North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 41

Substation attack second in last month

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

RALEIGH — The massive Dec. 3 criminal attack on the electric grid in Moore County isn’t the only recent act of vandalism resulting in a loss of power for thousands of customers.

On Nov. 11, a property owned by the Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) in the Jones County town of Maysville was damaged. More than 12,000 CCEC customers were without power for approximately two hours, according to a statement from the cooperative.

“CCEC monitors its system constantly, and soon after the outage occurred, crews were dispatched to begin the restoration process and found that the Maysville substation had been vandalized. The Maysville substation remains offline, but CCEC is fully able to serve all of its members through other substations,” a Nov. 11 statement reads.

The total cost of the damage was expected to exceed $500,000, and insurance investigators are still working to determine the extent of the damage. The cooperative said the vandals damaged

transformers causing them to leak coolant oil.

Jake Joplin, CCEC CEO and general manager, stated that the cooperative “condemns this senseless act of vandalism.”

The Jones County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation were investigating the vandalism.

Much like the attack in Moore County, the attacks occurred close to military installations in the state. Maysville sits 33 miles from Camp Lejeune and 41 miles

COVID’s lingering impact prompts Real ID deadline extension

Washington, D.C.

The deadline for obtaining the Real ID needed to board a domestic flight has been pushed back again, with the Department of Homeland Security citing the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for the slower-than-expected rollout.

The deadline to have a Real ID had been May 3, 2023, but DHS announced Monday that it was pushed back two years, to May 7, 2025.

“DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a news release.

After the May 2025 deadline, domestic travelers 18 and older on commercial flights must have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state photo ID identification card. Real ID also will be required to enter some federal facilities such as military bases.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dobson won’t run for reelection to lead Labor Dept

Raleigh

First-term Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, a Republican, announced Tuesday he would not seek reelection to the post he won in 2020. A former state Rep. from McDowell County, he made the announcement at the monthly Council of State meeting in Raleigh.

“After much soul searching I’m announcing that I will not seek reeelection, nor will I be a candidate for any office in 2024,” Dobson said during his time alloted at the meeting.

“I’m going to finish my term and focus on work force health and safety, work force development and try to help tone down the divisive nature of our politics,” he added.

NSJ STAFF

Bloomberg: Moore attack shows power grid still ‘extremely vulnerable’

Raleigh

The attacks that left two electrical substations riddled with gunfire and knocked out power to 45,000 homes and businesses underscores the fragility of US grids, experts told Bloomberg News.

“From this incident, it appears that the electrical grid continues to be extremely vulnerable,” said Jon Wellinghoff, chief executive officer of GridPolicy Consulting Inc. and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulator Commission.

While power grids are regular targets of cyber attacks, major physical assaults on the systems are rare. The incident underscores how when successful, such strikes can have widespread consequences, according to the outlet.

There have been nine physical attacks on the U.S. electrical grid so far this year, along with 60 acts of vandalism, according to U.S. Department of Energy data. The agency, which reported slightly lower numbers for the previous three years, defines physical attacks as those that disrupt grid operations or have intent to harm national security.

NSJ STAFF

NC House Speaker talks about midterm results, legal cases and upcoming session

Moore happy with midterm outcomes, characterized some arguments around “independent state legislature theory” as “utterly absurd.”

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) recently sat down with North State Journal to discuss the recent midterm results, ongoing legal cases as well as what might be on tap for next year’s long session.

Moore said he felt “very positive” following the 2022 midterm elections, highlighting areas where Republicans outperformed their Democratic opponents.

“You know, we actually won six seats that were presently held by Democratic incumbents. So, that’s a huge flip,” Moore said. “We went from 69 to 71 Republican members.”

The Senate did pick up enough seats for a supermajority but the House came in one seat short. Moore said he wouldn’t change how the results turned out.

“If somebody could say, ‘Well, would you trade and get three seats here and give up one of those Supreme Court seats?’ I wouldn’t take the trade,” said Moore. “I would keep what we have by having both of the Supreme Court seats — absolutely critical. [And] it looks like we finally have some justices that actually will follow the law instead of creating the law as they as they sit there.”

Republican candidates not only won the two state Supreme Court seats that were on the ballot this year, but they also made a clean sweep of the N.C. Court of Appeals races.

Moore explained it’s important

to understand that seven seats previously held by Republicans ceased to exist after redistricting.

“One example is Larry Yarborough, who had a seat that had Person County but then got joined with Durham County. That seat was one that just became really a very tough seat for a Republican to win,” Moore said. “But then in the western part of the state — for example, where I am, where we had eight seats in our county grouping — we went to seven.”

He said population shifts played a role in seats in the northeast part of the state and some in the southeastern area as well.

“So for example, Bobby Hannig, who was a House member along with Ed Goodwin,” said Moore. “Bobby and Ed were double-bunked because the population in that area isn’t growing as much as it is and the other parts of the state. So as a result, Bobby ended up running for the Senate, and so you had situations like that.”

Moore said that instead of just picking up three seats, what they really needed to win were 10 seats because Republicans needed to win back seven seats plus another three.

“Well, we got nine. So not bad. Not a bad day’s work,” Moore said with a smile. “We picked back up Steve Ross’ seat — which is critical over in Alamance County,” as well as Frank Sossamon’s win in a multicounty area that includes Vance County.

The speaker also noted Republicans have districts in the state that now have Republican representation for “the first time ever in the history of the state.”

“Now, where we did not perform as well as I would like was in Mecklenburg County and in Wake County,” Moore said. “There’s 13 seats total in Wake County and 13 House seats in Mecklenburg. We only won one seat in each.”

Rep. Erin Paré was the lone Republican to win a House seat in Wake County and Moore acknowledged her strong performance in being reelected. He also expressed regret on certain races where the Republican candidate fell short.

“And then the other one that we had a shot at I think was Fred Von Canon’s race,” Moore said. “I was hoping that we would win that race, and we came up short there. And then Bill Brawley, who was running again in southeastern Mecklenburg County, he came up short. And then the other one that was really close with Brian Echeverria (Cabarrus County) who was … I mean his race was close.”

Moore also noted that Republicans did well in the area of votingby-mail results.

Shifting gears to recent legal cases, Moore was optimistic despite recent decisions by the former Democratic majority on the state’s top court. That includes the Leandro education funding case.

“I’ve got two lawyers sitting in here, but my plan is to pursue every avenue that we can through the legal case,” Moore said. “But the reality is the General Assembly has the power of the purse, you

know.”

When asked about the WestEd Comprehensive Remedial Plan funds the N.C. Supreme Court has dictated be dispersed, both Moore and his general counsel agreed there seemed to be no metric or mechanism in place for determining the effectiveness of that forced spending.

“There’s nothing,” said Moore. “It’s what happens when you have a court trying to act like a legislature — it doesn’t work.”

Another case that could have ramifications statewide and per-

“We got there because we’ve had such a terrible — and you can quote me on that — terrible state Supreme Court...the worst ever in the history of the nation with some of these absurd opinions that they have issued.”

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain)

AP PHOTO

House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Kings Mountain, gavels in a session as North Carolina legislators convene on the House floor in this 2020 file photo.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. — Luke 2: 8-11

What a happy night was this to the poor shepherds, though exposed to the damps and darkness of midnight, and keeping their painful watches in the open field! An illustrious angel, clothed in light which kindled midnight into noon, came upon them, or suddenly hovered over them in the air, and the glory of the Lord, that is, a bright refulgent light, the usual emblem of his presence shone round about them. No wonder the poor shepherds were struck with horror, and overwhelmed at the sight of so glorious a phenomenon.

When God strikes his people with terror, it is often an introduction to some signal blessing. And they are sometimes made sore afraid, like the shepherds, even with the displays of his glories. The first appearance even of the great deliverer, may seem like that of a great destroyer. But he will at length make himself known as he is—and allay the fears of his people. So the gentle angel cheers and supports the trembling shepherds, “Fear not,” says he, you need not tremble—but rejoice at my appearance; “for behold” observe and wonder, “I bring you” from heaven, by order from its Sovereign, “good tidings of great joy,” the best that was ever published in mortal ears—and not only to you, not only to a few private people or families, not only to the Jewish nation; but good tidings of great joy, “which shall be to all people” to Gentiles as well as Jews, to all nations, tribes, and languages—to all the various ranks of men—to kings and subjects—to rich and poor; to free

SUBSTATION, from page A1

from MCAS Cherry Point — two Marine Corps bases with nearly 50,000 active duty and reserve members enlisted.

Moore County sits just west of Fort Bragg, the largest military base in the United States. The substation attacks were first reported in Carthage, the Moore County seat which sits approximately 33 miles from the Army base.

In a press conference on Sunday, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said the attack wasn’t random and the perpetrators “knew what they were doing.”

Law enforcement responded to the outages and found that

haps nationally is the North Carolina redistricting case of Harper v. Moore, which is being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 7. Moore said they “feel positive about the case” since the nation’s high court made the rare decision to accept it.

“I don’t know what they will do,” Moore said. “I don’t know to what extent they would accept the full argument or if they’d take some partial side — I have no clue.”

While Moore was unsure how the Supreme Court justices might rule, when it came to the reporting on the case, in particular, that of the “independent state legislature theory,” Moore had a strong opinion.

“I think it shows the fact that they don’t really have a legitimate legal argument against the issue,” said Moore. “So if you don’t have a valid argument, you just go in and start creating these crazy hypothetical scenarios that aren’t even applicable and try to argue about that. It’s the traditional bait-andswitch.”

Moore also called some of the arguments around the theory “utterly absurd.”

In a Dec. 5 opinion column regarding the case published by the New York Times, North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper claimed a decision in favor of the General Assembly by the U.S. Supreme Court would “upend democracy.”

Cooper tweeted a link to the column along with a quote from the text.

“Our democracy is a fragile ecosystem that requires checks and balances to survive,” Cooper tweeted. “Giving state legislatures unfettered control over federal elections is not only a bad idea but also a blatant misreading of the Constitution.”

Soon after, Senate Leader Phil Berger’s (R-Eden) office tweeted back a scathing response.

“This is the Gov that sued to eliminate a bipartisan Board of Elections so he could gain full partisan control,” the press account for Berger tweeted. “This fearmongering from Gov. Cooper is the real threat to democracy. Democrats use the courts to get their way and

claim that democracy is in danger when they can’t.”

Moore had not responded to the tweet prior to the filing of North State Journal’s interview with him, however, he did lend background into how the Moore v. Harper case got all the way to the nation’s top court.

“We got there because we’ve had such a terrible — and you can quote me on that — terrible state Supreme Court…the worst ever in the history of the nation with some of these absurd opinions that they have issued. Whether it’s, you know, freeing sex offenders, whether it’s invalidating a constitutional amendment approved by the people in 2018 and then overstepping their authority when it’s come to congressional, House and Senate redistricting.”

Moore thinks the U.S. Supreme Court realizes this kind of activity by courts has to be “reined in” and it’s “up to them to do it.” He also was clear that they would “certain-

two substations were damaged by multiple gunshots. A gate was rammed open at one of the properties to reach the intended target.

The attacks echo a similar coordinated attack on a substation in Metcalf, California, nearly a decade ago.

On April 16, 2013, a team of snipers shooting for 19 minutes knocked out 17 giant transformers that funnel power to Silicon Valley, The Wall Street Journal reported. Metcalf sits just outside of the city of San Jose.

The attack was “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred” in the U.S., said Jon Wellinghoff, who was chair-

man of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2013.

It took California utility workers 27 days to make repairs and bring the substation back to life. No one was arrested or charged in the attack.

Authorities ultimately came to believe the attack was committed by someone on the inside.

