used in the future to identify needy families so automatic payments can be sent to them as well.

Revenue Secretary Ron Penny, in a written response attached to the audit, agreed with the findings and said he would pass along the recommendation to lawmakers. The legislature already has extended the grant application process further this year to May 31 so more people could benefit.

A measure approved by a Senate committee on Thursday would extend that deadline to July 1.

The process for low-income families hasn’t changed.

Penny wrote that his agency was performing more specific outreach this year to locate families that didn’t apply during the short window provided in 2020.

Wood’s office has been auditing whether billions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief funds disbursed by the state have been properly allocated.

North Carolina minister charged with child pornography The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM — A North Carolina minister was arrested for uploading child pornography to the internet after authorities acted on a tip, according to a sheriff’s office.

T. Elliott Welch, 34, of Tobaccoville is charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone who lived on the same block as Welch had uploaded child pornography. Investigators executed a search warrant at that residence.

The sheriff’s office provided no details on what investigators found at Welch’s home.

“We recently received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual was uploading child pornography to the internet,” the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement released on social media. “After completing a search warrant at the residence in Tobaccoville, we arrested and charged T Elliott Welch, a 34-year-old white male with one (1) count of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Mr. Welch is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Stanleyville.

Mr. Welch is currently confined to the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center with bond secured in the amount of $50,000.00. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 13th, 2021.

A person commits the offense of

Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor if he/she knowingly records, photographs, films, develops, or duplicates material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity or distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges, or solicits material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity.”

Welch was taken to the county jail under a secured bond of $50,000 but was later released on bail. It’s not known if he has an attorney.

Welch resigned from his job as lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Stanleyville.

The church released a statement to the media saying, “We are shocked and saddened by the criminal charges brought against

T. Elliott Welch, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Stanleyville. We in no way condone the behavior for which Pastor Welch has been accused. We are and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials as the investigation into these charges continues. Pastor Welch has resigned from his position as senior pastor, First Baptist Church - Stanleyville.

As a church, we remain committed to the spiritual needs of our members during this difficult time. We will refrain from further comment on these allegations as to allow law enforcement officials to continue to do their important work.”

Welch is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, May 13.

TCH staff contributed to this report

“After completing a search warrant at the residence in Tobaccoville, we arrested and charged T Elliott Welch, a 34-year-old white male with one (1) count of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

Mr. Welch is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Stanleyville." statement by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

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The ugly reaction to Tim Scott’s speech is telling

Publisher Editor

MAY 7

MAY 6

OPINION | DAVID HARSANYI

Twin City Herald

Neal Robbins

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

The left’s demeaning of any African American who strays from leftist orthodoxy is one of the ugliest acceptable smears in our political discourse.

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SOUTH CAROLINA SEN. TIM SCOTT gave a competent Republican response to Joe Biden’s mendacious speech to Congress this week. Considering the failed history of the opposition responses, being competent is no easy accomplishment. And boy, the contrived, hyperbolic outrage and derision we saw from liberal talking heads was something to behold.

Some of it was just farcical. Take MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, who argued that Scott’s speech, in which the senator dared praise the Trump administration for its work on vaccines, was “delivered from a planet where facts don’t matter.” It’s almost perfunctory at this point to make such claims, whether there is evidence or not. Operation Warp Speed, Wallace argued, “didn’t do anything to get a needle in the arms, so a lot of disinformation.”

Well, the effort did help boost the lifesaving innovation that flows through those needles — not to mention, it also led to a million doses being dispensed daily by the time Joe Biden got his own shot.

But Scott’s most controversial statement, allegedly, was to contend that, “America is not a racist country.” All the usual suspects took to social media to mock the senator for simultaneously contending that the nation wasn’t racist and pointing out that he had personally experienced bigotry. Of course, America is a racist nation, they wailed, before getting “Uncle Tim” trending on Twitter to try and prove it. The left’s demeaning of any African American who strays from leftist orthodoxy is one of the ugliest acceptable smears in our political discourse.

Scott’s two claims are wholly compatible. Bad actors and ugly ideas exist among people of all nations, and always will, and yet that does not necessarily mean the nation itself is fundamentally, legally, culturally or systemically racist. We can always do better, but by the world’s standards, the United States is likely the least racist place.

