North State Journal Vol. 6, Issue 16 by North State Journal

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 16

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

Cooper, Berger offer divergent views of state surplus forecast Raleigh A June 15 consensus revenue forecast shows that N.C. coffers are expected to have a surplus of over $6.5 billion by 2023, not including funds from the American Rescue Plan. “These new numbers show unprecedented resources are now available to make transformational investments for our state. Even though the Republican Senate bill giving big tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy is bad policy, we have enough money to pass my entire budget with more money still remaining,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) countered with a succinct statement, saying, “A huge surplus does not mean we’re spending too little. It means we’re taxing too much.” NSJ STAFF

Senate votes to confirm Biden pick for DC appeals court Washington, D.C. The U.S. Senate confirmed the first appellate court judge of President Joe Biden’s tenure, elevating a judge likely on the president’s short list should a Supreme Court vacancy arise. Senators voted 53-44 to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the nation’s second most powerful court. She replaces Merrick Garland, who vacated the seat to become Biden’s attorney general. Biden has promised to name a black woman to the Supreme Court and many view Jackson as a leading contender. Last week, the Senate confirmed the nation’s first federal Muslim judge, Zahid Quraishi, to serve as a district court judge in New Jersey.

PHOTO VIA N.C. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

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

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. Rep. Rouzer warns EPA on water rule Washington, D.C. U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-07) responded to the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army’s announcement of their intent to revise the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The Obamaera regulation, which had authority to subject bodies of water of any size such as ponds, ditches, and puddles to federal regulation, was rescinded during the Trump administration. “I am greatly concerned about the impact any WOTUS rule change would have on southeastern North Carolina,” said Rouzer. “As the EPA works to revise the WOTUS rule, they must remain within their Constitutional authority and prevent overly burdensome regulations that would negatively impact our farm families, small businesses, local governments and citizens.” NSJ STAFF

Fla. governor signs bill requiring moment for school prayer Tallahassee, Fla. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside at least one minute of silence for children to meditate or pray. “It’s important to provide each student the ability, every day, to be able to reflect and to be able to pray as they see fit,” DeSantis said. “The idea that you can just push God out of every institution, and be successful — I’m sorry, our founding fathers did not believe that.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charlotte talk-radio host Brett Winterble links past, present during Rush Limbaugh Show By Matt Mercer North State Journal CHARLOTTE — WBT radio’s afternoon host Brett Winterble said he learned a lot about business, life and more in his near decade working for the late Rush Limbaugh – and the opportunity to honor his late friend pulling double duty and guest hosting the show was an easy decision. Since Limbaugh died of stagefour lung cancer in February, his eponymous radio show has continued with rotating “guide hosts,” who weave together their own take on the current day’s news along with monologues and phone calls from over 30 years of his legendary career. The current format has given Winterble, who hosts the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. afternoon slot on the venerable Charlotte station, a national audience after years spent learning with the team behind Limbaugh. “I started working with the show through their syndicator, a company called ESM Media, back in 1995. I worked in the back end with the office in advertising and traffic and worked my way up. I eventually went to Premiere Radio Networks in Los Angeles in 1998,” said Winterble. After gaining valuable experience, he moved to New York to work directly with Limbaugh on his show. “Probably the fall of 1999, I started screening. I was in that capacity from ‘99 until 2006. That was an experience, every day, working with the show, helping him with whatever he needed, and we became tremendous friends,” he said. “It’s a rarity; people don’t leave that show. But I wanted to get back out to the west coast and I wanted to get my own show. And I left on extremely good terms with Rush. It was really a formative decade.” Returning to Los Angeles, Winterble worked for Michael Reagan, son of the 40th President. He began working as a substitute host

and launched a podcast in early 2007 focused on the War on Terror. Winterble says the podcast started as 15-minute episodes and grew to fill three hours, focusing on national security and terrorism, but eventually moving into domestic news. He also would pivot to sports talk at a famous Southern California station, KSWV, where he talked a lot of NBA basketball since the station was the flagship of the Los Angeles Clippers. He added that he thinks sports talk is the much harder end of talk radio. “You’ve got to be aware of so much, and with specificity, and it’s a much faster-paced environment,” he said. “It’s one of those funny things, you know; the escape you get from the news when you get home at night and get to watch some ball games, but when you have to watch as part of your job, there is no escape. I’m not going to sit down and relax watching Sean Hannity at night,” he quips, “So sports is an escape that goes away.” In 2015, Winterble took a time slot in San Diego full time before making the move to Charlotte five years later. Taking his turn as guide host has helped connect Winterble to memorable moments in the past, even if, he admits, he doesn’t know who came up with the idea. He says he talked to folks from the show around New Year’s week; and after Limbaugh passed, he agreed to host the show. “I said, okay. What does that look like? Because when you fill in, you’re doing news of the day. This meant integrating content and I think I was a valuable addition to the effort,” Winterble says. “The fact I had been there for so many of those years, especially in the early 2000s, I had a big reservoir of memory and knowledge, of bits and riffs and things he talked about.” Winterble said he was able to See WINTERBLE, page A8

Gov. Cooper statement addresses ‘state of emergency’ 6 times but not lawmaker questions By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper used the term “state of emergency” six times in his recent press release announcing another extension of various COVID-related restrictions, but he has yet to answer media and lawmaker questions about that continued state of emergency. The governor’s June 11 press release announced Executive Order 220, which extends state eviction prohibitions, unemployment insurance “flexibility,” and the mask

mandate for “certain settings such as public transportation, schools, health care and childcare facilities, in accordance with CDC guidance.” Executive Order 220 won’t expire until July 30 at 5 p.m. At least one district isn’t waiting for the school mask mandate to be changed. The Harnett County Public Schools board voted last week to drop the mask requirement for all students. It is unclear what action Cooper will take. Harnett board’s vote to drop See COOPER, page A2

Former Gov. Pat McCrory says he has the experience to be the state’s next US senator McCrory says he isn’t a Washington insider; will solve problems and make tough decisions By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory spoke to North State Journal about the 2022 U.S. Senate race and the experience he brings to the table as a candidate. “We’ve got a great campaign team we’re working with. We’ve got a great team and we’re going to win,” McCrory told North State Journal. At last count, 11 Republicans, nine Democrats and three Independents have officially announced their intent to run in the 2022 race. North State Journal asked McCrory what sets him apart from the field of candidates and why he decided to run. “Well, to quote Tina Turner, we’re 'simply the best' to represent North Carolina based upon accomplishment, based upon vision, based upon conservative record of achievement and based upon leadership,” McCrory said. "There's no one that comes close in the state of North Carolina running for the seat who's actually kept his promises when running for elective office, whether it be a city council office, or mayor's office, or the governor's. Also, I've always kept my promise and did what I said I was going to do. And I don't think any other politician could say that, based upon our track record of success.” The race is set to be a national-

ly watched race. McCrory said the future of the U.S. Supreme Court See MCCRORY, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: FAITH THROUGH TRIALS

6.16.21 #287

“Liberty's story” Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

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

MCCRORY from page A1 was one of the big items at stake. Additionally, he said the future of other hot button issues like fiscal responsibility, reliable and inexpensive energy, immigration, and law and order were also at stake. McCrory has a long history of elective experience — around 33 years-worth — having served as a Charlotte City Council member first elected to an at-large seat in 1989. He went on to be re-elected two times (1991, 1993) and also served as mayor pro tempore (1993-1995). In 1995, McCrory was elected as the 53rd mayor of Charlotte, and served seven terms through 2009. He was the youngest to be elected mayor of Charlotte, at the age of 39. During that time, he was also a member of the United States Homeland Security Advisory Council (2002 to 2006). Following his success in Charlotte, McCrory became the first Republican to be elected governor since 1988. McCrory failed to win reelection against Democrat Roy Cooper in 2016 in a tight race, losing by a very narrow margin of just 10,277 votes. “I might add, the elections that I’ve won, I’ve never been an election in a gerrymandered district,” McCrory said. “I’ve always been in elections in which it’s been pretty evenly divided, and I had to appeal to people across the political spectrum, conservative and independent alike. About a year after leaving the governor’s mansion, McCrory began co-hosting a radio show with Bo Thompson on WBT. While co-hosting, the show shot up to No. 1 for its time slot and stayed

COOPER from page A1 the masks comes as parent and student “Let Them Breathe” protests at board meetings in multiple states have increased. North Carolina is only one of 12 states that still have a statewide mask mandate. Cooper has continued to claim a state of emergency, first issued on March 10, 2020, which has no expiration date. As of Tuesday evening, it is 462 days old. South Carolina lifted its state of emergency in early June, and Virginia will let its declaration expire on June 30. New Jersey and Arkansas have also lifted their statewide declarations. The press release made numerous claims about the advantages of maintaining a state of emergency yet did not show that any of those benefits required an emergency declaration. Cooper’s release claims that under a state of emergency, North Carolina has “easier access to federal funding including FEMA Public Assistance reimbursements, and schools can follow uniform safety guidance un-

JOB 42:1-3

Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 42

The patience of Job is an attribute that many aspire to and most fail to achieve. Job was afflicted with all manner of tribulations, including loss of his wealth, children and his physical health. Satan was the source of Job’s troubles, but he did not know that. Throughout Job’s trials, his friends — Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar — debate the reason for his afflictions. Job refuses to turn his back to God even though he wants to know why he is suffering. His friends suggest that Job has done something wrong in God’s eye that is causing God to punish him. Ultimately, Job never learns of the actions of Satan or God’s reasons for allowing Job’s suffering to occur. Job’s situation reveals PUBLIC DOMAIN something about the nature “Job and His Friends” by Ilya Repin is a painting in the collection of the Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg. of suffering among believers. While Job did not learn the by God for their words against knew that God’s motives is the one thing we control. reason for his affliction, his Him. It was only through and methods cannot be Ultimately, Job’s faith resulted friends learned the power of Job’s prayers that the three questioned by man. He also in his long life and many remaining faithful to God. The friends were redeemed. Job knew that our faith in God rewards on Earth. friends are ultimately rebuked

there for seven straight months during 2020. McCrory left the show earlier this year after announcing his candidacy. On his experience as an elected official in North Carolina, McCrory said he’s “the only one who’s actually had to call the National Guard to put down Antifa.” “There’s no one on Capitol Hill is who has called the National Guard. I bring an 'outside Washington' perspective. I’m not a Washington Insider,” McCrory said. "I’m someone who has actually solve problems in North Carolina, and I’m going to bring that problem-solving skill to Washington, D.C. where it’s desperately needed at the point in time because Washington is a mess.” The 64-year-old former governor also said there’s a lack of fiscal responsibility in Washington and pointed to the unemployment deficit he inherited from former Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue when he was elected as governor. “When I was governor, I inherited the fourth-highest unemployment in the United States (North Carolina),” said McCrory. “And I made the tough decision to lower unemployment compensation to get people back to work.” McCrory added that “now that’s the new thing to do among governors” but that he did it eight years ago. He said he strongly disagrees with one of his opponents and even some legislators’ recommendation on unemployment, stating “they now want to use government money to pay people to go to work.” “I don’t want to grow the nanny state. I want to reduce the nanny state. It’s one of the most ridiculous ideas that I’ve ever seen come

der the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.” However, as North State Journal previously reported, the FEMA reimbursements only have language requiring a presidential disaster declaration, not a state-level state of emergency declaration. Similarly with regard to the StrongSchoolsNC Toolkit, both Cooper and N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen have stated that the toolkit draws from CDC recommendations. The CDC has no requirement for a state of emergency in order to follow that guidance. The governor also makes the claim that a state of emergency “allows critical regulatory flexibility” for NCDHHS to alter the number of people authorized to administer vaccines and tests and to change COVID-19 patients’ mobility in certain facilities. Additionally, Cooper’s press release claims that a state of emergency lets NCDHHS continue to allow “temporary additional flexibility for tele-health opportunities” and lets “out-of-state li-

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Former Gov. Pat McCrory speaks to supporters during a GOP barbecue in Greenville in this 2012 file photo. from both Democrats and Republicans. That is to pay people unemployment to take it a bonus to take a job,” said McCrory. “That’s not government’s job to make people do something they ought to do anyway.” McCrory said he’s been making “tough decisions a long time” and offered an anecdote related to when he used to referee high school and college basketball games. “In fact, I even refereed Michael Jordan. I used to tell the story many years ago, many times, where I had the courage to call traveling on Michael Jordan. That’s the kind of courage we need in Washington, D.C.,” said McCrory. “It might be the short-term unpopular thing, but in the long run,

“We cannot find any truth to his statement that we must be in a state of emergency to draw down federal funds or the other reasons listed in his latest executive order.” House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) censed workers to practice in North Carolina and for retired health care professionals, students in training and skilled volunteers to provide care.” North State Journal asked the governor’s office to explain how and why a state of emergency is part of these claims; however, Cooper’s office did not respond to the inquiry. The governor also has not responded to questions last week included in a letter from lawmakers. The letter asks for specific details on how and when he will end the state of emergency, and is

it’s what’s best for our nation and we need more people to run for office not interested in the next election, but the next generation. And I’ve done just that in every job that I’ve run for.” On former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of one of his opponents, Ted Budd, McCrory said people are going to look at the candidates, not who endorses the candidates and that Trump received some bad advice from Trump’s former chief of staff but did not mention former U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows by name. “I think sadly, the president got some bad advice from his former chief of staff again. And I think it was a mistake to pick, not only the wrong candidate, but it would be a mistake was made to get in-

signed by House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) and state Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort). Bell and Kidwell are two primary sponsors of House Bill 264, “Emergency Powers Accountability Act,” which if passed will require the governor to obtain concurrence from the Council of State when issuing a state-wide declaration of emergency lasting longer than 30 days. “We cannot find any truth to his statement that we must be in a state of emergency to draw down federal funds or the other reasons listed in his latest executive order,” Bell said in an emailed statement to North State Journal. “As is the case with hurricanes and other natural disasters, we can continue to use federal funding long after the state of emergency has ended.” Bell argued that other states wouldn’t be ending their emergency declarations if doing so would cut off much-needed funding. “That’s why we are asking for specifics on why we still need to be in a state of emergency and what it will take for it to end. These are

volved in our North Carolina political system. The people make their own choice,” McCrory said. “And I think they’ll see, I’m simply the best candidate. Not only for the job at the win, the general election. And I’m confident we’re going to win the primary by a large percentage. We're about 30 points up in the most recent polls,” McCrory added. “So, we’re going to do just fine, and I think it’s just going to be noise.” A recent survey conducted by Meeting Street Insights showed that while McCrory has far more name recognition, Budd gained a 19-point lead over McCrory and a 38 point lead over former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker following Trump’s endorsement. “Old campaign trick used by candidates who are unknown. Issues are what voters will care about when it comes to casting ballots,” McCrory campaign consultant Paul Shumaker told North State Journal in response to the poll. When asked how he likes to decompress from all of the political activity, he’s said he’s a big swimmer and loves to swim in lakes. “I’ve got a little place at Lake James in McDowell County, and I’m a big swimmer,” said McCrory. “I love swimming, and that’s where I get my relaxation from, just a nice easy swim in the middle of the lake by myself.” McCrory also said he is a big dog lover and that he and his wife have a passion for rescue dogs. He told North State Journal he and his wife were grieving over the recent loss of their dog Moe, who had to be put down.

basic questions that the Governor should be able to answer,” said Bell. “The Governor needs to be more transparent with the public. His lack of answers is causing confusion and uncertainty among people and businesses. Simply put, we need to see a plan. At this point, we have still not even received a response to our letter from the Governor.” A final claim in the press release is that the “state’s vaccination efforts and incentive programs are also organized using tools made available by the State of Emergency,” with the new “million-dollar summer cash and college tuition drawing” given as an example. According to the Frequently Asked Questions document paired with the summer cash rollout, “Prizes are wholly funded by the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund.” North State Journal asked which federal coronavirus fund the FAQ is referring to and what clause in that funding requires a state of emergency. Again, there was no response from the governor’s office.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Law enforcement struggles to recruit since George Floyd protests

LM OTERO | AP PHOTO

In this Dec. 3, 2020, file photo, students wearing face masks work on computers at Tibbals Elementary School in Murphy, Texas.

Mask requirements are shutting special-needs students out of inperson instruction Students with disabilities, IEPs, and 504 plans that aren’t able to mask are finding themselves stuck in remote learning again in summer programs By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Parents of students with disabilities and special needs in North Carolina say mandatory masking in schools is blocking their children’s learning recovery heading into much-needed summer-learning programs established by the legislature. Jennifer Gupton, a mom with a son in the Franklin County Public School System, says her son cannot wear a mask and has been forced to learn virtually while other students have returned to in-person instruction. “My son has been diagnosed with DD (developmentally delayed), ADHD, SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder),” Gupton told North State Journal. She added they are in the process of adding a possible anxiety disorder to the list. Gupton said the district has refused to permit her son to go without a mask despite having a medical mask-exemption note from his doctor at Raleigh Neurology. She fears that her son will be relegated to virtual-only access to summer learning programs if this continues. “My son has been learning virtually since March of 2020,” said Gupton. “With his specific disability and unique learning challenges, he needs in-person instruction. Each member of his educational support team agrees. However, the school district refuses to accept the fact that there are children whose disability will not allow them to wear a mask.” According to Gupton, Franklin County Public Schools has denied that they are breaking “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) for students with disabilities — which is federal law. But Gupton says “they clearly are.” Gupton’s son has an IEP (individualized education program),

and that IEP has not been fulfilled by the school. She tells North State Journal her son should be receiving 20-minute sessions every nine weeks from occupational and speech therapists; however, during the 20202021 school year, he received exactly zero minutes of services. She also said the therapists were supposed to work with the family to set up time for services, but that hasn’t happened either. As a result of the lack of in-person attendance, Gupton says her child, who had been flourishing at school before the lockdowns, has severely regressed and has very bad meltdowns. “Their one-size-fits-all approach is outdated. In the meantime, my son, and other children like him, are being denied a fair and appropriate education,” Gupton added. “It is my hope that my story will bring to light the challenges that these children face. That virtual learning does not work for everyone,” Gupton said. “We need to do better. Not just for my son and others like him but, for all of our children. Our future depends on it!” North State Journal reached out to Franklin County Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler, asking why, if teachers were in the first vaccination group, and the governor, NCDHHS and DPI are all pointing to the same exemption language in official guidance, the district is refusing to grant mask exemptions to students who qualify for one and are already at a high-risk for learning loss as well as educational, emotional and physical regression. In the request to Schuler, NSJ mentioned Executive Order 163 and the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services StrongSchoolsNC Toolkit, which says that individuals like these students “should not wear a face covering due to any medical or behavioral condition or disability (including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the face covering without assistance).” “Our primary concern regarding implementation of masking requirements is the health and safety of all students in our care,”

said Schuler in an email reply. “We have not opened the door to medical exemptions for masking, but have worked with families to pursue other accommodations that would provide students with appropriate access to instruction.” Schuler went on to say that “Although staff were in an early vaccination group, students ages 12-15 have just recently become eligible to receive the vaccine, and the elementary age group is not yet eligible.” “We have been in communication with Scott LaVigne, the Franklin County Health Department Director on this issue, and as of today he has continued concerns with low vaccination rates in Franklin County, coupled with high positivity rates, especially in the school aged category. With that in mind, pursuing an accommodation that would allow for a masking exemption is not being recommended by our local health department at this time,” Schuler wrote. The Franklin County superintendent also said that they will “continue to monitor local metrics and state guidance, and will confer with our local health department to make informed decisions” and that the district will also “continue to work with families to explore other accommodations based upon individual student needs.” When asked when to expand on the accommodations being pursued, Schuler wrote that “Accommodations are an IEP team decision based upon individual student need, so these vary.” “In the case of options in lieu of masking, a variety of accommodations may be considered by the committee, up to and including virtual learning where masking is not feasible,” wrote Schuler. Senate K-12 Education Committee Co-Chair Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) said she thinks accommodations should be made for children like Mrs. Gupton’s son. “I think it is cruel to make a child with special needs who has a doctor’s note saying he can’t wear a mask lose out on his schooling. Reasonable accommodations should be made, and that seems far from the case here,” Ballard told North State Journal. “While I have not spoken directly to the LEA, I am thankful parents continue to engage and fight for what is best for their children. Unfortunately, if this is happening at one school district, I’m sure it’s happening in other places.”

Dems divided between former chief justice, state senator as best U.S. Senate choice By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — The Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 2022 U.S. Senate race is shaping up as a battle with two camps: those who believe Cheri Beasley, the first black female Supreme Court justice, would be best equipped to take on the Republican nominee; and those who believe the progressive energy behind state Sen. Jeff Jackson will drive turnout in what is expected to be another Senate race that shatters spending records. Jackson is promising to run a “100-county” campaign, holding town-hall events across the state and documenting the journey via Twitter. The social-media focus indicates a strategy to capture national attention the way Beto O’Rourke did in Texas in 2018. In one thread, Jackson posts about a father and son playing on the playground who came and lis-

tened to the town hall, a school counselor in Richmond County, and a local food bank volunteer in Moore County concerned about climate change. Most recently, Jackson completed town-hall events in Forsyth, Rockingham, and Stokes counties. On June 10, Jackson came out in support of ending the prohibition of marijuana. “What’s about to become a cash crop in Virginia can still get you prison time in North Carolina. It’s time to end the prohibition of marijuana,” he recently said in a video accompanied by a campaign petition. After raising over $1 million in his first week as a candidate, though, Jackson appears to be struggling to break through, dogged by his many similarities to 2020 nominee Cal Cunningham. The N.C. Republican Party refers to Jackson as “Cal Cunningham Jr.” in press releases, and

even some Democrats have publicly said many in the party are weary of another white male candidate for Senate. Beasley entered the race in April and instantly delivered a show of force with endorsements from elected officials across the state, including many of Jackson’s current General Assembly colleagues. She unveiled the endorsements from five current state senators, including Mecklenburg County’s Joyce Waddell, in addition to state Reps. Kelly Alexander, Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed. Additional endorsements include former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye, former Durham Mayor Bill Bell, former N.C. Democratic Party chair Patsy Keever, and EMILY’s List. “As the first black woman to win a statewide election in North Carolina in 2008, and the first black woman to serve as chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court, Cheri

By Stefanie Dazio The Associated Press Law enforcement agencies across the country experienced a wave of retirements and departures and are struggling to recruit the next generation of police officers in the year since George Floyd was killed and protests erupted around the nation. Mass protests against law enforcement and calls for reforming or defunding the police, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, took their toll on officer morale. The rate of retirements at some departments rose 45% compared with the previous year, according to new research on nearly 200 law enforcement agencies conducted by the Washington-based Police Executive Research Forum and provided to The Associated Press. At the same time, hiring slowed by 5%, the group found. The wave comes as local lawmakers have pledged to enact reforms — such as ending the policies that give officers immunity for their actions while on-duty. And recruiters are increasingly looking for a different kind of recruit to join embattled departments. “Days of old, you wanted someone who actually had the strength to be more physical,” Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said. “Today’s police offi- "Days of old, cers, that’s not what we’re looking for.” you wanted But the climate today, coupled with increases in someone crime in some cities, is creating what Chuck Wexler, the head of the Police Executive Research Forum, who actually called a “combustible mixture.” had the It’s creating “a crisis on the horizon for police chiefs when they look at the resources they need, es- strength pecially during a period when we’re seeing an in- to be more crease in murders and shootings,” Wexler said. “It’s physical. a wake-up call.” The data from Wexler’s organization represents a Today’s fraction of the more than 18,000 law enforcement police agencies nationwide and is not representative of all departments. But it’s one of the few efforts to ex- officers, amine police hiring and retention, and compares it that’s not with the time before Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis what we’re on May 25, 2020. Researchers heard from 194 police departments looking for.” last month about their hires, resignations and retirements between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, and the same categories from April 1, 2019, to Atlanta Police March 31, 2020. Chief Rodney By comparison, the changing public attitude on Bryant policing is well documented. In the past year, as many as half of American adults believed police violence against the public is a “very” or “extremely” serious problem, according to one poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “It’s hard to recruit the very people who see police as an opposition,” said Lynda R. Williams, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, who previously worked on recruitment efforts for the Secret Service. Bryant knows firsthand. In the weeks after Floyd’s death, a white officer, Garrett Rolfe, shot and killed Rayshard Brooks, a black man, in the parking lot of a Wendy’s. In quick succession, Rolfe was fired, the chief resigned and the local district attorney announced charges, including felony murder, against Rolfe — a rare step in police shootings. Some cops left the force, which currently has about 1,560 officers — about 63% of the force is black, 29% white and 5% Latino. Then came the “Blue Flu” — when a high number of police officers called out sick in protest. Bryant, then the department’s interim chief, acknowledged that it had occurred in Atlanta after Rolfe was charged. “Some are angry. Some are fearful. Some are confused on what we do in this space. Some may feel a bit abandoned,” Bryant said last summer in an interview at the height of the crisis. In Dallas, city leaders spent much of the last decade struggling to draw candidates and stem the outflow of officers frustrated by low pay and the near collapse of their pension fund. Despite those efforts, the force now stands at about 3,100 officers — down from more than 3,300 in 2015 — a loss at a time when the city’s population has grown to more than 1.3 million. The force is about 44% white, 26% black and 26% Latino. This means officers handle more calls and detectives more cases, all amid increased racial tension. In 2016, five officers were killed in Dallas by a sniper who was seeking revenge for police shootings elsewhere that killed or wounded black men. Two years later, an off-duty officer fatally shot her neighbor in his home. She was fired and later was sentenced to a decade in prison for murder. Mike Mata, president of the Dallas Police Association, said the national political climate and local pay and pension issues have been compounding challenges to hiring in Dallas.

has blazed trails and shattered glass ceilings throughout her entire career. It is only fitting that she is now running to be North Carolina’s first black woman senator. We look forward to supporting her as she flips this seat from red to blue and expands the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate,” a statement from the organization said. Beasley has not to this point maintained the public schedule of Jackson. Most recently, she held two campaign stops in Charlotte and Greensboro, and is focused on day-to-day comments on news, such as four consecutive days of tweets about former President Donald Trump’s speech at the NCGOP convention on June 5. A Cardinal Point Analytics poll of the race on April 20 showed Beasley, who hadn’t officially entered the race at that point, with six-point lead over Jackson, 32% to 26%. Perhaps just as important for Beasley and Jackson are the names who did not join the race. Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein, who both won their races in 2020, declined to run for the seat. It is widely believed that Stein is eyeing a run for

governor in 2024, following the path of Cooper and former Gov. Mike Easley. Cooper said he decided not to run, because he would leave the governor’s mansion in the hands of Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Three other Democrats are trying to break through in the race, although they lack the funding and support of the top two candidates. They include former state Sen. Erica Smith, the runner up in the 2020 primary in large part due to national Democrats’ recruitment and support of Cunningham; Beaufort Mayor Rett Newton; and virologist Richard Watkins. Throughout the spring, rumors linked former NASA astronaut Joan Higginbotham to a potential campaign. Higginbotham, a Charlotte resident, was thought to be seriously considering a run. A board member of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) and wife of longtime Charlotte city councilman James “Smuggie” Mitchell Jr., her candidacy would be a wildcard, as she shares a home base with Jackson and would be the third black female in the race.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

Plan your camping adventure this summer

Blue Bear Mountain Camp

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French Broad Paddle Trail Asheville Glamping 6 Asheville

Lake James State Park Nebo

9 Windsor

Long Cove Resort & Country Club

Charlotte

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Motor home falls 200 feet down mountain road McDowell County An RV tumbled 200 feet down the side of a mountain, closing a road in McDowell County earlier this month. The RV ran off the road near the Mitchell County line on June 4, after its brakes failed. The motorhome burst into flames after crashing, and witnesses pulled the driver from the wreckage. Tracey Patterson, 56, of Rogersville, was hospitalized in serious condition. WLOS

Wake County A North Carolina man has been charged with driving while impaired after a woman was killed while riding in a golf cart. Jeremy Rollins Martin, 43, was driving in the 12 Oaks community in Holly Springs where he lives. The woman who died was in critical condition when emergency crews arrived Friday. She was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Police have not yet released details about her death or her identity. This incident is still under investigation by Holly Springs Police. AP

Highland Games set to return

City commits $2.1M for reparations Buncombe County Asheville committed $2.1 million toward funding reparations, an initiative it began last summer. The Asheville City Council approved a budget amendment last week to pull the money from city land purchased in the 1970s as part of urban renewal programs that took apart black communities. The city council also adopted a proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth. The city council has previously said the reparations do not require direct payments but would mandate investments in areas where black residents face disparities. The amount is almost double what was allocated in earlier presentations.

Avery County Local businesses hope to get a boost after a rough year, with the start of the summer tourism season and a loosening of COVID restrictions. One highlight will be the return of the Highland Games in July. The Scottish festival on Grandfather Mountain will bring in people from all over the world to compete and celebrate. The pandemic forced the cancellation of the games last year. The 66th edition of the games are scheduled for July 8 to 11. SPECTRUM

Rev. William Barber, cochair of the Poor People’s Campaign, delivers a speech on Monday, June 14, 2021, in Charleston, W.Va.

NC Supreme Court upholds murder charge in child abuse case

Golf cart death leads to DWI charge

Gaston County North Carolina’s Supreme Court upheld a decision finding a man guilty of firstdegree murder by starvation and neglect of his 4-year-old stepson. Malachi Golden died in May 2015 weighing 19 pounds, half the average weight for his age. Malachi was prescribed an anti-seizure medication. Thomas Allen Cheeks was accused of not providing medical treatment for a year. When emergency personnel arrived and pronounced Malachi dead, the kitchen had food and an unused 30-day supply of Malachi’s medication. In 2017, a court convicted Weeks of murder and child abuse, sentencing him to life without parole.

Durham County Durham is removing a gold “DEFUND” sign painted on the road in front of police headquarters a year ago. The lettering was painted on the road last June. Normally the city would immediately remove graffiti, but Durham officials allowed the “DEFUND” sign to stay in place. The city council unanimously agreed to remove the painting. The city will also remove “FUND” painted in front of the Health and Human Services Building. Durham Mayor Steve Schewel said in a statement Friday that he supported leaving the signs in place for a while but agrees the time has come for removal.

Charter school closing after review finds ‘irregularities’ Surry County Bridges Academy charter school in State Road is closing amid investigations that exposed irregularities that threaten the school’s financial well-being and ability to operate within its charter. It is closing June 30. The school and the state are promising to help the school’s 171 students in kindergarten through eighth grade transfer their records as they look for new schools. The State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation in March into allegations that the school “fraudulently obtained excess funding from the state.”

CUNEYT DIL

EAST

Man drowns trying to save daughter, friend

Two teens shot at graduation party in Rocky Mount Edgecombe County Rocky Mount police say two teens were shot at a graduation party in Rocky Mount after an argument escalated into violence. A 19-year-old man was taken to UNC Nash Healthcare, where he was pronounced dead. A 17-year-old was shot in the face, then fled to a McDonald’s. He was taken to Vidant Healthcare Greenville, where he was listed in critical condition. It was the second fatal shooting at a graduation party over the weekend. On Friday, an 18-year-old was fatally shot in Sanford during a graduation party in a hotel room. A 16-year-old has been charged.