“While we have not yet identified the shooter, there’s some indication it was an insider,” Caitlin Durkovich, assistant secretary for infrastructure protection at the Department of Homeland Security, said at an energy industry conference, according to a CNN report.

Both Duke Energy and the Randolph Electric Membership

Cooperative have said they expect to have power restored to Moore County residents by the end of the week.

“Equipment replacement is needed in some areas where damage is beyond repair. Technicians are working in 24-hour shifts to bring service back on as quickly as possible; however, due to the nature of the damage incurred, full restoration will take up until mid-day Thursday,” a Duke Energy statement reads.

The REMC says it has restored power to 1,276 total members at various times and for limited durations and anticipates the work may take until Wednesday to provide power at varying times to most of their impacted members.

to look at that. We want to make sure, though, that we have some appropriate safeguards in place in case we hit some financial issues.”

The speaker also said he would like to see behavioral health addressed, calling it “absolutely a critical issue that we have to deal with.”

“(Behavioral health) affects so many things, one of which is the other big issue, workforce development, and workforce retention,” Moore said, adding that he wasn’t just talking about state workers but the private sector as well.

And Moore expects “one hundred percent” to have help from across the aisle in working on issues during 2023. That help may involve revisiting legislation topics previously vetoed by Cooper.

“I would expect you would see us pass legislation this year that we were unable to override vetoes possibly where the governor may sign them,” he said. “And if not, where we should be in a position to override,” Moore said.

ly try” to “get a reset of the proper scope of power between the legislative and the executive branch” in the upcoming long session.

Referring to the example from a few years ago where lawmakers passed a bill to make the State Board of Elections bipartisan, Moore again took aim at the actions of the state Supreme Court.

“The state Supreme Court — of course, Cheri Beasley was on there then — at that time ruled that interfered with the governor’s executive authority, that he had to have a controlling interest over something like that. Absolutely absurd,” Moore said. “That’s … I mean, that was their rationale.”

He also pointed to litigation involving Cooper’s shutdown of the state during COVID.

“And they basically — there were lawsuits, but no, [the court] basically held that the governor has the authority to do that even without the advice and consent of the Council of State, which the

statute spells out,” Moore said. “So, you essentially had a state Supreme Court that was taking away the authority of the legislative branch, the group that’s closest to the people, and giving more and more authority to a governor which is completely the reverse of how our state was established.”

He added: “It is almost like they want to return to the era of the royal governor or something. Fortunately, the people won out.”

Moore said he expected Medicaid expansion to be revisited in the upcoming session.

“With respect to Medicaid, (we are) certainly wanting to continue having that conversation and try to come up with something,” said Moore. “I think we had a good bill that passed, and I would like to see us pursue something along those lines.

“I would like to see us continue to responsibly budget, certainly looking if there’s a way to look at additional tax relief, I would like

Such legislation likely would include “more transparency in education,” such as the Parental Bill of Rights but forth by Berger. Moore added that anything that gave more parental authority over what their children are learning and parental involvement is something he and the House would continue to fight for.

“I’m just honored, for one, to be serving a fifth term as speaker and really wanted to see us keep moving in the direction we’re moving at,” Moore said when asked if he had any items he wanted to tackle in the upcoming session.

“When Sen. Berger and I would go meet at different groups, the word that we both sort of came up with was continuity; continuing to move North Carolina where it is,” said Moore. “It’s not an accident that the state’s doing so well, particularly if you compare it to what’s happening at the national level and the absolute train wreck that’s there, in terms of the budget, in terms of taxes.

“And I mean, no doubt that the failed policies of the Biden administration are still causing this entire nation problems,” said Moore, adding that what we want to do is to “make sure North Carolina is in as strong a position as possible.”

and slave. Let it circulate through the world, and resound from shore to shore!

Samuel Davies was a Presbyterian minister and the fourth President of Princeton University from 1759 to 1761. His works are now in the public domain.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds” by Rembrandt (1634) is an etching in the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

AP DILLON | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The state legislative building is pictured in downtown Raleigh.

Legislative education committee hears updates on K-3 reading, community college tuition

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — At the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee held on Nov. 29 lawmakers heard from various officials representing K-12 and the state community college system.

The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (JLEOC) is co-chaired by Sen. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) and outgoing Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga). The agenda included presentations by the N.C. Department of Public Education (NCDPI) that focused mainly on reading achievement in K-12.

A summary of activity involving legislation titled the Excellent Public Schools Act 2021-22 was given by NCDPI Deputy Superintendent Michael Maher and Amy Rhyne, director of the Office of Early Learning.

The Excellent Public Schools Act made changes to the state’s Read to Achieve legislation by requiring the use of the Science of Reading, which has a phonics emphasis, for literacy instruction in North Carolina K-12 school districts.

The Science of Reading is defined in the legislation as “evidenced-based reading instruction practices that address the acquisition of language, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension that can be differentiated to meet the needs of individual students.”

N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt was a vocal proponent of the Excellent Public Schools Act’s use of the Science of Reading.

In a May 2021 interview with North State Journal, Truitt said literacy rates are “a crisis” nationwide. She also stated “67% of eighth graders in North Carolina are not reading or doing math proficiently when they start high school, and that statistic is average in the U.S.”

Read to Achieve, passed by the General Assembly almost a decade ago, required all third grade students to be assessed for proficiency in reading at the beginning of that grade level. If students are found to not be proficient, Read to Achieve has layers of interventions and assessments that continue throughout grade three. Any student still not presenting as proficient by the beginning of grade four is either placed in remediation or may face grade level retention.

The program being used by NCDPI to support the Excellent Public Schools Act is called LETRS.

The current school year is the first year the program is being used in classrooms.

Maher and Rhyne’s presentation included data sets for reading proficiency in the grades leading up to third grade. Overall, scores declined dramatically during the pandemic school year of 2020-21, however, scores began to bounce back in the 2021-22 school year.

Raleigh police release bodycam video of shootout with teen

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Police on Dec. 1

released body camera video from a shootout with a 15-year-old boy suspected of fatally shooting five people and wounding two more in an East Raleigh neighborhood.

Officers spent several hours searching for the armed suspect, later identified by his parents as Austin Thompson, after the rampage seven weeks ago. The teen was ultimately located in a wooded area behind a residential property near the Neuse River Greenway, the walking path where he is alleged to have killed two of the victims.

The newly released video shows officers with police dogs surrounding one of two buildings behind the property with their guns drawn. Multiple shots ring out from the barnlike structure, striking one officer, and police return fire.

Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson petitioned Wake County Superior Court on Oct. 24 to release the images citing transparency grounds. Following a Nov. 9 hearing, the court authorized the release of three officers’ body camera recordings from Oct. 13 and a compilation video with captions.

Among them was Officer Casey Clark, whose body camera video shows him being shot in the

right knee as police surround the building, and then being dragged to safety behind another building. An officer applies a tourniquet, while another calls Emergency Medical Services.

“I am nauseous, but I am good,” says Clark, who was treated at a hospital and released later that night. “It feels like my kneecap, lower kneecap.”

The video released does not show police apprehending the suspect. The department’s petition focused specifically on the manhunt and exchange of gunfire, police Lt. Jason Borneo told The Associated Press via email.

Borneo did not immediately respond to a question about whether video of the arrest exists, but he said the department does not release information that identifies a juvenile.

“Since this is a continuing investigation, recordings may contain information that is exempt from disclosure under state or federal law,” Borneo added.

Police surrounded the building for several hours due to concerns, based on a 911 call, that the teen might be in possession of multiple firearms and possibly hand grenades. The police report said officers repeatedly ordered him to surrender.

After about three hours, they approached the building and found the suspect lying on the

ground wounded, the video description states. He appeared to have a single gunshot wound and had a handgun in his waistband, according to the police report. Authorities have not said whether he was shot by police or if the wound was self-inflicted.

A shotgun and shells were lying nearby, and police found a hunting knife in front of the building.

Officers secured the suspect in handcuffs, and EMS transported him to the hospital. He has since been released from WakeMed and moved to a juvenile detention facility.

Police allege that rampage began when the teen killed his 16-year-old brother and he then shot multiple neighbors, including an off-duty police officer who was on his way to work. The officer was the second fatality.

According to the police report, the suspect traveled nearly 2 miles from where the brother was found shot and stabbed.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman declined to comment about the suspect’s legal case, saying the matter remains in the juvenile court system. Freeman has said she will seek to charge the suspect as an adult.

A lawyer for the teen’s family did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

First grade reading proficiency dropped significantly, going from 71% in 2018-19 to 38% in 202021. Those scores rose to 61% in the 2021-22 school year.

Data for second graders showed a very similar drop during the pandemic and a similar recovery rate, however, the rate of third graders testing proficient in reading prior to the pandemic was far lower than the two earlier grade levels.

According to Rhyne, only 57% of third grade students tested as proficient in 2018-19. During the pandemic year, that rate dropped to 43% and has only inched up to 47% during the 2021-22 school year.

As far as the various assessments of reading proficiency levels by race or disability, all groups saw recovery increases but only two groups surpassed a 50% proficiency rate: Asians (61%) and whites (58%). Students with disabilities and English language learners fared the worst at 17% and 18%, respectively.

During the meeting, Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) put Maher on the spot by asking when they would be seeing the vast majority of students reading at proficient levels. Maher said that was a “great question” and his team would get back to the committee about it.

Torbett chairs another education-related committee, the House Select Committee on An Education System for North Carolina’s Future, that is exploring ways to improve the state’s education system. Torbett has said a final report is likely to be ready by the committee’s next meeting in December which he teased to include everything from teacher pay to school

calendars as well as “realigning” the state superintendent’s duties and recommendations for handling school safety.

Torbett, in a likely reference to Read to Achieve’s goal of raising reading proficiency, said “We’ve been talking this for a long, long time,” and asked for assurances from Maher on just when he thinks third graders will see results.

Maher responded by reminding the committee that training thousands of teachers in LETRS and the Science of Reading is an ongoing process, but he also said the impact of the programs will be known when this year’s kindergarteners start third grade.

An additional presentation on schools that “Lead Networked Improvement Communities” was delivered by NCDPI’s Deputy State Superintendent Robert Taylor and Julie Marks, director of evaluation and senior research associate for the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina (EPIC), UNC Public Policy.

Taylor and Marks gave an update on the pilot program networking educators to collaboratively solve educational and school issues. The goal is to determine best practices that can be shared with the district or even statewide.

Taylor is departing his role at NCDPI to become state superintendent in Mississippi starting in January.

Presentations were also given related to North Carolina’s Community College System; one on the NC Promise tuition program and another on NC Community Colleges’ Organizational Assessment and Climate Survey.

NC Promise began in 2018 and offers in-state residents tuition at $500 a semester. Nonresidents are offered a rate of $2,500 a semester. Schools in the program have all seen varying degrees of increased enrollment, including Elizabeth City State, UNC Pembroke and Western Carolina. Fayetteville State has recently been added to the NC Promise program.

State board of education seeks approval from lawmakers for teacher licensing plan pilot

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A request for a pilot program of a proposed teacher licensure plan will be sent to the legislature per a decision made during the N.C. State Board of Education’s meetings held on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

“Today, members of the State Board of Education approved a blueprint to guide changes around how we license and compensate teachers in our state,” N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a tweeted statement. “I’m optimistic about our goal of piloting this work so that we can continue to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of teachers and prepare them to be licensed, hired, supported and retained as highly effective educators in North Carolina Public Schools.”

The request to the General Assembly to authorize a pilot program followed the approval of a draft motion to accept the Blueprint for Action plan.