Indeed, Scott never alleged that racism was nonexistent in America. To do so would have been absurd. Scott, in fact, wrote a police-reform bill that Democrats such as Harris, Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin had shut down using the filibuster, which they now call a “relic of Jim Crow.”

STEFANI REYNOLDS | POOL VIA AP, FILE

In this Feb. 13, 2021, file photo, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., departs Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. In any event, at CNN, political analyst Van Jones maintained that Scott’s message “was nonsense” and that the senator had lost African Americans “by the tens of millions” by denying what everyone knew was true about the United States. This was the tone across left-wing media.

Yet, the very next morning, when asked by ABC News about Scott’s comments, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “I don’t think America is a racist country, but we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country and its existence today.”

It’s one thing to see flagrant double standards in politics, and another thing to hear two people say the same thing within 24 hours and be treated completely differently. Is Harris spinning “nonsense” as well? Is Harris losing “tens of millions” of black voters for saying the obvious? If not, why not? Or are liberals simply trying to smear Scott as a quisling because they’re worried about his appeal? (That last question is rhetorical.)

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Anderson, James Michael (M/47) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched I (F), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 4191 High Point Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 4/30/2021 21:20. ♦ BARKER, BENJI LEE was arrested on a charge of POSS HEROIN at 3333 SILAS CREEK PW on 5/1/2021 ♦ BRYANT, CHAMARAY DEVON was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1800 NEW HOPE LN on 5/1/2021 ♦ CALDWELL, VINCENT ARANZ was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 4248 INDIANA AV on 5/2/2021 ♦ CISNEROSMARCIAL, SABAS was arrested on a charge of FELONIOUS RESTRAINT at LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS RD/ LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS RD_ EB 40 RA on 5/2/2021 ♦ Courtney, Joshua Scott (M/31) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 2163 Old Thomasville Rd, High Point, NC, on 4/28/2021 14:30. ♦ DAVENPORT, NOAH WILLIAM was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 5721 UNIVERSITY PW on 5/2/2021

5/2/2021 ♦ GOINS, HIRAM RENARD was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 4140 SUNFLOWER CR on 5/2/2021

7) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 8) Resisting Arrest (M), 9) Child Restraint (M), and 10) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), at Salem Pkwy/martin Luther King Jr Dr, NC, on 5/3/2021 10:30.

Arrest on chrg of 1) P/w/i/ s/d Marijuana (F), 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 4800 Old Walkertown Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/1/2021 01:08.

♦ GRAGG, VEDER DALE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 1100 PLEASANT ST/PEACHTREE ST on 5/1/2021

♦ Langley, Ashley Nicole (F/35) Arrest on chrg of Possession Control Substance Jail (F), at 201 N Church St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 4/30/2021 15:00.

♦ Royall, Jared Matthew (M/26) Arrest on chrg of Misuse Of 911 System (M), at 100 Western Villa Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 5/1/2021 01:08.

♦ HARDIN, JOHNNY MACK was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 2355 ARDMORE TR on 5/2/2021

♦ Manning, Gerald Ernest (M/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) B&e-vehicle (F), 2) Larceny/ misdemeanor (M), 3) Fraudobt Property (F), 4) Fraud-obt Property (F), 5) Fraud-obt Property (F), and 6) Misd. Poss.

Of Stolen Goods (M), at Pine St, Rural Hall, NC, on 4/29/2021 17:07.

♦ SCHWAB, CHELSEA ANNE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 2101 S HAWTHORNE RD on 5/1/2021

♦ Hayden, Triniece Nathaniel (M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Habitual Larceny (F), 2) Felony Habitual Larceny (F), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 3600 Thomasville Rd, Winstonsalem, NC, on 5/2/2021 00:30. ♦ Hoots, Matthew Thomas (M/22) Arrest on chrg of 1) False Imprisonment (M), 2) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), 3) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), 4) Assault On Female (M), 5) Assault On Female (M), 6) Assault On Female (M), 7) Assault On Female (M), 8) Communicate Threats (M), 9) Communicate Threats (M), 10) Communicate Threats (M), and 11) Communicate Threats (M), at 7035 Marshall Rd, Lewisville, NC, on 4/30/2021 01:15.