DEFUND to be removed from road in front of Durham police HQ

Matter activist Myahtaeyarra Warren said Tyson attempted to hit her with his vehicle around the Market House, which has been a central protest location in downtown Fayetteville and was set on fire during last year’s protests against law enforcement. Upon investigation, six city cameras capturing the scene at the time showed that the vehicle belonging to Tyson never moved towards Warren or any other protester during the May 7 protest. “The State finds that the witnesses listed told a story that the video evidence provided by city cameras does not support,” the dismissal read. A copy of the dismissal was attached to the letter, which confirmed there was insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.

Crystal Coast

June 20 is the first day of summer, and this year, the White House designated June as National Camping Month. In North Carolina there are no shortage of places to camp, including these 10 options in the mountains, the Piedmont and the coast. Many parks are bracing for a busy summer, as many families look to make up for lost time last year. Across the country, parks are offering reservations to ensure places for all who want to visit, The Associated Press recently reported. The number of Americans who hiked last year increased by 8.1 million, the largest one-year gain on record, according to the Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association. There’s no better time to see the beauty of our state than this year.

PIEDMONT

RALEIGH — A charge against N.C. Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson has been dismissed by prosecutors due to lack of evidence, according to a letter obtained first by North State Journal. The letter, from Tyson’s attorney, says that the case was referred to the Conference of District Attorneys after the Cumberland County district attorney recused themselves in the matter. “Their office conducted a thorough and objective review of all the evidence and interviewed witnesses and officers involved. Their conclusion finds no evidence or basis to prosecute the case and dismissed the summons,” the letter reads. In May, Fayetteville Black Lives

Raleigh Oaks Howell Woods Johnston County Heritage GeoTrail

Monroe

Rutherford County A now-retired state judge was censured by the North Carolina Supreme Court for sexual misconduct, including attempts to meet women online and in person while at court. Former District Court Judge C. Randy Pool violated several sections of the judicial conduct code. Poole, who held court in McDowell and Rutherford counties, became a judge in 1999 and served more than a dozen years until his retirement in December 2019. Pool, who is married, engaged in conversations with at least 35 women on Facebook that ranged from inappropriate to sexually explicit.

NSJ staff

Johnston County Camping

Treehouse Vineyards

Cashiers

Ex state judge censured for sexual misconduct on the job

Charge dropped against NC Court of Appeals judge

Roanoke River Platform Sites

Panthertown Valley

WEST

Jones & Blount

Todd

Sky Ridge Yurts

Ex-Fort Bragg worker sentenced for government property theft Cumberland County Morris Cooper, 63, former purchasing agent at Fort Bragg was sentenced to 17 months in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for military contracts. Cooper used his position to receive cash and gifts for himself and his wife, Beverley Cooper, 53, from vendors in return for steering contracts for supplies to them. Beverley was charged with conspiring to steal government property and aiding and abetting. She was sentenced to probation. The couple pled guilty to conspiracy to steal government property, and Morris pled guilty to stealing government property. They must pay restitution of $6.3 million and forfeit $1 million.

Brunswick County A man drowned after going into the Atlantic Ocean to try to save his daughter and another child from a rip current. Holden Beach Police Chief Jeremy Dixon confirmed Wednesday that Van Whitley, 47, of Mt. Gilead went into the water on Tuesday evening after his 11-year-old daughter and her friend were caught in a rip current. Dixon said the children were able to get out of the water, but Whitley began to struggle. The chief said emergency workers brought Whitley to shore, but were unable to resuscitate him. AP

Serial child molester sentenced for making child pornography Harnett County Raul Ayala Jr., 72, of Angier, accused of sexually molesting a minor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for making child pornography. Ayala admitted to molesting the child for a couple of years and had taken nude photographs of the child, but insisted they were innocent photographs. In addition, Ayala admitted he had molested children in the 1970s. A search warrant executed at Ayala’s residence turned up multiple digital devices and a briefcase that contained adult pornography and child pornography dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s and digital images.

Barber leads West Virginia protest against US Sen. Manchin The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hundreds of protesters upset with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s opposition to a sweeping overhaul of U.S. election law marched through West Virginia’s capital city on Monday evening. Goldsboro’s Rev. William Barber, cochair of the “Poor People’s Campaign,” denounced the influential moderate Democratic senator and called for a diverse coalition of working people to apply pressure on Manchin, who recently opposed a $15 minimum wage and the price tag of President Joe Biden’s initial $2 trillion infrastructure plan. “West Virginia needs a real senator,” he thundered at a Charleston park, in front of the crowd. Then they marched a mile to Manchin’s office. Unable to meet with the senator — an aide told Barber that he was in Washington — leaders of the demonstration affixed a poster-sized protest letter to the front doors of the office building. Rally-goers took turns signing their names on it. When Manchin’s aides offered comment cards to collect protestors’ grievances, Barber waved them away: “We don’t want to talk to the staff.” The protest was spurred by Manchin’s decision to oppose a controversial rewrite of U.S. election law, a proposal known as the For the People Act.

As a key senator in a divided chamber, Manchin has frustrated progressive Democrats with his reluctance to support several key agenda items. Many people from neighboring states, including Kentucky and Maryland, drove and rode on buses to make it to the protest. They held signs and charged Manchin with enabling voter suppression. He supports legislation that updates the Voting Rights Act to reinstate a requirement that new voting laws and legislative districts in certain states be subject to federal approval. Crucially, Manchin opposes eliminating the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster in the Senate, a step that would enable Democrats to pass bills without Republican votes. Barber, who infamously led “Moral Monday” marches at the General Assembly and was arrested for trespassing in 2013, has become a national figure. In 2020, he hosted current U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other Democratic candidates at his church and has made multiple appearances with N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen to tout COVID-19 vaccines. North State Journal asked NCDHHS if Barber had received taxpayer compensation for his appearances with Cohen, which he had not as of early March. NSJ Staff contributed to this report

Cooper’s offshore wind-power order exhibits divide over NC’s energy future By David Larson North State Journal

98% of ALL Farms are Family Farms

ncfb.org

RALEIGH — On June 9, Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order directing agencies in his administration to develop wind-energy infrastructure off the coast. Republicans, meanwhile, blasted the plan, saying the focus instead should be on affordable, reliable options, especially natural gas. “Offshore wind power will help North Carolina create jobs and generate economic development while helping us transition to a clean energy economy,” said Cooper in a press release on Executive Order 218. “North Carolina’s national leadership in clean energy and manufacturing plus our highly trained workforce create a strong business environment for offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing companies.” Section 1 of the order lays out targets for energy production from wind energy, saying the state “will strive for development of 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy resources off the North Carolina coast by 2030 and 8.0 GW by

2040.” The order also creates two positions, one at the Department of Commerce and the other at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to help implement the plan. “With this Executive Order, Governor Cooper attempts to commit North Carolina to a future dependent upon unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible offshore wind power,” Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, said in a response. Robinson said that wind power is “not the economic gold-mine the Cooper administration would have us believe,” citing information from the Energy Information Administration that shows offshore wind is 3.4 times more expensive than natural gas. This comes to $122.25 per megawatt-hour for offshore wind power and $38.07 for natural gas. In the release, Robinson also criticized Cooper for going around him and the Energy Policy Council that he leads: “North Carolina has a mechanism established by state law for studying energy issues facing the State and advising the Gen-

“With this Executive Order, Governor Cooper attempts to commit North Carolina to a future dependent upon unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible offshore wind power.” Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson eral Assembly: the bipartisan Energy Policy Council, of which I am the Chairman. However, Governor Cooper has decided that he alone establishes the energy policies of North Carolina with this Executive Order, which establishes yet another ‘task force’ composed solely of appointees chosen by him, but fails to even mention the Energy Policy Council.” The rejection of Dionne Delli-Gatti, Cooper’s nominee to be the state’s Department of Environ-

mental Quality secretary, by the N.C. Senate the week before is emblematic of the partisan divide on energy in North Carolina. Cooper named her as North Carolina clean energy director immediately after she was rejected by Republicans. For Republicans, the most crucial issue on North Carolina’s energy future appears to be how to end the state’s reliance on a single pipeline, especially after the Colonial Pipeline hack, and to expand natural gas capacity in general. As Delli-Gatti was questioned on these issues, they said she was unable to provide even the most basic understanding. “North Carolina’s future, not to mention lights, heat, and air conditioning in millions of homes, is at risk because of the state’s full reliance on a single natural gas pipeline,” Sen. Norm Sanderson (R-Pamlico) said in a release explaining her rejection. “Ms. Delli-Gatti could not articulate the Cooper Administration’s natural gas strategy, which she would presumably lead or at least be heavily involved in, nor was she informed about a major pipeline that her own agency rejected 48 hours lat-

er. Given the importance of this issue, that’s disqualifying.” But Delli-Gatti’s inability to answer these questions indicates North Carolina Democrats see natural gas, and other fossil fuels, as a part of the energy past as they implement their Clean Energy Plan. A major part of this plan involves teaming with their regional and national counterparts to create offshore wind-power capabilities. An October 2020 memorandum of understanding between Cooper, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam created a framework for the three states to cooperatively promote, develop and expand offshore wind energy. The Biden administration is also putting a heavy focus on offshore wind. A 200-square-mile area around Kitty Hawk has already been identified for development and reviewed by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the developer, Avangrid Renewables, including environmental studies and public engagement processes. The order expires on Dec. 24, 2024, Cooper’s last day in office.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Citizen-politician Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson LT. GOV. MARK ROBINSON may be the most unique political officer ever elected in North Carolina history. Not only is he the first person of African-American descent, male or female, to be elected lieutenant governor in North Mr. Robinson Carolina history, he may be the did not own a embodiment of the idealized firearm; was not notion of the “citizen-politician” a card-carrying as envisioned by philosophers such as Aristotle, Cicero and member of the the founders of the American NRA; had no Democratic Republic in 1776. agenda to make Citizen-politicians are himself famous citizens who work hard and and had never tend to their own business and spoken in public family. They don’t maneuver, posture and finagle their way before outside to get into position to run for of a church. political office. When they see a need arise in public policy, they offer themselves up for public service. Once elected, they do the job they were elected to do, as former military general Cincinnatus did when he came out of retirement to save the Roman Empire. They voluntarily resign to go back to their private life, business and family and relinquish all political power because they know the future of the country does not depend solely on them. George Washington emulated Cincinnatus when he declined to run for a third term as president in 1796. King George III didn’t believe American artist Benjamin West when told of Washington’s intent, but said: “If he does that, he will be the

greatest man in the world.” Even royalty recognizes the virtue of true citizenpolitician leadership. It must seem odd to the casual observer of North Carolina politics that the first black citizen elected lieutenant governor was not a Democrat after 155 years. The proponents of critical race theory must have melted down when Robinson won last November with over 93% of his vote total coming from non-black voters. Lt. Gov. Robinson was born in Greensboro, the ninth of 10 children in a family headed by an abusive father. He and his siblings lived in different foster homes before being reunited with their family. He graduated from Grimsley High Schools and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1985 to 1989. When he left the service, he got a job in a furniture factory in High Point and started to raise his family. He satisfied his love of history by taking classes at UNC-Greensboro, but reading about politics was as close to “real” politics as he ever got. One day, a friend gave him one of Rush Limbaugh’s books and asked him to read it. Over many conversations and debates and years of listening to Limbaugh and reading on his own, he developed a political philosophy of his own, as anyone of any race, creed or religion should in America. Robinson started attending Greensboro City Council meetings to learn more about local issues. He never said anything during any of them, until one night in April 2018, when the council was debating canceling a gun show in the wake of a recent high school shooting. Mr. Robinson did not own a firearm at the time. He was not a card-carrying member of the

NRA. He had no agenda concocted by a political operative to make himself famous that night in Greensboro. He had never spoken in public before outside of a church. He did not even have a prepared speech or notes. He spoke from the heart. Something inside of him made him stand up to give an impassioned speech for freedom and adhering to the Constitution, based on principle and personal philosophy, not politics. Then 15 million people saw it on YouTube. Two years later, in May of 2020, Mark Robinson soundly defeated eight other Republican candidates and won the GOP nomination to run for lieutenant governor. He went on to beat the Democratic nominee by over 170,000 votes in the General Election when President Trump won the state by less than 75,000 votes. The left says they want more diversity in everything. Well, it is hard to get more diverse than being a conservative African-American lieutenant governor who is a Republican in the state of North Carolina, isn’t it? Whatever drove Mark Robinson to speak at the Greensboro City Council meeting was distinctly American in nature. People say they are tired of professional politicians who never get anything done. Citizen-politicians such as Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson might be the answer.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

At CNN, respect for minority conservatives and their viewpoints is in short supply FOR ALL THE TALK at CNN about how they welcome a “diversity of viewpoints,” respect for opinions that run counter to their political narratives is in short supply. That goes double for minority “As a black man conservatives who don’t toe the liberal line. in America, Take the interview done on I’m allowed to the network last Thursday with have my own GOP Rep. Byron Donalds. thoughts on Donalds is a freshman who I choose to congressman who represents support.” Florida’s 19th Congressional District. He also happens to be African-American and a Rep. Byron supporter of former President Donalds Trump. Being a minority conservative is traitorous enough to the crew at CNN. But being one who won an election and supports Trump, that makes them Public Enemy No. 1, and that’s how Donalds was treated during his appearance on “New Day.” Donalds was interviewed by co-host Brianna Keilar, who is white. The subject of the interview was a Buzzfeed piece that noted Donalds had expressed an interest in joining the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), but to date had been “blocked” from the group, which is currently made up entirely of black Democratic House members. The article indicated that Donalds’ vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election may be

the cause of his exclusion. This would be rather odd if true, considering numerous Democratic members of the CBC have in the past also objected to certifying presidential election results, most recently against Republican Presidents George W. Bush (2001 and 2005) and Donald Trump (2017). In any event, Keilar suggested at several points during their back and forth that Donalds’ beliefs “might be incongruent with the mission of the CBC,” mainly because he was a proponent of voter ID laws and supported Trump. Because CNN is a one-trick pony, Keilar played a video montage of Trump to try and prove her point that Trump was a “racist,” which if true would have made Donalds look like the black sell-out she was trying to make him out to be. Donalds, however, did not rise to her bait — nor did he appreciate her interrupting him at certain points. “As a black man in America, I’m allowed to have my own thoughts on who I choose to support, and who I choose not to support. I think that it’s important, whether you’re talking about the Congressional Black Caucus or the Florida State Legislative Black Caucus or the National Caucus of State Black Legislators — organizations I have been a part of in the past,” he stated. “My support of President Trump has been consistent. But at the same time, I’ve had the ability to advocate for issues, ideas, proposals, and funding that have helped the black community in my state.” Further, he went on to correctly point out that the issue at hand was “whether the ideology of somebody who is conservative is welcomed in

the Congressional Black Caucus. It’s really that simple.” Donalds also told Keilar something Democrats and their supporters in the mainstream media don’t like to hear: “I think having a wider range of discussions from all sides of the political framework is important, not just for black America, but all America.” Imagine that. Instead of being excluded from the conversation or mocked and ridiculed when they are allowed to be a part of it, minority conservatives would get the respect they’ve earned. It doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be challenged, but it would mean that liberals and their media allies would finally have to abide by the “COEXIST” standard they demand of others. But as history has shown us all too often, holding them to their own standards is a bridge too far. This is all the more reason why America needs more people like Byron Donalds who refuse to allow their voices to be diminished simply because a biased anchor on one of the lowest-rated programs on a struggling cable news network thinks they should be. 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, June 16, 2021

COLUMN | JOANNE WOODARD, SANDEEP AGGARWAL, AND EUGENE SLOCUM

Charter schools spur achievement and choice — not segregation committees are often the contract administrators, and they also operate classrooms. This means they can hand off contracts to themselves, and there is no oversight to stop it. This is a clear conflict of interest, created by DCDEE withdrawing itself from being accountable and kicking the can down the road to these county committees. Statewide childcare providers know county committees are dysfunctional and haven’t been able to find relief. Here is an example. This school year, childcare providers in one county did not receive payment for services; payments were a couple of months behind. Keep in mind the providers had to pay their teachers as scheduled from their own money or the teachers did not get paid. The school systems had state money available to pay providers but, for whatever reason, did not do so. The non-payment situation was brought to the county committee and the contract administrator’s attention with no success. DCDEE was also asked to help, but the agency said it was a county committee problem and basically told providers, “Good luck, let us know what happens.” It should not be a local problem. This is state money and DCDEE is responsible for it, but as I just described, DCDEE is not even accountable for one of its most basic responsibilities — paying for services rendered. Returning to transparency, beyond the conflict of interest of a school district’s role on local committees and as recipients of funding, there is another example. As a committee member, I requested to see supporting information that a sub-committee used to make a recommendation, and my request was denied. DCDEE’s reply was, “The county schools public record policy would need to be reviewed prior to issuing documents.” This is outrageous. A committee member cannot have the information that a sub-committee used to make a recommendation? No records request should have been required. Furthermore, if it were, why would I be told to make the request to the school? It is not a local school-systems program. It is a DCDEE program, and this is another example of them passing the buck. Pre-K operators and the children they care for are entitled to a transparent, fair Pre-K system where DCDEE is held accountable to manage N.C. Pre-K.

THE PROPOSED state budget includes increased funding for the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program. N.C. Pre-K is built upon a system of existing childcare centers, public schools and Head Starts that provide highquality pre-k for eligible four-year-old children. The program has been evaluated Segregation is many times by institutions such as when someone Duke University and Frank Porter blocks a door, Graham Child Development Institute, all showing fantastic results for children. not when you If the budget passes, more children will don’t like which receive a high-quality early education. open doors are But there are governance and freely chosen. transparency issues plaguing the state’s Pre-K program. For 20 years, I operated N.C. Pre-K classrooms, from its start in 2001 until I retired this past February. I also served on local N.C. Pre-K committees in two different counties. Fundamentally, it is a great program, and I hope the budget passes, but it is time to review the program’s governance to include accountability and transparency. Let’s start with who is really in charge — or not. N.C. Pre-K was created by law, but the law is very vague on how it should be operated. The law is clear the program falls under the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) and is subject to rules made by the state’s Child Care Commission. But the Child Care Commission has not engaged in making many rules; this leaves the governance, for the most part, to DCDEE. DCDEE in turn has side-stepped that responsibility by establishing a local committee for each county, which, among other things, are supposed to develop policies and procedures, pay providers and determine which operators get to have the classrooms. These county committees are co-chaired by an appointee of the local schools’ superintendent and one from the local Smart Start “Partnership.” Additionally, each county DCDEE pays for a contract administrator that controls the money and the information. The administrator in many counties is the school system. But there’s more. The school systems who already co-chair the county

Kevin Campbell is former chair of North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association and president of Smart Kids Child Development Center

2020 Racial/Ethnic Composition CHARTERS AND TRADITIONAL LEAS CHARTER

LEA

51.16% 45.26%

26.43%

24.97% 19.89% 12.10%

0.60% 1.14%

AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE

5.94%

3.63% 3.75%

4.86%

0.13% 0.14%

ASIAN

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

HISPANIC

NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER

TWO OR MORE RACES

WHITE

10/1/2020

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

The insurrection in Chicago ALMOST EXACTLY a year ago, race riots paralyzed more than a dozen of America’s great cities, from New York to Seattle. The smoke hasn’t gone away. As we should have learned from the last episode of urban rioting during the late 1960s, the devastating adverse “I thought, ‘I’m effects from rage and lawlessness are long-lasting and borne mostly by a black-owned minorities, immigrant communities business. and the poor. They’re not Amazingly, the media had rarely going to bother investigated what really happened last summer when criminal gangs seized me.’” control of cities under the guise of racial justice. The politicians cynically celebrated the violent protests as “mostly peaceful” and gave cover to the assailants by glorifying them as “social justice warriors.” Thankfully, four reporters at the Chicago Tribune have investigated what really happened in the once great “city that works” and the devastating effects that still are felt. It’s harrowing and Pulitzer-worthy material. Written and reported by Todd Lighty, Gary Marx, Christy Gutowski and William Lee, we urge a full reading, but here are the lowlights: In just a few days, there were 15 homicides and 53 shooting victims. More than 2,100 businesses were looted, 71 buildings were set on fire and looters stole more than 700,000 prescription pills from drug stores. Businesses suffered more than $165 million in damages, “though the true cost is certainly much higher.” Mayor Lori Lightfoot had no clue what was coming, and her response was indefensibly feeble. She did not want the National Guard, even as the city burned. The city’s inspector general issued a scathing report, which portrays Lightfoot as woefully unprepared, as were other mayors. Downtown businesses were destroyed. “I thought, ‘I’m a black-owned business. They’re not going to bother me,’” said Howard Bolling, owner of the Roseland Pharmacy at 11254 S. Michigan Ave.

No such luck. The riots even forced families at the Ronald McDonald House, where parents’ sick children are cared for, to flee for their safety. Protesters used hammers to smash windows and doors. The Ronald McDonald House is a cancer facility. Here is what is most infuriating. Throughout that first wave of rioting, looting, arson and murder, only about 170 rioters were charged with felonies. It should have been 1,000 or more. Why hasn’t Chicago law enforcement looked through the videos and tracked down these violent criminals? Based on the property damage, the homicides, the injuries and the financial losses to the residents, this insurrection was many times worse than the indefensible actions at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump protesters on Jan. 6. Why is no one paying attention to and amplifying the Tribune story of what happened in Chicago? Why is no one writing similar accounts of the carnage in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Kenosha, Portland and Los Angeles? Why isn’t the local law enforcement and the FBI hunting down the perpetrators and putting them behind bars? We have video evidence of who they are and what they did. President Joe Biden seems only interested in putting the pro-Trump protesters behind bars. Who and how will we stop the fires next time? The left’s response has been to deluge these cities with hundreds of billions of federal dollars. It seems highly unfair to force people in Omaha, Nebraska, and Boise, Idaho, to pay for the failure of “progressive” Democratic mayors and blue-state governors to ensure public safety. You broke it; you fix it. Money won’t fix the damage to the civil infrastructure of these low-income neighborhoods that were ransacked. It will take many years and perhaps decades to undo the damage to these communities. These black and Hispanic families deserve justice. Can we at least, please, stop calling the Black Lives Matter rioters “social justice warriors”? Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an economic consultant with FreedomWorks.

A7 COLUMN KEVIN CAMPBELL

Pre-K school programs need transparency CLAIMS THAT PUBLIC charter schools encourage segregation grow louder every day. According to a recent John Locke Foundation/Civitas poll, nearly 23% of North Carolina voters cite de facto segregation as “the most convincing reason” to oppose parental choice programs in education. This is a 5% increase in just one year. Some even claim North Carolina’s school choice movement has racist roots. This view draws on 1950s-era white resistance to school desegregation. Choice must be racist, the thinking goes, because an unconstitutional plan once sought to decentralize school decisions, giving them to parents to avoid integrated schools. This argument against choice is false and inflammatory. It distracts from an issue that remains urgent 67 years after Brown v. Board of Education: providing minority students with an excellent education. School choice is one of the most “antiracist” things we can do. How do we know? We do it every day. We are the leaders of two public charter schools in North Carolina serving mostly minority and low-income students. We caution anyone about making an association between public charter schools, choice and segregation. The primary goal of our public schools is to provide a quality education to all students. Yet, economic disparities and shifting demographics have made this task increasingly difficult. As a result, parents are looking for options outside the traditional system. More parents are drawn to the public charter model, which empowers them to choose the school that best fits their child’s needs — rather than being assigned by district administrators. At our charter schools, we strive to provide our students with an excellent education. In 2019, both of our schools earned a report card grade of “B.” Both schools exceeded state benchmarks for academic growth. Fortunately, charter statute grants us the freedom and flexibility to design curricula and utilize innovative teaching methods tailored directly to the challenges of our students. At Sallie B. Howard School in Wilson, where JoAnne Woodard and Sandeep Aggarwal lead school operations, students pursue a performing arts curriculum. Nearly 100% of 8th graders are accepted into the local early college program. At Alpha Academy in Fayetteville, where Eugene Slocum is superintendent, minority students score 15% higher, on average, than their peers in surrounding counties. They also offer an academic component through the Katherine Johnson STEM Institute. Many other charter schools in North Carolina provide students with a quality education. Parents must like what they see. This year, even as overall public K-12 enrollment declined, charter schools added students at every grade, according to the state’s new charter school report, and 78% of NC charters have waitlists. What about diversity? Data from the charter report show that, compared to traditional public schools, North Carolina charters enrolled a higher percentage of black and white students, as well as students of two or more races. Efforts are underway to increase charter diversity and access further. Spurred by the NC ACCESS Program, 42 charter schools currently utilize weighted lotteries to prioritize educationally disadvantaged students. Some charter schools will end up enrolling higher numbers of minority students than the state average. Ours did. Successful schools with a certain demographic often attract other students who reflect that racial makeup. This isn’t segregation. It’s voluntary association — in other words, choice. This is a critical distinction. Let’s be clear: Segregation was legallysanctioned separation based on race, often enforced with violence. A divisive, highly charged term, segregation carries a painful history for many in this country. School choice does not consign us to repeat this painful history. Far from it: Choice empowers us to change the present and the future. Some will not like it. But that does not — should not — imbue choice with racist overtones. This description utilized by Choice Media says it best: “Segregation is when someone blocks a door, not when you don’t like which open doors are freely chosen.” Conflating parental choice with segregation is polarizing and ultimately pointless because it keeps us from the great educational imperative: boosting student achievement. It makes no sense to condemn charter schools for their freedom. Instead, we should focus on collaboration, learning from the experience of charter schools that succeed in closing the achievement gap. We must “awaken from our illusion of separateness,” as peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh has noted. Such an awakening should lead to unity among public educators around our common cause. That cause, providing students with an excellent education, is ever more urgent following the losses and pain of the pandemic. Let us stand united, then — with schoolhouse doors open wide. Dr. JoAnne Woodard is founder and executive director of Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Sciences in Wilson. Eugene Slocum is superintendent & CEO of Alpha Academy and the Katherine G. Johnson STEM Institute in Fayetteville. Sandeep Aggarwal is assistant director and dean of business, technology, and cultural affairs at Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Sciences in Wilson.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

NATION & WORLD

US begins shifting Afghan combat operations outside country By Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. military has already begun conducting combat operations and surveillance in Afghanistan from outside the country’s borders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress, as the troop withdrawal continues. But Austin declined to specifically address whether the U.S. will provide combat air support to the Afghan forces to prevent them or their major cities from being overrun by the Taliban after the pullout is complete. Austin said he would not “speculate on potential actions” but noted that once troops are fully withdrawn from Afghanistan it will be very difficult to provide such support to the Afghans. Already, Austin said, the U.S. military is conducting air combat patrols and support from ships in the Gulf, and sending surveillance aircraft to Afghanistan from nations in the Gulf region. And Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that already the “vast majority” of MQ-9 Reaper drone missions are being flown from locations outside Afghanistan. As of now, Austin said, the U.S. is still looking for options to station troops and aircraft in neighboring countries to make the flight to Afghanistan shorter. But, he said, that effort is still a work in progress and he had no timetable for completion of any negotiations. Austin and Milley were testifying before the Senate Armed Service Committee on the proposed military budget and were pressed on a wide range of issues, including congressional proposals to change how the military prosecutes major crimes, including sexual assault. President Joe Biden ordered the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by early September, and that pullout is ahead of schedule, the military has said. But many questions surrounding the withdrawal remain unanswered,

ANDREW HARNIK | AP PHOTO

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, center, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, right, and Defense Under Secretary Mike McCord, left, appear at a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 10, 2021. including how the U.S. will conduct intelligence operations in Afghanistan after the withdrawal, how far it will go to defend the Afghan government and what diplomatic presence it will have in the country. Austin noted that once the withdrawal is done, the U.S. will focus counterterrorism efforts on al-Qaida and other terror groups that can conduct attacks against the American homeland. There have, however, been persistent questions, including from segments of the Afghan government, about whether the U.S. will provide any combat support to the Afghan forces if they are under siege from the Taliban and major cities, such as Kabul, are at risk of being overrun. The Pentagon has suggested that any such mission would not qualify under the parameters set by Biden for counterterror operations, but there is widespread concern that once U.S. and coalition troops have left, the Taliban will increase their attacks and the Afghan government could col-

lapse. As early as this week, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, will give Austin a range of military options for securing the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan and providing counterterrorism support from outside the country once the withdrawal is complete, according to U.S. officials said. The number of American troops needed for the overall security missions inside Afghanistan will depend on a variety of requirements, and could range from roughly a couple hundred to a bit less than 1,000, officials said. When the pullout officially began on May 1, the number of U.S. troops was between 2,500 and 3,500. McKenzie is expected to provide options on the amount of aerial surveillance and drones needed to keep an eye on any potential resurgence of al-Qaida, the Islamic State or other militant groups. Those options will involve U.S. aircraft from ships at sea and air bas-

es in the Gulf region, such as Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. And they could range from persistent U.S. overwatch to a more minimal presence. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss planning details. On the question of prosecution of sexual assault, both Austin and Milley said they remain open-minded about taking it out of the chain of command. But both also suggested that extending that to all major crimes would require more study, and that any changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice will take time to enact properly. Earlier this year, an independent review commission created by Austin recommended that the prosecution of sexual assaults be shifted to judge advocates reporting to a civilian-led Office of the Chief Special Victim Prosecutor. The independent judge advocates would decide two key legal questions: whether to charge someone and whether that charge should go to a court martial. Members of Congress are pushing for a similar — and in some respects more expansive — change. Because any such change would amend military law, it will require an act of Congress. A key advocate for the shift has been Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, who now has bipartisan, filibuster-proof support for a bill that would take prosecution decisions out of the chain of command for major crimes, including sexual assault, rape and murder. Last week, she pressed Austin and Milley on whether they backed removing all major crimes from the chain of command. Austin said that so far, he and the independent commission have been focused on the sexual assault issue. And Milley expressed reservations about a more expansive change. “I think the commander is essential to maintaining good order and discipline in the military,” Milley said. “I am very, very open to significant change in the area of sexual assault, sexual harassment. When we get beyond that, at this point my position is I need to study it more. ... It needs a lot of due diligence before we bundle all the oneyear felonies and take them away from the commanders.”