If the pilot is greenlit by lawmakers, the commission working on the plan estimates it can report back to the board possibly by March with recommendations for implementation of the pilot.

Lawyers for the board are directed to report back by January on whether the plan would prompt changes to current rules or policies or if state statutes might be impacted.

Per the approved motion, Truitt is tasked with determining how the plan aligns with the board’s current strategic plan. She’ll also review the plan with an eye on alignment with her strategic vision for the state’s K-12 schools, Operation Polaris. Once that information has been gathered, Truitt will report back to the board.

The revisions to the teacher licensure plan have been overseen by the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC).

On Nov. 10, PEPSC voted 9-7 to send a scaled-down version of the original proposal to the board. The resulting one-page Blueprint for Action sent to the board contained a list of 10 items.

The blueprint would change pay calculations by using continuing education and a model with levels of licensure tied to teacher effectiveness, student test scores, student growth and teacher evaluations. Currently, teacher pay is calculated using continuing education and years of experience.

PEPSC’s blueprint includes four levels of licensure from apprentice through advanced.

The more detailed plan has possible starting teacher pay ranging from $38,000 to $45,000 depending on the applicant’s qualifications. Advanced teachers could see an increase to $72,000. In addition, an apprentice licensure level could see pay ranging from $30,000 to $38,000.

Read to Achieve, passed by the General Assembly almost a decade ago, required all third grade students to be assessed for proficiency in reading at the beginning of that grade level.

AP PHOTO, FILE

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt speaks Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Raleigh

AP PHOTO, FILE

A student colors with crayons in this file photo.

This screengrab of body camera footage provided by the Raleigh, N.C., Police Department shows a shootout that nonfatally struck one officer. On Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

North Carolina’s thriving Christmas Tree industry

The

Association (NCCTA) is to promote “real” Christmas Trees through marketing and education.

On

Christmas

North

The North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas tree is one of the most popular Christmas trees in North America and is shipped to every state in the U.S. as well as to the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Japan and other points all over the world.

MITCHELL

WEST PIEDMONT EAST

68 acres of forest to be protected

Mitchell County

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina will receive $40,000 from the Environmental Enhancement Grant program to purchase 68 acres of forestland in southeastern Mitchell County. The land purchase will allow the Conservation Trust to protect the area and maintain its natural habitats, water quality, and scenic views from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. “Western North Carolina is beautiful,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I’m pleased that this grant will preserve forests and the resources, habitats, and public enjoyment they bring.”

Grant will help school create wetlands

Burke County Burke County Public Schools will receive $36,000 from the Environmental Enhancement Grant program to create a wetlands area near Patton High School, that will slow down erosion and the speed of water flow as well as provide environmental educational opportunities for the schools and community. Burke County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Swain said, “We look forward to the opportunity this will provide the community. Not only will Patton be able to reap the benefits and be able to use the area as an outdoor classroom, middle and elementary school students also will be able to use the space.”

The annual Spooky Duke 5K/10K Race

set a fundraising record this year. The event was held on the Appalachian State campus on Nov. 5, as 318 runners and walkers

and covered the

The event raised $16,000, and a $10,000 matching grant from Health Foundation Inc. brought the total proceeds raised to $26,433, which is the most in the history of the event. The money will benefit App State’s Parent to Parent Family Support Network.

Every Rutherford school to get resource officer by end of year

Rutherford County

Each of the 19 schools in Rutherford County will have a school resource officer by the end of December. The school system made the commitment at the end of November to help increase the security of each school building.

Rutherford’s school system has 10 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, a pre-school, an alternative school and an early-college high school. Each will have a law enforcement presence in the building.

Officials: Jacket hot from dryer sparks blaze at home

Alamance County

Fire officials say a jacket hot from a dryer sparked a fire that damaged a home.

Burlington Fire Department responded to a home Tuesday, found a fire in a bedroom. It took about 15 minutes to put it out.

Officials say the fire was accidental, caused by “excessively hot” laundry taken from the dryer to the bedroom, where clothes and furniture caught fire. The pile of laundry included a jacket made from synthetic material with tags suggesting hang drying instead of using the dryer. He says the jacket smoldered and eventually the clothes combusted.

Plane returns to Raleigh-Durham airport after hitting coyote

Wake County

Energy assistance program begins for low-income residents

Berger to become nation’s longest-serving state legislative leader

RALEIGH — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) will become the longest-serving state legislative leader in the country, reported Pluribus News. The longtime Rockingham County state senator has led the North Carolina Senate since 2011.

First elected to the chamber in 2000, Berger

Berger becomes the longest-serving

“I

now than it was when we took over.”

What a circus: NCDOT unloads final Ringling Bros. railcars at a big loss

Sales of railcars leave NCDOT more than $327K in the hole

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has finally sold off the railcars that originally belonged to the Ringling Bros. circus.

The circus railcars were supposed to be refurbished per former NCDOT Sec. Jim Trogdon, but that apparently never happened.

spent $2 billion beyond its $7 billion revenue stream as well as coming dangerously close to hitting its bottom limit for cash reserves.

The exchange between Forest and Trogdon took place just days before the swearing-in on Feb. 29 of Trogdon’s replacement, Eric Boyette. Trogdon’s surprise resignation was announced by Gov. Roy Cooper in early February 2020. Trogdon was appointed by Cooper in January 2017.

Police charge suspect in double homicide

WLOS

Co-pilot’s death in fall from plane ruled accidental

Wake County

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death of a pilot who fell from a small airplane in flight in North Carolina in July an accident. The autopsy states Charles Hew Crooks’ death was likely the result of falling from the plane while vomiting.

After a hard landing, a second pilot directed Crooks to declare an emergency and request a diversion. Crooks later lowered the ramp in the back of the airplane, indicating he felt sick. Early reports and 911 calls said Crooks “jumped” or “exited” the plane, but the autopsy ruled the fall was accidental.

AP

An airplane departing from RaleighDurham International Airport returned to the airport shortly after takeoff when the flight crew reported striking a coyote on the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration says Southwest Airlines Flight #1221 had been on its way to Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday but returned safely to the North Carolina airport about 8 p.m. for an inspection. The aircraft was later cleared to continue the journey to Chicago. Southwest Airlines spokesperson said 149 passengers and six crew members were on board, no one was injured. The FAA is investigating the incident. AP

2 children killed in overnight fire in Salisbury

Rowan County

Two children died and two adults were injured in an overnight house fire in Salisbury. The Salisbury Fire Department and Rowan County Emergency Services were called to a home at about 12:30 a.m.

Pasquotank County With the start of December, and the potential for winter weather, Pasquotank County Department of Social Services has begun a program to provide help paying heating expenses for low-income residents. Households are eligible if they have a resident over age 60, who is disabled or receive SSI, SSA or VA disability or receive services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services, The program will run the entire month of December or until funds are all spent.

Nash County A man has been charged in the fatal shootings of a woman and a man whose bodies were found in a vehicle with two uninjured toddlers in Rocky Mount. Eric Coley was charged with two counts of firstdegree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. That’s according to police spokesman Cpl. Ricky Jackson. The 42-year-old is being held without bond in the Nash County Detention Center, county sheriff’s records online said.

Instead of being refurbished, they sat idle on tracks in Nash County. While sitting on those tracks, four had to be scrapped after the cars caught fire.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office has indicated the fires were acts of arson.

O f the surviving railcars, two sold for a total of $26,301 and three sold for a combined $28,750.

Given the NCDOT paid $383,000 for the nine railcars in 2017, that’s a loss of $327,949.

The cars became a topic of discussion years after the actual purchase, at a time when overspending by NCDOT had become an issue.

Trogdon’s short stint as NCDOT secretary left the department in fiscal disarray, prompting legislative hearings.

Two separate audits revealed mismanagement of salary increases of $39 million and the department exceeding its $5.94 billion 2019 fiscal year budget by $742 million, or 12.5%. The shortfall combined with COVID-19 issues resulted in department-wide furloughs and $2 billion in cuts to construction projects.

AP

Construction site blamed for tar on cars & homes

WAVY

New sheriff appointed earlier than expected

In 2020, then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and Trogdon got into a heated exchange on Twitter over the purchase.

“DOT ran out of money to build roads, but was able to buy circus trains?” Forest had tweeted.

In response to the article’s first appearance online and focus on the financial loss taken on the railcars — one that is ultimately paid for by state taxpayers — Trogdon tweeted a version of a quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt.

AP

Upon arrival, flames and smoke were showing from the residence, but the fire was quickly extinguished. At the time of the fire, there were four people inside the home. Two children were deceased when found by firefighters. In addition, one firefighter was treated on scene and then taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center, out of an abundance of caution. AP

Martin County Residents in the Jones Road area of Martin County are complaining that they’ve found tar stuck to their vehicles and homes, and a road construction site is getting the blame for the problem. Residents claim that the flecks of black tar began dotting homes and cars after a contracting company added a materials site on the street about nine months ago. A representative for the company visited homes in the area and denied they were responsible, but nevertheless showed how to clean the tar off. Residents also complain of a gas smell in the area since the site began operating.

Bertie County Tyrone Ruffin was sworn in as sheriff earlier than expected. Ruffin was originally expected to take the office on Monday, Dec. 5, but the county held an emergency meeting to swear him in the Wednesday prior after Sheriff John Holley, who had been in the position since 2010, began his retirement earlier than expected. Rather than have the position vacant for five days, the county swore in Ruffin, the sheriff-elect, to finish Holley’s term.

Forest’s tweet was a reference to the fact N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell had called out NCDOT for having

It read: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

WITN

WITN

ation

CHEROKEE

JACKSON

HAYWOOD

BUNCOMBE

MADISON YANCEY

AVERY

WATAUGA

ASHE

ALLEGHANY

RANDOLPH

BURKE

LINCOLN

NC DOJ

NC DOJ

Spooky Duke sets fundraising record

Watauga County

and Costume Contest

dressed in costume

course.

APPSTATE.EDU

North State Journal

became the Senate’s minority leader in 2005 and served in that role for six years.

leader following the departure of Democratic Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, who is stepping down from leadership at the end of 2022.

never expected to be the president pro tem of the Senate,” Berger told Pluribus News. “As a body, the Senate over the past 12-plus years has changed the trajectory of North Carolina and the direction. I’m obviously very pleased to have been a part of that, and I think the state is demonstrably in a better position

STATEment

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Last of the Moreheads

THERE HAVE BEEN over 4,500 bright young high school student leaders who have been awarded The Morehead-Cain, known as The Morehead Scholarship until 2007, since inception in 1951.

The hope was every recipient would go on to become leaders in North Carolina and the nation in every aspect of life ― business; law; research; medicine; art; music; engineering ― which many have accomplished.

The one area where Morehead-Cains have not been leaders is in the very area where we need great leaders ― politics and elective government. A mere four alums have been elected to Congress in the past half-century. Not 4%. Four individuals.

Only nine — not 9% — have made it through a primary to be the nominee of their party for Congress or governor, none for the U.S. Senate.

It is the oddest thing since many of the questions asked of students during the interview process are related to politics and elective government service. I was asked who I thought was the most admired person in Washington at the time to which I responded “Sam Ervin” since it was during the Watergate hearings in 1974.

I found out later the final interview committee chair was a mortal political enemy of Sam Ervin. But he didn’t hold it against me apparently, thankfully.

A leader cannot be a state or national leader in politics and government if they don’t run for office. The tautology is self-evident.

When 2023 rolls around, there will be only one Morehead-Cain Scholar in high elective office anywhere in the country: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

There will be only one Morehead-Cain Scholar in the North Carolina General Assembly ― Representative Dr. Kristin Baker of Concord. She is also the only Morehead-Cain alum now serving in any state legislature anywhere in the United States.