♦ Marsden, Renece Marilyn (F/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault-simple (M), 2) Vandpersonal Prop (M), and 3) Interfering With Emergency Communication (M), at 5117 Talltree Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/2/2021 03:18. ♦ MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL JAMES was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 899 W SECOND ST/ BROOKSTOWN AV on 5/2/2021 ♦ MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL JAMES was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 899 W SECOND ST/ BROOKSTOWN AV on 5/2/2021

♦ DAVENPORT, NOAH WILLIAM was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at UNIVERSITY PW/NB 52_NB UNIVERSITY PW RA on 5/2/2021

♦ JIMENEZ, CARLOS ARIEL MORILLO was arrested on a charge of DISCH FA/OCC DWELL at 2845 MILLBROOK DR on 5/2/2021

♦ MCCAFFREY, MICHAEL JAMES was arrested on a charge of OPEN BEVERAGE at 899 W SECOND ST/ BROOKSTOWN AV on 5/2/2021

♦ DELGADO, DENIS ISAIAS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 5290 INDIANA AV on 5/1/2021

♦ JOHNSON, DEVON CHRISTINE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 999 BROOKSTOWN AV/ BURKE ST on 5/1/2021

♦ MOORE, DONALD TERRENCE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1712 E FIRST ST on 5/2/2021

♦ Farris, Chance Hien (M/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Vand-real Property (M), 2) P/w/i/s/d Sched Vi (F), 3) Weap-poss

By Felon (F), and 4) Resisting Arrest (M), at 5825 Sir Knight Cr, Clemmons, NC, on 5/2/2021 23:20. ♦ FUNDERBURK, ULICE ARCHIE was arrested on a charge of FALSE IMPRISONMENT at 4260 BROWNSBORO RD on

♦ JOHNSON, DEVON CHRISTINE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 899 W SECOND ST/ BROOKSTOWN AV on 5/1/2021 ♦ Johnson, Rashad Marque (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Aslt On Offcr/felony (F), 2) Child Abuse (M), 3) Vandpersonal Prop (M), 4) P/w/i/s/d Marijuana (F), 5) Poss Marijuana Fel (F), 6) Drugs-maintain (F),

♦ Moore, Matthew Lamkin (M/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) P/w/ i/s/d Cocaine (F), 2) P/w/i/s/d Sched I (F), 3) P/w/i/s/d Heroin (F), 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 5) Resisting Arrest (M), 6) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), 7) Speeding - Posted (M), 8) Follow Too Closely (M), and 9) Imp Regis-operating (M), at Us 421 Sb At 158, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/2/2021 22:40. ♦ Moore, Paul Edward (M/39)

♦ SIMPSON, MYKEL RAFEAL RICARDO was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 3790 NEW WALKERTOWN RD on 5/3/2021 ♦ Surber, Charles Edward (M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 4/28/2021 03:01. ♦ WARD, BIANCA MONET was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 4140 SUNFLOWER CR on 5/2/2021 ♦ WASHINGTON, JOHN EMEROY was arrested on a charge of AWIK/NO INJURY at 599 N GRAHAM AV/NEW WALKERTOWN RD on 5/2/2021 ♦ WATSON, CORTNEY ELIZABETH was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTASHOPLIFTING CONCEALMENT GOODS at 3475 PARKWAY VILLAGE CR on 5/2/2021 ♦ Welch, Megan Nichole (F/19) Arrest on chrg of 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 422 Sunpath Cr, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/2/2021 19:39. ♦ WHITAKER, ALICE ARNETTA was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 3505 N PATTERSON AV on 5/2/2021 ♦ Willard, Wayne Devin (M/18) Arrest on chrg of 1) Mv Theft (F) and 2) Poss Stolen Goods (F), at 201 N Church St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 4/30/2021 14:30. ♦ WORTHY, PENNY DIANNE was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/SER INJURY at 108 OLD OAK CR on 5/2/2021