Reality Winner, NSA contractor in leak case, out of prison Washington, D.C. A former government contractor who was given the longest federal prison sentence imposed for leaks to the news media has been released from prison to home confinement, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Reality Winner, 29, has been moved to home confinement and remains in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons, the person said. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. She pleaded guilty in 2018 to a single count of transmitting national security information. Winner was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, which prosecutors said at the time was the longest ever imposed for leaking government information to the news media. The former Air Force translator worked as a contractor at a National Security Agency office in Augusta, Georgia, when she printed a classified report and left the building with it tucked into her pantyhose. Winner told the FBI she mailed the document to an online news outlet. “My actions were a cruel betrayal of my nation’s trust in me,” Winner told the judge at her sentencing in August, 2018. Previously, Winner had unsuccessfully tried to shorten her sentence by seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump, arguing she had health conditions that made her more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Her sister said last July that Winner tested positive for the coronavirus but didn’t show symptoms. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WINTERBLE from page A1

DAMIAN DOVARGANES | AP PHOTO

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas tours the City of Los Angeles Information Technology Agency (ITA) command center, responsible for the city's cybersecurity at the Emergency Operations Center in Los Angeles Thursday, June 10, 2021.

Biden closes Trump-era office for victims of immigrant crime The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — The Biden administration said late Friday it has dismantled a Trump-era government office to help victims of crimes committed by immigrants, a move that symbolizes President Joe Biden’s rejection of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Trump created the Victim Of Immigration Crime Engagement Office, known by its acronym VOICE, by executive order during his first week in office in January 2017. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it was replacing VOICE with a “more comprehensive and inclusive victim support system.” VOICE will be replaced by The

Victims Engagement and Services Line, which will combine longstanding existing services, such as methods for people to report abuse and mistreatment in immigration detention centers and a notification system for lawyers and others with a vested interest in immigration cases. The new office will add a service for potential recipients of visas designated for victims of human trafficking or violent crimes in the United States. “Providing assistance to society’s most vulnerable is a core American value. All people, regardless of their immigration status, should be able to access victim services without fear,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Stephen Miller, a key architect

of Trump’s immigration policies, called the decision to close VOICE a “moral stain on the conscience of our nation.” He likened the new office to the Drug Enforcement Administration opening “a call center to help drug dealers get lawyers and amnesty for their crimes.” The Department of Homeland Security “is a law enforcement agency, not a legal help center for criminals and lawbreakers,” Miller said. Jon Feere, an ICE official during the Trump administration, said he referred a man to VOICE whose sister was killed by an intoxicated driver and that the office helped families understand the status of immigration cases. “I’ve had to hold the hand of too

many mothers who lost a child to a DUI or somebody else who’s been raped by an illegal alien or someone with a nexus to immigration,” Barbara Gonzalez, the then-director of VOICE, told reporters in October 2019. “It is a problem we cannot ignore as a country. In April, the Biden administration ordered U.S. officials to avoid using terms like “illegal alien” and instead use the phrase “undocumented noncitizen.” Vice President Kamala Harris drew strong criticism from some of the administration’s pro-immigration allies for telling would-be migrants during a visit to Guatemala on Monday, “Do not come ... Do not come,” and that they would be denied entry at the U.S. border with Mexico.

work with the show’s producers to figure out what would still be relevant, adding that Limbaugh’s team is “amazing” and many of them have been with the show since the 1990s. He said the team decided on how they were going to do it, and “I said, okay, cool. I can do that, and we were off to the races.” “Rush was a visionary; he was fully doing his shows while a lot of these personalities came in like AOC, Ilhan Omar, The Squad. So much is relevant. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Donald Trump — they’re all still relevant,” said Winterble. “I watched him every day putting his shows together. He has such strong instincts when it came to politics, and he could set it up and just nail it. It was unbelievable.” He said the way the show was indexed and archived made his job easy, saying the show’s team did a masterful job setting up the archives. As for what’s next for the Rush Limbaugh Show, Winterble said he wasn’t sure what the plan was, but felt confident that Limbaugh’s voice wouldn’t be going away. Premiere announced that beginning June 21, the team of Clay Travis and Buck Sexton would take over the three-hour time slot. “He was incredibly generous. I know that’s the kind of thing that people say oftentimes, but he was an unbelievably generous man. His acts of generosity were not always public or publicized, but they were private,” said Winterble. “In full selfishness, there is no greater thrill than having a guy who’s on 650 stations with 20 million listeners a week announce the birth of your daughter and son. I had lost track of the CDs that I had [announcing the birth of Winterble’s children]. And when I came in for the first time to guide host, they played that as part of the intro, and it was really touching. It really took me back to that time,” he said. “I learned more from him than any teacher or professional I ever worked with.”

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021

SPORTS

US Open preview, B3

MICHAEL WOODS | AP PHOTO

NC State players celebrate after beating Arkansas 3-2 on Sunday to advance to the College World Series.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Panthers agree to terms with 1st-rounder Horn Charlotte The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with first-round draft pick Jaycee Horn, a cornerback from South Carolina. The deal includes a fifth-year team option. Horn was the eighth player selected in this year’s draft and the first defensive player chosen. He had 101 tackles and two interceptions in his three seasons for the Gamecocks. Horn is expected to start this season for the Panthers opposite Donte Jackson. The move came the same day the Panthers opened mandatory minicamp at Bank of America Stadium.

FISHING

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament underway Morehead City The 63rd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament got off to a rousing start Monday with Following Seas taking an early lead with a 448.8-pound blue marlin. The top catch of the tournament will bank the winner $1.6 million, and the first 500-pound blue marlin could also earn $828,750. The Beaufort, North Carolina‑based Natural was returning to the docks Tuesday with a blue marlin and was not weighed by press time. Blue marlins need to exceed 400 pounds to be weighed at the docks or the team is penalized. Pelagic Hunter II won the 2020 Big Rock with a 495.2-pound blue marlin, edging a 495-pound. The Keli Wagner Lady Angler Tournament was held for the 24th time in the two days before the Big Rock began. Builder’s Choice took home more than $130,000 in prize money in several categories, including heaviest dolphin (33.9 pounds) and first in the billfish release category. The six-day Big Rock runs until Saturday.

On to Omaha: NC State heads to College World Series The Wolfpack posted a dramatic win over No. 1 Arkansas in the super regional By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE LIVING embodiment of Yogi Berra, NC State continued to show that things aren’t over, no matter how bad they might look. The Wolfpack opened the season 1-8 in ACC play but bounced back to finish 19-14, 35-18 overall. In the NCAA super regional over the weekend, the Pack was matched up with No 1 Arkansas, who has topped the national poll for most of the year and features the likely national player of the

year, pitcher Kevin Kopps. Things seemed bleak, indeed, when Arkansas looked every bit the best in baseball, pounding the Pack 21-2 to open the three-game series. Kopps would pitch in the last two games, going two innings of relief on Saturday and getting the start on Sunday. He was a perfect 12-0 on the year and hadn’t allowed a run in 15⅓ innings in the NCAA regionals and supers. State fell behind early on Saturday and the specter of elimination loomed large. The Wolfpack battled back, however, taking a 6-2 lead and holding off an Arkansas rally to win 6-5 on Saturday, then holding off another Razorbacks charge to pull out a dramatic 3-2 win on Sunday. Jose Torres, who homered in all

“They believed early on when we were 1-8 that we could rebound, and they stuck with it.” Elliott Avent, NC State baseball coach three games, went deep off Kopps in the ninth of Sunday’s deciding game to send the Pack to the College World Series. This will be the Wolfpack’s third trip to the CWS and first since 2013. NC State also went in 1968, finishing third in the nation that year. “When you go to Omaha, there’s always a reason that is special to

you — besides the players, which is always first and foremost,” NC State coach Elliott Avent said. “It’s all about the players. The school gets a lot out of it, the staff gets a lot out of it… I remember the first time I went there how special it was for the players. It was so special for me to have my daddy there. That was a special moment for me. I am so happy for these players.” The Pack will be an underdog in Omaha, one of just two teams out of the eight that remain that were not national seeds in the NCAA Tournament. In other words, the Pack has the field right where they want them. State draws No. 9 Stanford in the first game. The Cardinal upset No. 8 Texas Tech in the Lubbock Super Regional and also fancy themselves as the underdogs. “Everybody was waiting for us to hit midnight and maybe not be as good as we were playing,” coach David Esquer said, “and it just never happened.” The Cardinal are led at the plate by Brock Jones, who is tops on the See NC STATE, page B4

Down, not out: Wingate rallies for D2 baseball title The Bulldogs overcame an opening loss to win five straight for the school’s first national championship

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal CARY — The bus carrying Wingate’s baseball team broke down on the trip home from the Division II College World Series on Saturday. It was an ironic turn of events considering the exhausting journey the Bulldogs were able to complete without running out of gas — at least figuratively — on the field. Coach Jeff Gregory’s sixth-seeded team lost its opening game in the double-elimination tournament but bounced back by winning five times in as many days to earn the program’s first national championship. The Bulldogs completed their improbable run to the title by beating top-seeded Central Missouri 5-3 before a packed house at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. “I’m going to be at a loss for words, but the one thing I can tell you is that I’m proud of these guys to be able to do this,” Gregory said immediately after the final game.

BRETT FRIEDLANDER | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Wingate freshman pitcher Sam Broderson closed out the Bulldogs’ championship game win Saturday over Central Missouri by retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. “They lose the first game in this tournament and you’re playing an elimination game every single time, and it just kept building. To watch them keep the faith, stay with the next pitch so to speak, it’s phenomenal. It’s so exciting for them, so exciting for the university, so exciting for the program.” Wingate (46-8) is the first team since Florida Southern in 2005 to come all the way through the losers bracket to become national cham-

pions. It’s also the first North Carolina school to claim the title since the World Series came to Cary in 2009. As amazing of an accomplishment as it was, doing things the hard way has become something of a trademark for the Bulldogs. They pulled off a similar comeback to win the South Atlantic Conference tournament before earning their first World Series berth by sweeping through the Southeast

Regional without a loss. “This goes back into what we talked about all year long and how we need to play the game to be successful,” Gregory said. “You never know how it’s going to transpire, so you need to shrink everything down, focus on something you really need to focus on and not get caught up in the environment.” That, however, is exactly what happened to the Bulldogs. They fell behind in the opening inning of their first game — against second-seeded Angelo State — and never seriously threatened in a 6-2 loss that didn’t bode well for a long stay in Cary. But unlike other first-time World Series participants, they quickly adapted. “One of the pieces I recognized with this team is that anytime you throw something new at them, they may struggle with it the first time,” Gregory said. “But then they understood how to take it all in, learn from it and move forward with it.” There were no fiery speeches either after the game or at practice during the day off that followed, no reminders of how difficult the task ahead would be or what needed to be done to turn things around. See WINGATE, page B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

6.16.21

TRENDING

Kyrie Irving: The Nets point guard missed the second half of Brooklyn’s loss in Game 4 of its secondround series to the Bucks after spraining his ankle midway through the second quarter. Irving left the game and headed to the locker room with 5:52 left in the period, further diminishing a Nets lineup that was already missing James Harden. The series was tied 2-2 before Tuesday’s Game 5. Brad Larsen: The former NHL player was named the next coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, succeeding John Tortorella. The 43-yearold Larsen had been a Blue Jackets assistant the past seven seasons, serving under both Tortorella and Todd Richards, and this will be his first head coaching job. Larsen played a combined 319 regular season and playoff games at forward with the Avalanche and defunct Atlanta Thrashers during his NHL career. Jim “Mudcat” Grant: The first black 20-game winner in the American League and a key part of Minnesota’s first World Series team in 1965 has died. He was 85. Grant spent less than four full seasons of his 14-year major league career with the Twins, but they were by far his best. Grant led the American League with 21 wins in 1965 and helped the Twins post a 102-60 record for a spot in the World Series. He started three times in that World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and won twice — including a 5-1, complete-game victory in Game 6, during which he also hit a three-run homer. Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers won Game 7.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NASCAR

Kyle Larson held off Brad Keselowski to give Hendrick Motorsports its second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series’ All-Star Race win Sunday night. The non-points race, held for the first time at Texas Motor Speedway, was a $1 million pay day for Larson, who reached Victory Lane for the third straight week and the fourth time overall this season.

CHUCK BURTON | AP PHOTO

“We lost to a team $18 million over the cap.” Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton after Carolina lost its second-round series to the Lightning, who added former MVP Nikita Kucherov for the postseason

TONY GUTIERREZ | AP PHOTO

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TENNIS

STEPHEN B. MORTON | AP PHOTO

“I just didn’t have it today.” Raleigh native Chesson Hadley after he shot a final round 75 to finish one shot behind winner Garrick Higgo at the PGA Tour’s Palmetto Championship PRIME NUMBER

1 Player older than Suns point guard Chris Paul (36 years, 38 days) to score at least 35 points and five assists in an NBA playoff game. Paul had 37 points and seven assists Sunday as Phoenix completed a sweep of the Nuggets. Only Kareem AbdulJabbar (38 years, 52 days), who had 36 points and seven assists for the Lakers in Game 5 of the 1985 Finals, was older.

JAMES CRISP | AP PHOTO

Wake Forest is adding graduate transfer Khadim Sy from Mississippi, the school announced Friday. The 6-foot-10, 238-pound Sy started 31 of his 45 games over the past two seasons at Ole Miss, averaging 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in that time. Sy started his career at Virginia Tech followed by a year in junior college at Daytona State.

AP PHOTOS

Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova won the French Open in just her fifth major tournament, beating 31st-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Saturday to win the title. In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic rallied from a two sets down to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday for his 19th Grand Slam crown and second win at Roland Garros.

OLYMPICS

RICK RYCROFT | AP PHOTO

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said after an executive board meeting Thursday that Brisbane, Australia’s thirdbiggest city, can be awarded hosting rights to the 2032 Summer Olympics as the only candidate proposed at a July 21 meeting in Tokyo. Brisbane’s selection was fast tracked in February after being named the preferred candidate without a formal opponent.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

2021 U.S. Open preview TOP 4 CONTENDERS

Bryson DeChambeau

Dustin Johnson

Age: 27

Age: 36

Country: United States

World ranking: 5

World ranking: 1

Worldwide victories: 9

Worldwide victories: 25

Majors: U.S. Open (2020)

Majors: Masters (2020), U.S. Open (2016)

U.S. Open history: His only top 10 in six appearances was his victory last year at Winged Foot.

U.S. Open history: Along with winning at Oakmont in 2016, he had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in three other U.S. Opens.

U.S. Open moment: Winning by six shots and posting the lowest score (274) in a U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

U.S. Open moment: Winning his first major at Oakmont while playing the final seven holes without knowing the score as the USGA debated whether to penalize him for a ball that moved on the fifth green.

Backspin: Is there a better way to get back at Brooks Koepka than to join him as a back-to-back U.S. Open champion? DeChambeau hit driver often at Winged Foot when he realized no one would be hitting the fairways. That’s a recipe that might work at Torrey Pines, too. Often overlooked at Winged Foot was how well DeChambeau putted.

Backspin: Johnson is at his best in the U.S. Open. He has never played Torrey Pines particularly well, and hasn’t played the PGA Tour there at all since 2017. Of greater concern is the state of his game. Johnson, who was playing the week before in South Carolina, has he not seriously contended since the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February.

Patrick Reed

Jordan Spieth

Age: 30

Age: 27

Country: United States

World ranking: 9

World ranking: 23

Worldwide victories: 9

Worldwide victories: 15

Majors: Masters (2018)

Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017)

U.S. Open history: In seven appearances his only top 10 was fourth place in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills, three shots behind Brooks Koepka.

U.S. Open history: Has only one top 10 (his victory at Chambers Bay) in nine previous appearances. He was low amateur at Olympic Club in 2012.

U.S. Open moment: Snapping a wedge over his knee in frustration on the 18th green at Pebble Beach in 2019.

U.S. Open moment: Making a 25-foot birdie on the 16th, a double bogey on the 17th and a birdie on the final hole at Chambers Bay, and then watching in disbelief as Dustin Johnson three-putted from 12 feet that gave Spieth the victory.

Backspin: Reed won at Torrey Pines in January and will try to join Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win a tour event and a U.S. Open on the same course in the same year. He has not finished out of the top 20 in his last six majors.

Backspin: Spieth’s record in the U.S. Open is surprisingly ordinary given his level of play. The U.S. Open he won was not a typical U.S. Open course. He has never played the South course at Torrey particularly well. Spieth his hopeful that playing in June when it’s drier, and when he’s in midseason form, will make a difference.

PHOTOS VIA AP

CONTENDERS FROM NC

Will Zalatoris Age: 24 Country: United States, played for Wake Forest

Tom Hoge Age: 32 Country: United States, born in Statesville World ranking: 120 Worldwide victories: 1 Majors: Best finish was 43rd in the 2019 U.S. Open. Finished 58th and 64th at the PGA Championship the last two years. U.S. Open history: Didn’t make the cut in his first two Opens before finishing in the money in 2019. U.S. Open moment: Had his lowest U.S. Open round ever with a first-round 71 in 2019, then matched it on both weekend days to finish 2 over. Backspin: Hoge made his way into the field at a qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, last week. He battled rain to win a four-man playoff for one of the final three spots after getting a late birdie to even make it into the playoff.

World ranking: 29 Worldwide victories: 1 Majors: He’s at his best on the big stage. After missing the cut in the 2018 U.S. Open, he’s made the top 10 in all three majors he’s played, topped by a second in this year’s Masters. U.S. Open history: Last year’s Open was his breakthrough as a pro, as he finished tied for sixth. U.S. Open moment: He had a rags-to-riches story last year. After earning $404,000 in 16 starts on the Korn Ferry tour, his sixth-place finish at Winged Foot earned him $424,000 and earned him an exemption into this year’s tourney. Backspin: It’s still very early in his career, but Zalatoris has shown a flair for the spotlight, so expect him to provide drama this weekend.

Cameron Young Age: 24

J.T. Poston Age: 28 Country: United States, Hickory native, played at Western Carolina World ranking: 91 Worldwide victories: 1 Majors: Has made the cut in two of his six appearances in majors. Finished 60th in the 2019 PGA Championship and 75th the next year. U.S. Open moment: Poston has not made the cut in his two Open appearances. He shot 7872 to finish 6 over in 2017, 71-82 to finish 13 over last year while battling an eye injury. Backspin: Poston shot back-toback 67s to finish tied for third at last week’s qualifying event in Columbus, Ohio. He had 11 birdies and an eagle in the 36 holes.

Wake Forest

Country: United States, played for

World ranking: 172 Worldwide victories: 2 Majors: Playing in his first major as a pro. Played in the 2019 U.S. Open as an amateur U.S. Open history: Qualified for the 2019 Open at Pebble Beach, taking one of four spots available at the Purchase, New York, qualifying event. Shot 9 over for the first two rounds and didn’t make the cut. U.S. Open moment: He shot 8 under in two rounds at this year’s qualifying event in Westchester County, earning the top spot and making his way into his first Open as a professional. Backspin: The qualifying success capped a strong month for Young. He won back-to-back events on the Korn Ferry Tour to close out May.

Matthew Sharpstene

Kevin Streelman

Age: 22

Age: 42

Country: United States, lives in Asheville, plays for University of Charlotte World ranking: 257 in the amateur rankings Worldwide victories: 0 Majors: This will be his first appearance in a major U.S. Open moment: Sharpstene tied for first at the Dallas qualifying event last week after shooting a 9-under-par 133 over 36 holes. Backspin: He transferred to Charlotte after starting his college career at West Virginia. Sharpstene plans to return to Charlotte for his final year of eligibility next season and then will take a shot at the pros.

Webb Simpson Age: 35 Country: United States, lives in Charlotte, played for Wake Forest World ranking: 12 Worldwide victories: 7 Majors: Won the U.S. Open in 2012. Has had top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open three times and the Masters twice. U.S. Open history: Simpson won in his second appearance at the U.S. Open. He has made the cut in nine out of 10 years and has finished 10th, 16th and eighth in the last three Opens. U.S. Open moment: He chipped out of a tough spot to make it to the green on 18 and save par on his last hole. That shot, combined with his four late birdies, allowed him to hold off Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk to win the 2012 tournament by one stroke. Backspin: Simpson is playing his best golf since his U.S. Open title nine years ago. He has two wins on the tour this season, his first multi-win year since 2011, and he moved into the world top 10 earlier this year for the first time since 2012.

Duke

Country: United States, played for

World ranking: 53 Worldwide victories: 3 Majors: Finished eighth in this year’s PGA Championship, his best finish in a major in his 14 years on the tour. U.S. Open history: This will be the first time he’s played the tournament two years in a row since 2013-14. He missed the cut both of those years as well as last year. His last time in the money at the Open was 13th in 2016. He made three other cuts, all prior to 2013. U.S. Open moment: Streelman opened with a 69 in 2016, then matched it on Saturday to help him to the best Open finish in his seven times in the event, a tie for 13th place. Backspin: Streelman went through three cars, logging 300,000 miles on minor tours while trying to find a home in the PGA. His first round in the U.S. Open was his best round in the tournament to date — a 68 in 2008.

Akshay Bhatia Age: 19 Country: United States, lives in Wake Forest World ranking: 879 Worldwide victories: 2 Majors: This will be his first start in a major U.S. Open moment: Beat out Zach Sucher and Ben Martin in a 3-for-1 playoff to earn his spot in the U.S. Open. Backspin: The former topranked amateur turned pro at age 17. Like Phil Mickelson, he’s a lefthander, and the oldest major winner in history has taken the prodigy under his wing to show him the ways of the tour. — By Shawn Krest, North State Journal

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Family affair for NC A&T, NC State at NCAA track championships The Aggies finished in the top four in both the men’s and women’s overall rankings, and NC State’s Elly Henes won a national title By Brett Friedlander North State Journal ATHLETIC TEAMS often refer to themselves as a family. But for two college athletes from North Carolina last weekend, the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon, truly was a family affair. Not only did NC State distance runner Elly Henes and NC A&T sprinter Randolph Ross win national championships for programs coached by their parents, but they also matched the accomplishments of those parents, both of whom also won titles during their college careers. State’s Laurie Henes won the 5,000 meters, the same event as her daughter, while running for the Wolfpack in 1991. A&T’s Duane Ross brought home his title in 110-meter hurdles for Clemson four years later. The significance of that synergy hit home for the younger Henes almost as soon as she crossed the finish line in a time of 15:28.05, about six-tenths of a second ahead of Notre Dame’s Katie Wasserman. “It’s incredible. It means the world to me,” Henes said in a postrace interview on ESPN after becoming the first State runner to win a national championship since Kristin Price in the 10,000 meters in 2002. “Having her as my coach and having her throughout my running career, it’s like the perfect fairy tale end-

THOMAS BOYD | AP PHOTO

North Carolina A&T’s Randolph Ross wins the men’s 400 meters during the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11 in Eugene, Oregon. ing. You couldn’t ask for anything more.” Henes, a nine-time All-American and five-time ACC champion in track and cross-country, ran a tactical race in her final event for the Wolfpack. The senior from Cary bided her time just off the lead until the final turn of the 12½-lap race, when she sprinted to the front, pulled away from Wasserman and the rest of the field, and happily flashed the Wolfpack sign in triumph as she broke the tape. Ross was even more dominant in winning his individual championship. After running shoulder-to-shoulder with Aggies teammate Trevor Stewart for the first half of the race, the speedy sophomore left everyone else on the track behind. He was still pulling away as he crossed the finish line in a time of 43.85, fastest in the world this season, the second-fastest ever run at an NCAA championship

and the third-fastest in collegiate history. Stewart finished third. The victory came three months after Ross finished second to LSU’s Noah Williams at the NCAA indoor meet and established the A&T star as a favorite to make the U.S. Olympic team for the Tokyo Games later this summer. “This young man is special,” Duane Ross said of his son on a post-meet Zoom. “He’s nowhere near his full potential. I’m so proud of him and his national championships as a father and a coach.” Randolph Ross gave his dad even more reason to be proud by combining with teammates Stewart, Daniel Stokes and Akeem Sirleaf to win the national championship in the 4-x-400 meter relay in a time of 3:00.92. The younger Ross also helped A&T to a third-place finish in the 4-x-100 relay while his sister Jonah was part of the foursome that

finished third in the women’s 4-x100 race. The anchor leg of that women’s team was run by sophomore Cambrea Sturgis, who pulled off a national championship sweep by winning both the 100- and 200-meter sprints. Her time of 10.74 in the 100 is the fastest all-weather time in NCAA history and the 11th-fastest ever for a woman. She then out-leaned High Point native Tamara Clark of Alabama to the finish the 200 in a time of 22.12. With her victory, Sturgis became the first female to win both the 100 and 200 national championships in the same year since Ariana Washington of Oregon in 2016. “Even though there were other good competitors, I knew I was just as good as them,” Sturgis said. “I just went out there and ran my race. … It just shows NC A&T can be an elite school and we can run with the best.” The final team standings bear that out. Despite having only nine athletes competing in both the men’s and women’s events, the Aggies finished among the top four in the nation in both meets, the only school to earn that distinction. The men amassed 35 points to finish third behind LSU and Oregon. It was the highest finish ever for a Division I Historically Black College or University. The women placed fourth behind Southern Cal, Texas A&M and Georgia with a team total of 31 points. “We are an HBCU. We will always be an HBCU,” Duane Ross said. “That is who we are, that is our history and we’re proud of that. But that acronym needs to be retired if people are going to continue to misuse it. It’s almost like they are saying you guys are good for an HBCU. No, we’re good, period. “I think some of our competition is still struggling with the fact that we are better. I know a lot of people are surprised about what we did this weekend, but they shouldn’t be.”

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

Pivotal offseason awaits Hurricanes

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal THE CAROLINA Hurricanes reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season this year, the first time the team has done that since relocating to North Carolina. The accomplishment, of course, isn’t much of a consolation for a team that was eliminated in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. “That’s one thing that we have to do, kind of remember how you know how bad it feels to lose and use that for everyone’s offseason,” center Sebastian Aho said last week at his season-ending availability. “You’ve got to do the work (so) that you are confident and ready to go whenever the next season starts. … We want to use that motivation to build a good offseason and be ready for the next training camp and season.” What the roster — and even coaching staff — will look like is the biggest question mark as Carolina heads into a pivotal offseason. Free agency The biggest name looming in

team in home runs (16), RBIs (54), steals (14) and OPS (1.072). He went deep three times in the game that clinched the Cardinal a trip to Omaha. On the mound, Stanford has a pair of shutdown starters in Brendan Beck and Alex Williams, who shut down the Red Raiders in Lubbock. They’re a combined 133. Both have ERAs right around 3.00, strike out a batter an inning and allow less than a baserunner an inning. Opponents are hitting less than .200 against each of them. The other two teams in State’s half of the bracket are No. 5 Arizona and No. 4 Vanderbilt. The winner of NC State-Stanford will face the winner of that game, while the losers will face each other and the end of their seasons in the double-elimination event. Vanderbilt is the defending national champion and swept East Carolina to advance to Omaha. They are led by Jack Leiter, the son of longtime MLB pitcher Al. Like Kopps, he’s a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to college baseball’s top player. Vandy also features Kumar Roker, another semifinalist on what might be college baseball’s best pitching staff. The Commodores haven’t lost in the NCAA’s this year. Arizona escaped a three-game series with Ole Miss to advance to the College World Series. The other half of the bracket features No. 3 Tennessee against the ACC’s second CWS team — unseeded Virginia. The other game matches No. 7 Mississippi State and No. 2 Texas. It’s a tough field. State has the fewest wins this season and the fewest CWS appearances of the eight teams. Avent and the Pack wouldn’t have it any other way, however. “They believed early on when we were 1-8 that we could rebound, and they stuck with it,” the coach said. It ain’t over ’til it’s over.

WINGATE from page B1

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, center, and forward Andrei Svechnikov, left, both need new contracts this offseason.

With several free agents and a flat salary cap, Carolina will need to find ways to improve without breaking the bank

NC STATE from page B1

unrestricted free agency is Dougie Hamilton. The Hurricanes defenseman had 42 goals and 79 assists for 121 points in 184 regular season games with Carolina the past three seasons. He cost $5.75 million against the salary cap and is in line to probably make around 50% more than that on a long-term deal in the open market. The Hurricanes have already reportedly granted Hamilton and his agent permission to talk to other teams about a contract before the free agent market opens July 28. That would indicate the two sides are far apart in negotiations. “I think everyone knows I really enjoy it here,” Hamilton said at his season-ending availability. Jaccob Slavin also hopes his defense partner will return for a fourth season in Carolina and beyond. “He’s a huge part of this team and he was part of our success and I want him back,” Slavin said. “I enjoy playing with him and I think we work well together.” The Hurricanes also have several depth players in need of new deals. Brock McGinn and Jordan Martinook have been key role players — on the ice and in the locker room — who both said they wanted to return to Raleigh. “I want to see it through,” Martinook said of re-signing with the Hurricanes. “I think we’re right there. We’re so close, and if I

were to go somewhere else, it’d be tough to see if they were to win here because I feel like I was a big part of it.” Carolina will also need to weigh whether to re-sign midseason acquisitions Cedric Paquette and Jani Hakanpaa — two players brought in to provide more grit to the lineup — along with goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Andrei Svechnikov and Alex Nedeljkovic are both restricted free agents. Svechnikov seems poised for a bridge contract of two or three seasons, and Nedeljkovic — a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie — has arbitration rights but a limited track record that should give Carolina the upper hand in negotiations with the young goalie. Svechnikov said he’s “love to stay here forever,” while Nedeljkovic said he was excited about the prospects of making his way around the league with the Hurricanes in 2021-22. Warren Foegele, Jake Bean and Morgan Geekie are also RFAs. Coaching staff It’s been reported for some time that Rod Brind’Amour has already agreed in principle to a contract extension but was holding out for deals for his staff. It sounds like those deals are close to done, though assistant coach

Dean Chynowyth has reportedly been permitted to speak to other teams. One source said morale was low among the staff at how dealings with the front office have gone despite the success of the past three seasons, and Tom Dundon has earned a reputation as an owner who will squeeze whatever he can out of every negotiation — whether it’s players, team brass, broadcasters or even arena staff. Winning solves everything, they say, but Dundon continues to test the limits of hockey’s culture of unquestioned loyalty. He also doesn’t care if his name dragged through the mud in what is becoming an annual offseason occurrence. Two drafts Carolina also needs to plan for two drafts — the normal entry draft and the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Hamilton’s fate could go a long way in determining the direction the team goes with its protected list for expansion. Both Foegele and Bean — selected by Seattle GM Ron Francis when he was with the Hurricanes — could be considerations for Seattle, while Brady Skjei and Nino Niederreiter may also be left unprotected. Carolina has eight picks in the entry draft and is without its fifth-round pick (sent to Vegas as part of the trade that brought Erik Haula to Raleigh two years ago) but holds two extra seventh-round selections from deals made with Los Angeles and St. Louis.