Morehead-Cain alums live in all 50 states and over 385 congressional districts. Close to 1,000 reside in the state of North Carolina alone. With such numbers and geographical distribution, Morehead-Cain alums have the capacity to fill all 50 Governor’s Mansions; every one of 100 seats in the U.S. Senate and 2/3rds of the seats in the U.S. House. In North Carolina, every statewide executive office; 170 legislative seats and every elected judicial position could be filled with a Morehead-Cain scholar alum.

Morehead-Cain scholar alums are not alone. Many Rhodes Scholars used to aspire to be in the U.S. Senate, Congress and White House. No

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

longer ― only one Senator now serving, Cory Booker of New Jersey is a Rhodes Scholar.

There are no Robertson Scholars from Duke or Carolina serving in high elective office. There are no Park Scholars from NC State, serving in high elective office in North Carolina. It is like a self-imposed man-made virus has infected these high-school and collegiate achievers and deadened their leadership abilities when it comes to elective public service.

It is not the fault of the Morehead-Cain Foundation, the Robertson Foundation, the Park Program or the Rhodes Scholar program. Back in the early days of the Republic, people of great ability donated their time, ability and many times, their fortunes to create and then serve in the representative government we now take for granted.

Washington, Jefferson and Madison never campaigned for president personally ― they stayed at home and awaited the outcome of elections to be delivered to them via horse-carried messenger. They considered openly campaigning for elective office to be beneath their personal standards of dignity and propriety.

However, behind the scenes, they strategized with political friends and maneuvered like mad to get elected. They desperately wanted to serve as leaders ― Jefferson considered serving in the democratic republic the “highest calling” to which a person could aspire.

Much of the reluctance of any successful person we all want to see run for office has to do with fear. Fear of losing; fear of the media; fear of losing income; fear of skeletons in the closet.

All are justifiable fears. Every endeavor carries its own share of fear. Great leaders know in their heart they can help solve problems. They run to problems they think they can fix, not away from them.

Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot used to say he thought the “fine print” of the Morehead Scholarship award letter metaphorically implied that in return for such a free education at such a prestigious university as UNC Chapel Hill, each recipient would run for public office at some time in their life.

Perhaps they can emulate Gov. Cooper and Rep. Baker. They don’t have to run for president or Congress — they can run for local school board where their expertise and leadership abilities will truly change the world.

House Democrats elect an election denier as minority leader

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, Democrats who previously raised questions about election results ― and in some cases actually formally objected to the certification of electoral votes in presidential elections ― have told us that doing such things threatens our democracy and undermines our sacred institutions.

Oddly enough, many of those same Democrats just voted to install an election denier as their Minority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives when the new session of Congress convenes in January 2023.

By the Democrats’ own definition, Jeffries is an election denier.

Last month, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced she would not be seeking a leadership position after nearly two decades of being in the top spot. Behind the scenes, she was said to be lobbying hard for her replacement to be Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is viewed in elite Beltway circles as a bridge builder of sorts though his record clearly shows a consistent pattern of voting with Pelosi 100% of the time and with radical self-described Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) 96% of the time, according to analyses by ProPublica.

By the Democrats’ own definition, Jeffries is an election denier. He repeatedly cast doubt on the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidency between 2017 and 2021.

“The more we learn about the 2016 election the more ILLEGITIMATE it becomes,” Jeffries wrote in a 2018 tweet. “America deserves to know whether we have a FAKE president in the oval office.”

In 2017, Jeffries said during an interview that “there is a cloud of illegitimacy around the election of Donald Trump” because “the fake news industry interfered with his election.”

“Is the North Carolina congressional seat the only one stolen by rogue Republican operatives?” Jeffries tweeted in 2018 regarding the disputed 9th Congressional District race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready, insinuating without evidence the election fraud found there was part of a broader conspiracy, perhaps nationwide. “We may need a comprehensive criminal investigation to figure that out.”

“Republicans hijacked the Judiciary by stealing two Supreme Court seats,” Jeffries wrote of the conservative majority on the Supreme Court in 2021. “And now they want us to respect illegitimate decisions

from these [conservative Justices]? Get lost.”

Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made sure to point all of the hypocrisy out very publicly last week after House Democrats elected Jeffries.

“Many of the same individuals and institutions on the political left who spent the years 2017 through 2020 yelling about the importance of norms and institutions have themselves not hesitated to undermine our institutions when they’re unhappy with a given outcome,” McConnell reminded people. “For example, the newly-elected incoming leader of the House Democrats is a past election denier who baselessly said the 2016 election was ‘illegitimate’ and suggested that we had a ‘fake’ president. He has also mounted reckless attacks on our independent judiciary and said that Justices he didn’t like have, ‘zero legitimacy.’”

“Unfortunately, when it comes to attacking our independent judiciary, the Democrats’ new leader isn’t an outlier, he’s a representative sample,” McConnell went on to correctly point out. That Democrats have conveniently done an about-face on election denialism and undermining institutions shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, though, seeing as failed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has been saying for six years now that she was the real winner and that Trump was “illegitimate.”

After the 2016 election, Clinton went so far as to “instruct her team to lean into the Russia collusion hoax she bought and paid for,” Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway noted. “She tried to force electors to hear her disinfo operation prior to their vote.”

Stacey Abrams, a Democrat media darling, has to this day never conceded she lost the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race, saying it was “stolen” from her and the people of the state.

Because you see, election denialism is totally okay, as long as Democrats are the ones doing it.

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

A leader cannot be a state or national leader in politics and government if they don’t run for office.

In a winter of discontent, Americans vote for the status quo

Most voters over the past two decades have been telling pollsters that the country is pretty seriously on the wrong track.

ARE WE LIVING IN AN ERA of political contentment? Most Americans would answer that question with a bellowing “No!” But there’s a case to be made that American voters, for all their negative talk, actually don’t want a set of public policies markedly different from what we have today.

Note that that seems to be the practical result of the 2022 midterm elections last month.

Republicans eked out exactly the same narrow House majority the Democrats had won in 2020. This seems likely to prevent any further policy lurch to the left. And the Democrats’ retention of a narrow Senate majority, and of course the White House, prevents a lurch to the right.

Nationwide, precious few incumbents were ejected from office. Just one governor lost — Steve Sisolak of Nevada, who had been elected with 49% in 2018. No U.S. senator lost, although Georgia’s Raphael Warnock, elected with 51% in a 2021 runoff, was at risk of losing in the runoff Tuesday at the time of this writing.

Some 25 House incumbents, 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats were defeated in November or in primaries. But redistricting following the 2020 Census was a factor in 14 cases, and four cases were defeats of Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump after Jan. 6. Overall, it’s hard to see how the voters could have done a better job of cementing in place the policy status quo.

How do I square that with consistent negative poll results? The fact is that most voters over the past two decades — actually, for most of the time since I got into the political commenting business more than 50 years ago — have been telling pollsters that the country is pretty seriously on the wrong track.

Half a century ago, such negative feelings were enough to oust incumbent presidents. Richard Nixon was forced out of office in 1974 and his two successors, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, were defeated in 1976 and 1980.

In that same period, voters, most of whom had living memories of the Great Depression and World War II, re-elected by landslide margins presidents who appeared to produce peace and prosperity. Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Nixon in 1972 won with 61% of the vote, and Ronald Reagan in 1984 won with 59%.

But with the onset of a politics of partisan parity and polarization in the first half of the 1990s, voters have reelected incumbent presidents by nothing like those margins and vented their discontent in midterm elections.

Thus Bill Clinton was re-elected with 49% of the popular vote in 1996, and George W. Bush and Barack Obama were each re-elected with 51% in 2004 and 2012, respectively.

COLUMN | CHRIS CLEMENS

In that context, Donald Trump’s 47% of the popular vote in 2020, while certainly not the landslide win he claimed, was not a landslide rejection either — it was actually slightly higher than his 46% four years before. The outcome was different because Hillary Clinton lost three of the four closest (in percentage terms) states in 2016, whereas Trump lost the three closest in 2020.

Incumbent congressional majorities have not fared as well. Democrats suffered landslide losses in 1994 to almost everyone’s surprise, in the 2010 House election to somewhat less surprise and in 2014 when Republicans won more House seats than in any year since 1928 and recaptured a majority in the Senate.

In each case, there was a recoil against an attempted or successful leftward lurch in public policy — to Hillarycare in 1994 and Obamacare in the 2010s.

Republicans suffered off-year losses as well, of majorities in both houses in 2006 and of their House majority in 2018. Their problem seemed to be less ideological overreach than a sense of turmoil. Bush’s Republicans suffered from scenes of disorder in the streets of New Orleans and Baghdad. Trump’s Republicans suffered from stories about disorder in the West Wing and Mar-a-Lago.

Curiously, Obamacare was highly unpopular throughout Barack Obama’s two terms, but then the Obamacare repeal became unpopular with Trump and congressional Republican majorities in office.

This year, there was little positive appeal to the Biden Democrats’ big government programs — note the absence of mourning when their enlarged child tax credit expired. But that was apparently offset by the persistence of Trumpish turmoil throughout the fall campaign and on into his dinner with Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes last week.

My tentative conclusion is that voters are more satisfied with America’s current policy mix than they are prepared to say. They have little interest in economic redistribution in a nation that, as I have noted, already has the developed world’s most progressive income tax and where government transfers produce equal disposable incomes for those on the bottom 60% of the economic ladder.

The result is a nation claiming it faces a Shakespearean “winter of our discontent,” which nonetheless votes for the policy status quo.

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

Better policy through science

The Statefunded research portfolio of the Collaboratory, which is now approaching a total of $148 million, includes more than 300 individual projects.

NORTH CAROLINA has thousands of PhD scientists, medical doctors, and other professionals on the state payroll. These university employees are front-line researchers developing new technologies, cures, and ideas that make life in North Carolina better and more prosperous. What if there were a way for these professionals to use their knowledge and skills to inform policymaking and help our state make better decisions?

It turns out there is. In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly established the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory to make the research expertise of the UNC university system available for practical use by state and local government. While initially envisioned as an institute focused on the environmental and economic impacts of policy proposals, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature appropriated $29 million in CARES Act to enlarge the scope of the Collaboratory.

That money helped expand access to vaccines in rural areas by deploying freezers across the UNC System’s research universities, providing the necessary “cold chain” to support the vaccine supply in underserved rural portions of the State.

Altogether sixty-three -80 Celsius freezers added enough storage capacity for almost 8 million doses of COVID vaccine. Freezers loaned out to campus-served adjacent communities, including the Lumbee Tribe and the Cumberland, Durham, Jackson, Halifax, and Robeson County Health Departments. SAS Analytics piggybacked on the project to generate data on vaccine availability and received EdScoop’s award for University Technology Innovation of the Year

But vaccine freezers were just one of more than 90 individual COVID-related projects funded across fifteen UNC System campuses ranging from next generation vaccines and therapeutics, community testing initiatives, wastewater monitoring, and local and regional economic impacts of the pandemic.

Additional funds appropriated for the Collaboratory supported the CORonavirus VAriant SEQuencing (CORVASEQ) sequencing surveillance network in partnership with 67 hospitals, six academic sequencing hubs (Duke, ECU, NCSU, UNCH, UNCC, Wake Forest), and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Other projects focused on K-12 learning loss and recovery in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction as well as numerous projects to assist commercialization of technologies developed or advanced through prior research funding from the Collaboratory.

In total, North Carolina has invested over $74 million in two years through the Collaboratory to engage and deploy our State’s talented faculty, staff, and students to help the State address and recover from the pandemic, and to prepare for

what comes next.