♦ John Franklin Bowman, 53, of Kernersville, died April 28, 2021. ♦ Coy Smith Chamelin, 82, of Kernersville, died April 30, 2021. ♦ Sudie Hanes Clayton, 95, of Winston-Salem, died April 28, 2021. ♦ Joann Lackey Collins, 80, died May 2, 2021. ♦ Patricia T. Galboe, 87, of Kernersville, died May 1, 2021. ♦ Mary Catherine Crater Hinshaw, 91, of WinstonSalem, died May 3, 2021. ♦ Barbara Ellen Leak, 78, died April 28, 2021. ♦ Winifred “Winnie” Googe Lewis, 84, of Oak Ridge died April 28, 2021. ♦ Craig Robert McCliment, 61, of Clemmons, died April 28, 2021. ♦ Faye Jarvis Moran, 77, died May 2, 2021. ♦ Robah Elijah Peacock Jr, 86, of Winston-Salem, died May 1, 2021. ♦ Raymond Jasper “Jack” Perkins, Jr., 82, of La Grange, died May 2, 2021. ♦ Mary Sue Byer Reynolds, 90, of Allegany County, died Friday, April 30, 2021. ♦ Robert Lee Schneider, 90, died May 1, 2021. ♦ Joe Gray Williams, 80, of Forsyth County, died May 1, 2021. ♦ Bobby Willard Wolfe, 83, of Kernersville, died May 1, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, May 5, 2021

SPORTS

3 SPONSORED BY

SIDELINE REPORT NBA

Magic coach Clifford clears COVID-19 protocols Orlando, Fla. Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford has cleared NBA health and safety protocols for COVID-19 and will return to the bench Wednesday night against Boston. Clifford has missed the past five games because of COVID-19 protocols. He tested positive for the virus last month while in between two vaccination shots. Assistant Tyrone Corbin has served as acting coach. The 59-year-old Clifford coached Charlotte from 2013-18 and is in his third season with Magic. He was previously an assistant in Orlando from 2007-12 and also served in that role with the Knicks, Rockets and Lakers in his 21-year NBA coaching career.

MLB

Struggling Mets fire two coaches St. Louis The scuffling New York Mets fired hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Tom Slater on Monday night. The moves were made following a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that dropped the Mets to 11-12. Several accomplished hitters are off to slow starts, including $341 million newcomer Francisco Lindor, who is hitless in his last 25 plate appearances and batting .163 overall. Minor league hitting coordinator Hugh Quattlebaum and farm director Kevin Howard will join the major league coaching staff to replace Davis and Slater, respectively.

NHL

Houser, in first game since last March, wins in NHL debut Buffalo, N.Y. Sabres goalie Michael Houser stopped 34 shots to win his NHL debut, beating the Islanders 4-2 on Monday night. Houser spent the past 8½ seasons in the minor leagues. It was his first game since March 7, 2020, with Cincinnati of the ECHL. Buffalo signed goalie Stefanos Lekkas to a professional tryout deal on Monday so he could back up Houser due to injuries to goalies Dustin Tokarski, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark. Sabres assistant coach Mike Bales — the Hurricanes goalie coach for two seasons — served as Buffalo’s emergency backup.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Baylor names WNBA’s Collen to replace Mulkey Waco, Texas WNBA coach Nicki Collen has been hired as the new Baylor women’s coach, taking over a program that has won three national championships and the last 11 Big 12 regular season titles. Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades made the announcement Monday night. Collen, who had coached the Atlanta Dream the past three seasons, replaces Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey and will be formally introduced Wednesday on the Waco campus. Mulkey left Baylor last month after 21 seasons to return to her home state to take over at LSU.

COLIN E. BRALEY | AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday at Kansas Speedway.

Busch celebrates birthday with win at Kansas Busch became the latest driver to clinch a playoff berth in a Cup Series season full of parity

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Busch thought he had a thirdplace car Sunday. His crew chief, Ben Beshore, though it was good enough for second.

Both of them turned out to be wrong.

Instead, Busch was perfect on a pair of late restarts and won a twolap sprint to the finish at Kansas Speedway, becoming the 10th different winner through the first 11 races of a topsy-turvy NASCAR Cup Series season.

On his 36th birthday, no less.

“We ran up front all day,” Busch said. “Just trying to make adjustments all day long to get it where we wanted. The final adjustments were a positive for us. Didn’t necessarily take us from a third-place car to a winning car, but the restarts did.”

Busch had stalked Kyle Larson all afternoon before beating him on a late restart to take the lead.

Then, after another caution in the closing laps, Busch followed up his Truck Series win Saturday night by earning another trip to Victory Lane.

“That’s a Kyle Busch win right there,” he said with a smile.