The team simply got back to business on Tuesday by holding on for a 3-2 victory against Southern New Hampshire. The momentum continued to build the next day with a 5-1 win against Seton Hill, highlighted by a complete game pitching performance from graduate righthander David Nash. The Bulldogs then beat both Mother Nature and Angelo State on Thursday to force a decisive third meeting between the teams. Because of the way they won, catcher Logan McNeely and his teammates began to believe they might be in the process of accomplishing something special. “After beating Angelo State, I felt like we really had a great shot at winning this thing,” McNeely, the tournament MVP, said of a game that saw Wingate squander a 4-0 eighth-inning lead only to win it in the ninth on a bases-loaded single by Hunter Dula on the first pitch following a 2½-hour rain delay. “There was a roller coaster of emotions the entire week. Each guy on the team grinded every at-bat, every pitch, and the key was taking it one game at a time.” The Bulldogs earned their trip to the final by surviving another late Angelo State comeback for an 8-7 11-inning victory, then finished the job in style by knocking off the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. McNeely drove in the tying run and Gehrig Christopher singled home what proved to be the game-winner as part of a fifth-inning rally that turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Although pinch hitter Grayson Chapman added an insurance run in the seventh, it wasn’t needed thanks to Sam Broderson’s work out of the bullpen. The freshman right-hander, who pitched as many as three innings in a game only once all season, retired 13 of the final 14 Mules he faced — including a strikeout of Scott Wolverton that led to a pile of happy Bulldogs. “It’s kind of tough because you have all those people on top of you,” Broderson said. “But you’re not really worried about that in the moment because you’re just happy for the win. I’m not feeling the full effect of the win yet, but it’s definitely awesome.”

“To watch them keep the faith, stay with the next pitch so to speak, it’s phenomenal.” Jeff Gregory, Wingate baseball coach

g Kong flu,” 1977 evidence that the gins in China. OVID-19 mpletely eve 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 aUn Metrics and Evaluat 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 r 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, 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 a The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is tothat offer First, what is the t 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 f comparison. We’ve seen case fa An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China the number of identi today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing and the denominato investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in have tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lostpeople revenue is actually number has been ove decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now of death, particularly undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the sources suggest the n past. many American people are dyi China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Even import business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret more that they actually have corona intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and of identified cases co replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. number of people wh

Business & Economy

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VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

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It’s okay to ask questions about to this get back to normal The comfort How Chinawe willbegin payThe for COVID-19 3 big questionscatas nob EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home China lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in which orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americans THIS WEEK, virus, according to members ofTHE theand fed 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 w Some of these orders extend at least through MARY the ALTAFFER end of this month. | AP PHOTO ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak. The being thrown out of work. I know that durin Inand order put the crisis causedVirginia’s by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly orders go into June. ty of at Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily reverse — bu payer least $2.4 trillion in added working from home worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, United States over Gov.The hasstated cost the U.S. tax Back to school spending Here in North Democratic Roycrisis Cooper during normal.” questions back to have abided by recommendations and orders. The Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, and when things can start getting be glad” as the Bible our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions Federa coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know more yet” ifin the nd of this are treated some circles with contempt. Inmonth. thiswere May not 18,normal 2021, file photo, fifthingraders wear face masks are seated at proper social distancing spacing during aflu,” music class at theKong Milton Elementary School in Rye, N.Y.and As more to flu,” stay at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancin he U.S. dollar the reserve dad, Easter directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian 1968 “Hong 1977 markets and financial outlets. If state’s trendy stay-at-home orderscritical will extend into May. Since didparticularly goemergency back toThey’re the physical classroom, families areaexpected to spend robustly on awithout wide rangewhen items, clothing for the back-to-school season, according tothankful treated as though we as society simply must accept they’ve donned masks. fund anychildren of these have to be “Russian flu” and theof2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able to Perhaps If he it, questions should be asked as to the Wedoes needdecide to extend one key spending Read more on page B7. WALTER E.measure. WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction inwithout expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic. 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fea justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we COVID-19 t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy. According to theseasons University of Washington Institi For me, my faith government There is 100% agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must do this out an 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 has pay for their provide a China all levels It will need tocompletely be explained in detail to the people ofto this state who aber asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected need for hos plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians 1:4, whD Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. believe it came of at a home economic and financial means. fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and undetermined message offor an become a rate to 39.6% for down people earning gue ones likecentury “we health, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised by over 120,000 world of 21st hygiene affliction, so that biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to we bring China into the scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds of civilized cases wew hope that willof $400,000 a13,000 year orthousands more in taxable bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly and the number of ov unist regimes never take blame affliction, with the c Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of income,and fair trade. are reliable. — we need to estimated to be Totalitarian fewer than comm once again enjoy of this state who when will demand August by nearly 12,000. orse, because that is not whatthey can get back to providing for their families,their God.” That is what food safety and health protocols, American business has nowhat other or express sincere To know date, what I’ve gone state has asked andregret then 2%the of U.S. households. The top tax and rem they along with answers. Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the ans sporting events, yndetermined take advantage of every weakness If you are celebrat choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely totalitarian governments do. The rate that workers pay on salaries citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about housands of cases 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 orLeaders the reflect on this messa concerts, family and wages now is in 37%. for national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find adversaries and 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 rate?c God’s example don’t and when Biden proposes to nearly dou-is and reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were kedhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whether certain ble the tax rate that high-earnent such as the Chernobyl this difficult time. T The most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exogenous ev they to disaster corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people toprofits treat those church services ing Americans pay on from dbelieve questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — that event, not the Star Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least halfdata of their meltdown instart 1986. Some back experts what theythe questioning and asking when we can getting and many more stocks and other investments. InSponsored by Union By Marcy Gordon and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society that presumes wide sprea Sponsored by should also o the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In this same bit of remediation. Let’s first examine what production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to do, last I to normal are conspiracy theorists or are people who spirit herited capital gains would no london’t.as though theyought Thethe Associated Press while reasonable stay-at-home after our own t asked, there to of ask questions about data, because to lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping n billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment inor1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves others sick.also would ger be tax-free. The plan title of a recent study, ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration date. We’ve seen case fatality rates — the number of temporary In Concord, a hig in thewhen U.S. did is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 China’s C raise taxes on affectWASHINGTON, D.C. — Repub- in China. Chinese direct investmentSince questioning government at allcorporations, levels become aisbad “Academic and to theAmericans, North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 starttalking getting backGrievance ThisStudies is all new and itare is not normal. Not in any way, the number ofwealthy identified COVID-19 cases —aare but eady about the possibility money to buy 3-D sacrifices are ing investors who own corlicans in Congress alarmed by comparison. Senators in Washington alb thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at are people who shape, or form. So while and the denominator are likely wrong. We don’t k debt we owe them as one way to get health care workers porate stocks. An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in over. toon do,half lastof I checked. done by Areo, an opinion and analysisthe leak of confidential IRS data to NC wins national sick. the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new people have actually died of coronavirus. Some so As they raise the alarm on prithe investigative news organization y have caused the US. Don’t hold your today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated China to “pay”isfor damage digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short My first American concern asmanufacturing we go along in all of this, of course, mythe family. I’m th vacy tax data, Republicans also ProPublica, enabling it to reveal investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion economic ls become aAreopagitica, badbut ask normal.” number has beenbreath overestimated, given that classi lee” to happen your elected for a speech delivered by in waiting for a Chinese “Jub worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After are denouncing whatelderly they seepatients, as a ty were supposed Not one little bit. that famous billionaires includ- tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue of death, particularly among can ountable in tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. is representatives to hold China development award suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during thea2009 pandemic, acc related intrusion: new financial Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.ing Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we sources suggest the number is dramatically under areprecautions, nowreporting this disaster. I’ve been trying to take extra because allthat of this brings up proposal is nestled Mark Zuckerberg paid little in U.S. RALEIGH North Carolina’s Lindsay and — Peter Boghossian say has that e, to is my family. Stacey Matthews also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying at home. ed operate as I’m responsible citizens of undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies in the It isplan. about timenot they expect in Biden’s tax Aimed at helpincome tax at times. A senior IRS way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer to are repeat. success in winning highsomething has gone drastically wrong ied I will. After and is a regular contributor to Thursday RedStatethat anda Legal Insurrection. Even more importantly, we have no clue how m ation. ing the IRS collect taxes, it would official said federal past. the world like any other modern But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has impact economic development in academia, especially within certain 2009 pandemic, actually have scientists call coronavirus. for U.S. banksSome to report to the sugges China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American projects was recognized fields within the humanities. They callcriminal investigation into the leak l of this brings up of identified cases could be an order of magnitude agency most flows into and out of has been requested. business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they today fields with a “grievance coveted Gold these studies,” where Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion personal and business accounts, inTaking a detour from the derefer notscholarship to repeat. number of people who have had coronavirus and Shovel Awardisfrom Area not so much based upon intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and cluding bank loans and investment bate over President Joe Biden’s tax ost everyone has Development magazine, a finding truth but upon attending to TOM WILLIAMS | AP PHOTO accounts. Banks aren’t wild about overhaul plan, the GOP lawmak- replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi.

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

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Leak of billionaires’ tax data draws GOP outcry over privacy A6

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leadinggrievances. industry trade publication social Grievance scholars ers are demanding to know how covering corporate site selection and other bully students, administrators and economicinto development. departments adhering to their the private tax data was disclosed andisthey are pressing the Treasury The national outlet they promote worldview. Themedia worldview Department and the IRS to pursue announced five overall Gold neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL | Shovel Award winners for 2021 such as anyone who violated the law. e studies consist of disciplines in five population categories — sociology, anthropology, gender studies, “Taxpayers must have the utmost confidence in federal instituTexas, North Carolina, Arizona, queer studies, sexuality and critical race tions that house their personal and Utah, and Kansas. North studies. confidential information,” a group Carolina’s included In 2017category and 2018, authors Pluckrose, of Republican senators said in letstates with populations between Lindsay and Boghossian started 8 and-12 million people. The papers toters demanding an investigation. submitting bogus academic magazine announced additional academic journals in cultural, queer, “Regrettably, it appears personnel Gold and Silverfat awards in severalstudieswith access to Americans’ personrace, gender, and sexuality other categories as well. to determine if they would pass peer al and confidential information are misusing protected information for To determine the winners seriousness of the virus and review and be acceptedthe for need publication. of itspeople Gold and Shovel Acceptance ofSilver dubious research y with how who simply ask that political reasons. Treasury and the IRS must hold accountable any and Awards, Area Development invited editors found sympathetic to their en thingsjournal can start getting back to all individuals who broke federal all 50 states to submit its top-10 leftist vision intersectional or postmodern s with contempt. jobthe creation investment of worldand would prove the problem law of by inappropriately sharing the a societylow simply must accept without confidential tax information and projects that first materialized academic standards. ls us about whenWinning it’s safe to begin thepapers tax returns of multiple Americans.” in 2020. states earn the Several of the fake research malcy. were highest scores based on their accepted for publication. The Fat Douglas O’Donnell, a deputy IRS commissioner, said at a hearnumber of high-value added jobs us, and we have the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper when ing by a House Since panel that the did Treaper capita, of that argued the term bodybuilding was home orders are inamount place allinvestment, over the sury Department, which oversees questioning number of new facilities, and and should be replaced hem get exclusionary in states, such as Michigan, the IRS, has referred the matter industry diversity. with “fat bodybuilding, a fat-inclusive eeling isolated and/or anxious as about for investigationgovernment to the FBI and the As part ofperformance.” its politicized One reviewer ng for their families, will demand U.S. attorney’s office the District at allinlevels Shovel Awards, Area said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Development honored Missouriarticle and believe it has an importantof Columbia. become a vels should beCentene as forthcoming based of contribution toCorp.’s make choice to as thethey field and thisBoth getting access to and disclosing the confidential tax data bad thing? Charlotte a $1-billion, again, not vague for answers, but3,237-job answer journal.” are problems, O’Donnell said. “We East Coast headquarters and “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what ents believability. too want to know what happened, technology hub. The project, Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to hat we can to keep as our free citizens urgently.” announced and in July, was named Neoliberal Choice Feminism,” was afe. But we should also still continue The law provides living for in apotential free one the magazine’s five “Nonaccepted for publication by Affilia, a ecause while reasonable stay-at-home criminal penalties for federal emManufacturing Projects of the feminist journal for social workers. The society were y shouldpaper also have an Year” across theexpiration nation. consisted in partCompany of adate. rewritten ployees or other individuals who supposed nd it is not normal. Not in any way, officials have they expect Two the otherleak tax information. passage fromsaid Mein Kampf. report published new hub will grow topublished, up to 6,000 d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at including The ProPublica papers were to do, lastpeople I in Tuesday on the wealthiest employees. “Rape and Queer Performativity mfortable withCulture this so-called “new America was based on IRS data — checked. “State-supported project at Urban Dog Parks.” This wins paper’s subject overall last year are expected was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape to create $6.3 billion in new paper eventually forced Boghossian, investmentand andLindsay more than Pluckrose to20,000 prematurely out under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah new jobs in North Carolina,” themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer dState and Insurrection. saidLegal Christopher Chung, chief had figured out what they were doing. executive officer of the Economic Some papers accepted for publication Development Partnership of in academic journals advocated training Northlike Carolina. “Those big men dogs and punishing white male numbers came in for despite the slavery by college students historical pandemic, and among the asking them tothey’re sit in silence on the floor in state’s highest anyand single chains during for class to year be expected to in a decade.” learn from the discomfort. Other papers The 2021morbid Gold Shovel joins y celebrated obesity as a healthy life other recently announced choice and advocated treating privately economic development conducted masturbation as a form of recognition for the state. Earlier sexual violence against women. Typically, this year, North Carolina won Site s academic journal editors send submitted Selection magazine’s 2021 papers out to referees for review. In Prosperity Cup and Business recommending acceptance for publication, Facilities magazine’s 2020 State many reviewers gave these papers glowing of the Year award. All three awards praise. recognize state’s business Politicalthe scientist Zach Goldberg ran recruitment success. certain grievance studies concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often they appeared in our press over the years. He found huge increases in the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” All of this is being taught to college students, many of whom become primary

north STA

it, either. The aim is to give the IRS a better view of underreported inJason come by individuals and businessSTACEY MATTHEWS es, according to the plan architects. make their fortunes through in- Wealthier taxpayers’ earnings from and business activities come, like working families do.RICHARD The investments COLUMN | REP. HUDSON “Taxpayers who are evidence is abundantly clear: it is would be reported to the IRS the time for a #WealthTax in America way wages and salaries are. already concerned about Republican lawmakers see it as to make the ultra-rich finally pay having their local banks an assault on taxpayers’ privacy. their fair share.” The requirement would bring “a The report showed that Amazon turned into monitoring and founder Jeff Bezos paid no income drastic increase in the amount of reporting agents of the IRS tax in 2007 and 2011. Tesla found- private, sensitive information renow must also worry about ported toDAY the IRS by financial in- let us r er Elon Musk’s income tax bill“THIS was IS THEfallen the lord has made, WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home into place. I understand th stitutions about deposits or withzero in 2018. Financier George Sowhether datato collected and governments, a majority of Americans in it” (Psalm 118:24). orders thanks local or state to take precautions, but I’m unea ros went three straight years with- drawals made by any individual or during this challenging time of soc reported agency areis being are havingto tothe adjust to what thefederal “new normal.” questions about the data, wh business in savings, checking, or and outcalled paying incomeI know tax. that working from home or losing a job, it may be diffi other accounts as treated little as $600,” Overall, the the richest AmeriSome of these orders extend at least through end 25 of this month. normalofare in some circle secure.” glad” asthe thesenior Bible tells us to do. However, as aa Republicans in tax polcansJune. pay less in tax — an be average Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into They’re treated as though we icy, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho and of 15.8% of adjusted gross income and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded me Here from in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the governmentofte excerpt a letter written by a Rep. Kevinand Brady of Texas, told in the m — than many ordinary workers do, have to be thankful hopeful for, even a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning back to norm group of GOP senators onceLenten taxes for Social Security and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and pandemic. state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government works for Medicare are included, ProPubli- in a letter. “Taxpayers who are alFor me,ready my faith is an important part of my da Easter seasons If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the questions. And the longer stay-at concerned about having their ca found. making. As I celebrated Easter with my family, justification for it. And answers should vague ones country, andinto the monitorstricter some ofI provide abeperfectly local banks turned They allnot used legallike tax “we long held as sacrosanct — the delivered Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our Lord “com reporting agents ofsitting the IRS strategies, which by an do anonymous must this out source. of an abundance of caution.” more people, at home message of is why the Pro- ing andthe affliction, so that we may be able to comfort thos alsothey worry about Publica report stoked the state debatewhonow must For Democrats, the revelations It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this when can get whethback to provid hope we will data collected reported to over the that loopholes, shelters and er affirmed accu- and affliction, with the comfortand which we ourselves a are beingtheir toldlong-standing to remain jobless at home for an undetermined answers. oncehavens again enjoy availableGod.” to the the agency are secure.” sations that the IRS gives big cor- offshore amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state l array of trade groups season, repre- I urge and events, giant corporations porations and wealthy individuals wealthy sporting If you are An celebrating the Easter are reliable. can those answers senting big be andwith small banks and — and a free pass while hounding low- courtesy of the federal tax code. reflect on credit this message and be comforted, so that concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give unions have objected to their the statem The report intruded on the deer-income people. Democrats held God’s example and comfort all those in need arou mandated weas do,a but along way I’ve also hadsweeping questionstax aboutproposal, We should continue w gatherings, saying their all members al- to do bate over Biden’s up the newthat report prime ex- the this difficult time. Through faith and by helping o ready provide “significant data” to which must be approved by hibitdata. in the national dialogueleaders over plan, the State Republican have, too. ourselves, and our communities s church services confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str other regulators. The Congress. Seeking revenue to fi- is the IRStoand theUnfortunately, vast and widening wheninequality certain types ofand questions get asked, there ask questions about the data, b many more proposal “would impose cost nance his multitrillion-dollar plan between theawealthiest and every- among this same spirit, I continue to beand inspired th by sometimes disturbing tendency some people to treatIn those measures are understandable, after our own complexity that are not justified to boost infrastructure, families, one else. neighbors helping neighbors. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Americans, a by theapotential, and senior highly uncerand job training, Biden Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., education temporary In Concord, high school named Tanne to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who shape, or form. while groupsSo said in awe shou said in a tweet: “Our tax system is is targeting the wealthy for higher tain, benefits,” the money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to make f sacrifices are otherwise care ifwho they don’t get themselves others sick.the top tax recent statement the sameto time we shouldn’t a Senate panel. get co taxes. He or wants to raise rigged for don’t billionaires Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the IRS budget request on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

VISUAL VOICES

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

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 R 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 BMW 540i, B8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 6/11 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$2,559,248,955 Add Receipts:

$98,329,528 Less Disbursements:

$162,277,577 Reserved Cash:

$597,137,367 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$5,311,118,833

PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

This May 4, 2021, photo shows the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. Loan Repayments totaling $180,000,000 Loan Balance: $600.3M

GM, Wabtec to develop hydrogen powered locomotives Detroit General Motors has signed a deal to develop railroad locomotives powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and battery system. Under a nonbinding agreement with locomotive maker Wabtec Corp., GM batteries and hydrogen technology will be used in locomotives to help railroads cut carbon emissions. Wabtec already has built a batterypowered locomotive prototype. The Pittsburgh company said it was used with two diesel locomotives in a California test earlier this year that cut emissions by 11%. Fuel cell locomotives will follow full development of the electric version. The companies say in a joint statement Tuesday that Wabtec’s experience in energy management will help the companies develop zeroemissions long-haul locomotives. GM has been developing hydrogen fuel cell power systems for years. The systems will be assembled at a factory in Brownstown Township, Michigan, near Detroit. Financial details of the venture were not released. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Record rise in US wholesale prices over the past year Washington, D.C. Wholesale prices, driven by rising food costs, increased 0.8% in May and by a unprecedented amount over the past year as the U.S. economy emerges from pandemic lockdowns and pushes inflation higher. The monthly gain in the producer price index, which measures inflation pressure before it reaches consumers, followed a 0.6% increase in April and a 1% jump in March, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Food prices jumped a sizable 2.6% with the cost of beef and veal rising, though the cost of fresh fruits declined. Energy costs rose 2.2%, reversing a 2.4% drop in April. Over the past 12 months, wholesale prices are up 6.6%, the largest 12-month increase on records going back to 2010. Core inflation, which excludes volatile categories such as food and energy, rose 0.7% in May, the same as April, while core inflation rose 5.3% over the past 12 months, the largest gain on records going back to 2014. Nearly 60% wholesale price increase from May reflected a 1.5% jump in prices for goods. Analysts said that the big jump in wholesale prices following the sizable gain in consumer prices underscores the current upward movement in inflation. Shortages of raw materials and intermediate goods are driving a good portion of the rise in wholesale inflation, according to Michael Pearce, the senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

US budget deficit for current year hits record $2.1 trillion By Martin Crutsinger The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. budget deficit hit a record $2.06 trillion through the first eight months of this budget year as coronavirus relief programs drove spending to all-time highs. The shortfall this year is 9.7% higher than the $1.88 trillion deficit run up over the same period a year ago, the Treasury Department said Thursday in its monthly budget report. The report showed that spend-

ing from October through May totaled a record $4.67 trillion, up 19.7% from the same period a year ago. Government tax revenue was up 29.1% to $2.61 trillion, compared to the same period a year ago. However, this year’s figure was bolstered by tax payments made in May, a month later than the normal April deadline but a month earlier than last year’s June deadline. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020 pushing 22 million people out of work, the

government has responded even more forcefully with trillions of dollars in increased spending. That support has included three rounds of direct payments to individuals, with the last payments authorized in the $1.9 trillion relief package that President Joe Biden pushed through Congress in March. Other support programs provided billions of dollars in emergency unemployment benefits and forgivable loans. The deficit for the budget year that ended Sept. 30 totaled a re-

cord $3.1 trillion. Biden, who released his first budget earlier this month, is projecting that this year’s deficit will total $3.67 trillion and will remain above $1 trillion every year over the next decade, reflecting his ambitious plans to boost spending on infrastructure and American families. The annual federal deficit first topped $1 trillion in 2009 and remained above that level for four years as a deep recession triggered by the 2008 financial crisis depressed tax revenues and led to increased government spending to fight the downturn. The deficit in May totaled $132 billion, compared to a deficit in May 2020 of $398.8 billion that heavy spending on the initial pandemic relief programs and the delay of the tax deadline.

Biden eases trade friction with EU ahead of Putin summit The Associated Press BRUSSELS — President Joe Biden on Tuesday moved to end a long-running dispute with the European Union over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers, a major breakthrough in the U.S.-EU trade relationship that comes on the eve of his highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement that the two sides reached resolution in a 17-year dispute over how much of a government subsidy each can provide for its aircraft manufacturing giant — Boeing in the United States and Airbus in the EU.—came as Biden met with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. With the move, Biden eases a major point of tension in the trans-Atlantic relationship at a moment he’s seeking to marshal widespread European support for his efforts to counter Russia prior to his Wednesday meeting in Geneva with Putin. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told reporters that the agreement calls for a five-year suspension of the aircraft tariffs, and stressed that it was time to put aside the fight and focus on China’s economic assertiveness. “Today’s announcement resolves a longstanding trade irritant in the U.S.-Europe relationship. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat,”” Tai said. “We agreed to work together to challenge and counter China’s non-market practices in this sector in specific ways that reflect our standards for fair competition. “ She added that the tariffs could be reimplemented if the U.S. determines U.S. companies are not able to “compete fairly” with the EU’s. The tariffs had been temporarily suspended on March 11 for four months, and the new agreement will officially go into effect on July 11. To be certain, the U.S.-EU relationship faces other trade-related friction. The continent’s lead-

“Today’s announcement resolves a longstanding trade irritant in the U.S.Europe relationship. Instead of fighting with one of our closest allies, we are finally coming together against a common threat” U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

ers are becoming impatient that Biden has not yet addressed Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to impose import taxes on foreign steel and aluminum. Even without resolving all trade disputes, White House officials expressed confidence that they can build more goodwill with Europe ahead of the face-toface meeting with Putin. The White House on Tuesday announced the creation of a joint U.S.-EU trade and technology council. The council will work on coordinating standards for artificial intelligence, quantum computing and bio-technologies, as well as coordinating efforts on bolstering supply chain resilience. Biden is appointing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Tai to co-chair the U.S. side of the effort. The White House said the two sides will also discuss efforts to stem climate change and launch an expert group to determine how best to reopen travel safely as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs. Biden started his day by meeting with Belgian King Philippe and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The U.S.-EU summit is also expected to include a communique that will address concerns about China’s provocative behavior. That statement would follow a NATO summit communique on Monday that declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to

President Joe Biden walks with European Council President Charles Michel, right, during the United States-European Union Summit at the European Council in Brussels, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. undermine the global rules-based order. On Sunday, the Group of Seven nations called out what it said were China’s forced labor practices and other human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province. Biden is also expected to spend time discussing Russia with Michel and von der Leyen ahead of Wednesday’s summit with Putin. Since taking office in January, Biden has repeatedly pressed Putin to take action to stop Russian-originated cyberattacks on companies and governments in the U.S. and around the globe and decried the imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Biden also has publicly aired intelligence that suggests — albeit with low to moderate confidence — that Moscow offered bounties to the Taliban to target U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. Both Biden and Putin have described the U.S.-Russia relationship as being at an all-time low. The Europeans are keen to set up a “high-level dialogue” on Russia with the United States to counter what they say is Moscow’s drift into deeper authoritarianism and anti-Western sentiment. At the same time, the 27-nation bloc is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is

the EU’s biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in international conflicts and key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya. The hope is that Biden’s meeting with Putin might pay dividends, and no one in Brussels wants to undermine the show of international unity that has been on display at the G-7 and NATO summits, according to EU officials. In addition to scolding China, NATO leaders in their communique on Monday took a big swipe at Russia, deploring its aggressive military activities and snap wargames near the borders of NATO countries as well as the repeated violation of the 30-nations’ airspace by Russian planes. They said Russia has ramped up “hybrid” actions against NATO countries by attempting to interfere in elections, political and economic intimidation, disinformation campaigns and “malicious cyber activities.” “Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities, there can be no return to ‘business as usual,’” the NATO leaders wrote. “We will continue to respond to the deteriorating security environment by enhancing our deterrence and defense posture.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Charitable giving in the U.S. reaches alltime high in 2020 By Haleluya Hadero The Associated Press GALVANIZED BY the racial justice protests and the coronavirus pandemic, charitable giving in the United States reached a record $471 billion in 2020, according to a report released Tuesday that offers a comprehensive look at American philanthropy. The Giving USA report says Americans gave more to charity last year than in 2019, despite an economic downturn that disrupted the paychecks of millions. Faced with greater needs, estates and foundations also opened up their pocketbooks at increased levels — resulting in a 5.1% spike in total giving from the $448 billion recorded for 2019, or a 3.8% jump when adjusted for inflation. “In some ways, 2020 is a story of uneven impact and uneven recovery,” said Amir Pasic, the dean of Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which researched and wrote the report published by the Giving USA Foundation. “Many wealthier households were more insulated from the effects of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic shock, and they may have had greater capacity to give charitably than households and communities that were disproportionately affected and struggled financially,” Pasic said in a statement. Although wealthy individuals contributed to the spike in giving to educational nonprofits and other charities, the findings for the report come from an analysis of IRS tax data for 128 million U.S. households, as well as other surveys. It’s the first study to provide a com-

prehensive look into how donors — big and small -- stepped up to meet the increased needs brought forth by the economic crisis, racial unrest and a global pandemic that has killed an estimated 600,000 Americans. Experts say the strong year-end finish by the S&P 500, which closely tracks with giving from individuals and foundations, along with the uptick in personal income by the end of 2020 likely contributed to the spike. Giving by individuals, which made up a majority of the donations last year, rose by approximately 2%. The biggest uptick came from foundations, who, in total, increased their giving by 17% for an estimated $88.5 billion in contributions. Those donations made up about 19% of the total share of contributions, the largest that has ever come from foundations. The spike in giving was coupled with changes many foundations adapted in the early days of the pandemic to provide more flexibility to grantees in their pandemic response. The changes included loosening restrictions on how to use prior and new donations, but how long that will continue, if at all, remains unclear. By contrast, companies gave about 6% less in 2020 than they did in 2019, the report said. Experts note giving by corporations is closely tied to GDP and pre-tax profits, which both declined last year. Following last year’s racial justice protests, many corporations made sizable pledges that aim to improve racial equity in the U.S. But those commitments have often been multi-year initiatives.

PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI | INVISION | AP PHOTO

In this March 4, 2018, file photo, then-MacKenzie Bezos arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“In 2021, we may [again] realize the benefits of engaging donors through galas and events, personal visits, and in-person experiences.” Laura McDonald, chair of the Giving USA Foundation Many pledges also consist of other minority-focused business investments apart from direct philanthropy, including commitments to diversify vendors and offer loans to minority-owned businesses. Most nonprofit categories experienced a boost in contributions, with the strongest growth seen among public-society groups that include civil rights organizations and other charities, like United Way. The nearly 16% increase in contributions also included dona-

By Anne D’Innocenzio The Associated Press

KATHLY WILLENS | AP PHOT

Apple reaffirms privacy stance amid Trump probe revelations SAN RAMON, Calif. — Seeking to protect its image as a guardian of personal privacy, Apple maintains it was blindsided and handcuffed by a Trump administration probe that resulted in the company handing over phone data from two Democratic congressmen. Apple delivered its version of events Friday in response to news reports detailing the U.S. Justice Department’s aggressive attempts to use its legal power to identify leaks tied to an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia. The Justice Department was able to persuade a federal grand jury to issue a subpoena that culminated in Apple turning over the metadata — information that can include general records of calls and texts — about House Intelligence Committee members Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both California Democrats, during 2018. Both lawmakers were key figures on the committee looking into Trump’s connections with Russia; Schiff is now the panel’s chair. Neither Schiff and Swalwell knew some of the information had been seized until May 5, after a series of gag orders had finally expired, according to the company. The revelation of Apple’s compliance with the subpoena emerged at a time when the company has been ramping up efforts to frame privacy as “fundamental human right” in its marketing campaigns. Apple also upped the privacy ante in April when it rolled out privacy controls

Una Osili, the associate dean for research and international programs at the Lilly School, says that’s partly because a large chunk of pandemic-related donations went to vaccine research and other direct services offered by university hospitals. Those donations were counted as educational gifts, which saw a 9% spike compared to 2019. That growth was further fueled by billionaire Mackenzie Scott’s unrestricted donations to historically Black colleges and Universities, tribal colleges and other schools. Another reason for the decline in giving to health organizations, and the arts, was because Americans participated less in in-person activities, including fundraising walks and runs, during the pandemic. Anna Pruitt, the managing editor of Giving USA, says event cancellations, and the inability of many organizations to shift all their programming online also had a negative impact on fundraising. Arts and culture organizations, in particular, have tended to struggle during economic recessions as donors give more focus to immediate basic needs. But Osili suggests fundraising success in 2020, for the most part, has depended on an organization’s ability to shift to new ways of engaging donors. In order to recapture the interests of current donors and establish relationships with new ones, arts organizations “will need to demonstrate their relevance in light of current events,” said MacDonald, of the Giving USA Foundation. Although the boost in giving is something many nonprofits welcome, it may not continue as COVID vaccination rates increase and the racial justice protests continue to dissipate. “As an optimist, I’d like to believe that Americans’ generosity will continue to grow,” said MacDonald. “But as a realist, I understand that giving responds to larger economic forces. In 2021, we may also realize the benefits of engaging donors through galas and events, personal visits, and in-person experiences.”