In keeping with its attention to natural resources and the environment, the Collaboratory has also been granted substantial legislative funding (almost $148 million since 2016) to investigate a class of more than 10,000 compounds referred to as Per- and Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS) such as GenX. To date, more than $20 million has been made available for water and air analyses as well as important toxicological impact of these “forever chemicals.”

One exciting result of a Collaboratory research project has been the development of a novel filtration resin at UNC Chapel Hill by Drs. Orlando Coronell and Frank Leibfarth. Over the next year, production of this material will be scaled-up and deployed in three pilot projects to assess efficacy for both drinking and wastewater at municipal treatment facilities.

The State-funded research portfolio of the Collaboratory, which is now approaching a total of $148 million, includes more than 300 individual projects curated to address issues like flood resiliency ($2 million) and the opioid epidemic (>$5 million) among others. The Collaboratory has developed strong research projects across the UNC system, including artificial intelligencedriven drone technology at FSU, a new virtual training environment to better prepare nursing students for their certification exams at WSSU (in partnership with the NC School of the Arts’ Media and Emerging technologies Lab), and drone-based monitoring of coastal marsh habitats at ECSU.

The success of the Collaboratory is a credit to the leadership of Dr. Jeff Warren who is skilled at building strategic partnerships between the NC Legislature and academia. Warren, a marine geophysics expert and UNC PhD, spent seven legislative sessions as science advisor to NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and understands the nuances of both academic research and Jones Street policymaking.

Though the model for the Collaboratory was initially met with skepticism, the success of the Collaboratory as a unique resource for North Carolina is evident. More than that, it is a testimony to the power of partnerships between the State, universities, the private sector and local governments to drive innovation.

It is a model that I expect other states will want to copy.

Dr. Chris Clemens is Provost of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and and Jaraslov Folda Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy.

Any opinions expressed in this article are not to be taken as an official position of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

We all have belly buttons

THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER. The mudslinging has stopped. The commercials on the airways are back to unbreakable cookware and glue that can bind two boulders together for life.

Amongst the vitriol and polarization, I have written a little children’s book called “We All Have Belly Buttons.” Maybe this can help bring us all together.

I don’t pretend to think of this project as some great Augustinian philosophical piece, or even real literature. It is not Homer’s Iliad, though it has been a bit of an “odyssey” for me. Truly, this is merely an attempt to help children laugh, for I believe that a child’s giggle is a manifestation of pure joy.

“We All Have Belly Buttons” is targeted for Pre-K children. It has cute illustrations by Jason Velazquez that are engaging, and set in several ordinary vignettes. In separate episodes, one page shows an obvious difference in people, then says “but guess what?”. It is followed by a full page answering that question with the exclamation “WE ALL HAVE BELLY BUTTONS!”. The smiling characters show each other that they have a belly button in common, despite their differences. It is meant to be read aloud with the repetitive chorus even joyously shouted together, adult and child.

Although this book is for little ones, the parents, grandparents, and caretakers who read “We All Have Belly Buttons” to their youngsters will hopefully take a minute to think. They may think of how enjoyable it is to spend quality time with a child. They may think it is a nice escape from the divisiveness that seems to permeate society.

But it is more than that. The message is quite simple, yet often ignored. Despite our differences, we all have something in common. We all have belly buttons. It is my goal to have the readers think of civility, kindness, respect, tolerance and love for one another.

I was fortunate to have parents, teachers and clergy who taught me all of these things. When I was young, my father who coached me in many sports, would drive all over the inner city to pick up players on our team who didn’t have a ride to practice or the games. When I was high school and could drive, I did something similar.

My wife and I just learned that when our 16-year-old son got his driver’s license he followed in those footsteps, and drove new friends who needed a ride to school. You see, friendship and understanding one another should not depend on where one lives, or the differences in one’s skin tone. All people are made in the image of God. And, this book reminds everyone that we all have belly buttons.

The inspiration of this book came years ago when I was in the delivery room, as my wife gave birth to our daughter. Yes, babies are born every day, all over the world, but to a nervous dad-to-be, I thought it was a miracle. I had never seen an umbilical cord before and I was awestruck. Mesmerized, I was thinking about this literal life-line connection between mother and child. Then suddenly, snip! The cord was cut and tied into a little knot, which of course, would become my daughter’s belly button.

Pen was not put to paper for a long time. Years later a draft was written. A draft that sat in a green file folder for a decade. Then, earlier this year, I had to have an emergency appendectomy. My surgeon said “we are going straight through your belly button.” I took that as a sign that I needed to finish my book.

Social scientists and statisticians have just pronounced that for the first time ever there are 8 billion people living on the planet earth. My hope is that a few of those 8 billion belly button owners who read this book will be a little more kind to one another.

Patrick Ballantine is a former state Senator and Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina. His book can be purchased at xulonpress.com/bookstore, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

IT IS OFTEN SAID that elections have consequences. I hope our elected members from North Carolina enter their new positions with the best interests of voters in mind.

One issue that I hope to see on the list of legislative priorities is Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations. Medical decisions should be made between a patient and doctor, but insurance companies and their PBMs often decide to which treatments people have access.

PBMs don’t share the savings they secure in the negotiations with drug companies, leaving patients having to pay higher out of pocket fees. Their profit goals should not come at the expense of people needing to get the right care.

I was disappointed that the last Congress focused healthcare measures in the Inflation Reduction Act on price controls rather that the real culprits of higher costs. The new Congress has the ability to re-center their focus on PBMs, and actually help anyone who goes and picks up medications at their local pharmacies.

I urge our lawmakers in North Carolina to lead the charge.

Jason Moir lives in Lincolnton

Dr.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR DR. JASON MOIR

NATION & WORLD

Russian oil price cap, EU ban aim to limit Kremlin war chest

The Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany —

Major Western measures to limit Russia’s oil profits over the war in Ukraine took effect Monday, bringing with them uncertainty about how much crude could be lost to the world and whether they will unleash the hoped-for hit to a Russian economy that has held up better than many expected under sanctions.

In the most far-reaching efforts so far to target one of Moscow’s main sources of income, the European Union is banning most Russian oil and the Group of Seven democracies has imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian exports to other countries.

The impact of both measures, however, may be blunted because the world’s No. 2 oil producer has so far been able reroute much of its European seaborne shipments to China, India and Turkey, although at steep discounts, and the price cap is near what Russian oil already costs.

As it stands, Russia will likely have enough money to not only fund its military but support key industries and social programs, said Chris Weafer, CEO and Russian economy analyst at consulting firm Macro-Advisory.

“At this price level, that outlook really doesn’t change much. But what is key is how much volume Russia would be able to sell,” he said. “And that depends not only on the willingness of Asian buyers to continue buying Russian oil, but also what is the physical ability of Russia to shift that oil.”

Western leaders are walking a fine line between trying to cut Russia’s oil income and preventing an oil shortage that would

cause a price spike and worsen the inflation plaguing economies and hurting consumers worldwide. They could later agree to lower the price cap to increase pressure on Russia, which says it will not sell to countries that observe the limit.

To seriously cut Russian revenue, the cap must be lowered “quickly and progressively,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Even the $60 cap, if enforced, would already push Russia to lower per-barrel tax, he said, calling it “by far the biggest step to date to cut off the fossil fuel export revenue that is funding and enabling Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.”

Russia has been living off the huge windfall from higher oil prices earlier this year and will be more vulnerable in the next sev-

eral months when that money is spent, Myllyvirta said.

Europe was heavily dependent on Russian oil and natural gas before the war and has had to scramble to find new supplies. Previously, the EU banned imports of Russian coal, and the U.S. and the U.K. halted their limited imports of Russian oil, but those steps had a much smaller economic impact.

Even as Western customers shunned Russian oil, the higher prices driven by fears of energy shortages helped offset lost oil sales, and Russian exporters have shipped more oil to Asian countries and Turkey in a major reshuffling of global oil flows. Russia’s economy has shrunk — but not by as much as many expected at the start of the war almost 10 months ago.

The Biden administration doesn’t expect that Russia’s threats to cut off countries ob -

serving the cap and slow production would “have any impact long term on global oil prices,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

He said “this cap will lock in the discount on Russian oil” and countries like China and India would be able to bargain for steep price reductions.

The cap has a grace period for oil that was loaded before Monday and arrives at its destination before Jan. 19 to minimize disruption on oil markets.

The measure bars insurers or ship owners — most of them located in the EU or U.K. — from helping move Russian oil to non-Western countries unless that oil was priced at or below the cap.

The idea is to keep Russian oil flowing while reducing the Kremlin’s income. The U.S. and Europe leaned more toward preventing a price spike than provoking financial distress in Russia.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called for a price ceiling of around $30 per barrel. That would be near Russia’s cost of production, letting Russian oil companies earn enough only to avoid capping wells that can be hard to restart. Russia needs some $60 to $70 per barrel to balance its budget.

Russia could use methods to evade the sanctions such as those employed by Iran and Venezuela, including using “dark fleet” tankers with obscure ownership and ship-to-ship transfers of oil to tankers with oil of similar quality to hide its origin. Russia or China could also organize their own insurance. Sanctions experts say that those steps will impose higher costs on Russia.

The new EU sanctions led the Italian government to take temporary control of the Russian-owned ISAB refinery in Sicily last week. The government stopped short of nationalization but put the facility, where about 20% of Italy’s oil is refined, under receivership to protect 10,000 jobs linked to the refinery and its suppliers.

US says it will expand, extend temporary status for Haitians

SAN DIEGO — The Biden administration said Monday that it would expand temporary legal status for Haitians already living in the United States, determining conditions in the Caribbean nation were too dangerous for their forced return.

The Homeland Security Department said Haitians who were in the United States Nov. 6 could apply for Temporary Protected Status and those who were granted it last year could stay an additional 18 months until Aug. 3, 2024.

The administration has extended temporary status for several countries and expanded or introduced it for Haiti, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Cameroon and Venezuela, reversing a Trumpera trend to cut back on protections for those already in the United States. TPS, which typically comes with authorization to work, may be extended in increments up to 18 months for countries struck by natural disasters or civil strife.

Haiti has seen increasingly brazen attacks by gangs that have grown more powerful since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. A cholera outbreak sweeping the country is claiming more children’s lives amid a surge in malnutrition.

“The conditions in Haiti, including socioeconomic challenges, political instability, and gang violence and crime — aggravated by environmental disaster — compelled the humanitarian relief we are providing today,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Homeland Security didn’t say how many Haitians are expected to benefit from the expansion. An estimated 40,000 were granted TPS in 2011 — extended last month to June 30, 2024 — after a devastating earthquake in Haiti the previous year. Another 3,200 who got TPS last year are covered under Monday’s 18-month extension.

Chaos in Haiti has fueled an exodus to South America, Mexico and the United States. The U.S. flew many Haitians back home after about 16,000 predominant-

ly Haitian migrants camped in the small Texas border town of Del Rio in September 2021. The administration used a Trump-era rule that suspends rights to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Deportations to Haiti appear to have waned as conditions have deteriorated. Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks deportations, said Monday that the administration hasn’t had a deportation flight to Haiti since Sept. 6.

Haitians who enter the United States after Monday’s announcement will be ineligible for TPS, authorities said, though that may do

little to discourage some. U.S. authorities detained Haitians more than 6,700 times along the Mexican border in October, a number that has grown every month since September 2021 and made Haitians one of the most common nationalities crossing the border illegally.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called last week for an expansion and extension, said more than 100,000 Haitians will be eligible for temporary status under Monday’s announcement.

“Providing temporary protection to Haitian nationals in the United States is critically important as Haiti continues to face ex-

treme physical conditions and deteriorating political instability,” he said.