It’s his 17th straight season with a win, tying David Pearson for second on the all-time list and moving him within one of Richard Petty’s

record streak. It also was his first with Beshore calling the shots from the pit box, and it gives Joe Gibbs Racing three drivers qualified for the playoffs along with Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell.

“I felt like we were a second-place car to the 5 car all day, to be honest,” Beshore said. “Kyle just did an amazing job on the last couple of restarts there, taking the lead and then keeping it on the last couple.”

Kevin Harvick overcame a tire mishap on a late pit stop and took advantage of some chaos on the final restart to finish second. Brad Keselowski dominated the early laps before following his win at Talladega last week by finishing third, and Matt DiBenedetto and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

Larson led a race-high 132 laps before his day ended in 19th place and bitter disappointment.

Even after he was beaten by Busch on that late restart, he had another chance when Bell got sideways in Turn 4 to bring out another caution. But on the restart with two laps to go, Larson got trapped behind Ryan Blaney and wound up getting him sideways while trying to give him a push, taking both of them out of contention.

“I planned on pushing Blaney as hard as I could,” Larson said, “and I guess I was pushing too hard.”

It was nearly a perfect finish for his team owner, Rick Hendrick, whose late son Ricky won his only Truck Series race at Kansas in 2001. Just as Larson did in winning at Las Vegas, he was driving the red, white and blue paint scheme that was nearly identical to the one Hendrick drove 20 years ago.

Ricky Hendrick died along with nine others in a plane crash on Oct. 24, 2004, near Martinsville, Virginia.

Denny Hamlin, also searching for his first win, had a similarly frustrating finish. He had taken the lead on a restart with 32 to go before Larson applied pressure from behind and Hamlin wound up slapping the wall to bring out a caution.

“He’s had a bunch of seconds, but this is a long, hard season,” said Coy Gibbs, the vice chairman and chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing, who remains confident that the fourth car in his stable will reach Victory Lane soon.

“I think it’s important to get on a roll and carry that into the playoffs,” Gibbs said. “That’s kind of what we’re looking at.”

Baffert mulling Medina Spirit’s next step after Derby win The Preakness Stakes is May 15 in Baltimore

By Gary B. Graves The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Medina Spirit’s surprising Kentucky Derby victory gave Bob Baffert a good problem to have — figuring out where to hang another sign on his barn’s already crowded wall of glory.

As Baffert digests a record seventh Derby win that even caught him off guard, the Hall of Fame trainer and the horse’s connections must determine whether the dark brown colt will turn around quickly for the 146th Preakness on May 15 in Baltimore, where a collection of rested horses and revenge-minded competitors await.

“He came out of it well,” Baffert said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “It takes about a week to determine, so I’m going to come back next weekend and see. I don’t see anything that would discourage me right now.”

Similar wait-and-see decisions loomed on the backside a day after the 147th Derby returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date.

Shorter than the Derby at 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness sets up well for horses that skipped Churchill Downs for the sprint at Pimlico Race Course. Not to mention a chance for redemption for competitors that fell short to Medina Spirit.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said thirdplace finisher Rock Your World would not be among them, looking instead to run the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 5 in New York. Todd Pletcher, whose quartet of entrants finished no higher than ninth (Known Agenda), planned to return to New York to regroup and then “think about some major decisions with those horses.”

JEFF ROBERSON | AP PHOTO

Trainer Bob Baffert hands the winner's trophy to jockey John Velazquez after their victory with Medina Spirit in the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Meanwhile, Brad Cox planned to talk with connections for runner-up Mandaloun and 5-2 Derby favorite Essential Quality, who finished fourth. Though disappointed with falling short in his first Derby, the Louisville-born trainer was encouraged by both finishing in the top four of the 19-horse field.

After a head-scratching sixth in the Louisiana Derby, Mandaloun provided a pleasant surprise on Saturday by chasing Medina Spirit down the stretch before falling half a length short. Cox insisted Essential Quality was the Derby’s best horse and just created extra distance for himself in the turns trying to contend.

“He ran a huge race, very proud of his effort, he and Mandaloun,”

Cox said. “He was fourth-best at a mile and a quarter. He lost a lot of ground around both turns.”

Asked if he wanted to run the Preakness, Cox said: “I have a desire if I feel like my horses are doing really well. I just really have to base it off of them.”