As children return to classrooms, stores expect strong sales

In this Saturday, March 14, 2020, file photo, an Apple logo adorns the facade of the downtown Brooklyn Apple store in New York.

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press

tions given to donor-advised funds, which are like charitable investment accounts that draw strong opinions across the philanthropic world. Donor-advised funds are often criticized because they aren’t required to make donations in any given year, but donors are able to take immediate tax deductions before charities get any of the money. A Congressional bill, which follows a plan put forth by billionaire philanthropist John Arnold and others to accelerate the payouts, is now aiming to change that. “It is important to recognize that the picture for individual households and organizations may have looked quite different, with many facing hardship even though total giving posted strong growth,” said Laura MacDonald, the chair of the Giving USA Foundation. Indeed, the report says two nonprofit categories saw an overall decline in giving: arts and culture organizations, as well as general nonprofit hospitals and other disease-specific health organizations.

on the iPhone as part of an effort to make it more difficult for companies such as Facebook to track people’s online activities to help sell ads. In a statement, Apple emphasized it will continue to fight unjustified legal demands for personal information and keep customers informed about them. But in this instance, Apple said it was constrained by a nondisclosure order signed by a federal magistrate judge and said it had no information about the nature of the investigation. “It would have been virtually impossible for Apple to understand the intent of the desired information without digging through users’ accounts,” the Cupertino, California, company said. “Consistent with the request, Apple limited the information it provided to account subscriber information and did not provide any content such as emails or pictures.” Apple also believes other technology companies may have been confronted with similar legal demands, based on the broad nature of the request it received for “customer or subscriber account information” spanning 73 phone numbers and 36 email addresses. It remains unclear how many other companies may have been swept up in the Trump administration’s attempt to track down leakers. In a statement, Microsoft acknowledged receiving at least one subpoena in 2017 related to a personal email account. It said it notified the customer after the gag order expired and learned that the person was a congressional staff

member. “We will continue to aggressively seek reform that imposes reasonable limits on government secrecy in cases like this,” the company said. Privacy experts were more troubled by the U.S. laws that allowed the Justice Department to secretly obtain the subpoenas and then keep them under wraps for years than by Apple’s limited compliance with the demands. The subpoenas represent a “a quintessential example of government abuse” that ensnared Apple, said Alan Butler, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. “It’s very difficult to challenge these types of subpoenas, but it’s not impossible,” Butler said. “And if there ever was one worth challenging, it might have been these.” Apple’s response to the subpoena doesn’t necessarily contradict its stance on the sanctity of personal privacy, said Cindy Cohn, executive director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. That’s because Apple privacy commitments mostly revolve around shielding its customers from online surveillance. She thinks the bigger issue is why U.S. law allows a grand jury to issue a subpoena and then block Apple from alerting the affected people. “The overall secrecy of this is troubling, especially since it appears to have all been a politically motivated investigation,” Cohn said. Apple has a history of fighting legal requests, most notably in 2016 when the Justice Department sought to force Apple to unlock the iPhone owned by one of the killers in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Apple refused to cooperate, contending it would open a digital backdoor that would pose threats to the security and privacy of all iPhone users. The legal showdown ended when the FBI hired another firm to unlock the iPhone connected to the shooting. “Apple really put its money where its mouth is that time,” Butler said.

NEW YORK — As more children go back to the physical classroom and families look to restart their lives, back-to-school spending this year could top pre-pandemic levels, according to one key spending measure. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks spending across all payment forms including cash, forecasts that spending will be up 5.5% between July 15 and Sept. 6. That is compared with the yearago period when sales were up a modest 1.2% as the pandemic wreaked havoc on schools’ reopening plans and back-toschool shopping. In a more telling sign of a rebound, back-to-school sales should increase 6.7% on a twoyear basis, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. The figures exclude sales from autos and gas. Last year, parents focused their spending online and bought supplies and electronics to help their children set up work stations at home. When it came to apparel, they limited their purchases to sweatpants and other comfy clothes for their kids and avoided department stores. The rosy forecast issued Thursday comes as retailers, particularly mall-based stores, are seeing a strong recovery as newly vaccinated shoppers feel safe going out and socializing. On Wednesday, the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, sharply revised its annual outlook for retail sales. It now expects the increase to be anywhere from 10.5% to 13.5% compared to an earlier forecast made in February of at least 6.5%. “The economy and consumer spending have proven to be much more resilient than initially forecasted,” Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the retail trade group, said in a statement. “The combination of vaccine distribution, fiscal stimulus and private-sector ingenuity have put millions of Americans back to work.” While NRF noted risks related to worker shortages, an overheating economy, tax increases and over-regulation, it pointed out that overall households are

healthier, and consumers are showing their ability and willingness to spend. The downside is that many retailers may not be able to fully capitalize on this sudden surge of spending. For many items produced overseas, stores had to place their orders at least six months ago, and they were conservative, says Steve Sadove, senior adviser for Mastercard and former CEO and chairman of Saks Inc. He also cited the logjam at ports, making it difficult for retailers to bring in goods to their stores. “The supply chain is backed up. The ports are backed up,” he said. “You’re going to find scarcity.” He said that a number of retailers he has spoken to are having to air ship items instead of transport them by boat in order to have them in stores in time for back-to-school. For this back-to-school season, Sadove said clothing should enjoy a stronger-than-expected rebound, with Mastercard SpendingPulse forecasting a 78.2% sales increase compared with last year. On a two-year basis, the figure is expected to be up 11.3%. Sadove said that retailers are seeing a shift in consumer spending toward trendier items like cropped tops and mini skirts. In particular, department stores are enjoying a solid recovery after struggling last year with stiff competition from discount stores like Walmart and Target. The department sector’s sales should be up 25.3% during the back-to-school period, compared to a year ago. Sales should rise 9.5% on a two-year basis. Sadove told The AP that department stores are reaping the benefits of their moves to expand into online services like allowing online shoppers to pick up orders at the stores. They’re also expanding into new categories like wellness. Consumer electronics should have strong sales growth compared to a year ago and on a twoyear basis. But online sales are expected to drop 6.6% for this period compared to last year when shoppers focused mostly on buying online. Still, that figure should be up 53.2% on a twoyear basis, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

2021 BMW 540i

PHOTOS COURTESY BMW

Is the BMW 5 Series the sporty lux sedan to beat? As always, the Ultimate Driving Machine competes By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — For decades, the BMW 5 Series has been the pinnacle of the Ultimate Driving Machine family. Sure, the 7 Series is the big boy flagship, and the 3 Series is the zippy fun one, but the 5 is the just-right-goldilocks executive sedan for the driving enthusiast. I’ve written many times that sedans are dead, and that’s sort of true at lower price points, but up in the luxury world, they’re anything but. BMW is indeed shoveling truckloads of South Carolina-made X-whatever SUVs out the dealership door as fast as they can build them — but BMW still sold almost 27,000 5 Series cars last year, and it’s for one simple reason: They’re excellent. My BMW 540i xDrive test unit came in a beautiful Alpine White with a Mocha Nappa Leather interior and stickered for $77,935. That’s a lot of cheese, and, as always, whether it’s worth it depends on whether you have $77,935 and want a BMW 5 Series. There were some options fitted that were definitely worth it. The $1,850 Premium Package includes a power tailgate, heated front seats (how are these not standard?), a head-up display, and a wildly silly gesture control system that allows you to wave or point at the stereo to change the volume or a few other things. I talk with my hands, gesturing wildly, and more than once, I moved my hand in just the right gesticulating manner to crank the volume up unnecessarily loud. If I had this car, I’d need to disable the gesture control or stop waving about while talking. The options list goes on. There’s the $3,200 Dynamic Handling Package that includes active roll stabilization (presumably without this, the car just flips over at the slightest provocation) and dynamic damper control. Actually, both of these improve handling and make the ultimate driving machine even more ultimate and sporty.

The same is true of the $3,300 M Sport Package that includes variable sport steering and some other stuff. Basically, if you want your car to drive better, faster, sportier, BMW has a (very profitable) package for you and will happily take your money. But even still, the car just screams luxury. Open the door, and you immediately know you’re not in some mid-tier sedan. The ($2,500) leather is soft and cosseting. It’s obviously not RollsRoyce caliber (which BMW owns, by the way), but it’s some of the nicest you’ll find on this side of $100 grand. Add in wireless CarPlay, a terrific steering wheel (great wheels are underrated), and a 48-volt mild hybrid system that keeps fuel economy at a rather excellent 26 mpg combined (23/31 city/highway), and you have a pretty wellequipped luxury automobile. And now we can get to the engine, the cherry on top of this Alpine White sundae. BMW has fitted a peach of a 3-liter twin-turbo inline-6, mated to a buttery-smooth 8-speed transmission that shoves all the power through a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. If all that is meaningless to you, never fear: it means it’s far faster than you’d ever need. It’s also theoretically capable of dealing with whatever icky weather comes your way (particularly if you stick some winter tires on there, depending on your local climate). The engine makes 335 horse-

power and 332 lb-ft of torque (from just 1,500 rpm) which means it has plenty of get-up-and-go, and it can run right up to its 155 mph speed limiter without an issue. This car was built to be an Autobahn cruiser, after all. Of course, you’d never go that fast in it — in fact, the 540i is far more likely to be a country club cruiser than to be headed for the nearest Ausfahrt sign. And if you do buy it to get to and from your high-powered law office or investment firm, you should make sure to pick up the $1,700 Driving Assistance Plus package. It includes several advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that help keep you safe while making life easier in traffic. It combines adaptive cruise control with active lane-centering to help with steering when on the highway. In other words, you can momentarily take your hands off the wheel, and the car will help you steer. It’s similar to other systems from Volvo or Mercedes, and it’s best used in stop-and-go traffic. I doubt that anyone buying this car needs to read a review to decide if they like it or not. BMW drivers are BMW drivers for a reason: they want the history, they like the performance, and they like what driving one says about them. I’m not sure if the BMW 540i is the best sports sedan on the market, though it’s definitely a solid competitor. But I know that anyone slipping behind the wheel will immensely enjoy their time with the Ultimat

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

features

Third generation pitmaster “spreads the gospel of North Carolina barbecue” From his granddad’s legendary Skylight Inn in Ayden, to a recent second location of his own flagship operation, Sam Jones has deep roots - doused with vinegar, of course - in N.C.’s barbecue community. By Elizabeth Lincicome North State Journal It’s no secret that North Carolina is home to some of the nation’s best barbecue. From chopped, to pulled, to ribs and everything in between, there is a virtual barbeque revolution taking place across the country not to mention right here in NC. There is no shortage of options to choose from and leading the pack in what has become an increasingly cut-throat and competitive industry, is third generation pitmaster Sam Jones. Jones began his career in the barbecue business at an early age, helping his grandfather and uncle sell chopped pork at the famous Skylight Inn in his hometown of Ayden, NC. Sam’s grandfather, the late Pete Jones, opened the legendary eatery in the summer of 1947 at age 17. He ran the restaurant with an emphasis on the philosophy that hogs should be fresh and cooked whole over wood, the same tried-and-true method his ancestors adopted many generations prior, and which Sam says he has strived to uphold over the years even after his grandfather’s passing. Under Pete’s and

FILE PHOTO

Sam Jones BBQ has locations in Winterville and downtown Raleigh. Skylight Inn in Ayden is nearing its 75th year of operation. Sam’s leadership, Skylight Inn has earned national praise from National Geographic, People, GQ, and many others, and has become a destination for barbecue lovers across the world. In 2015, Sam partnered with longtime friend and former Skylight employee Michael Letchworth to open Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, NC. Winterville is located just outside Greenville, which earlier this month played host to the North Carolina GOP convention. Rooted in the tradition of the NC whole-hog technique that Jones says he basically grew up with, Sam Jones BBQ also offers a variety of new spins on smoked meats. Jones opened the second location of Sam Jones BBQ in downtown Raleigh in No-

Rooted in the tradition of the NC whole-hog technique that Jones says he basically grew up with, Sam Jones BBQ also offers a variety of new spins on smoked meats. vember of last year, at the height of the COVID pandemic. Like the rest of the restaurant and hospitality industries, Jones along with his staff and other team members have undoubtedly lived through an incredibly tumultuous year and a half due to the pandem-

ic. Yet he still chooses to focus on what he refers to as COVID’s silver linings, from a news interview earlier this year, “We were very, very fortunate — we were able to streamline some stuff and I think COVID-19 allowed us to work out curbside service and online ordering which wasn’t the norm for independent restaurants prior to the pandemic.” Jones says he doesn’t anticipate curbside service and takeout are things that will ever go away even in life after the pandemic. “Once you start something that’s convenient for guests it becomes an amenity.” However this story is not about that — it is about a man who literally at the age of 15 lost interest in the art of BBQ making, temporarily swearing off the family business, but later realized it was his true calling while working on a 13page paper about barbecue during his time as a student at Pitt Community College. Luckily Jones came around, and rediscovered at an early age what would become a lifelong passion. “Inspired by his family’s legacy and hard work, Sam moved back to Ayden to help with the restaurant and has since dedicated his life to the art of making traditional Eastern North Carolina-style pork barbecue,” says one source close to the BBQ pitmaster. So what originally began as a family business has now blossomed, making Jones one of the most famous pitmasters in the country, and the culinary honors keep pouring in. In 2018, Sam earned a semifinalist nod for the

James Beard Foundation Awards Best Chef: Southeast, and published Whole Hog BBQ: The Gospel of Carolina Barbecue with Recipes from Skylight Inn and Sam Jones BBQ. In his debut cookbook, he partnered with fellow barbecue expert Daniel Vaughn to share stories, recipes, and family secrets from Skylight Inn and Sam Jones BBQ. Most recently, Jones won Vaughn’s hard earned praise in Vaughn’s highly authoritative list of the 100 best barbeque restaurants and will reportedly compete on the Food Network in one of their upcoming seasons. Daniel Vaughn, who is also an editor at Texas Monthly, regularly writes the nationally influential BBQ list and has traveled the world sampling smoked meats at over 1,800 barbecue joints. Jones’s fans and loyal followers will tell you that what sets his restaurants apart is the whole hog slow cooked technique he uses, which is a rarity in the industry these days. Experts say it can take up to 24 hours to smoke a whole hog and is deeply tied to tradition, earning a distinction as a regional food that hasn’t spread much further than TN and NC. “But it’s not as simple as throwing a pig onto a wood-fired pit,” says Tyler Letchworth, one of Jones’ longtime friends and business partners. “A pitmaster must cook the three main sources of meat on the hog — the shoulder, the neck, and the belly — evenly, without overcooking them...it’s very tricky. You really have to know how to manage the heat and fire.” When Sam isn’t cooking or traveling the country to spread what he calls “the gospel of North Carolina barbecue,” he serves as his hometown’s Fire Chief and is an active member of his local community. He lives in Ayden with his wife and daughters.

Thinner Mints: Girl Scouts have millions of unsold cookies By Dee-Ann Durbin The Associated Press THE GIRL SCOUTS have an unusual problem this year: 15 million boxes of unsold cookies. The 109-year-old organization says the coronavirus — not thinner demand for Thin Mints — is the main culprit. As the pandemic wore into the spring selling season, many troops nixed their traditional cookie booths for safety reasons. “This is unfortunate, but given this is a girl-driven program and the majority of cookies are sold in-person, it was to be expected,” said Kelly Parisi, a spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of the USA. The impact will be felt by local councils and troops, who depend on the cookie sales to fund programming, travel, camps and other activities. The Girl Scouts normally sell around 200 million boxes of cookies per year, or around $800 million worth. Rebecca Latham, the CEO of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, said her council had 22,000 boxes left over at the end of the selling season in late spring, even though girls tried innovative selling methods like drive-thru booths and contact-free delivery. Latham said troops in her area sold 805,000 boxes of cookies last year; this year, they sold just under 600,000. That shortfall means the council may not be able to invest in infrastructure improvements at its camps or fill some staff positions, she said. The council is now encouraging people to buy boxes online through its Hometown Heroes program, which distributes cookies to health care workers, firefighters and others. It also organized one-day sales with organizations like the New Mexico United soccer team, to whittle the total down further. Parisi said Girl Scouts of the USA did forecast lower sales this year due to the pandemic. But coronavirus restrictions were constantly shifting, and the cookie orders placed by its 111 local councils with bakers last fall were still too optimistic. By early spring, when troops usually set up booths to sell cookies in person, U.S. coronavirus cases were still near their peak. Hundreds of girls opted not to sell cookies in person. Online sales and even a delivery partnership with Grubhub failed to make up the difference. As a result, around 15 million boxes of cookies were left over as

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN | AP PHOTO

This June 7, 2021, image shows the headquarters of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails in Albuquerque, New Mexico. the cookie season wound down. Most — around 12 million boxes — remain with the two bakers, Louisville, Kentucky-based Little Brownie Bakers and Brownsburg, Indiana-based ABC Bakers. Another 3 million boxes are in the hands of the Girl Scout councils, which are scrambling to sell or donate them. The cookies have a 12-month shelf life. It’s unclear how much of a financial hit the Girl Scouts suffered because of the decline in sales since the organization won’t reveal those figures. And it isn’t the biggest blow the cookie program has ever faced. That likely came during World War II, when the Girl Scouts were forced to shift from selling cookies to calendars because of wartime shortages of sugar, butter and flour. But the glut of cookies has laid bare some simmering issues within the Girl Scouts’ ranks. Some local leaders say this year’s slower sales should have been better predicted because falling membership was threatening cookie sales even before the pandemic began. Around 1.7 million girls were enrolled in Girl Scouts in 2019, down almost 30% from 2009.

“Girl Scout cookie season isn’t just when you get to buy cookies. ... It’s interacting with the girls. It’s Americana.” Kelly Parisi, a spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of the USA “Without girls, there is no cookie program. Unfortunately, it took a global pandemic to bring all the problems to the surface,” said Agenia Clark, president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, a local council. Clark and some other local leaders were able to avert a cookie stockpile because they calculated their own sales projections instead of relying on guidance from the national office. Clark believes a new technology platform adopted by the Girl Scouts isn’t adequately forecasting membership declines and their impact. In April, she sued the Girl Scouts of the USA because she doesn’t want to

her council to be forced to use that platform. Parisi acknowledged that membership fell during the pandemic as troops struggled to figure out ways to meet safely. But those numbers are already rebounding, she said. There were other reasons for the declining sales. Some local leaders say they might have sold cookies this year but chose not to because of an Associated Press story linking child labor to the palm oil that is used to make Girl Scout cookies. Gina Verdibello, a troop leader in Jersey City, New Jersey, said her 21-member troop, which has girls ranging in age from 10 to 15, decided to boycott this year’s cookie program and held a protest at their city hall. Verdibello said she knows of at least a dozen other troops that opted not to sell because of the palm oil issue. “We want to sell cookies. It’s part of our thing. But this is putting kind of a damper on it,” said Verdibello, whose troop has continued to fund activities with donations from people who heard about their boycott. Parisi said such boycotts weren’t widespread. But she said the Girl

Scouts are working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a nonprofit group that sets environmental and social standards for the industry, to ensure farmers are meeting those standards. In the end, local councils won’t be held financially responsible for the 12 million boxes that remain at the two bakers. Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers said they are working with the Girl Scouts to sell or donate cookies to places like food banks and the military. The bakers can’t sell directly to grocers because that might diminish the importance of the annual cookie sales. But they may sell to institutional buyers like prisons. Parisi said bakers and councils have occasionally dealt with excess inventory before because of weather events like ice storms or tornadoes. But this level is unprecedented. She said some pivots, like the partnership with Grubhub, are likely here to stay. But girls are also eager to get back to their booths next year. “Girl Scout cookie season isn’t just when you get to buy cookies,” she said. “It’s interacting with the girls. It’s Americana.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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FOCUS FEATURES VIA AP

This image released by Focus Features shows Anthony Bourdain in Morgan Neville’s documentary “Roadrunner.” The film will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, June 11, 2021.

Anthony Bourdain doc ‘an act of therapy’ for an acute loss

catapulted him to fame in middle age. In “Parts Unknown” and other far-flung travel shows that feasted on not just indigenous foods but a wide spectrum of culture, history and shared passions, Bourdain became an unlikely, and unusually authentic, television icon. When Bourdain was found dead at 61 in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France, it was shocking because few seemed so full of hunger for life, or a greater appreciator of all that’s worth savoring. Neville spent the first months on the film not even dealing with Bourdain’s final chapter. When he did finally turn to it, he found no easy answers.

“The way I came to think of it is: Tony was an ultimate searcher and a seeker,” says Neville. “But if you are really always seeking and always curious, then you can get lost. He had this tattoo that he got late in life that said in Greek ‘I am certain of nothing.’ That sounds very Zen, but it’s also a little sad. If you’re truly certain of nothing and always looking for something, it means you’re leaving everything behind at every moment. I think for Tony, that rootless ultimately disconnected him from the things he should be certain about, like the love of people around him.” The interviews for the film Neville considers the most difficult he’s ever done. Many of those close to Bourdain were talking about his death for the first time. “There was just this sense of group trauma that people are still dealing with,” said Neville. “I don’t think anyone was looking forward to talking to me, frankly. It’s not like: ‘Oh, great!’ They knew it was going to be hard. Several people said it would be the last time they talk about it. I think there was this sense of: Let me say it once, for the record.” That includes interviews with Bourdain’s ex-wife, Ottavia Busia, chef friends Éric Ripert and David Chang, TV producers Lydia Tenaglia and Christopher Collins, and musicians John Lurie and Josh Homme. Homme, of Queens of the Stone Age, recorded a song for the film. There’s footage pulled

from “Parts Unknown,” revealing outtakes and Bourdain’s own Instagram stories, which gave a small window into his turbulent final year. Neville didn’t speak with a few key figures from that time, including longtime cinematographer Zach Zamboni, whom Bourdain fired in that dark period, and the Italian filmmaker Asia Argento, whose tumultuous two-year relationship with Bourdain has for many loomed over his death. Neville was more intent on focusing on the choices that Bourdain, himself, made, and the journey that led to his tragic end. To him, a full understanding can only be elusive. But he suspects Bourdain felt increasingly rootless after his split from Busia, that when any semblance of domestic life receded he grew increasingly disconnected from who he was, and what he meant to people — including his daughter. That he was maybe too long on the road. “When I first sat down with the people close to him — his manager and his production partners — I kind of went on my rant about why he was someone who was a champion for culture and what connects us,” the director says. “And they said, ‘Yeah, that’s true. But he was also an immature 15-year-old boy.’ I thought, OK, that’s interesting. That became the kind of crux of the making of the film — reconciling someone who was both so insightful, but also so blind to some things.”

Take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed with the Clerk of Superior Court for Cumberland County, North Carolina in the above entitled special proceeding. The Petition relates to Baby Boy Carter, a minor male child born on May 14, 2021 in Cumberland County, NC. The Birth mother is Shirita Latrice Carter, a resident of Fayetteville,

NC. The biological father is reported to be Rasheem Terion Barnett, who is reported to have a last known residence in Fayetteville, NC. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that you are required to file a response to such pleading not later than 40 days from the first day of publication of this notice, that date being June 16, 2021, and upon your failure to do so the Petitioner will apply to the Court for relief sought

in the Petition. Any parental rights you may have will be terminated upon the entry of the decree of adoption. This the 16th day of June, 2021. Kelly T. Dempsey, Attorney for Petitioners, 637 McNinch Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28208.

By Jake Coyle The Associated Press NEW YORK — When the filmmaker Morgan Neville began making a documentary on Anthony Bourdain, the late chef and globe-trotting television host, one of the first things he did was comb through every song Bourdain had ever referenced. He came up with a playlist 18½ hours long and called it “Tony.” Neville, the director of the Fred Rogers portrait “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and the Oscar-winning “20 Feet From Stardom,” was determined to approach Bourdain through a prism other than his death. Music was only a small part of it. But it was a start in making “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” a celebration of Bourdain’s life. Not a forensic inquiry. Not a eulogy. This was the fall of 2019, when Neville began. Bourdain’s death, in June 2018 by suicide, was still fresh. For many, it still is. “Roadrunner” premiered over the weekend at the Tribeca Festival, days after the three-year anniversary of Bourdain’s death. Just the debut of the film’s trailer prompted an outpouring of emotion — and millions of views within days, a rarity for a documentary — showing how many are still grieving Bourdain’s loss. “I’ve come to think of the film as an act of therapy for the public,” Neville said in an interview.

PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI | INVISION | AP PHOTO

Director Morgan Neville attends the premiere of “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” during the 20th Tribeca Festival at Brookfield Place on Friday, June 11, 2021, in New York. “I think for people who only know Tony as someone they were a fan of, like me, there was just this giant question mark hanging over his life because of his death. How the (expletive) could Tony Bourdain kill himself? That is still something people are grappling with.” “Roadrunner,” which Focus Features will release in theaters July 16, goes about answering that question by filling in a fuller portrait of Bourdain. It gives new insight and context to Bourdain’s end by following the arc of his life — or, more specially, his second life. After years of working as a chef in New York, Bourdain’s book “Kitchen Confidential”

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

21 SP 233 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Michael E. Johnson, Jr. and Kamya M. Johnson to The Real Estate Law Firm, Trustee(s), which was dated April 29, 2005 and recorded on May 5, 2005 in Book 6871 at Page 079, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for

DAVIDSON 19 SP 482 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Mandy Rayanne Sanchez and Luis Sanchez to NSB Trustee Services LLC, Trustee(s), which was dated July 17, 2018 and recorded on July 18, 2018 in Book 2322 at Page 1714, Davidson County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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 June 21, 2021 at 11:00 AM, and will

CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 21 SP 307 FOR THE ADOPTION OF A MALE MINOR TO: Biological Father of Baby Boy Carter

conducting the sale on June 30, 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:

and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Said property is commonly known as 1917 Swann St, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

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

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

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

This being the same property conveyed in book number 547, page 513, in the Davidson County Registry.

BEING ALL OF LOT 29, IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS A REVISION OF LOTS 29 & 30 OF MALLARD CREEK A REVISED MAP ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF SAME DULY BEING RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 60, PAGE 134, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

BEGINNING at an iron stake, Harold Bule’s northwest corner; thence with the Harold Bule line S. 64 deg. 30’ E. 190.00 feet to an iron stake, Harold Bule’s and Theodore Daniel’s corner; thence with the meanders of the branch and with the Theodore R. Daniel line the following courses and distances: N. 45 deg. 15’ E. 215.00 ft. to an iron stake in the branch; N. 25 deg. 15’ E. 110.00 ft. to an iron stake in the branch; thence N. 55 deg. 30’ E. 120.00 ft. to an iron stake in the branch; thence N. 59 deg. 30” E. 110.00 feet to an iron stake in the branch; thence N. 19 deg. 15’ E. 135.00 ft. to an iron stake in the branch; thence N. 56 deg. 15’ E. 114.00 ft. to an iron stake in the branch; thence N. 75 deg. 30’ W. 511.6 ft., more or less, to an iron stake, a common corner between the 1.60 acre tract and the 2.92 -acre tract described in the deed made by the Grantor herein; thence S. 2 deg. W. with the easterly line of the 2.92-acre tract 757.00 feet to the beginning corner and containing 4.62 acres, more or less, Being a part of the land described in Deed Book 459, page 495. SUBJECT TO a right of way and easement not exceeding 30.00 feet in width located along and in the westerly boundary of the above described tract, said right of way and easement of 30.00 feet in width on this property to be located in the general of private road now located on said land.

LESS AND EXCEPT THE 0.081 tract conveyed in Book 2028, Page

acre 2019.

TOGETHER WITH AND SUBJECT TO that Declaration of Easement as recorded in Book 737, Page 122, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Davidson County, North Carolina, said Declaration of Easement being incorporated herein by reference as if same were fully set out herein. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 425 Troy McElrath Road, Lexington, NC 27295. 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.

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 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.

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 Mandy Rayanne Sanchez and husband, Luis Francisco Sanchez. 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

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.: 21-02742-FC01

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. 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.: 19-11753-FC01

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

B11

TAKE NOTICE

JOHNSTON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 20SP408 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LARRY THOMAS PHILLIPS AND ROSALIND YVETTE HARRISON DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2000 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1905 AT PAGE 794 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 18sp203 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RALPH L VIEUX AND RACHELLE VIEUX DATED AUGUST 18, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3182 AT PAGE 534 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and

RANDOLPH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY 21 SP 74 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by John A. Jeffries II and Glenda L. Jeffries, in the original amount of $68,623.00, payable to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated July 25, 2011 and recorded on July 27, 2011 in Book RE2243, Page 667, Randolph 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 21SP76 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LORI LYNN HANKINS DATED SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE2044 AT PAGE 106 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED ON OCTOBER 18, 2016 IN BOOK 2516, PAGE 505 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 96 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Kurtis M. Dziki and Rebecca E. Dziki (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Kurtis M. Dziki and Rebecca E. Dziki) to Laurel A. Meyer, Trustee(s), dated April 28, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 6922, at Page 394 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

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 June 28, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Larry Thomas Phillips and Rosalind Yvette Harrison, dated February 4, 2000 to secure the original principal amount of $94,602.75, and recorded in Book 1905 at Page 794 of the Johnston 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:

Twin

301

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 June 28, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ralph L Vieux and Rachelle Vieux, dated August 18, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $150,320.00, and recorded in Book 3182 at Page 534 of the Johnston 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: 114 Lane, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 15H07014B

Nicolet

instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or usual place of sale in Randolph County, North Carolina, at 10:00AM on July 1, 2021, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all that certain 5.001 acre tract of the property of Harold T. Lichtenberg and Analene Lictenberg per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 73 at Page 37, Randolph County Registry, North Carolina Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1824 Pine Hollow Drive, Randleman, NC 27317. Tax ID: 7773356581 Third party purchasers must pay any land transfer tax, recording costs of Trustee’s Deed, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars

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 1:00PM on June 30, 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 Lori Lynn Hankins, dated September 19, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $133,780.00, and recorded in Book RE2044 at Page 106 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. Address of property: Staley, NC 27355

158 Shaw St,

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 customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on July 1, 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 Lots 1 and 2 as shown on that plat entitled, “Boundary and Division Survey, the property of Helen R. Funderburk Estate” and recorded in Plat Cabinet M File 237 of the Union County Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 510 Eubanks Road, Monroe, North Carolina. 510 Eubanks Road, Monroe, NC 28112 Parcel ID: 04132014A and 04132014 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

Creek Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 17K08031U Present Record Owners: L a r r y Thomas Phillips and Rosalind Yvette Harrison And Being more commonly known as: 301 Twin Creek Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Larry Thomas Phillips and Rosalind Yvette Harrison. 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

Present Record Owners: Vieux

Ralph

And Being more commonly known as: 114 Nicolet Lane, Smithfield, NC 27577 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ralph L. Vieux. 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

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.