Advocates thanked the Biden administration.

“We rejoice and celebrate with our Haitian siblings and stand undeterred in solidarity as we continue to work with and for the Haitian and Haitian-American communities,” said Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.

The Cato Institute, which advocates for more open immigration laws, said last week that nearly 1 million people are eligible for TPS under Biden, more than double the figure under Trump.

Gov. DeSantis book

‘The Courage to Be Free’ coming Feb. 28

Tallahassee, Fla.

The long-rumored memoirpolicy book by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is coming out next year. The HarperCollins imprint Broadside will release “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival” on Feb. 28. The announcement comes in the wake of DeSantis’ decisive reelection victory and likely will add to speculation that he plans a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

According to Broadside, DeSantis will cover everything from his childhood and service in the Iraq War to his years as Florida governor, when he made opposition to COVID-19 restrictions and the fight against “woke” culture centerpieces of his first term.

“What Florida has done is establish a blueprint for governance that has produced tangible results while serving as a rebuke to the entrenched elites who have driven our nation into the ground. Florida is proof positive that we, the people are not powerless in the face of these elites,” DeSantis writes, according to Broadside.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

With virtually all the ballots counted, Duarte has just over 50% of the vote. Gray conceded in a statement, saying, “I accept the results and have called to congratulate my opponent.”

Duarte said in a statement, “I promised our Valley families that I would be their bipartisan champion in Washington, D.C. by fighting for food on our tables, gas in our tanks, and water on our farms. That is exactly what I am going to go there to do.”

With Duarte’s victory, Republicans will hold at least 221 seats next year, Democrats 213, with one Colorado race undecided and going to a recount. That race favors the Republican incumbent.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

China party officials pay respects to former leader Jiang

Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping and other current and previous top officials paid their respects Monday to former leader Jiang Zemin, who died last week at age 96. State broadcaster CCTV showed Xi, his predecessor Hu Jintao and others bowing to Jiang’s body at a military hospital in Beijing. Jiang’s body was then sent for cremation at Babaoshan cemetery, where many top leaders are interred.

Jiang led China out of isolation after the army crushed student-led prodemocracy protests centered on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989 and supported economic reforms that led to a decade of explosive growth.

A trained engineer and former head of China’s largest city, Shanghai, Jiang was president for a decade until 2003 and led the ruling Communist Party for 13 years until 2002.

GOP’s Duarte takes California Central Valley US House seat Los Angeles

Republican John Duarte defeated Democrat Adam Gray in a new California U.S. House district in the Central Valley farm belt that produced the closest congressional contest in the state this year.

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Protesters sing an anti-government song in front of a barricade of burning tires during a protest against the government in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.

AP PHOTO

An oil tanker is moored at the Sheskharis complex, part of Chernomortransneft JSC, a subsidiary of Transneft PJSC, in Novorossiysk, Russia, on Oct. 11, 2022

WOMEN’S SOCCER

UCLA rallies late, shocks UNC in 2OT to win NCAA title

Cary Maricarmen Reyes scored a go-ahead goal off a rebound in the 107th minute and top-seeded UCLA rallied past UNC 3-2 to win its second women’s soccer championship in program history. UCLA trailed 2-0 late in the second half before scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force overtime. In the second 10-minute overtime, Ally Cook had a close-range shot knocked wide by UNC goalkeeper Emmie Allen, but Reyes raced to the ball for a sliding finish from a difficult angle. The Bruins became the first women’s soccer program in NCAA history to win the title with a first-year head coach, and coach Margueritte Aozasa’s squad was also the first to come back from two goals down to win the national title. Tar Heels coach Anson Dorrance was denied 22nd title in 46 years in Chapel Hill.

NFL Panthers waive Baker Mayfield

Charlotte The Carolina Panthers have waived struggling quarterback Baker Mayfield after the 2018 No. 1 draft pick asked for his release. Mayfield would be subject to waivers and become a free agent if he goes unclaimed. The move does not come as a surprise because Sam Darnold replaced Mayfield after his failed second stint as starting quarterback. The Panthers also like what they have in P.J. Walker. The move gives Mayfield a chance to potentially land with a team that needs quarterback help. San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson all suffered injuries over the weekend. Mayfield, 27, completed 57.8% of his passes in seven games this season, totaling six touchdowns and six interceptions. His QBR of 18.2 ranked last among the 33 quarterbacks with at least six games played this season.

UNC looks for answers during epic slump

Four straight losses have Hubert Davis questioning his team’s heart

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

ON APRIL 2 of this year, UNC prepared to play Duke in a titanic rivalry matchup in the Final Four. As tipoff neared, Tar Heel fans across the globe whispered to themselves, “God, if you just let us win this one game …”

God did his part: The Tar Heels knocked off the Blue Devils and went on to the National Championship Game, securing the ultimate in bragging rights over their hated rival and sending Coach K off into retirement.

Whatever promises were made in those anxious pregame moments are apparently now coming due. The UNC football team has lost three straight games, torpedoing what had been a promising season. The women’s soccer team was stunned, blowing a two-goal

lead to lose in the national title game. And the basketball team, which squandered a lead of its own against Kansas with the national title on the line, has now fallen on hard times.

On Nov. 15, following a third straight lackluster win over a nonconference opponent, coach Hubert Davis ripped his team. After calling them soft in practice leading up to the game, he doubled down, questioning the team’s toughness, effort and commitment to defense. He accused the team of ignoring scouting reports and directions from the coaching staff and implied that some players were preoccupied with “thinking about the draft” and “thinking about their NIL deals” and didn’t have the hunger and thirst to succeed.

The Tar Heels have gone 2-4 since that postgame dressing down, and the problems Davis outlined have seemed to get worse, not better.

Big man Armando Bacot, the preseason ACC Player of the Year, has struggled early in the season.

His scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks averages are all down, while his turnovers and fouls are up. His shooting percentage is down and he’s taking fewer shots.

Bacot appeared to be battling ankle problems in Thanksgiving weekend losses to Iowa State and Alabama in the Portland Phil Knight tournament. He was kept on the bench in the final stretch of a quadruple-overtime loss to the Crimson Tide, then also appeared to be favoring his shoulder in a loss to Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. In a loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC opener over the

Going bowling: A look at NC’s 5 FBS teams that are playing this month

East Carolina and all four of the state’s ACC teams are headed to bowls

The Associated Press

FIVE FBS TEAMS from North Carolina will compete in bowl games over the next month, including all four of the state’s ACC schools. While App State fell short of playing in a bowl game for the eighth straight season, East Carolina will play in the postseason for the first time since 2014.

Here is a look at all five games and the histories between the teams.

GASPARILLA BOWL

Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5 ACC) vs. Missouri (6-6, 3-5 SEC) Dec. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Tampa, Florida

All-time series: First meeting

Wake Forest and Missouri will square off for the first time at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Demon Deacons stumbled down the stretch with four losses in five games but feature one of the ACC’s

top quarterbacks in Sam Hartman, who threw for more than 3,400 yards with 35 touchdowns. The Tigers picked things up in the season’s second half by winning four of six and beating border rival Arkan-

sas in the finale. Mizzou — led by former App State coach and NC State offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz — enters with the SEC’s No. 4 defense overall and against the run. Wake Forest is

weekend, Bacot dressed but didn’t play due to injury.

Davis didn’t appear to be on board with the decision to hold out Bacot.

“Well, it is his call,” the coach said. “I can’t make somebody play. So it is his call. We didn’t know until game time. I was going under the assumption that he would play, and when he came back and he said he didn’t feel like he could then we move forward. It is what it is, North Carolina always shows up. It doesn’t matter who’s playing or not.”

The Tar Heels were also without sophomore D’Marco Dunn, who is expected to miss several weeks with a hand injury. Dunn was part of a group of UNC reserves who, after not playing much early, were seeing their time on the floor increase as Davis’ frustration with the front-line players grew. Puff Johnson, who earned the start in Bacot’s absence but went scoreless against

UNC, page B3

making its seventh consecutive bowl appearance and is 10-6 overall. This is their first appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl.

BIRMINGHAM BOWL

East Carolina (7-5, 4-3 AAC) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3, 6-1 Sun Belt) Dec. 27, 6:45 p.m.

Birmingham, Alabama

All-time series: First meeting

After winning just 16 games over five seasons from 2016 to 2020, East Carolina has totaled 17 in three years under coach Mike Houston, including backto-back seven-win regular seasons. The Pirates will play in a bowl for the first time since 2014. Coastal Carolina just hired NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck to lead the program after Jamey Chadwell left for the Liberty job. The Chanticleers are led by three-time Sun Belt player of the year quarterback Grayson McCall. Keaton Mitchell has run for 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns for East Carolina, which has posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014. The Pirates are 9-11 all-time in bowls. Their berth in last year’s Military Bowl was canceled because of COVID-19 protocols within the Boston College program.

CRAIG MITCHELLDYER | AP PHOTO

UNC forward Pete Nance reacts after the Tar Heels’ four-overtime loss to Alabama on Nov. 27. It was the second of four straight losses suffered by UNC, which has gone from preseason No. 1 to out of The Associated Press men’s basketball poll.

WILFREDO LEE | AP PHOTO

Duke coach Mike Elko and quarterback Riley Leonard are headed to a bowl game, and the Blue Devils will face UCF in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28 in Annapolis, Maryland.

“It is what it is, North Carolina always shows up. It doesn’t matter who’s playing or not.”

Hubert Davis, UNC basketball coach

TRENDING

Jill Ellis:

The former NC State women’s soccer assistant coach was voted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in recognition of a career that including coaching the American women to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. The 56‑year‑old British‑born coach was picked on 20 of 24 ballots in the builder voting that included only coach candidates for the 2023 class. Ellis, FIFA’s women’s coach of the year in 2015 and 2019, is president of the National Women’s Soccer League’s San Diego Wave. She will be inducted next year.

Jacob deGrom:

The 34‑year‑old righthander signed a $185 million, five‑year contract with the Texas Rangers that includes a pair of conditional options, one that protects the team against an arm injury and another that would make the deal worth $222 million over six seasons if he is remains a top pitcher at the end of 2027. The deal with the two‑time Cy Young Award winner includes salaries of $30 million next year, $40 million each in 2024 and ’25, $38 million in 2026 and $37 million in 2027.

Julianne Sitch:

The University of Chicago soccer coach became the first woman to coach a men’s soccer team to an NCAA championship. She guided the Maroons to the Division III title by Williams College 2‑0. The title capped an undefeated season (22‑0‑1) and set a school record for wins in Sitch’s first year as head coach. The 39‑year‑old Sitch was an assistant coach for the Chicago women’s soccer team from 2015‑17.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Cincinnati hired Louisville’s Scott Satterfield on Monday to be its next football coach. Louisville was 7‑5 this season under Satterfield and earned a berth in the Fenway Bowl, where coincidentally it will face Cincinnati. Satterfield replaces Luke Fickell, who recently left to become coach at Wisconsin. Satterfield, a Hillsborough native and former App State player and coach, had taken the Louisville job in 2018 after six seasons leading the Mountaineers.

UNC coach Mack Brown on not being prepared for Clemson to bench DJ Uiagalelei for Cade Klubnik in the Tigers’ 39‑10 win in the ACC Championship Game.

Fred McGriff, joking about his cult classic commercials, after it was announced he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

PRIME NUMBER

4Hat tricks for the Hurricanes this season after Jordan Martinook got the second of his career last Thursday in St. Louis in the team’s 24th game. It’s the most in a season for Carolina since the team had four in 2009‑10. Andrei Svechnikov has twice scored three goals in a game this season (both against Edmonton), and Sebastian Aho had a hat trick against Buffalo on Nov. 4.