Baffert might throw another one of his pupils into the Preakness mix.

He preceded his availability with reporters by working Concert Tour, who finished third in the Arkansas Derby. A decision by owners Gary and Mary West looms for the colt with three wins.

In the meantime, Baffert basked in the afterglow of Medina Spirit’s biggest victory.

His lone Derby entrant was

somewhat under the radar at 12-1 odds following consecutive second-place finishes, including one against Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby. Medina Spirit quickly set the line behind him, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.02.

The two-time Triple Crown winner was careful not to make any projections about his latest Derby champ, whom he briefly paraded in front of a gathering outside his barn. Baffert then led him inside for a well-deserved rest before his next chapter.

“It was just a thrill to watch him do it and fight on,” Baffert said. “He came back, he’s handling it quite well. He wasn’t as tired as I thought he might be. A big race like that, but he handled it quite well.”

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STATE & NATION

‘Black America’s attorney general’ seems to be everywhere

By Aaron Morrison The Associated Press BEN CRUMP, the Rev. Al Sharpton says, is “Black America’s attorney general.”

In less than a decade, the Florida-based attorney has become the voice for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd -- Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked a movement.

He has won multimillion-dollar settlements in cases against law enforcement. He’s pushed cities to ban no-knock warrants. He has told a congressional committee that reform is needed because “it’s become painfully obvious we have two systems of justice; one for white Americans and one for black Americans.”

And he’s stood with black farmers taking on an agribusiness giant, and families exposed to lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.

“He’s a real believer in what he’s doing. He has taken the attacks.

He has taken the cases that others wouldn’t take,” Sharpton said,

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

In this Thursday, April 15, 2021 file photo, attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. adding, “People can go to him. The reason I trust him is because he has never misled me. Good or bad, he’ll tell me the truth about a client.”

These days, he seems to be everywhere. In April, he joined with George Floyd’s family in celebrat-

ing the conviction of ex-cop Derek Chauvin. Then he was among the mourners at the funeral for Daunte Wright, who was shot during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis in the week leading up to Chauvin’s verdict.

After Wright’s funeral, he was back in Florida to call for a federal investigation of a deputy who fatally shot two black teenagers. And he began this past week demanding that police in North Carolina be more transparent after deputies fatally shot a Black man outside of his house.

Critics see him as an opportunist who never fails to show up amid another tragedy.

“That’s where he wants to be,” said Ronald Haley, a Louisiana attorney, who’s among a network of lawyers Crump works with on lawsuits.

Crump, 51, is a tireless worker who mixes Southern charm, a talent for attracting media attention to his cases and a firm belief that racism afflicts the nation, and the courts are the place to take it on.

Terrence Floyd, the 42-yearold brother of George Floyd, said Crump’s attention and care for his

family over the last year has bonded them beyond the attorney-client relationship.

“It feels like it’s more family-based than business,” he said.

“After a while, I went from calling him ‘Mr. Crump’ to calling him ‘Unc,’ like he was one of my uncles.”

Crump’s path to becoming a lawyer and advocate began while growing up in Lumberton, North Carolina, where he was the oldest of nine siblings and step-siblings.

In his book “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People,” he described learning in elementary school that a white classmate’s weekly allowance was as much as what his mother made in a week working two jobs at a shoe factory and a hotel laundry.

“I wanted to understand why people on the white side of the tracks had it so good and black people on our side of the tracks had it so bad,” he wrote.

He often recounts how he learned about the world by reading the newspaper to his grandmother and how his mother taught him the story of famed civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall, who became his hero.

“He has always gravitated toward leadership and being the answer to injustice,” said Sean Pittman, an attorney who has been his friend for 30 years, since they met at Florida State University. There, Crump was president of the Black Student Union and led protests to

bring attention to how the school recruited and treated black students.

But his rise from personal injury attorney to a voice of Black America began in 2013 when he represented the family of Trayvon Martin, a teenager killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. He then took on the case for the family of Michael Brown who was fatally shot St. Louis.

Crump organized marches and brought media attention to both of their deaths — each happening during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In recent years he has produced and hosted an A&E documentary “Who Killed Tupac?” and launched a production company to make shows about injustice and civil rights.