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 in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you

Lynn

And Being more commonly known as: 158 Shaw St, Staley, NC 27355 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Lori Lynn Hankins. 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

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If

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

Donna Burt Wells, And The Unknown Heirs Of Hawkins Satterfield, Charlie Satterfield, James Oscar Satterfield, Harry Satterfield, Mazie Satterfield, Samuel L. Satterfield, Calvin Louis Satterfield, Mae Williams Satterfield

Neville Property as recorded in BM 1995, page 717, WCR, on the east by Lots 22 and 23 of Block A of the Burtrose Subdivision as recorded in BM 1966, page 35, WCR, on the south by Lots 10, 11, and 12 of Burtrose Subdivision as recorded in BM 1960, page 45, WCR, and on the west by Lots 6, 7, and 8 of Additional to Burtrose Subdivision – Map 3 as recorded in BM 1972, page 127, WCR. You must respond in writing to the address below by July 26, 2021, or your default will be entered and judgment rendered, declaring that you have no right, title or interest in this property.

The Date of this Notice is June 16, 2021. HEMPHILL GELDER, P.C. STAM LAW FIRM, PLLC

Present Record Owners: and The Heirs of Louise B. Blue

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.

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 18SP2419 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ELIZABETH E. DABNEY AND JAMAINE A. DABNEY DATED AUGUST 2, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11509 AT PAGE 331 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 20SP666 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LEONARD A. MIXON AND JANET MIXON DATED MAY 2, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11960 AT PAGE 2435 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of

Address of property: 9428 Cascade Dr, Garner, NC 27529 Tax Parcel ID: 0050271

Old

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 11:00AM on July 2, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Elizabeth E. Dabney and Jamaine A. Dabney, dated August 2, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $125,000.00, and recorded in Book 11509 at Page 331 of the Wake 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: 803 Roanoke Dr, Cary, NC 27513 Tax Parcel ID: 0094532

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 11:00AM on July 2, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Leonard A. Mixon and Janet Mixon, dated May 2, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $263,000.00, and recorded in Book 11960 at Page 2435 of the Wake 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: 1 Ravenwing Dr, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 Tax Parcel ID: 0300861

The date of this Notice is May 26, 2021. LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 17-096294

Parkway,

Suite

400

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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 20 SP 1601

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

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.

This 16th day of June 2021. Janice Cantey, Administrator, c/o Lisa M. Schreiner, Stam Law Firm, PLLC, 510 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502

NOTICE OF SALE

400

Tax Parcel ID: 8734540443 Present Record Owners: Lori Hankins

undersigned on or before September 17, 2021, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LOUISE B. BLUE AND JOE BAKER DATED MARCH 12, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12445 AT PAGE 2370 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

Suite

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.

ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against JUDITH GARRIS, deceased, of Wake County, N.C. (21-E-1960), are notified to exhibit the same to the

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 June 18, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Louise B. Blue and Joe Baker, dated March 12, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $106,400.00, and recorded in Book 12445 at Page 2370 of the Wake 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.

Parkway,

Jeffries. 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

are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before September 17, 2021, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 20sp1655

Andrew Vining Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-110415

($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 amount 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, 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 is Estate of Glenda L.

ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against WILLIAM H BROOKS aka WILLIAM HENRY BROOKS, deceased, of Wake County, N.C. (21-E-1998),

Petition for Partition and to Quiet Title Karen Michelle Bridges vs. Johnathan W. Anderson, Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Bryant Steven Burt and Sharon Yvonne Burt, Hermelinda Burt,

The date of this Notice is May 25, 2021.

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

WAKE

To the unknown heirs named above: A petition has been filed claiming that you have no right, title or interest in the following property. BEING that tract of land off of West Cornwall Street in the Town of Cary containing approximately 0.97 acres, with tax ID 0062303 as “Charlie Satterfield, Heirs” and bounded on the north by Lots 2 and 3 of the Edwin H.

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.

Joe

Baker

And Being more commonly known as: 9428 Old Cascade Dr, Garner, NC 27529 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Joe Baker and The Heirs of Louise B. Blue. 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

Present Record Owners: Dabney and Jamaine A. Dabney

Elizabeth

And Being more commonly known as: 803 Roanoke Dr, Cary, NC 27513 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Elizabeth E. Dabney and Jamaine A. Dabney. 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

Present Record Owners: Leonard A. Mixon

The Heirs of

And Being more commonly known as: Ravenwing Dr, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

1724

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Leonard A. Mixon. 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

immediate payment. This 16th day of June 2021. Patricia E. Heaps, Executor, c/o Lisa M. Schreiner,

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee John P. Fetner, Bar #41811 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jfetner@mtglaw.com

The date of this Notice is June 9, 2021. LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 18-097230

Parkway,

Suite

400

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: 2303 - 5178

Stam Law Firm, PLLC, 510 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502 North State Journal: June 16, 23, 30, July 7, 2021

North State Journal: June 16, 23, 30, July 7, 2021

Cameron Stanton Paul Stam, Attorney for Petitioner Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs P.O. Box 1600 PO Box 31205

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that

Apex, NC 27502 Raleigh, NC 27622 Tel: (919) 3628873 Tel: 888-443-1446 paulstam@stamlawfirm. com cameron@hemphillgelderlaw.com North State Journal: June 16, 23, 30, 2021

an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is May 28, 2021. LLG TRUSTEE LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-110612

Parkway,

Suite

400

an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is May 28, 2021. LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 14-057783

Parkway,

Suite

400

an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is June 11, 2021. Andrew Vining Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 17-092656

Parkway,

Suite

400

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From June 9, 2021

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 37 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

KATHY WILLIAMS | AP PHOTO

"Peking" a winner Wasabi, a Pekingese, rests on the winner's podium with its trophy and ribbons after winning Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Tarrytown, N.Y. Read more on page 4.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Teacher accused of sexually assaulting at-risk teen Stanly County An assistant instructor at a military-style school for atrisk teens is accused of sexually assaulting a student in her dorm room. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office said Cody Lee Eudy, 28, was arrested on May 30 and charged with seconddegree forcible sex offense and sexual acts with a student. The charges stem from an incident at the Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy in New London on May 29, when no female staff members were on duty. The Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy is a quasi-military-style program for at-risk teens 16 to 18 as part of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Museum manager defends plans for canceled Juneteenth event Mecklenburg County Ian Campbell, site manager of the Latta Historic Plantation in Huntersville, is defending himself from criticism that an event he planned offered a sympathetic portrayal of slaveowners. Campbell posted a statement on the plantation’s website saying that he will never glorify the Confederacy, white supremacy or plantation owners. Latta canceled its Juneteenth program “Kingdom Coming” after complaints about a promotion for the event that referred to “the massa” and offered sympathetic commentary about a white overseer who no longer had slaves to oversee. The event was canceled amid criticism of the event by Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

20177 52016 $0.50

Town of Badin unveils plans for new waterfront park By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal BADIN — In an area with many existing recreational opportunities, Stanly County residents and visitors will soon have another public park to utilize and enjoy. On June 10, officials from the Town of Badin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Badin Waterfront Park — an upcoming public recreation area located at Badin Lake — and to officially accept a donation of 14 acres of land given by Badin Business Park (a subsidiary of the Alcoa Corporation). The park, which is set to be located next to the existing Badin Lake recreation area on Highway 740, will include watercraft rentals, boat docks, wooded trails, picnic shelters and a band shell. Over the course of this year, plans for funding and park amenities will

It is a beautiful setting for a waterfront park and is sure to draw more people to Badin.” Alcoa director of transformation Robyn Gross be conducted by Badin officials. The 14-acre donation made by Alcoa is its second donation to Stanly County in less than two years. Back in May 2020, Morrow Mountain State Park became one of the 10 largest state parks in North Carolina when Alcoa gifted 1,085 acres and expanded the park by more than 20 percent. The land donation from Badin Business Park last week is part of

Albemarle Police Chief David Dulin retiring By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — On June 9, Albemarle announced that the city’s police chief of the last two years, David Dulin, had officially submitted his resignation. Dulin has led the Albemarle Police Department since April 2019 and was with the department as an officer since 1994. The news release also announced an interim replacement. “Chief Dulin has served the Department for many years and accomplished a great deal over his career,” the city press release said. “This is a significant event for both Chief Dulin and the City. We wish him well as he enters a new phase of his life and explores new activities.” City manager Michael Ferris will “immediately begin the search process” for Dulin’s replacement, but in the meantime,

Ferris has hired David Poston to be the interim chief. Poston served in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in a number of roles, including: detective, detective sergeant for internal affairs, commander of the independence division, commander of the criminal investigations bureau, and commander for field operations. He will begin serving in this new role as Albemarle Police’s interim chief June 21. “Not only does he possess significant law enforcement experience, but he is very knowledgeable and skilled in organizational oversight, and personnel relations and management,” the release said of Poston. The city said that using interim department heads is a strategy they’ve utilized recently in the fire department, finance department and public housing department.

a 2007 Relicensing Settlement Agreement obligation that is being honored by Alcoa Power Generating Inc. “Accepting this generous donation sets the stage for a search for funding to update the existing park masterplan, and include some new factors such as the Town of Badin eastern border being shared with our neighbor, Morrow Mountain State Park,” Badin Town Manager Jay Almond told SCJ in an email. Almond joined Mayor Anne Harwood, Mayor Pro-Tem Deloris Chambers, Councilman Gary Lowder and Councilman Demar Huntley in representing the Town of Badin during last week’s event; director of transformation Robyn Gross, transformation multi-location manager Randy Rush and former plant manager Tommy Gibson represented Alcoa in the

formal donation ceremony. “Badin is a beautiful town, and we are excited about what the future holds for this property. It is a beautiful setting for a waterfront park and is sure to draw more people to Badin,” Gross said in a press release. Over the past year, Badin officials have worked with the Site Solutions planning group to put together a master plan for how to best incorporate the 14-acre donation into a full-scale waterfront park. The area that will be expanded has previously been used for baseball and softball games, festival events, Native American powwows, fireworks displays as well as other events. “We are incredibly excited about this donation and the opportunity it presents for us to create a unique waterfront recreation area in Badin. The park will have a regional appeal that complements the draw of Morrow Mountain State Park and Uwharrie National Forest,” Badin Mayor Anne Harwood said in the release. “We look forward to maximizing the recreational offerings in our beautiful waterfront town.”

Construction to begin on 2 roundabouts south of Stanly County Airport By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Two intersections directly south of the Stanly County Airport will be getting a makeover this summer, as the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced June 11 that they are ready to begin work on roundabouts for each location, with a total cost of $1.3 million. The project is meant to improve safety along Ridge Street east of Albemarle as vehicles drive to and from the airport. The two intersections are directly after one another, where Ridge Street crosses Carters Acres Road just south of the airport, and then one intersection south of that, where Ridge Street crosses Mountain View Church Road. Both projects will be built by

Albemarle construction company NJR Group, Inc. NJR will start work on the Carters Acres Road roundabout on June 21, hoping to open traffic back up on Aug. 9. Once completed, NJR will move to the Mountain View Church Road project, with a projected completion date of Oct. 16. Detour signs will direct traffic to Mountain View Church Road during the Carters Acres Road project, and vice versa. Work on the surrounding vegetation will continue until April 2022. A statement about the projects from the NC DOT states that “Roundabouts improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. They also help reduce the congestion and backups more typical at traditional intersections with stop signs and traffic signals.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

2 WEDNESDAY

6.16.21

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DEANNA DENT/ASU VIA AP

This April 10, 2018, image released by Arizona State University shows ASU professor Devoney Looser at her home in Phoenix, Ariz. courses include British abolitionist literature. “I’m always excited about new information about the authors I teach,” Matthew said. While it doesn’t change her view of Austen’s work — “I don’t believe that I’m reading someone who’s actively engaged in debates about the slave trade” — it could resound with Austen’s most devoted admirers, sometimes called “Janeites.” “I think they are having a kind of reckoning in how they think about not just Austen, but the Regency period,” said Matthew, referring to the British era of the early 1800s. “It raises all manner of interesting questions about how they understand this author.” The slim collection of novels that Jane Austen wrote before her

death at 41 in July 1817 focus on relationships, not current events. There is a glancing reference to slavery in “Mansfield Park,” and a character in “Emma” defends an off-stage figure as “rather a friend to the abolition.” As for Austen’s own beliefs, Looser said, “we know from her letters that she refers to having loved the writings of a prominent white abolitionist, Thomas Clarkson. So we know that she read and cared about issues of race and racial injustice.” A diary entry from another Austen brother, Francis, called it regrettable that any trace of slavery “should be found to exist in countries dependent on England, or colonised by her subjects.” His opinion was not made public until the early 1900s.

Albemarle, on 06/10/2021

6/14/2021 ♦ James, Chadwick Walter (W /M/50) Arrest on chrg of Exploit Disable/elder Trust (F), at 325 Church St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/14/2021

♦ Barrera, Casandra Ann (W F, 24) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny, M (M), at781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 06/10/2021

♦ Simmons, Vernon Eugen (W /M/49) Arrest on chrg of Dwi Motor Boat/vessel (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/13/2021

♦ Broome, Megan Elizabeth (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of Habitual Larceny, F (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/8/2021

♦ Schrimpsher, Jacob Andrew (W M, 27) Arrest on chrg of Poss Stolen Goods/prop (m),M (M), at 1299 Mountain Creek Rd/kemp Rd, Albemarle, on 06/13/202

♦ Lawrence, Tyrese Myteiese (B /M/21) Cited on Charge of Carrying Concealed Gun (m) (2101946), at Canton Rd/april Ln, Albemarle, on 6/12/2021

♦ Buchanan, John Franklin (B M, 56) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive From Justice, F (F), at781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 06/09/2021

♦ Glover, Kevin Larnell (B M, 46) Arrest on chrg of Second Degree Trespass, M (M), at301 Yadkin St, Albemarle, on 06/13/2021

♦ Buchanan, John Franklin (W M, 56) Arrest on chrg of Forgery Of Instrument, F (F), at781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 06/09/2021

♦ Uriostigui, Adrian Franco (U /M/19) Arrest on chrg of 1) Speeding (M), 2) No Operators License (M), and 3) Reckless Driving To Endanger (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/14/2021

♦ Hopkins, Bon Scott (W M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Breaking Or Entering (m), M (M), at215 S Broome St, Albemarle, on 06/07/2021 ♦ Yarbrough, Terri Marie (W F, 36) Arrest on chrg of Assault And Battery (M), at 815Hill St, Albemarle, on 06/08/2021

♦ Esquivel, Juan Carlos (W M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired, M (M), at304 E Main St, Albemarle, on 06/09/2021 ♦ Brooks, Michael Lee (W M, 37) Arrest on chrg of Assault Phy Inj Emergency Prsn(F), at 301 Yadkin St, Albemarle, on 06/10/2021 ♦ Lewis, James Albert (W M, 46) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 339 Nc 24-27Bypass E/wall St,

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Britain outlawed the slave trade in 1807 and made slavery illegal in 1833 with the exception of some territories. Subsequent legislation outlawed it entirely. How Looser discovered Henry’s abolition activism is a scholarly detective story. In the course of her ongoing research, she found that he had billed himself as the Rev. H.T. Austen for his writing and public work. That pulled her down new paths, including his conference participation. It was not to be found elsewhere, even in the Austen scholars’ bible, “A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family: 1600 to 2000” by Deidre Le Faye, which Looser describes as nearly 800 pages filled with “thousands and thousands of facts” about the Austens. Looser’s find coincides with a racial reappraisal that is taking place widely, including in the United Kingdom. In April, a British media squall greeted plans to update the museum at Jane Austen’s House in the town of Chawton, where she lived and wrote for about eight years and which is a magnet for Austen fans. A revamped display that includes research on her connections to slavery was denounced as a “revisionist attack” by one newspaper. “We would like to offer reassurance that we will not, and have never had any intention to, interrogate Jane Austen, her characters or her readers for drinking tea,” said a tart statement issued by Jane Austen’s House — tea being a vital part of the British colonial empire. For readers who might balk at bringing what might seem like modern issues and perspectives into consideration of Austen and her work, Looser has a ready answer. “Issues of race, racism and racial justice are central to Jane Austen’s day,” she said. “So we’re not bringing questions and concerns that weren’t there in her time. They were absolutely there.”

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Khan, Melissa Dawn (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Uttering Forged Instrument (F), 2) Poss 5+ Counterfeit Instument (F), 3) Obtain Property False Pretense (F), 4) Inj Prop Obt Nonferr Metal-f (F), 5) Injury To Personal Property (M), 6) Possess Methamphetamine (F), and 7) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at S. Cemerty St/us 52, Albemarle, NC, on 6/8/2021

♦ Souvannarath, Sysouphan (A M, 40) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired, M(M), at 2300 E Main St, Albemarle, on 06/06/2021

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The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — While Jane Austen admirers savor the wit and romance of “Pride and Prejudice” and her other enduring novels, scholars ferret out details of Austen’s life and times, including a family link to slavery that surfaced 50 years ago. The effort to place the writer in the social and political context of her day has yielded a new and contrasting discovery: A favorite brother was part of the 19th-century abolition movement. Devoney Looser, an Arizona State University professor and author of “The Making of Jane Austen,” unearthed the Rev. Henry Thomas Austen’s attendance at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, which drew some 500 delegates. “I was stunned to find that fact,” Looser said in an interview. She first detailed her research in an essay for The Times Literary Supplement. “The family’s commitments and actions changed profoundly, from known complicity in colonial slavery to previously unnoticed anti-slavery activism,” Looser wrote. “Henry became a next-generation Austen publicly supporting a political commitment to abolish slavery across the globe.” Looser’s essay also addresses patriarch George Austen’s previously revealed ties to another family’s West Indian sugar plantation, calling them “very real” but “both under-described and overstated.” The latest research was welcomed by Patricia A. Matthew, an associate professor of English at Montclair State University who focuses on literature of the period that encompasses Austen. Her

TUESDAY

JUNE 21

Jane Austen family link to abolition movement comes to light

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ House, Quentin Terrill (B M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Resisting Public Officer, M (M), at1084 Carolina Av, Albemarle, on 06/03/2021

MONDAY

SUNDAY

JUNE 20

♦ Morris, William Nmn (B /M/24) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 20743 Nc 24-27 Hwy/graham Rd, Oakboro, NC, on 6/14/2021 ♦ Alexi, Matthew David (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Possession Sch I Cs (F) and 2) Dwlr Not Impaired Rev (M), at Saint Martin Rd/ Scenic View, Albemarle, NC, on

♦ Harris, Sheaona Lafaye (B /F/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Possession Of Cocaine (F), 2) Dwlr Not Impaired Rev (M), and 3) Drive Left Of Center (i) (M), at Alcoa Boat Ramp, Albemarle, NC, on 6/14/2021

♦ Carpenter, Kaviyion Zachariah (B /M/19) Cited on Charge of Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (2101946), at Canton Rd/april Ln, Albemarle, on 6/12/2021 ♦ Phillips, Brian Allen (W /M/18) Arrest on chrg of Statutory Rape Of Child <= 15 (F), at 233 South Second Street, Albemarle, NC, on 6/11/2021 ♦ Mauldin, Douglas Wayne (W /M/51) Arrest on chrg of Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), at 12784 Old Aquadale Road, Norwood, NC, on 6/11/2021 ♦ Perry, Billie Brian (W /M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Break/enter Terrorize/injure (F), 3) Larceny After Break/enter (F), and 4) Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (f) (F), at 20675 Sam Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 6/11/2021

♦ Benson, Daniel Trevor (B /M/35) Cited on Charge of Possess Drug Paraphernalia (2101933), at Long Street/ poplar Streert, Albemarle, on 6/11/2021 ♦ Heathman, Camron Seth (W /M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Reckless Driving To Endanger (M), at Mountain Creek Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 6/10/2021 ♦ Efird-eudy, Jacob Wayne (W /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Reckless Drvg-wanton Disregard (M), at Nc 73/indian Mound Rd., Norwood, NC, on 6/10/2021

♦ Teresa Christine Roberson, 63, of Albemarle, passed away June 8. ♦ Annie Shaver Scott, 88, of Stanly County, passed away June 8. ♦ Mattie Ruth Page Miller, 92, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, June 9 ♦ Rachel Elaine Rogers Plowman, 74, of Richfield, passed away June 12. ♦ Irene Furr Caldwell, 87, of Albemarle, passed away Sunday, June 13

♦ Rivers, Mack Anthony (B /M/51) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired, M (M), at Cottonville/crayton, Norwood, NC, on 6/9/2021 ♦ Freeman, Alton Quantavion (B /M/41) Arrest on chrg of Att Obtain Prop False Pretense (F), at 126 South 3rd St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/9/2021 ♦ Bullard, Bobby Ray (W /M/29) Cited on Charge of Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (2101918), at Leonard Ave/nc 24-27, Albemarle, on 6/10/2021 ♦ Moua, Fuchee Matt (A /M/35) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 126 W South St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/9/2021 ♦ Thompkins, Jessup Whiteford (W /M/22) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault Inflict Serious Inj (m) (M), 2) Misdemeanor Larceny (M), and 3) Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 6/8/2021 See OBITS, page 7

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

OPINION

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Biden’s policies leading to border crisis, inflation and unfilled jobs

As the Biden border crisis gets worse, our economy is waving red flags as well. On Thursday, consumer prices rose 5% from last year, higher than expert predictions and the fastest pace in 13 years.

AMERICA IS SETTING RECORDS, and I’m not talking about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Last week, we received alarming data about two of the biggest issues in our country: the border and our economy. On Wednesday, Border Patrol announced that agents apprehended 180,000 migrants in May. That is the largest monthly total since President Joe Biden took office. In fact, it’s the highest figure in 21 years! May was the third straight month of at least 170,0000 apprehensions, and we are on pace to apprehend 1.35 million illegal immigrants this fiscal year. That’s the size of the populations of Raleigh and Charlotte combined crossing our border illegally this year! Vice President Kamala Harris finally hit the road to deal with this issue last week. The only problem: she still refuses to go to our southern border. Instead, she visited Guatemala and Mexico, where leaders explained that Biden-administration policies created this crisis. To be clear, I support Vice President Harris’ mission to address root causes of this crisis. However, engaging northern triangle countries is a long-term goal that will require bipartisan action. In the meantime, securing our border needs to happen immediately, and can happen quickly with solutions already proven to work like the Remain-inMexico policy. As the Biden border crisis gets worse, our economy is waving red flags as well. On Thursday, consumer prices rose 5% from last year, higher than expert predictions and the fastest pace in 13 years. Amid this rising inflation, President Biden’s response has been to propose higher taxes and an additional $6 trillion in government spending. Higher taxes, more debt and more spending will only make matters worse. That’s why I joined my House Republican colleagues to champion a budget proposal that would secure the border and cut spending. We must do both.

Also last week, our economy reported another record: 9.3 million open jobs. The jobs are there, but unemployment remains stagnant. That’s because the government is still paying people to stay home. This is something I hear constantly from small businesses in our community struggling to find workers. That’s why last week, I cosponsored the Jump-Start the Economy with Jobs Act to ensure federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits only go to those who need them, and not to folks who have a job waiting for them. I will continue to advance this legislation and other measures to encourage people to get back to work. As we continue to look ahead, it’s also important to reflect on how we arrived at this point and on our nation’s overall response to COVID-19. I am proud to be the House Republican leader on pandemic-preparedness issues, making sure our country can respond to this pandemic and is prepared for the next one. As part of that mission, last week I introduced two bipartisan bills focused on PPE and vaccines. The first bill is a bipartisan package that will strengthen our Strategic National Stockpile of PPE and expand American manufacturing of critical medical supplies. The second bill advances collaboration and innovation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I want to address cutting-edge science challenges, including supporting current research and development of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines. This will build on the success of Operation Warp Speed to develop vaccines faster in the future. I’m proud to work in a bipartisan way with my House colleagues on these two pieces of legislation that will strengthen America’s pandemic response. We have many challenges before us. But I am focused on solutions that will secure our border, improve our economy and meet our ongoing and future public health crises. By working together on these solutions, I am optimistic that we can overcome any obstacle in our way.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

The Democrats’ filibuster con It takes a preternatural shamelessness to have participated in over 300 filibusters, as Democrats did in the past few years, and then one day turn around and treat the procedure as an odious racist relic that threatens “democracy.”

WHEN WEST VIRGINIA’S Joe Manchin closed the door on eliminating the legislative filibuster this week, promising not to “weaken or eliminate” the 60-vote threshold, he “dashed” the “dreams” of Democrats, according to The New York Times. Hypocrisy is nothing new in Washington, but it takes a preternatural shamelessness to have participated in over 300 filibusters, as Democrats did in the past few years, and then one day turn around and treat the procedure as an odious racist relic that threatens “democracy.” But this is an emergency, norm-breakers will tell you. Isn’t it always? Sen. Jacky Rosen, after a quick reversal of position, told The Washington Post that she would nuke the procedure only “in the case of protecting democracy.” Of course, if we adopted the Democrats’ evolving standard of “voting rights,” then we’d be forced to treat every election before 2020’s free-for-all as illegitimate. If Democrats truly believe that voter-integrity laws in Georgia or Texas are unconstitutional and a threat to democracy, they should take those states to court, where these issues could be adjudicated, rather than trying to upend the system in a power grab. “We do need to start testing this idea that the filibuster promotes bipartisanship,” Sen. Chris Murphy told the Times. “I would hope that everyone is open to having their theories proved wrong if they don’t have evidence to prove their theories right.” It’s not a theory. The fact that the filibuster has, for now, put an end to unilateral partisan efforts in passing generational reforms only highlights the value of the filibuster. Democrats are now compelled to find Republican votes if they want to remake the nation’s laws. Or not. Doing nothing is tacit bipartisan compromise as well. Sometimes the ideological chasm is unbridgeable, and a gridlock becomes the healthy, organic state of a sharply divided government. That’s why we have states. What Democrats want is the unfettered ability to compel those states to live under “reform” bills passed by the slimmest majorities in the shortest of windows. What Murphy wants is for the voters of Connecticut, who have strict gun-control laws, to overturn the will of voters in Texas, who do not. Allowing reforms to be instituted without a national consensus isn’t only potentially authoritarian — as it is in the case of the Democrats’ anti-filibuster battering ram, “For the People Act” — but it also generates instability. Each time a new party takes power, they will either reverse

course or pass their own set of comprehensive reform bills that half the country doesn’t want. The legislative filibuster is doing exactly what it should be — preserving a semblance of federalist governance. Now, I don’t know if Manchin is taking a principled stand or a politically expedient one, and it doesn’t really matter. Without question, he’s taken the consistent position. A recent Morning Consult poll found that, overall, voters supported the filibuster by a 21-percentage-point margin “when it was framed as an existing mechanism.” But when given a choice of supporting a simple 51-vote majority or a 60-vote threshold, they favored the former by seven points. So, it’s clear that many voters have no clue why the filibuster exists or even what it does. Which is why Democrats have been able to effectively demagogue the issue. As with nearly all objects of left-wing animosity, the filibuster, a counter-majoritarian mechanism used in various ways in almost every liberal nation, has been transformed into a tool of “white supremacy.” This accusation is meant to chill debate and to slander, by implication, anyone who supports it. Well, anyone who supports it now. Democrats not only liberally employed the filibuster, but they also championed it. And not just during Jim Crow days, but during the Bush and Trump administrations. And the anger thrown at Manchin this week is being leveled by the very same people who would have a collective emotional meltdown had Republicans broken long-standing norms and unilaterally rammed through partisan “reforms” during the Trump years. And Republicans could have done it. As NBC’s Sahil Kapur helpfully noted recently, Donald Trump, who now says eliminating the filibuster would be “catastrophic for the Republican Party,” asked them to do it. What reporters rarely note, however, is that former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and 32 Democratic senators that signed a letter in 2017 imploring Mitch McConnell to preserve the “existing rules, practices, and traditions” that remain bulwarks against majoritarian bullying are also all cynical partisan hypocrites. 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, June 16, 2021

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT OLYMPICS

Lochte fails to advance in 200 free prelims at U.S. trials Omaha, Neb. Olympic champion Ryan Lochte failed to advance from the preliminaries of the 200-meter freestyle on Monday, his first event of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. The 36-year-old Lochte, attempting to make his fifth Olympic team, posted a time of 1 minute, 49.23 seconds — only good enough for 25th place overall. The top 16 advanced to the evening semifinals, led by Kieran Smith at 1:46.54. The 200 individual medley is the only race in which Lochte has any realistic shot of earning a trip to Tokyo.

NHL

Rangers hiring Gallant as next coach New York The New York Rangers have a deal in place for Gerard Gallant to be their next coach, according to reports. Gallant was a highly soughtafter coaching candidate three years after leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. The 57-year-old Gallant, who replaces David Quinn, will be making his fourth NHL head coaching stop after stints with the Blue Jackets, Panthers and Golden Knights. He was fired by Vegas midway through the 2019-20 season and replaced by Peter DeBoer.

WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW

Wasabi the Pekingese wins Westminster dog show Tarrytown, N.Y. A Pekingese named Wasabi won best in show Sunday night at the Westminster Dog Show, notching a fifth-ever win for the unmistakable toy breed. A whippet named Bourbon repeated as runner-up. Waddling through a smallbut-mighty turn in the ring, Wasabi nabbed U.S. dogdom’s most prestigious prize after winning the big American Kennel Club National Championship in 2019. Wasabi’s grandfather Malachy won the Westminster title in 2012. This year’s show was held outdoors at an estate in suburban Tarrytown, about 25 miles north of where the top ribbon is usually presented at Madison Square Garden since its founding in 1877.

GOLF

Castren first Finnish winner in LPGA Tour history Daly City, Calif. Matilda Castren became the first Finnish winner in LPGA Tour history Sunday in the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, pulling away on the front-nine at foggy Lake Merced and holding off Min Lee by two strokes. Two strokes behind Lee entering the final day of the tournament, Castren birdied the first three holes, eagled the par-5 fifth and birdied the par-5 ninth for a front-nine 30. She followed with eight straight pars and holed a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 7-under 65.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

Point guard Chris Paul has led the Suns to an 8-2 record so far this postseason, and Phoenix swept the Nuggets to secure a spot as one of the last four teams left competing for the NBA title.