NASCAR’s most popular driver for the fifth straight year last week at the season‑ending awards ceremony in Nashville. His run as stock car racing’s most popular driver started in 2018, the year after Dale Earnhardt Jr. — who had won the award every year since 2003 — retired.

Chase

SOCCER

an 11‑year,

The United States was ousted from the World Cup on Saturday, losing 3‑1 to the Netherlands in the first round of knockout play in Qatar. Memphis Depay, Daley Blind and Denzel Dumfries scored for the Netherlands, while Haji Wright had the lone goal for the Americans. The Netherlands will play Argentina on Friday in the quarterfinals.

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

Former NC State standout Trea Turner agreed to

$300 million contract with Phillies, reuniting the shortstop with former Nationals teammate Bryce Harper. Turner batted .298 with 21 homers and a career‑high 100 RBIs in his first full season with the Dodgers but turned down the team’s $19.65 million qualifying offer.

MLB

BRYAN WOOLSTON | AP PHOTO

Elliott was named

NASCAR

DAVID RICHARD | AP PHOTO

“My Tom Emanski hat in Cooperstown.”

“They hadn’t changed all year.”

RICK BOWMER | AP PHOTO

PATRICK LANTRIP | AP PHOTO

ASHLEY LANDIS | AP PHOTO

Leaving the Pack: QB Leary, OC Beck depart from NCSU

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RALEIGH — NC State’s offense will need to retool after both its starting quarterback and offensive coordinator announced they are leaving the program.

ACC Preseason Player of the Year Devin Leary declared his intent to enter the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility, while Tim Beck is headed to Coastal Carolina to become its next head coach on a five-year deal.

“2022 did not go as expected, but I will never question God’s timing,” Leary said in a post on his Twitter account. “I will forever be thankful for the relationships that I have built here at NC State.”

Leary had a slow start to the year and then suffered a torn pectoral muscle against Florida State in the Wolfpack’s sixth game on Oct. 8, ending his season.

Following Leary’s injury, NC State won three games with three different quarterbacks, beating in-state rivals Wake Forest and UNC with its third- and fourthstring quarterbacks.

With MJ Morris and Ben Finley both poised to compete for the starting job, it made sense for the record-setting quarterback

to seek a different opportunity in his final collegiate season. ESPN’s Tom VanHaaran ranked Leary as the top player in the transfer portal as of Monday night.

Leary set the single-season NC State record with 35 touchdowns in 2021 while throwing for 3,433 yards and just five interceptions in

Top seeds, undefeated teams highlight NCHSAA championship weekend

ley also features the No. 10 rusher in the state in Mitchell Summers, who has 1,961 yards and 21 touchdowns.

leading the team to nine wins.

Despite two seasons ended early by injuries, Leary will finish his Wolfpack career fourth all-time in total touchdowns with 62 and sixth in total passing yards with 6,807.

NC State will also need to move forward without Beck. While he

has at times been criticized by Wolfpack fans for conservative play-calling, Beck’s work with the quarterbacks helped NC State weather Leary’s injury and stay afloat even as the team was forced to dig deeper in its depth chart.

That’s a testament to Beck’s work as a recruiter and his keen

eye for quarterback talent.

“Recruiting is of the utmost,” Beck said in his Coastal Carolina introductory press conference. “Over the years as an offensive coordinator, I was a lot better play-caller when I had better players. Makes it a lot easier, certainly.”

Beck joined NC State as its quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in 2020 after previous stops at Nebraska, Ohio State and Texas as an offensive coordinator.

He will replace Jamey Chadwell with the Chanticleers, and Beck is head coach Dave Doeren’s second straight offensive coordinator to leave for a top job. Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz was hired by App State in December 2018 and spent one season in Boone before being hired by the Tigers.

Despite struggles in short-yardage situations and on third downs, Beck’s offense was mostly dependable and helped the Wolfpack to reach at least eight wins in each of his three seasons in Raleigh.

Now the Wolfpack will need to find his replacement and also set a new course at quarterback as Doeren prepares for his 11th season with the school.

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

CINDERELLA WILL BE in short supply at the North Carolina High School football championships this weekend.

The four title games taking place at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium and UNC’s Kenan Stadium on Friday and Saturday will feature the No. 1 seeds in all four divisions, a pair of No. 2 seeds and two No. 4 seeds. Four of the eight teams playing are undefeated, and the other four have one loss each.

Here’s a look at the title hopefuls that will be battling in the quartet of weekend games.

In Friday’s 4A championship in Chapel Hill, No. 1 Grimsley will face No. 2 New Bern in a battle of 15-0 teams.

New Bern is seeking its fourth state title and first since 2014.

Grimsley is seeking its second title in three years after winning for the first time in the 2020-21 playoffs.

New Bern is led by running back Aronne Herring, who has rushed for 1,895 yards this season and scored 29 touchdowns, including a school-record seven — on 20 carries — in the Bears’ regional semifinal win over Rolesville. On defense, New Bern is led by FSU commit Keith Sampson, who has 18 sacks on the year.

Grimsley is led on defense by Georgia commit Jamaal Jarrett, a 6-foot-6, 340-pound lineman who has 18 tackles for loss on the year. The Whirlies also have a pair of junior playmakers on offense in receivers Alex Taylor and Terrell Anderson, both among the 14 best junior class players in the state according to 247Sports.

Anderson has 63 catches for 1,169 yards and 10 scores as well as a 98-yard kick return, while Taylor has 62 receptions for 957 yards and 12 touchdowns. Grims-

A Saturday triple-header starts in Chapel Hill at 11 a.m. with the 2A championships. No. 2 East Duplin faces No. 1 Reidsville in a matchup of two 14-1 teams. This is a matchup of the state title haves and have-nots. East Duplin is seeking its first crown in its sixth trip to the title game and first since 2017. Meanwhile, no team has won more state championships than Reidsville, which will be looking to add its 20th to the trophy case and fifth in the last seven seasons.

East Duplin is led by running back Avery Gaby, who has rushed for 2,004 yards and 40 scores this season. He’s also the team’s leading receiver with 267 yards and three touchdowns, and he also leads the team in sacks.

Reidsville has stormed through the playoffs, winning five games by a combined 224-60 score. The Rams have trailed exactly once, for about three minutes of game time, 10-7 to Providence Grove, before scoring 22 straight points.

Receiver Que’Shyne “Flip” Flippen leads the offense with 878 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also one of the state’s top punt returners. Freshman receiver/defensive back Dionte Neal leads the state with 12 interceptions and has scored 14 touchdowns via a combination of receiving, rushing and pick-six.

The action shifts to Carter-Finley for the final two games, starting with the 1A championship at 3 p.m. Top seed Tarboro faces No. 4 Mount Airy, with both teams carrying 14-1 records.

Tarboro is the lone returning champion to return to play for this year’s title, and the Vikings are in search of their 10th state championship, third straight and fifth in six years. Mount Airy seeks its eighth and first since 2008.

Tarboro lost to Herford County 56-54 in the second game of the

season and hasn’t had a foe come within 20 points of them since. They’ve won four playoff games by a 162-41 combined score.

Running back Kamerin McDowell-Moore leads the Tarboro offense with 1,274 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. They don’t go to the air much, but McDowell-Moore also leads the Vikings with 201 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Omarion Lewis also leads the team in defensive interceptions, with four, from his free safety position.

Mount Airy has been on even more of a roll. Since a Week 2 loss to East Surry by two points, the Granite Bears have topped 50 points in nine of 13 games, winning by an average score of 54-6.

That includes an astounding fourgame stretch of shutout wins by 62, 66, 55 and 72 points. Mount Airy also has 58-0 and 49-0 wins on its record this year.

Junior running back Tyler Mason leads the Granite Bears with 1,863 yards and 44 touchdowns.

The final game is the 3A title game at 7 p.m. in Raleigh. No. 1 Northern Nash and No. 4 East Lincoln each put 15-0 records on the line.

Northern Nash has never won a state title and has just one appearance in a championship game — a 2002 loss. East Lincoln seeks its third title and first since 2014.

East Lincoln earned a spot in the title game with a 46-20 win over Kings Mountain last week,

just the second time this season a team has reached double figures against the Mustangs’ defense. That defense is led by a pair of Division I recruits in linebacker Ben Cutter, a West Virginia commit, and corner Keandre Walker, committed to UVA. Cutter is second in the state with 182 tackles and also has four interceptions. Walker has three picks and also adds 818 receiving yards on offense.

Northern Nash is led by quarterback Keno Jones, who has 2,660 passing yards and has thrown for 38 touchdowns. The dual-threat added 831 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground. With 1,044 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, Randall King is his top target.

UNC from page B1

the Hokies, is also in that group. “I really love what D’Marco, Seth (Trimble, freshman guard) and Puff are doing,” Davis said before Dunn suffered his injury. “Their minutes are just going to continue to rise. They’re playing not only well but consistently well in practice, and they’re also confirming that by their play in the

game. And I’m very happy with the way that they’ve been playing, and they’re going to get more minutes.”

Caleb Love, who had a coming out party in last season’s NCAA Tournament run, has also found himself in Davis’ doghouse. Unlike Bacot, Love has improved his scoring — from 15.9 points per game to 19 — and shooting — from .371 to .412.

His shot selection and over-

all decision-making have been the problem, however. Love is taking nearly seven 3-pointers a game despite shooting just .262 from beyond the arc, nearly 10% lower than last year. He took an astounding 36 shots against Alabama, a total that dropped to 10 in his most recent game as Davis has harped on ball movement and player movement.

It’s worth remembering that

last year at this time the Tar Heels were in a similar position, losing back-to-back games in a Thanksgiving tournament that had Davis questioning the team’s toughness and heart. UNC regrouped and strung together a few wins before getting drubbed by Kentucky in mid-December, 98-69. The Heels eventually found their footing and went on their epic late-season run, which included the wins over Duke

in the regular season finale and the Final Four.

Now, the problems seem to have all returned, leading many to question which are the real Tar Heels — the ones that struggle in the early winter or the ones that seem invincible in March.

Until that question is answered, Tar Heels fans may be pondering ways to renegotiate their deal with the almighty.

The ACC preseason player of the year has entered the transfer portal, while the offensive coordinator was hired as Coastal Carolina’s next head coach

Every top seed advanced to the state title game

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

Quarterback Devin Leary announced he is entering the transfer portal, joining offensive coordinator Tim Beck — who took the head coaching job at Coastal Carolina — as key pieces who are departing NC State’s offense.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Mount Airy, pictured during its 35-17 playoff win over Eastern Randolph in Ramseur on Nov. 25, will face Tarboro in the NCHSAA 1A state football championship game on Saturday at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

“I will forever be thankful for the relationships that I have built here at NC State.”

Devin Leary

Martin County legend Gaylord Perry remembered

By Shawn Kress North State Journal

ACCORDING TO FAMILY

LORE, Evan Perry turned down the chance to play minor league baseball because his family needed him to help work on their farm. He eventually inherited the 25acre tobacco, corn and peanut farm, and decided to let his sons take the chance he couldn’t afford to — a decision that helped lift him, and the farm, out of debt for the first time.

One of those sons, Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, passed away last week at age 84. He was the last living Hall of Famer out of the seven North Carolina has sent to Cooperstown — Luke Appling, Rick Ferrell, Catfish Hunter, Buck Leonard, Enos Slaughter and Hoyt Wilhelm are the others — and his journey to the highest levels of his sport had roots in his family’s Martin County farm.