Crump even had a brief role in the 2017 film “Marshall,” which tells of the early life of his hero, who became the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice.

His higher profile has brought more scrutiny and turned him into a frequent target. Conservative author Candace Owens in April accused Crump of trying to profit from police shootings and encouraging violent protests.

“Keeping racial issues alive has become a business in America,” she told Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham. “It’s Al Sharpton yesterday, Jesse Jackson tomorrow, Ben Crump today.”

Mexico worries about scorn if another drug lord is released The Associated Press MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador worried Monday that yet another shadowy release of a drug lord is about to make Mexico a target of international ridicule.

Almost eight years ago, drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero walked out of a Mexican prison late at night with an improperly ordered release. He has since returned to drug trafficking and unleashed bloody turf battles in northern Mexico border state of Sonora.

On Saturday, another top capo of the Sinaloa cartel was about to walk in similar circumstances.

Hector “El Güero” Palma was hours away from freedom after a judge’s secretary sent a letter — on a Saturday and national holiday — saying the government had to release him immediately after he was acquitted on organized crime charges.

“This is a matter of national import,” López Obrador said this week. “Imagine the suspicion, the jokes, the memes.”

“Something similar happened when Mr. Caro Quintero was released,” López Obrador recalled.

“They accused us from abroad, accused the government of complicity. No foreign government should accuse the Mexican government, and we shouldn’t give them a pretext to do that.”

On Monday, the judge sent another notification saying Palma had to be released by 4 p.m. López

Obrador said prosecutors won a 48-hour extension to look for any outstanding warrants that could justify holding him. That runs out on Tuesday. The president has said that if none can be found, Palma should be released.

Mexico is beginning to earn a reputation as a government that, under López Obrador, has released more drug lords than it has captured, part of the president’s stated policy of no longer detaining drug lords to avoid violence.

Former U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau said in April that López Obrador views the fight against drug cartels “as a distraction ... So he has basically adopted an agenda of a pretty laissez-faire attitude towards them, which is pretty troubling to our government, obviously.”

López Obrador’s policy hasn’t accomplished much in decreasing drug violence in Mexico, and Palma’s release, like Caro Quintero’s, may only cause more bloodshed.

Known as “El Güero,” or “Blondie,” Palma was a founder and leader of the Sinaloa cartel, along with imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. He and Guzman drew unwanted attention in 1993, when a Roman Catholic cardinal was killed in a shootout between Sinaloa gunmen and the rival Arellano Félix gang at an airport in Guadalajara. The gunmen apparently mistook the cardinal’s luxury car for that of a rival.

Palma was arrested in Mexico in 1995, and served 12 years in

MEXICO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE VIA AP

In this June 15, 2016 file photo provided by the Mexican Attorney General's Office, Hector "El Guero" Palma, or “Blondie,” one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, is escorted in handcuffs from a helicopter at a federal hangar in Mexico City.

Mexico on bribery and weapons charges before he was extradited to the United States in 2007, where he served nine years of a 16year sentence for cocaine trafficking, before being sent back to Mexico, where he was held for trial on the organized crime charges that he was acquitted of last week.

Mexico’s judicial system is already in low esteem, and the latenight or weekend release orders don’t help its reputation for alleged corruption. López Obrador said he would push for a reform so that such release orders couldn’t be issued on weekends.

While Caro Quintero’s release predates López Obrador’s admin-

istration — the president took office in December 2018 — the president has recently said it was “justified,” because supposedly no verdict had been handed down against the drug lord after 27 years in jail.

In fact, there was a verdict; an appeals court improperly overturned it, but the verdict was later upheld by the Supreme Court. It was too late by then; Caro Quintero was spirited off in a waiting vehicle, is now a fugitive, and has tried to rebuild his old drug empire by fighting other drug gangs for turf in Sonora.

The issue is a particularly thorny one for López Obrador, because in

2019, López Obrador ordered the release of Ovidio Guzman, one of “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, to avoid bloodshed.

López Obrador has said his “hugs not bullets” policy is meant to avoid violence. But murder rates have declined only slightly from their peak in 2019.

Caro Quintero walked free while serving a 40-year sentence for the torture-murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, and has since apparently resumed his role as violent drug trafficker.

Caro Quintero is at the top of the DEA’s most wanted list, with a $20 million reward for his capture.