Paul, Suns in new role as favorites The 36-year-old point guard has Phoenix in the NBA’s final four By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press IT SEEMS LIKE Chris Paul relishes the notion of being the underdog. That’s why, when the Western Conference semifinals were over and the Phoenix Suns had swept their way into the NBA’s final four, he talked about how he felt written off a couple of seasons ago. Why he talked about spending two years on his high school’s junior varsity team. How he wasn’t, in his words, “necessarily supposed to be here.” It’s a neat narrative. But it’s not reality. Fact is, this is exactly where Paul and the Suns are supposed to be. He’s still elite at what he does. He’s helped take the Suns to levels few thought they could reach in Year 1 of his tenure in the valley. They’re headed to the West finals against the Utah Jazz or the

Los Angeles Clippers, a matchup that’ll start early next week, and there will be no shortage of experts picking the Suns to go from there to the NBA Finals. “I’ve always had to grind, and I like that mentality, and that’s always been who I’ve been, and I’m going to stay that way,” Paul said. “If you like it, cool. If you don’t, it’s cool too.” He’s a grinder, yes, but make no mistake — he’s a wildly successful grinder. It is true that Paul spent two years on the JV team at West Forsyth High in Clemmons. It’s also true that he became a McDonald’s All-American and a five-star recruit there before signing with Wake Forest, was a top-five draft pick and then ultimately an NBA rookie of the year. His is not exactly an out-of-nowhere success story. And again, to be fair, there were questions whether Paul’s realistic window for winning a championship had closed after his hamstring betrayed him and the Houston Rockets couldn’t win

8-2 The Suns’ record this postseason, best in the NBA Games 6 or 7 of the 2018 West finals against Golden State. He was also in Year 1 of a four-year, $159.7 million contract — the third max deal of his career — at that time, so it’s not like everyone had given up on him. He’s earned more in NBA salary than anyone other than LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Consider this line from Denver coach Michael Malone, offered up Sunday night after Paul scored 37 points to help Phoenix finish off its sweep of the Nuggets, the first 4-0 series win of Paul’s career: “Chris Paul could arguably be the greatest point guard of all time.” Paul is no underdog. The Suns, now they’re the underdog story.

Phoenix hadn’t made the playoffs in 11 years before this run. Monty Williams hadn’t won a playoff series as a head coach until this season. They have exactly one player on the roster who has been to the NBA Finals — Jae Crowder got there last season with Miami. They’re four wins from the finals, eight wins from winning the whole thing, and needed just 10 games to eliminate both the 2020 champion Los Angeles Lakers and a Denver team that lost to those Lakers in the West finals last season. Paul got traded to Phoenix in November. The Suns have not been the same since. At 8-2, the Suns have the best record so far in these playoffs. The two games they lost were two games that Paul tried to play with one arm, after injuring a shoulder in Round 1. Paul’s high school teams never won a state championship. His Wake Forest teams didn’t make a Final Four. And he’s still never been to an NBA Finals. If that led some to count him out, whatever that means, maybe it’s understandable. The underdog, whether he likes it or not, might now be favored to change that.

Kyle Larson wins 2nd All-Star race, this one in Texas The Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 has now gone to Victory Lane three straight weekends By Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas — Kyle Larson was back in the NASCAR All-Star race and got another $1 million by winning it again. Larson held off a hard-charging Brad Keselowski during the final 10-lap shootout at Texas on Sunday night, after a slippery threewide pass for the lead, and pushed Hendrick Motorsports to its second consecutive win, and 10th overall, in the annual non-points race with a seven-figure prize. Defending All-Star winner and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott, who started the sixth and final segment of the 100-lap race out front, didn’t stay there long. Larson pushed his teammate then got in front on the outside through the fourth turn. They were three-wide before Keselowski pulled ahead briefly at the line, then Larson got ahead to stay for the last eight laps. “That last restart worked out exactly how I needed it to. I wanted Chase to not get a good run down the back,” Larson said. Larson said he had nearly all four tires in a groove above where

TONY GUITIERREZ | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race at Texas Motor Speedway. they had been running laps. He had decided earlier that he’d go for it if given the chance. “No points on the line. ... If I wreck, I wreck,” he said. Crew chief Cliff Daniels said he didn’t even think there was a lane up there, “and he put it up there, and it stuck.” Larson has gone to Victory Lane three weekends in a row and four

times overall this season. Keselowski said running second to Hendrick cars these days is somewhat of an accomplishment. “They’re just stupid fast, and I had him off of Turn 4 but they just have so much speed,” Keselowski said. “He just motored right on back by me, like damn.” Larson was with Chip Ganassi Racing when he won the 2019 All-

Star race. He missed last year’s big event at Bristol while serving a sixmonth suspension after using a racial slur during a livestream while in a virtual race during the pandemic. That nearly cost him his career, but Rick Hendrick gave him an opportunity this season to get back into the Cup Series. Second in points with 10 races to go before the playoffs, Larson now only the eighth driver to be a twotime All-Star race winner. Elliott finished third, ahead of Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman. William Byron, Aric Almirola, Kyle Bush and Kurt Busch rounded out the top 10 in the 21-car field. Hendrick drivers Elliott, Byron and Larson started the final segment 1-2-3 — with Penske drivers Ryan Blaney, Keselowski and Joey Logano 4-6. Elliott had moved from third to first during the 30lap fifth segment that included a required four-tire stop and $100,000 prize for his crew that had the fastest stop. “Kyle got to my outside and that was the end of it, really. Just got beat,” Elliott said. Texas is the third different track in three years for the All-Star race. Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted it 34 of the first 35 years before a move out of North Carolina last summer because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Colts, Comets baseball teams begin state playoffs North Stanly and West Stanly each played Tuesday in the 1A and 2A brackets, respectively By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

FRANCK ROBICHON | AP PHOTO

Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health Director General Nobuhiko Okabe speaks during a press conference on COVID-19 countermeasures at Tokyo 2020 Games on June 11, 2021.

Tokyo Olympics still undecided on fans Spectators from other countries have already been ruled out The Associated Press TOKYO — The question of allowing any fans into Tokyo Olympic venues is still being debated with a decision unlikely to be announced before the end of the month. This would be just a few weeks before the Olympics are to open on July 23. Fans from abroad have already been banned in what is shaping up as a largely made-for-television Olympics. Tokyo and several prefectures are under a state of emergency until June 20. Infections have slowed recently, but the spread of variants is still a concern that could put pressure on already stressed medical facilities. Dr. Nobuhiko Okabe, director general of the Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health, suggested on Friday he would lean toward few fans. He spoke on a panel put together by the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee. “Thinking in a different way, I think it’s an option to suggest to people to enjoy the games on TV — like teleworking,” he said. “We could suggest a different way of

enjoying the games.” Okabe said it was not just a matter of fans in the venues, but what they do after leaving — heading to bars or restaurants. “We don’t want people to move much,” he said. “That’s our wish as we think about anti-virus measures.” Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto originally said she would announce a decision in April about local fans but has repeatedly postponed it. Ticket sales were to account for $800 million in income for the organizing committee. Much of that will be lost and has to be made up by Japanese government entities. Japan is officially spending $15.4 billion to run the Olympics, though government audits suggest the figure is much higher. All but $6.7 billion is public money. The Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee derives almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, which drives the games and the urgency to hold it during a pandemic. Japan’s JiJi Press reported Friday, without citing sources, that Dr. Shigeru Omi would issue a report next week that warns about the risks of having fans. He is a former World Health Organization regional director and a head

of a government task force on the virus. Speaking in a parliamentary session last week, he said “it is crucial that we must not let the Olympics trigger a flow of people.” Hashimoto warned there could be penalties for anyone who breaks strict rules around the Tokyo Games. She did not say what they would be and said this was still under discussion. The protocol for anyone entering Japan for the Olympics requires frequent testing, limited movement, and monitoring by GPS on smartphones. This includes everyone from athletes to journalists to staff and other officials working the games. About 11,000 athletes will attend the Olympics with 4,400 for the Paralympics. Tens of thousands of others will also enter Japan for both events. Organizers say the total figure for both events — athletes included — is about 93,000. Organizers say that’s about half of the original total expected of 180,000. “In order to get the citizens of Japan to feel secure there are rigid rules that we need to lay out or else,” Hashimoto said. “We’d like to avoid having to penalize people but we do need to take thorough measures.”

STANLY COUNTY — The West Stanly and North Stanly baseball teams each squared off with their first-round opponents on Tuesday night for the first round of the state playoff tournament. The No. 2 Colts (13-1, 10-0 Rocky River Conference) hosted No. 15 South Rowan (12-3, 7-2 Central Carolina Conference), while the No. 9 Comets (8-4, 6-1 Yadkin Valley Conference) traveled to face No. 8 Mountain Island (10-2, 10-2 PAC 7 Conference). The matchups were revealed when the North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced its 2021 state championship brackets on Sunday — the Colts were included in the 2A tournament and the Comets made the 1A tournament. “My sophomore year was the last year we were able to go into state playoffs, so I’m pumped up to be back there,” senior Colts pitcher Michael Crayton said Monday. Crayton, holding a 6-0 record for the season, has played a big role in West Stanly’s 12-game winning streak, a run that helped the Colts win their conference’s regular season and tournament championships. West Stanly closed out the RRC tournament with a 16-2 home win over Montgomery Central last Thursday. “It’s definitely been a great experience. It feels good going out and competing with your teammates and coming home with a win at the end of the day,” Crayton said. “The team chemistry we have is like no other. We jell together and it all works because we feed off each other’s energy. We’ll get one base hit, a big two-out hit, a big two-out RBI and keep throwing runs up on the board, then we try to go out there and dominate on the mound.” The RRC announced last week that Crayton is the 2021 conference pitcher of the year, an honor he said came as a “surprise.” “It was something I’ve looked forward to for four years of high school, and it was a huge blessing to have the votes from so many coaches,” Crayton said. While the Colts are fresh off a conference tournament win, North Stanly fell short in a winner-take-all YVC matchup against Uwharrie Charter Academy that gave the Eagles the regular season conference title. Because the YVC elected to skip its postseason tournament, the Comets instead finished their regular season with a nonconference game versus Pine Lake Preparatory, notching a 6-5 win to head into the playoffs on a positive note.

“My sophomore year was the last year we were able to go into state playoffs, so I’m pumped up to be back there.” Michael Crayton, West Stanly senior pitcher

Denmark’s players react as their teammate Christian Eriksen lays on the ground after collapsing during Saturday’s Euro 2020 tournament game against Finland in Copenhagen.

WOLFGANG RATTAY/POOL VIA AP

Danish soccer player collapses, resuscitated on the field at Euro 2020 Christian Eriksen is still being evaluated at a Copenhagen hospital The Associated Press COPENHAGEN — As Christian Eriksen lay unconscious on the field, his pulse slipping away, Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen quickly realized there wasn’t a second to lose. “He was breathing, and I could feel his pulse. But suddenly that changed,” Boesen said Saturday. “And as everyone saw, we started giving him CPR.” The next 10 minutes were among the scariest to ever unfold during a match at soccer’s European Championship. Several medics worked frenetically to give Eriksen chest

compressions while his teammates choked away tears and formed a circle around the midfielder to shield the scene from public view. And finally, the eerie silence that had descended around Parken Stadium was replaced with massive cheers. “We managed to get Christian back,” Boesen said. “And he spoke to me before he was taken to the hospital.” Eriksen was awake and in stable condition Saturday night after being taken to a Copenhagen hospital, the Danish soccer federation said. His collapse, which came in the 43rd minute of the match against Finland, led to the game being suspended for about 90 minutes before both teams made the decision to play on. Finland went on to win

1-0 after Joel Pohjanpalo scored in the 60th minute and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky later saved a penalty. But in the end, the result seemed merely an afterthought. “Of course, you can’t play a game with such feelings,” Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said. “What we tried to do was incredible. It’s incredible that the players managed to go out and try to play the second half.” UEFA said both teams had held an emergency meeting before deciding to continue playing. The players came back out onto the field to a huge ovation as they started warming up for a second time. Hjulmand said the teams were given the option of finishing the game on Saturday or resuming on Sunday.

“The players couldn’t imagine not being able to sleep tonight and then having to get in tomorrow, get on the bus and play a game,” Hjulmand said. “Honestly, it was best to get it over with.” Eriksen had just played a short pass when he fell face-forward onto the ground. His teammates immediately gestured for help and medics rushed onto the field. Eriksen’s partner, Sabrina Kvist Jensen, went onto the field and was comforted by Denmark captain Simon Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Finland players huddled by their bench and eventually walked off the field while the Inter Milan midfielder was still getting treatment, as did the referees. Eriksen was eventually carried off to a loud ovation, with his team-

mates walking next to the stretcher. Eriksen is one of Denmark’s biggest stars and the incident brought an instant sense of shock to the Parken Stadium, where about 15,000 fans fell into hushed silence. Some supporters could be seen crying and hugging in the stands. The incident brought back memories of other soccer players who have collapsed on the field, including Marc-Vivien Foe and Fabrice Muamba. Foe died while playing for Cameroon during the 2003 Confederations Cup in France, while Muamba needed CPR in 2012 when he collapsed in a match between Bolton and Tottenham at White Hart Lane in north London. Muamba, who fully recovered, wrote “Please God” on Twitter as Eriksen was taken to the hospital.

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 onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, Junethe 16, virus. 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, The Associated Press House Select of transpo no means see as a disturbing trend of the vi- have income residential neighborSubcommittee on located farther aw rus killing African Americans at a to stores d has beenATLANTA chosen. the Coronavirus — Congressmen “For people who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conCrisis Chairman from Georgia and Texas have filed a what do they do?” ask Nutbush resident Patricia Har- car,Rep. ed that federal an influx ofclaiming patients James lawsuit that using D-S.C., metalas detectors screen members who spoke to The Ass ris wondered aloud if city officials ris,Clyburn, m Memphis, well asto nearby speaks during Congress is and unconstitutional and while lugging a bott were “trying to contaminate” the Press sissippi, ofArkansas rural a hearing on that the tergent, a package of bott neighborhood. Tennessee, willsecurity strainmeasure hospi- is being Capitol Hill in used unfairly against Republicans. ter and other items from t Activist Earle Fisher, an AfriTheir fears are echoed across Washington, Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO A Lot to her car. She note can American Memphis pastor, country:andGovernors, mayors D.C., Wednesday, Louie Gohmert of Texas filed grocery store recently clos understands the anxiety. “This health the experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center May 19, 2021 lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Washington D.C., against House her house and she already is an honest and reasonable cones are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. at Arms William Walkcern and skepticism,” Fisher said. travel farther to get to Gat tructingSergeant makeshift medical and House Chief Administrative “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. er Officer Catherine Szpindor. got to consider the people black people to be righteously a Chinese restaurant and other Lee has disclosed a few: the Mun New YorkClyde, City,athey’re turngun dealer and firstskeptical of governmental inter- neighborhood,” she said. “W sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses. o the Javits termCenter memberconvention from northeast Georgia, hasthe beenMcCormick fined twice for going Locating a treatment center for vention that did not consult with need to make the neighb Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, around the metal and detector, worse than it already is.” the Knoxville Expo Center — all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.” e Convention Center; in includ$5,000 after a AmerFeb. 3 violation U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Doug McGowen, the city’s chief sites away from residential neigh- es two problems, residents say: dy, Utah,ing the Mountain and $10,000 after a Feb. 5 violation. phis Democrat, said the d operating officer, said the GateIt could potentially expose them borhoods. Expo Center. On that second occasion, Clyde said doesn’t make sense. way site was being considered beto the virus amid concerns that The Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. he Army Corps of Engiwent around the metal detec“I’m sure there are othe cause it could potentially accomterofin the Nutbush neighborhood blacks are contracting COVID-19 s has been scouting locations tor because he was running out time to vote on the floor. Clyde said Tennessee, and officials here of Memphis is different. The cen- at higher rates; and it could force modate hundreds of beds. He said that would work, and they he missed on April ter14features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those rather t compiled a listanother of 35 vote possibecause he was stuck in line for the a Rent-A-Center, a Fami- close. site, it would hold only mildly ill into a residential neighbo backup sites. They haven’t restore, metal detector. coronavirus patients SUSAN whoWALSH could| APbe Nutbush resident and commuly Dollar, a beauty supply shop, ed the whole list, but Gov. Bill PHOTOCohen said. Gohmert said he was fined fol-

2 U.S. House members sue over use of metal detectors

lowing a Feb. 4 incident during which he left the floor to use unconstitutional policy of enforcthe bathroom and refused to be ing the screening rule against only screened a second time, saying that members of the Republican mion previous occasions he was not nority in the House of Representarequired to be screened. Gohmert tives, and exempting members of is in his ninth term representing an the Democratic majority from its enforcement, resulting in only Reeast Texas district. Walker did not immediately republican members being fined and spond to an email seeking com- having their congressional salaries reduced, all for the purpose of crement. Clyde and Gohmert said Demo- ating a false narrative for the politicrats have been allowed to enter the cal benefit of the Democratic majorfloor without being screened, in- ity,” the lawsuit alleges. This claim ignores the House cluding House Speaker Nancy PeloEthics aCommittee’s fine si onPress Feb. 4. bin Salman, son of King$5,000 Salman, Associated thedeal. House’s 3rd-ranking “Speaker Pelosi has instituted an against assented to the

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

“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 soopes of boosting crashing pric- called OPEC+ group of OPEC mid the coronavirus pandemic members and other nations failed in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said. This could be the largest re- on production cuts, sending pricion in production from OPEC es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply perhaps a decade, maybe lon- criticized Russia days earlier over said U.S. Energy Secretary what it described as comments of the GOP kingdom, which Brouillette, who credited criticalprominent state lawmakers By Jeff Amy itself trying to appease ident Donald Trump’s also planning statewide runs. The Associated Pressper- finds are is one of sixcritic. Southern longtime OPEC l involvement in getting duel- Trump, aGeorgia where only Republicans — For more than Evenstates U.S. senators had warned parties to ATLANTA the table and helpa decade, Georgia Democrats hold statewide office. In others, Saudi Arabia to find a way to to end struggled a price war between to lure highly quali- Republicans are dominant. In prices as American shaleis di Arabiafied, andbig-name Russia. candidates toboost run Louisiana, Republican control firms face far-higher production il pricesfor have collapsed asWith the Repubbroken only by Democratic Gov. statewide office. John Bel Edwards, Florin control of all costs. con- American troopswhile had in been navirus licans and firmly the COVID-19 ida, toAgriculture Commissioner stitutional and the state deployed the kingdom for the ss it causes have positions largely haltNikki Fried is the only11, Democrat legislature, none wanted take time since the Sept. 2001, lobal travel and slowed down to first in statewide office. the risk. concerns Iranir energy-chugging sectors attacks over Still, as they look of to the 2022 This year is different. an retaliation ten-in as manufacturing. It has electorelections,amid few regional Republicans Boosted by significant sions. Georgia expect the relatively easy stated al the oil industry inelection, victories in the 2020 victories that characterized the a near-win of the more governor’s of“They’ve spent over the last U.S., which now pumps peak of GOP ascendance in the fice in 2018 and rapidly changing month waging war on American e than any other country. state demographics, seven sit- state in the 2010s. while we are defendut someting producers have been oil producers That’s because Georgia — as Democratic lawmakers have ing theirs. This friends ctant to declared ease supply. The carthehow most recent candidacies for one of evidenced isbynot treat friends,” said Sen. nd other nations on Sunday into the Georgia’s eight statewide offices elections — is evolving Kevin South’s most electorally compet— a Mexico full nineto months away from Cramer, a Republican from North ed to allow cut only itive state.the In OPEC+ November, Presithe 2022 qualifying deadline. Dakota, before deal. 000 barrels a month, a stickJoe Biden have becamealready the first them initially are names that U.S.dent producers point for Among an accord have drawn national notice, in- Democrat to win the state’s 16 been reducing output. The Amerhed Friday afterDemocratic a marathon cluding state Rep. electoral votes since Bill Clino conference betweena 23 na- ican ton in 1992. Institute Democrats laudRaphaBee Nguyen, candidate for Petroleum edtoSunday’s global pact, sayingthen it s. The nations together el Warnock and Jon Ossoff secretary of stateagreed who seeks went onother to winnations’ U.S. Senate seats leverage her party’s over help get stateut 9.7 million barrels a outrage day will January Georgia’s restrictive new voting ownedinoil multimillion-dollar production to follow the ughout May and June. runoffs that tipped control of the law to raise money nationwide, he group reached the deal just lead of U.S. producers that are tryand state Sen. Jen Jordan, who is chamber to Democrats. to plunging demand. s beforerunning Asianformarkets re- ing to adjust Candidates also hope to beneattorney general. Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internaexpect“I absolutely think it is going to fit from Stacey Abrams’ make commitments of its own al benchmark crude said. retry for the governor’s office be a strongBrent field,” Nguyen “I ed Abrams’ narrow losstoto think we recognize we can win in in 2022. production cuts, but was able ed at just over $31 a barrel then-Secretary of State Brian Georgia. We saw it last year; we the show obvious — that plunging American shale producers Kemp in 2018 bolstered the party saw it in 2021.” demand because of the pandemggle. Republicans, who still hold all that year, as did gains in the Genic is expected to slash U.S. oil proideo aired the Saudi-owned eral Assembly. of by Georgia’s constitutional statelite channel Before Biden’s victory, the last wide offices,Al-Arabiya hardly intendduction. to Democrats to win statewide were are Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanwed the concede. momentMost thatincumbents Saudi retained gearing up for reelection ganeh and four alsoincumbents told statewho television rgy Minister Prince Abdulaziz

Democrat, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who was caught entering the chamber without being screened in April. The House voted to mandate metal detectors after rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Some Republicans said thereafter that they carried weapons in Washington, and Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., set off a metal detector when he tried to enter the chamber with a concealed handgun late January. Guns are banned in U.S. Capitol, but lawmakers aren’t screened at the perimeter of the complex and

can bring unloaded guns to their offices. The suit claims the fines, which are deducted from their salaries if members don’t pay them voluntarily, violate the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bans changes to congressional salaries until after an ensuing election. It also says the security measure violates the Constitution because refusing to go through a metal detector is not “disorderly conduct” for which a member can be punished, and because members can’t be arrested except for “treason, felony

and breach of the peace.” The mandatory searches began this year after the Jan. 6 protest at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The requirement has been a partisan flashpoint, underscoring tensions and distrust between the two parties since the attack. Lawmakers are allowed to carry firearms in much of the Capitol and its grounds, but not into the House chamber, according to rules passed by the Democratic majority. The public is not allowed to carry weapons in or around the Capitol.

Georgia Democrats seize new power, run for statewide offices

SAUDI ENERGY

In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minist Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit of the Group of 20 energy minister his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, to coordinate a response to plummet prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn in global demand due to the pandem BRYNN ANDERSON | AP PHOTO

In this Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, file photo, Stacey Abrams speaks to Biden supporters as they wait that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés praise. for former President Barack Obama to arrive and speak at a campaign rally for Biden at Turner “The pure size of the cu the United Arab Emirates would Manuel López Obrador, had said Field in Atlanta. cut another 2 million barrels of Friday that he had agreed with precedented, but, then ag oil a day between them atop the Trump that the U.S. will compen- is the impact the corona state. on demand,” said M of Georgia political down-ballot in countries 2006, ed University sate what Mexico cannot secretary add to of having OPEC+ deal. offices The three Democrats do Ghulam, face challengBullock. even asimmediately Republican Sonny Per- scientist med an energy an theCharles proposed cuts. did not acknowledge Some who did try didn’t fare es. Like 2010, when Democrats due swept to reelection as goverRaymond James. “The big Oil Deal with OPEC the themselves, though well. In 2014, the Democratic were swept out of statewide ofnor.cut Those victories came as vot-ZanGhulamyear, and others Plusforisagriculture done. This will save ganeh theatvideo conferfice,hun2022 falls But in a midterm nominee commisers splitattended their tickets a rate that it may be enough. of thousands ofIrenergy jobs ence. when the party thatnot doesn’t conwas Christopher James has become unusual in Georgia sionerdreds trol said the White“This House tends vin. Although he had States,” huge name today. Democrat Thurbert Baker cuts is at leasttoa tempo in the United Trump Officials said other planned up seats. Biden in of-industry as the “I grandson of a topick won a third term as attorney gen- recognition liefWith for the energy in a tweet. would like thank would stand in the deal, meaning fice, national gains by the GOP This i Democrat who held the post for eral with 57% of the vote, at the an 8-million-barrel-per-day cut and congratulate President Pu- the global economy. 42 years, he raised only $52,000 could drag down the state’s Demsame time Perdue won 58%. is too big to be let to fail and tin oftoRussia and King from end of the ocraticofticket. compared Republican victorSalman ButJuly no through statewide the Democrats showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for “It’s not liance necessarily the easiremained after the 2010 elec- Gary Black’s $1.65 million. this agreement,” said Per M ThehasKremlin said President 16 months beginning in 2021. est to recruit in this cycle for the Abrams yet to announce tion, and the party’s candidates constitutional offices,” the said head Ross of ana for 2022, but other Dembecame the plansVladimir Putin held a joint call Nysveen, “This less willcompetitive enable theover rebalancRocketto, cofounder of Run ocratswith expect her toand runSaudi again. King nextoftwo Rystad Energy. “Even tho Trump Sal- the ing thecycles. oil markets and the ex“The candidates who may She is likely to raise a boatload for Something, a political acpected rebound of prices by $15 man to express support of the production cuts are small have been the party’s strongest of money, and some could find its tion committee that recruits and what the market needed a also said Nguyen, Putin spoke sepper barrel intothe short term,” said trains Democrats to run for ofway todeal. otherItDemocrats. challengers GOP incumbents the stock aratelycould withcash Trump the “People oil postpone aduring statement from are worried that it’s buildi for example, in on about op- fice. that time said,Nigeria’s ‘No, not oil be that good of a yearthe wor to Georgia’s restrictive now, I’m not going to give up a position problem, market and other issues. not going tostraints ministry. for Democrats.” new election law in her race for cautious sure thing for now avoided.” Analysts offered Mexico hada longshot,’” initially notblocked

& 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, June 16, 2021

obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

obituaries Teresa Roberson

Annie Scott

TERESA CHRISTINE ANNIE SHAVER SCOTT ROBERSON, commonly known passed away peacefully Jason Tony as “Nana”, 63, of Albemarle surrounded by her family on June passed away Tuesday, June 8, 8th, 2021 at theSmith age of 88. She is Efird 2021 in her home. preceded in death by her husband, ASON “GENE” MONROE 72, of Born July 22,EUGENE 1957 in Stanly Paul, ofONY 72 years. She isSMITH, survived EFIRD, 94, went home to be with Rockwell, NC, went to be with County, NC she was the daughter by her children: son, Eddie of his Lord Tuesday, 7, 2020, at his his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of the late Herbert RayApril Roberson San Antonio, Texas, daughter home in Stanfield. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at and Jeanette Hathcock Roberson. Carolyn Scott Parker and husband Gene was born October 9, 1925, in his home surrounded by family. A She was a member of Albemarle of Norwood and son Randy Cabarrus County to the late SimeonMike private family service will be held. First Assembly for Ella (Sherry) ofcondolences New London. She is at Jason Efirdand andworked the late Sarah Online can be made many years a CNA and Dietary also stanlyfuneralhome.com survived by her sister, Betty Burrisas Efird. In addition to his Manager at Britthaven and in death byShaverTony Hardin and August husband parents, he was preceded was born 11, 1947 Trinityhis Place wellLittle as TLC and of Columbia, SClate as Pearlie well wife,as Jewell Efird; sisters, Richard in Stanly County to the privateMary in-home-care. Her Almond, girls as 9 Asbury grandchildren many Lambert, Fannie Smith andand Emmer Lee Furr, Wilma Burleson He was the son in law of Pat and herMinnie grandkids were her life and greatSmith. grandchildren. Aileen Huskey; brothers,all Homer Annie and Mick he worked at and made a point of and attending wasCagle bornwhere in Stanly Efird, GetusShe Efird andan Wayne the fish for18th, many 1932. years until their life events. was avidEfird,County on house August Sr. Panther Fan and loved opened Anchor House Seafood Carolina The he second youngest of seventeen A private funeral service in Rockwell. He andshe his grew wife Becky her dog Corky. She found joy inwill be brothers and sisters, up and operated takingheld careonofSaturday, others. April 11, 2020 in a owned very Godly loving Anchor family.House She s Grove United Methodist for 25 years before retiring in 2009. She at is Love’ survived by daughters accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Church Cemetery in Stanfield Mr. Smith was a charter member Chassity Washburn and husband her personal Lord andDoor Savior in officiated by Rev. Jim White. Burial and deacon at Open Baptist Jason of Oakboro andLove’ Melissa 1943Church at thein age of 11. She taught will follow at the s Grove United Richfield. He loved the Williams and husband Shawn 4360 Sunday 31 years as a Tony Methodist Church Cemetery, Lordschool and hisfor family abundantly. of Norwood, two sisters Terina member Dunn’s husband, Grove Baptist Polk Ford Road, Stanfield. was aof wonderful father, and Lathe of Charlotte and Janice Church and sheand dedicated her life Survivors include son Gerald grandfather could fix anything Misenheimer of Albemarle, and to the of theon. Lord and the Wayne (Gail) Efird of Albemarle; heservice put his hands two brothers Darrell Roberson of daughter Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell church.Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of Stanfield; granddaughters, Beckyhad Caglemany Smithhobbies of the home, Albemarle and Ronald Roberson Annie Kelly Efird and Lauren sons Walter Smith and Robbie of Stanfield, fourBarbee grandchildren, including baking, canning (Justin) Crump; and great-vegetables, Smith; daughter Henderson HunterHartsell Williams, Zach sewing Kayla and she was grandsons, Ian Patrick Simmons and (Brandon); Washburn, Hannah Washburn known far andgrandchildren wide for herDanielle, home Elliot Williams, Jacob Simmons. Dustin, and She Steeleretired Smith, from Keaton and Carter as well as cooked meals. Memorials mayCody be made to Love’s and Ella Henderson; brother David two beloved nephews, Lathe Wiscassett Mills after 42 years. Grove United Methodist Church, PO Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, and Sam Lathe. Annie had a smile and a Eudy, joy that Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276. Karen Stevenson, Ruby and In lieu of flowers, memorials touched everyone she knew and Dorothy Smith (Nick). may be made to the Stanly County alwaysHe went out of her way by to is preceded in death Humane Society or the Pancreatic make everyone feel loved and brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, Cancer Action Network, www. appreciated. Claude Smith, Wade Smith, Robert pancan.org. Smith, and sister Mary Morris.

Herman Wechter HERMAN THEODORE WECHTER, 79, of Albemarle, Merle passed away Monday, April 5, 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus Helms in Concord. LORRAINE AUSTIN Ted ERLE was born September 21, HELMS, 72, of Marshville, 1941 in New York to the late Sol passed away Wednesday, April 8, Wechter and Ruth Wechter. 2020 at McWhorter Hospice House was a veteran of the inTed Monroe. United States Coast Guard, Lorraine was born April 28, he 1947 held many positions in Florida in Monroe to the late Homer David and retired to North Carolina in Austin and Jewell Delphia-Jane 2014. HeShe became a preceded volunteer Austin. was also infor the Guardian Ad A.D. Litem death by brothers, andDistrict Teddy andhe sister, Joy Austin. 20Austin; because wanted to help the The family receivetears friends children. Ted will brought of joy 6:00 pm 8:00 pm, Friday, tofrom everyone he-touched. April 2020will at Hartsell The10, family have aFuneral Home of Albemarle. The Celebration of Life at a funeral later date. service will beinclude at 11:00loving am on Survivors Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist wife, Dona Wechter, daughter, Church in Marshville, officiated Rebecca, son,Miller Thomas, sister, by Rev. John and Rev. Leon Arlene, and his grandchildren Whitley. She will lie in state for 30 Donations madeShe inwill minutes prior may to thebe service. Ted’s name toinStanly County be laid to rest the church cemetery. Volunteer Guardian Adbeloved Litem, She is survived by her P.O. Box 1814 28112. husband of 47Monroe years, PaulNC Helms the ‘Memo’ home; son, Alex (Deanna) Inofthe line put DISTRICT Helms of Pageland; daughter, Paula 20. (Cristin Brandt) Helms of Mint Hartsell Funeral Home ofHill; grandchildren, Mason,the Grant, and Albemarle is serving Wechter Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, family. Royce, Tim Austin; and sisters, Online condolences may be Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton. made at www.hartsellfh.com

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.

IRENE FURR CALDWELL, 87, MATTIE RUTH PAGE of Albemarle, passed away Sunday, MILLER, 92, of Albemarle, Danny June 13,Jerry 2021 at her home. passed away Wednesday, June 9, Irene was born August 24, 1933 2021 at Atrium Health Stanly in Luther Fincher in Stanly County to the late Millard Albemarle. ANNY PAUL LUTHER, ERRY FINCHER passed fromTina Hubert Furr and the late Mattie was born January 26, 65, of Norwood, passed away this life on April 3, 2020 at 8:05 Louise Furr. 1929 in North Carolina to the late unexpectedly Thursday, April 9, pm. HeShe waswas surrounded by his family also preceded in death William Page and the late Bessie 2020 at Atrium Health Stanly in and by holding the hand of theVernon love of Furr, brothers, Robert Efird Page. Albemarle. his life. is preceded in death RoyJerry Davis Furr, and Dave Lincoln She was was alsoborn preceded Mr. Luther March in 27,deathby three siblings, two brothers, Billy Furr; sisters, Ola Mae Harkey, by husband, Mavon Reece Miller, 1955 to the late Robert Fulton and Gilbert Fincher, and Larry Richard Annie Belle Almond, and Ruby Lee and daughter, Mattie Diane Helen Tucker Luther. Fincher, and one sister, Barbra Joyce Furr. Taylor. Danny was survived by his wife, Moore. Survivors Denise Burlesoninclude Luther ofgrandson, Norwood; He isSurvivors survived byinclude his wife,loving Eleanor almost years, J sons, Jeremy (Karen)Taylor, Luther and Katehusband Fincher ofofthe home,64 daughter, Steven (Mandy) P Fincher Caldwell of Albemarle; Jody Luther; step-sons, Bryan Cindy Jacobs of Wingate sons, granddaughters, Tanya Taylor (Kim) Caldwell and Whitley and Gregg (Anita) Whitley; NC.,Kenneth son and daughter in law, Tommy and Tammy Ricketts, greatJoel (Laura) Caldwell; brother, Grandchildren, Daniel Luther and (Tiffany) Fincher of New London grandchildren, Mylia Taylor, Hunter Zado,Ricketts, as well as his brother, StepRay Children, (Lisa) Furr;Jimmy sisters, Brenda Myranda Alston Taylor, NC.,Coy Bob Luther Jr (Lorena), Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) Walker, Christine Drye, Lillian and Bryson Taylor. uncle Jack Luther and several other loved nieces, Krimminger of Locust NC.,Jean Eric Furr; Dellinger, and Betty Mattie lived a wonderful, long nephews and cousins. (Sharon) Lanier of Charlotte 11 grandchildren and NC., 10 greatlife; sherecently was a wonderful Danny retired from person, Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson grandchildren. and feisty. Mattie enjoyed working Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after of Midland, Step-grandchildren, the garden, especially on her Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron a in dedicated 37 years and worked tomato Sheseveral worked at there with plants. his sons and other (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) Albemarle Spinning and farmed Washington, Beth (Robbie) Setzer, friends and family members. for mostloved of her life. time at Danny spending Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step In lieu ofwith flowers, memorials his lake house his family and great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve friends as well as vacationing his Washington, Robert Setzer, George may be made to Hartsellwith Funeral family. Danny enjoyed NC (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer Home, P.O.and BoxDenise 7, Albemarle, listening beach music to Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, 28002,toon behalf ofand theloved Miller shag dance chance could Andrew Underwood, Step great family toevery assist withthey funeral get. He was an amazing father, loving great grandchild, Waylon George expenses. grandfather and great friend to of Setzer and brother Donald Lewis Hartsell Funeral Home many. He will never be forgotten. Fincher of Albemarle, NC. Albemarle is serving the Miller A celebration of life will be Jerry Fincher will be laid to rest on family. once the current announced Wednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am Onlinerestrictions condolences may be COVID-19 are lifted. at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone made at www.hartsellfh.com Hartsell Funeral Home of interested in attending, please RSVP

Albemarle is serving the Luther family.

at 704-796-2412. Dr. Phil McCray and Pastor Tommy Fincher will officiate.

Memorial contributions can be made to Open Door Baptist Church at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Pauline Tucker

AULINE ELIZABETH ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed away peacefully at Trinity Place, Albemarle, NC on April 11, 2020. Pauline was born on March 22, 1922 in Cabarrus County, NC to the late John Richard Almond and Alice Ada Ann Lambert Almond. She is survived by her three daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing (Foreman), Oakboro, NC; Kathy Hunt (Marc), Albemarle, NC; her son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), Washington, DC. She will be greatly missed by her five grandchildren, Heather Rushing Chaney (Shannon), Michael Rushing, Elizabeth Michel Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. (Jenn), and Woody Hunt as well as seven great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind cherished nieces and nephews. The family expresses its sincere gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Trinity Place for the care they provided Pauline. A private graveside service will be held on Monday, April 13, 2020. A celebration of Pauline’s life and legacy will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the BrightFocus Foundation at www. brightfocus.org.

Rachel Plowman

Irene Caldwell

Mattie Miller

Linda Hatley

INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020. Linda was born September 18, 1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and Claris Tucker. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Terry Lee Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda Tucker Strickland. We know Brenda and Linda are in Heaven watching over us and laughing. Linda was a loving mother, sister, and “Nana.” She was a very giving and loving person. Linda would always do anything she could for others, especially her family. She enjoyed working at FastShop #5, Locust. Linda will be forever loved and greatly missed. Survivors include her son, Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker and wife, Linda, of Midland; granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 niece; and 2 nephews. The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle. Linda will be laid to rest during a private committal service at Bethel United Methodist Church, Midland. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Bethel UMC, 12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC 28107.

RACHEL ELAINE ROGERS PLOWMAN, 74, of Richfield, NC, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021 in her home. Her funeral service will be 12pm Saturday, June 19, 2021 in the Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Chapel. Burial will follow in Stanly Garden of Memory. The family will be receiving friends prior to the service from 11am until 12pm at the funeral home. Rachel was born November 26, 1946 in Iredell County, NC to the late James Allen Rogers and Rachel Holland Rogers. She formerly worked at Albemarle Spinning Mill and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Monroe, NC. She loved working outside and enjoyed decorating her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie A. Plowman. Rachel is survived by a son, Lonnie Michael Plowman (Alison) of Bahama, NC; two daughters, Michelle Dawn Plowman companion, Celebrate the life of(and your loved Charmario Bramham) of Richfield, NC and Jennifer Plowman Parker ones. Submit obituaries and (Allen) of Richfield, NC; second death notices to be mother, published in of Monroe, Jackie Rogers NC; two brothers, Matthew SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com Rogers of Monroe, NC and Mark Rogers (Amy) of Myrtle Beach, SC; a sister, Sandra Rogers Helms of Monroe, NC; seven grandchildren, Enya, Jackson, Piper, Nicholas, Matthew, Rachel and Jacob and her two fur babies. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Plowman family.

Shirley Celebrate the life of your loved Haire

ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, of Albemarle passed away on April 11, 2020 at Atrium Health Stanly. The family will hold a private graveside service for Mrs. Haire. Shirley was born December 12, 1946 in Washington, DC to the late Charles Richard Bateman and Elizabeth Mae Mulligan Bateman. Shirley is survived by her husband of 30 years Vaughn Smith of Albemarle; sister Sandra Painter of Gainesville, VA; half-brother Robert Bateman of Stevensville, MD; step-children Heather Smith of Jacksonville, FL and David Smith of New London, NC; 4 step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi Hentschel of Leesburg, VA and Cheryl Hardy of Aylett, VA; 16 grandnieces and nephews; and Gus the dog. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Haire family.

Simple, Affordable, Convenient Available 24 Hours a Day

Southern Piedmont Cremation Services provides a basic cremation service for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one and do not desire a traditional funeral or farewell ceremony. When your loved one passes simply call our office and our professional team will come as quickly as possible and bring your loved one into our care. Phone: 704-985-4851

Fax: 704-550-5508

Email: care@spcremation.com

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

STATE & NATION

Justice Department targets GOP-led voting laws By Christina A. Cassidy The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department will scrutinize a wave of new laws in Republican-controlled states that tighten voting rules, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, vowing to take action against states on any violations of federal law. He announced plans to double staffing within the department’s civil rights division and said the department would send guidance to states about election-related activity, including absentee by-mail voting and post-election audits. He also pledged to investigate and prosecute those who would threaten election workers, noting a rise in such cases. “There are many things open to debate in America, but the right of all eligible citizens to vote is not one of them,” Garland said in his first direct response to the election integrity laws being passed in more than a dozen states where Republicans control the legislature and governor’s office. Speaking to staff of the agency’s civil rights division, he said the resources of the Justice Department must be rededicated to “meet the challenge of the current moment.” His message was clear: The department doesn’t plan to stay on the sidelines of the voting battles that have erupted in statehouses across the country. Along with reviewing new state laws, Garland said the department also will examine existing ones for their potential to discriminate against minority voters. He also reiterated the administration’s support for two proposals pushed by congressional Democrats that would federalize voting and would restore the ability of his agency to review changes to state election laws. Republican state lawmakers in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Texas and elsewhere seized on concerns over voter integrity. As of mid-May, 22 restrictive laws had passed in at least 14 states, according to the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates loosening voting laws. Republicans in Texas are ex-

TOM BRENNER | THE NEW YORK TIMES VIA AP, POOL

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks about voting rights at the Justice Department in Washington, on Friday, June 11, 2021. pected to call for a special session to push through an election overhaul that was derailed by Democrats on the last day of the regular session. Republicans who support the new laws said action was needed to safeguard voting and restore public confidence in elections. “Americans have been clear: they support laws making it easy to vote and hard to cheat in states across the country,” said Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action, which has been working to advance the legislative proposals. “Despite the false narrative coming out of the White House and now the Department of Justice, Americans support secure, fair elections, even if the Left does not.”

Voting right groups already have filed several lawsuits challenging the laws. Garland’s comments come as the Justice Department is shifting its priorities to focus more on civil rights issues and ensuring equal protection under the law after a tumultuous four years in the Trump administration. Along with tightening voting rules, Republicans also have pushed measures to expand the role of poll watchers, following complaints that their monitors did not have adequate access during the 2020 election. In Florida, a new law allows each candidate to have one watcher present during canvassing board meetings. In a bill that eventually failed

Garland vowed that his department would ensure any post-election review abides by federal law to “protect election records and avoid the intimidation of voters.” Arizona’s current Secretary of State and chief elections officer, Katie Hobbs, announced last Wednesday her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2022 while denouncing the Republican-controlled state Senate’s ongoing audit. “Arizonans are tired of the partisanship,” Hobbs said. “We are currently being led by a group of conspiracy theorists who are not in touch with everyday Arizonans, and that is holding us back. And I’ve always been able to break through that and get things done,” said Hobbs in an interview.

NATO leaders declare China a global security challenge By Aamer Madhani The Associated Press BRUSSELS — NATO leaders on Monday declared China a constant security challenge and said the Chinese are working to undermine global order. In a summit statement, the leaders said that China’s goals and “assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.” While the 30 heads of state and government avoided calling China a rival, they expressed concern about what they said were its “coercive policies,” the opaque ways it is modernizing its armed forces and its use of disinformation. They called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and to act responsibly in the international system. President Joe Biden, who arrived at the summit after three days of consulting with Group of Seven allies in England, pushed for the G-7 communique there that called out what it said were forced labor practices and other human rights violations impacting Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province. The president said he was satisfied with the communique, although differences remain among the allies about how forcefully to criticize Beijing. The new Brussels communique states that the NATO nations “will engage China with a view to defending the security interests of the alliance.” But some allies bristled at the NATO effort to speak out on China. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said NATO’s decision to name China as a threat “shouldn’t be overstated” because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas. China is Germany’s top trading partner and is heavily dependent on Russia in fulfilling the country’s energy needs.

OLIVIER HOSLET, POOL VIA AP

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a media conference during a NATO summit in Brussels, Monday, June 14, 2021. Merkel noted that “when you look at the cyber threats, the hybrid threats, when you look at the cooperation between Russia and China, you can’t just ignore China.” But she added that it was important to “find the right balance” as China is also a partner on many issues. “I think it’s very important, just like we do in Russia, to always make the offer of political discussions, political discourse, in order to come up with solutions,” Merkel said. “But where there are threats, and I said they’re in the hybrid field too, then as NATO you have to be prepared.” France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged the alliance not to let China distract it from what he saw as more pressing issues facing NATO, including the fight against terrorism and security issues related to Russia.

“I think it is very important not to scatter our efforts and not to have biases in our relation to China,” Macron said. The Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom issued a statement saying the G-7 communique “deliberately slandered China and arbitrarily interfered in China’s internal affairs,” and exposed the “sinister intentions of a few countries, such as the United States.” Biden arrived at his first NATO summit as president as leading members declared it a pivotal moment for an alliance. During the presidency of Donald Trump, who questioned the relevance of the multilateral organization and took steps to ensure the nations footed their share of costs. Shortly after arriving at the alliance’s headquarters, Biden sat down with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and under-

scored the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the alliance charter, which spells out that an attack on one member is an attack on all and is to be met with a collective response. “Article 5 we take as a sacred obligation,” Biden said. “I want NATO to know America is there.” Belgium Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said Biden’s presence “emphasizes the renewal of the transatlantic partnership.” De Croo said NATO allies were looking to get beyond four tough years under the Trump administration and infighting among member countries. “I think now we are ready to turn the page,” de Croo said. Trump routinely berated other NATO countries for not spending enough on defense and even threatened to pull the U.S. out of the world’s biggest security organization. The alliance also updated Article

5 to offer greater clarity on how the alliance should react to major cyber attacks — a matter of growing concern amid hacks targeting the U.S. government and businesses around the globe by Russia-based hackers. Beyond extending the potential use of the Article 5 mutual defense clause to space, the leaders also broadened the definition of what might constitute such an attack in cyberspace, in a warning to any adversary that might use constant low-level attacks as a tactic. The organization declared in 2014 that a cyber attack could be met by a collective response by all 30 member countries, but on Monday they said that “the impact of significant malicious cumulative cyber activities might, in certain circumstances, be considered as amounting to an armed attack.” The president started his day meeting with leaders of the Baltic states on NATO’s eastern flank as well as separate meetings with leaders of Poland and Romania to discuss the threat posed by Russia and the recent air piracy in Belarus, according to the White House. Biden’s itinerary in Europe has been shaped so that he would first gather with G-7 leaders and then with NATO allies in Brussels before his much-anticipated meeting with Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. Biden met on Monday evening with Turkey’s president, Erdogan, on the summit sidelines. Biden, during his campaign, drew ire from Turkish officials after he described Erdogan as an “autocrat.” In April, Biden infuriated Ankara by declaring that the Ottoman-era mass killing and deportations of Armenians was “genocide” — a term that U.S. presidents have avoided using. In a brief exchange with reporters, Biden described it as a “very good meeting.” He and Erdogan met privately before being joined by other officials.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 38 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021

Twin City Herald

KATHY WILLIAMS | AP PHOTO

WHAT’S HAPPENING Police: 1 killed, 3 wounded in Winston-Salem shooting Police in Winston-Salem said that one person was killed and three others suffered non-lifethreatening wounds in a shooting late Friday night in a residential area south of downtown. Police heard numerous shots fired and found four gunshot victims. Two men and a teenager were taken to the hospital with wounds described as serious but not lifethreatening. A fourth victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Two firearms were recovered from the scene. The police department said the death is the city’s 17th homicide of the year. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-teacher pleads guilty to taking indecent liberties A former teacher at a WinstonSalem charter school pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. Tyrus Cromartie, 27, was sentenced to 10 to 12 months in prison with an additional 10 to 12 months suspended. He must register as a sex offender and cannot be alone with a minor without supervision. The former Quality Education Academy math teacher tried to get two students, 13 and 14, to have sex with him. Cromartie sent the girls texts suggesting possible meeting times. Cromartie continued working at the academy even after police notified the school. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Woman charged in 5-yearold son’s death Kimberly Monique Smith, 37, of Rural Hall, was charged in the death of her 5-year-old son, and an additional charge was filed after another son was found with signs of trauma. She was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kendall Marquise Smith. The boy was pronounced dead at a local children’s hospital. Smith was charged with intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury in connection with injuries to another child. The second child, Kyrie M. Smith, 6, had bruises on his back, chest and legs as well as a rib fracture and an upper-arm fracture. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NC to give out $1 million each to 4 vaccinated residents By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A new lottery in North Carolina will give the more than 4.6 million vaccinated residents across the state a different kind of shot: a chance to win $1 million. Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Thursday that those who have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and are 18 years of age or older will be automatically entered in the lottery, while residents between the ages of 12 and 17 will be eligible for a $125,000 scholarship to the college of their choice. There will be four drawings, with $1 million and a $125,000 scholarship each being given out on June 23, July 7, July 21 and Aug. 4. Those who get their first vaccines on Thursday or later will be entered twice to win in each of the four contests. Winners must be named publicly to receive the

money. The Democratic governor said the prizes are subject to state and federal taxes. “Even if your name isn’t drawn, the worst you’ll do is getting strong protection from a deadly virus,” Cooper said. Federal coronavirus relief funds will be used to pay for the program. The drawings aim to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation as North Carolina is among the states with the lowest rate of people inoculated per capita. With a surplus of more than 2.3 million vaccines, health officials are no longer accepting them from the federal government. Since the start of the vaccine rollout, North Carolina has refused to accept nearly 2.4 million shots from its weekly federal allocation. More than 1.2 million doses were donated back to federal authorities as of Friday. Though there is still time for more data to come in, state data

“Even if your name isn’t drawn, the worst you’ll do is getting strong protection from a deadly virus." Gov. Roy Cooper shows fewer than 50,000 North Carolinians went in for their first COVID-19 shot last week. This represents the lowest participation levels to date and a nearly 88% drop in demand compared to the week of March 8, when the state reached a high of more than 400,000 people seeking the first dose. For months, Cooper has expressed an openness to the possibility of further incentives. The state had previously relied almost entirely on an information campaign highlighting the safety and

efficacy of the three COVID-19 vaccines regulators have approved. As demand stalled and the number of newly vaccinated residents declined, Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services explored what prizes other states have offered and launched a pilot program of its own. At participating sites in four counties starting last month, newly vaccinated individuals and drivers who transported people to their appointments got $25 cash cards. More than 1,700 vaccine recipients and over 700 drivers got cards, according to data the state health department shared with The Associated Press. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state’s top public health official, said the $4.5 million in total lottery prizes will not replace the cash card program and that the $25 card offerings will soon be expanded. “In the coming weeks, (we) hope to scale up both the summer cash card and to move forward with these $1 million drawings,” Cohen said. Most adults in the state, including nearly 4 in 5 people who are at least 65 years old, are fulSee LOTTERY, page 2

NC court: Students can use constitution to fight bullying The Associated Press RALEIGH — The constitutional right of North Carolina’s children to have access to a good public school education also applies to individual students who aren’t getting help to stop classroom bullying and harassment against them, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday. The justices’ unanimous ruling in part addresses the declaration in a landmark 1997 ruling by the court that the combination of two portions of the state constitution guarantees every child of this state an “opportunity to receive a sound basic education in our public schools.” This and another 2004 ruling in what’s known as the “Leandro” case created the basis for a separate public policy debate over how to address inequitable school funding and services not considered in Friday’s opinion. But the right to that opportunity also must be offered as grounds for reasonable legal claims by individual students who say their rights were violated and there is no other way to seek redress, Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote. “The right to a sound basic edu-

cation rings hollow if the structural right exists but in a setting that is so intimidating and threatening to students that they lack a meaningful opportunity to learn,” Newby said in the opinion, which reverses a ruling by the state Court of Appeals to dismiss the case. The case involved a mother and her three children. Ashley Deminski said her children, two of which are diagnosed with autism, were subject in 2016 to physical violence and sexual harassment and vulgarities by as many as four students at Lakeforest Elementary School in Pitt County. Deminski said the school’s leadership and the local school board were largely unresponsive to her concerns. School personnel said changes would take time but no real change occurred, according to the opinion. Ultimately the three were able to transfer to another school, but Deminski sued in late 2017, citing education provisions in the North Carolina Constitution. The family sought monetary damages and an order that the children would never have to return to Lakeforest. A trial court judge allowed the case to proceed, despite argu-

ments by the Pitt County School Board that it was immune from the litigation as a government body. A majority on a threejudge Court of Appeals panel dismissed the case last year, citing a similar case involving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board and negligence claims related to a teacher’s sexual relationship with a high school student. But Newby said the Court of Appeals’ majority decision would mean the constitutional guarantee “extends no further than an entity affording a sound basic education by making educational opportunities available.” Instead, the constitutional right to education and the state’s duty to guard and maintain that right “extend to circumstances where a school board’s deliberate indifference to ongoing harassment prevents children from receiving an education,” he added. Pitt County board lawyers had argued there was no cause of legal action under the constitution in cases alleging school employees had failed to prevent harm caused by a third party. Deminski is very pleased with Friday’s ruling, attorney Troy

Shelton said in an interview, calling it a victory for all North Carolina students in that “schools can’t turn a blind eye to abuse that’s happening right under their noses” and not face consequences. Deminski’s children are no longer in elementary school, Shelton said. The case, which now returns to a trial court, received attention from outside groups. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Disability Rights North Carolina filed briefs stating a sound basic education includes a safe learning environment. Lawyers for the North Carolina Schools Boards Association, siding with the Pitt County board, wrote in a brief that subjecting school boards to more claims of individual injury would be financially “ruinous” to school systems. “Recognizing a (new) constitutional claim ... would extend Leandro well beyond its holding and purpose, which was to create a framework through which the state’s public school system, as a whole, could be scrutinized for constitutional adequacy,” wrote attorney Elizabeth Troutman, representing the association.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal. 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 (704) 269-8461 INFO@TWINCITYHERALD.COM TWINCITYHERALD.COM

♦ ATTUCKS, BELINDA JANDELLA was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 1527 S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR on 6/11/2021 ♦ BANKINS, JUSTIN LEE was arrested on a charge of MURDER-FIRST DEG at 725 N CHERRY ST on 6/12/2021 ♦ Boston, Deshun Lamont (M/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) Reckless Driving (M) and 2) Hit & Run (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/12/2021 08:39. ♦ BROWN, JERMAINE CHRISHAUN was arrested on a charge of LARCENYFELONY at 1007 HAYWOOD ST on 6/13/2021

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

of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/12/2021 ♦ Evans, Timothy Wade (M/43) Arrest on chrg of Ccw, M (M), at Nb 52/nb 52_s Main St Ra, Winstonsalem, NC, on 6/9/2021 12:15. ♦ FLOWERS, NATHANIEL NEIL was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED I at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/11/2021 ♦ FRASIER, HERVIE LAVON was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 2008 E TWENTY-FIFTH ST on 6/11/2021

♦ BROWN, TYSEAN LEE was arrested on a charge of CCW at 1619 HOPE LN/ CHARITY LN on 6/12/2021

♦ GAINEY, AARON QUINZELL was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 775 CARL RUSSELL AV on 6/12/2021

♦ BUCKNER, KENNETH WILLIAM was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 800 HANES MALL BV on 6/13/2021

♦ GARCIALAREDO, JONATHAN was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D SCHED I at 1528 BRUCE ST on 6/13/2021

♦ CREWE, LEONARD REGINALD was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 117 HARPER ST on 6/13/2021

♦ Gee, Kevin Lavon (M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugsmisd Poss (M), 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 3) Probation Violation (M), at 4688 Dillon St, Walkertown, NC, on 6/13/2021 00:12.

♦ ELDRIDGE, TYWON DONTA was arrested on a charge

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either reverse course or pass their own set of comprehensive reform bills that half the country doesn’t want. The legislative filibuster is doing exactly what it should be — preserving a semblance of federalist governance. Now, I don’t know if Manchin is taking a principled stand or a politically expedient one, and it doesn’t really matter. Without question, he’s taken the consistent position. A recent Morning Consult poll found that, overall, voters supported the filibuster by a 21-percentage-point margin “when it was framed as an existing mechanism.” But when given a choice of supporting a simple 51-vote majority or a 60-vote threshold, they favored the former by seven points. So, it’s clear that many voters have no clue why the filibuster exists or even what it does. Which is why Democrats have been able to effectively demagogue the issue. As with nearly all objects of left-wing animosity, the filibuster, a counter-majoritarian mechanism used in various ways in almost every liberal nation, has been transformed into a tool of “white supremacy.” This accusation is meant to chill debate and to slander, by implication, anyone who supports it. Well, anyone who supports it now. Democrats not only liberally employed the filibuster, but they also championed it. And not just during Jim Crow days, but during the Bush and Trump administrations. And the anger thrown at Manchin this week is being leveled by the very same people who would have a collective emotional meltdown had Republicans broken long-standing norms and unilaterally rammed through partisan “reforms” during the Trump years. And Republicans could have done it. As NBC’s Sahil Kapur helpfully noted recently, Donald Trump, who now says eliminating the filibuster would be “catastrophic for the Republican Party,” asked them to do it. What reporters rarely note, however, is that former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and 32 Democratic senators that signed a letter in 2017 imploring Mitch McConnell to preserve the “existing rules, practices, and traditions” that remain bulwarks against majoritarian bullying are also all cynical partisan hypocrites.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Eason, Laveesha Makeela (F/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) Communicate Threats (M) and 2) Harassing Phone Calls (M), at 200 N Main St, Kernersville, NC, on 6/9/2021 09:44.

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Neal Robbins

♦ DUNN, DARRYL JAMEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 5110 SPLIT RAIL LN on 6/12/2021

JUNE 22

OPINION | DAVID HARSANYI

Publisher

♦ CUTHRELL, TERRY WAYNE was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTA DWI-LEVEL 5 at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/10/2021

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TUESDAY

♦ GIBBS, VALERIA HINES was arrested on a charge of CCW at 199 HARVEY ST/HANESTOWN AV on 6/12/2021 ♦ GIBBS, VALERIA HINES was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 199 HARVEY ST/ HANESTOWN AV on 6/12/2021 ♦ GRIER, JOSEPH LEE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1631 GRETEL LN on 6/10/2021 ♦ Hardebeck, Eddie James

(M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) False Imprisonment (M) and 2) Assault On Female (M), at 6010 Neal Trail Cr, Walkertown, NC, on 6/13/2021 13:45. ♦ HOWELL, DEANDRE LYDELL was arrested on a charge of STALKING at 131 SHADY BV on 6/11/2021 ♦ Martin, Ronnie Dean (M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possession Marijuana (M), 2) Disorderly Pub Bldg (M), and 3) Resisting Arrest (M), at 894 Bitting Hall Cr, Rural Hall, NC, on 6/10/2021 17:00. ♦ MCDOWELL, ANDRE GERODE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 3591 N PATTERSON AV on 6/10/2021 ♦ Miller, Travis Allen (M/42) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 1305 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Lewisville, NC, on 6/9/2021 16:08. ♦ OGLESBY, JEFFREY LORINZE was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/ LARC-FELONY at 2215 OLD SALISBURY RD on 6/11/2021 ♦ OLMEDO, PEDRO ELENA was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTA-DWI-LEVEL 5 at 3129 RIDGEWOOD RD/RIDGEWOOD CT on 6/11/2021 ♦ PEMBERTON, DATARIUS KNAJAWAN was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D MARIJUANA at 2115 PETERS CREEK PW on 6/11/2021 ♦ PENN, MOREY JERMAINE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1423 N MAIN ST on 6/10/2021 ♦ PERDUE, SABRINA NICOLE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at

416 E HANES MILL RD on 6/12/2021

♦ Peter Beckage, 87, died June 9, 2021.

♦ POSEY, CARLTON VIRGIL was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1433 HUTTON ST on 6/12/2021

♦ John Wade Bell III, 80, of Winston-Salem, died June 10, 2021.

♦ SMITHSON, QUADIR NIAYUGILL was arrested on a charge of WEAP-POSS BY FELON at 170 JONES RD on 6/13/2021 ♦ TAYLOR, MICHAEL WAYNE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/13/2021 ♦ TRITT, NICHOLAS SEAN was arrested on a charge of POSS HEROIN at 100 W FIFTH ST on 6/10/2021 ♦ Walls, Marcus Noah (M/36) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive (F), at 201 N CH Church St, Winston Salem, NC, on 6/11/2021 01:00. ♦ WASHINGTONRICHMOND, KRYSTAL DESIRAE was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 725 N CHERRY ST on 6/12/2021 ♦ WATSON, CHRISHAWN TYQUESE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/13/2021 ♦ WEAVER, JUSTIN NEAL LEE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/11/2021 ♦ WILLIAMS, RANDALL LONORRIS was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 799 HANES MALL BV on 6/10/2021 ♦ WILSON, CAMERON MIQUEL was arrested on a charge of REC/ POSS STOLE MV at 2246 RAMGATE CT on 6/11/2021

♦ Thomas Lloyd Bragg “Tommy Steel”, 49, of Kernersville, died June 9, 2021. ♦ William “Tink” Curtis Crompton, 65, died June 12, 2021. ♦ Jack Dalton, 61, died June 12, 2021. ♦ Wendy Enuol, newborn, died June 10, 2021. ♦ Jack David Hamby, 79 of East Bend, died June 9, 2021. ♦ Ginger Hall Heath, 74, of Forsyth County, died June 10, 2021. ♦ Diana Ruth Ethridge Holton, 45, of Clemmons, died June 9, 2021. ♦ Reba Ann Love, 76, of Surry County, died June 12, 2021. ♦ Teresa Elaine Rector, 57, of Valdese, died June 11, 2021. ♦ Bruce Allen Vogt, 67, of Kernersville, died June 12, 2021.

LOTTERY from page 1

ly vaccinated. Those under 50 have shown stronger reluctance to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Residents who are at least 12 years old are currently eligible for a shot. More than 4.4 million adults and 165,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17 have gotten at least one shot, according to state health data released on Thursday, thus making the current odds of winning a contest about 1 in 1.1 million for adults and 1 in 41,000 for children.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 16, 2021

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