Gaylord began working on the farm, along with his older brother and fellow MLB player Jim, at age 7. His father always left room for baseball, however, allowing his sons to play on the school team and joining them in semi-pro leagues in the area.

“As I think about the passing of my brother, I am reminded of the many good times we shared,” Jim Perry said in a statement released by Campbell University. Both brothers attended the school, al-

though Gaylord never played for the Camels, attending in between minor league seasons. “Growing up together on the farm, we made up a homemade ball and learned the game of baseball playing with our dad during noontime breaks from picking tobacco.”

Gaylord was on the football, basketball and baseball teams at Williamston High School. Perry starred in all three sports, getting named All-State twice in football and averaging 30 points and 20 rebounds on the hardwood.

But it was clear early on that Perry’s future was on the mound. He starred for the high school team, and as a freshman, he and Jim threw shutouts on back-toback days to win the best-of-three series for the state title. He would go on to post a record of 33-5 and attract a large number of scouts to the area.

Parker Chesson, at the time a star pitcher for Perquimans High, remembers facing Perry in a mound matchup between the two schools. In an essay he wrote for the book “Baseball in the Carolinas” he recalls his impression of the future Hall of Famer.

“Gaylord, who was a year older than me, and I were both pitchers who played other positions when not on the mound,” he recalled. “Unfortunately, the similarities stopped pretty much there. … At 6’4” and about 200 pounds, he was an imposing figure, and he had a blazing fastball. Talent wise, he was in another league.”

Chesson said that his high school principal approached him on the day he was facing Perry in a game and said that several MLB

scouts had called the school asking for directions to the field.

“Maybe this will be a chance to show your stuff,” the principal told him. Chesson joked that the scouts were only interested in one man, however, and that the scout running a video camera took breaks when Perry wasn’t on the mound. For his part, Perry struck out 15 in the game, prompting Giants official Tom Sheehan to tell area scout Tim Murchison, “You better make arrangements to sign that boy.”

The Giants did just that, signing Perry for $70,000. He spent a decade with the team and another

12 years in MLB with eight other teams. He became the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award

in both leagues, winning with Cleveland in 1972 and San Diego in 1978. He was also a five-time all-star, threw a no-hitter in 1968 and finished with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts. Those rank 17th and eighth all-time in MLB history.

Perry is best known for his long-suspected habit of throwing an illegal spitball. He wrote an autobiography in 1974 titled “Me and the Spitter,” and by the end of his career had a prolonged routine of touching various areas of his cap and uniform before throwing a pitch, pretending he was accessing some hidden illegal substance to load up the ball.

In his early days in North Carolina, however, he was farm-boy strong and certainly didn’t need any help from illicit means to mow down batters.

“He is the most famous athlete to come out of our area,” Riverside athletic director Phil Woolard told local TV station WITN. “We’ve had a lot, but he had the longest career. He was a guy that we measure pitchers in Martin County by.”

The good-natured sense of humor that Perry exhibited in his late-career act on the mound was evident in the early days, however.

Former Williamston tourism director Barney Conway grew up with Perry and told the station, “His name will go down in history. He was probably the bestknown pitcher around. He had a good attitude about baseball. He had a good attitude about life. He had a good attitude about people. He was just a good person to be around.”

Half-dozen turnovers sink Gardner-Webb in FCS playoff loss

up 405 yards on the ground, in a 52-41 win over Eastern Kentucky in the first round, the Running’ Bulldogs had 200.

The Associated Press

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Darius Wilson threw three touchdown passes and William & Mary turned turnovers into three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter, and the fifth-seeded Tribe rolled to a 54-14 win over Gardner-Webb in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

Two fumble recoveries and two interceptions led to 27 points in the second quarter for William & Mary (11-1), which plays fourth-seeded Montana State or Weber State next weekend in the quarterfinals.

In its first FCS playoffs, Gardner-Webb (7-6) self-destructed with six turnovers, including four interceptions by three different quarterbacks. A week after piling

“They’ve got a really good football team,” Gardner-Webb coach Tre Lamb said of the Tribe. “I think they can go really deep in this thing and potentially win it all.”

The Tribe, led by former Virginia Cavaliers coach Mike London and ranked eighth in the FCS coaches poll, went 66 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive, capped by a 3-yard run by Bronson Yoder. They then turned three consecutive turnovers into touchdowns. Two were passes to JT Mayo covering 34 and 43 yards. The third was a 6-yard run by Donavyn Lester.

In the final minute of the first half, the Runnin’ Bulldogs had their fourth turnover and Ethan Chang got his second field goal for a 34-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb put together a 75-yard drive to open the second half, scoring on a 17-yard pass from Matthew Caldwell to Caleb Borders. But the Tribe responded with a scoring drive — and Yoder’s second score — and then scored two more touchdowns after interceptions. Tye Freeland had two of the picks.

Wilson was 14 of 24 for 240 yards and ran for another 89 yards.

MILITARY BOWL

Duke (8-4, 5-3 ACC) vs. UCF (9-4, 6-2 AAC) Dec. 28, 2 p.m.

Annapolis, Maryland

All-time series: First meeting

ACC Coach of the Year Mike Elko became the first Blue Devils coach to win eight games in his first season at the helm since Fred Goldsmith did it in 1994, and Duke will have a shot at nine when it meets UCF in the Military Bowl. UCF lost to 14th-ranked Tulane in the AAC championship game. Blue Devils left tackle Graham Barton, an All-ACC firstteam pick, started all 12 games for a team that allowed a league-low 17 sacks. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is UCF’s leading rusher and passer. Duke is 6-8 all-time in bowl games but has won three straight, and both schools are playing in the Military Bowl for the first time.

HOLIDAY BOWL

UNC (9-4, 6-2 ACC) vs. Oregon (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12) Dec. 28, 8 p.m.

San Diego

All-time series: First meeting

The Holiday Bowl returns for the first time since 2019 and in a new venue — the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park. The 2020 game was canceled due to the pandemic and UCLA pulled out of the 2021 matchup against NC State just hours before kickoff. The Tar Heels won the ACC Coastal Divi-

sion but have lost three straight, including a blowout loss to Clemson in the ACC title game. Oregon has lost two of its last three games. UNC coach Mack Brown will be coaching in his 26th bowl game, and he’s 15-10 overall. It will be the Tar Heels’ first time in the Holiday Bowl and 37th bowl overall, and UNC has lost five of its last six. Quarterbacks Bo Nix of the Ducks and UNC’s Drake Maye lead the offenses for the two teams.

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL

NC State (8-4, 4-4 ACC) vs. Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) Dec. 31, noon

Charlotte All-time series: Maryland leads 32-33-4

In a reunion of teams that were in the ACC together for decades, NC State will face Maryland — a team it has played 69 times, the fifth most of any opponent — in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. The Wolfpack boast a veteran defense but have started four different quarterbacks this season. Maryland started 6-2 before losing three straight games but closed the regular season with a shutout win against Rutgers.

Taulia Tagovailoa, the brother of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for four more for Maryland. It will be NC State’s first time in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, but the Wolfpack have a history with postseason games in Charlotte. The Terps will play in North Carolina for the first time in 29 bowl games.

William & Mary beat the Runnin’ Bulldogs 54-14

One of seven Hall of Famers from North Carolina, the 300-game winner passed away last week

“We made up a homemade ball and learned the game of baseball playing with our dad during noontime breaks from picking tobacco”

Jim Perry,

brother of Gaylord Perry

Interceptions by three different Gardner-Webb quarterbacks — Matthew Caldwell (2), Bailey Fisher and Xavion Brower — in the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ playoff loss Saturday to William & Mary.

CHUCK BURTON | AP PHOTO

Wide receiver A.T. Perry and Wake Forest will face Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 23 in Tampa, Florida.

DANIEL SANGJIB MIN | RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH VIA AP

Gardner-Webb returner Ephraim Floyd is tackled by William & Mary’s Caylin Newton during the Tribe’s 54-14 rout Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs Williamsburg, Virginia.

RAY STUBBLEBINE | AP PHOTO

Gaylord Perry, the Hall of Fame pitcher from Martin County who mesmerized batters with his legendary spitball and captured the imagination of fans with his charisma, died Dec. 1 at age 84.

month, well below the pre-pandemic 63.4%.

Some say the shortfall in available workers has been caused by a combination of early retirements, reduced immigration, COVID-19 deaths and a shortage of affordable child care. The shortage represents a setback in the fight against inflation: If employers had more workers to choose from, they would be under less pressure to bid up wages and thereby contribute to inflation pressures.

Friday’s report sent some mixed signals about the level of employment in the United States.

The Labor Department’s survey of businesses delivered the headline number of 263,000 added jobs. But the department also surveyed households, and they told a different story: The number of people who said they had a job fell by 138,000 in November after having dropped by 328,000 in October.

The survey of businesses, called the “establishment survey,” tracks how many jobs are added across the economy. The separate survey of households is used to calculate the unemployment rate.

The two surveys sometimes tell different tales, as they did in October and November, though the disparities tend to even out over time.

For its establishment survey, the department asks mostly large companies and government agencies how many people they had on their payrolls.

For its household survey, it asks households whether the adults living there have a job. Those who don’t have a job but are looking for one are counted as unemployed. Those who aren’t working but aren’t seeking work are not counted as unemployed.

Unlike the establishment survey, the household survey counts farm workers, the self-employed and people who work for new companies. It also does a better job of capturing small-business hiring.

Meta oversight board urges changes to VIP moderation system

The Associated Press

LONDON — Facebook parent Meta’s quasi-independent oversight board said Tuesday that an internal system that exempted high-profile users, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, from some or all of its content moderation rules needs a major overhaul.

The report by the Oversight Board, which was more than a year in the making, said the system “is flawed in key areas which the company must address.”

Meta asked the board to look into the system after The Wall Street Journal reported last year that it was being abused by many of its elite users, who were posting material that would result in penalties for ordinary people, including for harassment and incitement of violence.

Facebook’s rules reportedly didn’t seem to apply to some VIP users while others faced reviews of rule-breaking posts that never happened, according to the Journal article, which said the system had at least 5.8 million exempted users as of 2020.

The system — known as “XCheck,” or cross-check — was exposed in Facebook documents leaked by Frances Haugen, a former product manager turned whistleblower who captured worldwide headlines with revelations alleging that the social media company prioritized profits over online safety and galvanized regulators into cracking down on hate speech and misinformation.

Nick Clegg, Meta’s president for global affairs, tweeted that the company requested the review of the system “so that we can contin-

ue our work to improve the program.”

To fully address the board’s recommendations, “we’ve agreed to respond within 90 days,” he added.

The company has said crosscheck, which applies to Facebook and Instagram, was designed to prevent “overpolicing,” or mistakenly removing content thought to be breaking the platform’s rules.

The Oversight Board’s report said that the cross-check system resulted in users being treated unequally and that it led to delays in taking down content that violated the rules because there were up to five separate checks. Decisions on average took more than five days, it found.

For content posted by American users, the average decision took 12 days, and for Afghanistan and Syr-

ia, it was 17 days. In some cases, it took a lot longer: one piece of content waited 222 days — more than seven months — for a decision, the report said, without providing further details.

Among its 32 recommendations, the board said Meta “should prioritize expression that is important for human rights, including expression which is of special public importance.”

Human rights defenders, advocates for marginalized communities, public officials and journalists should be given higher priority than others put on the cross-check list because they are business partners, such as big companies, political parties, musicians, celebrities and artists, the report said.

“If users included due to their commercial importance frequently post violating content, they

should no longer benefit from special protection,” the board said. Addressing other flaws, the board also urged Meta to remove or hide content while it’s being reviewed and said the company should “radically increase transparency around cross-check and how it operates,” such as outlining “clear, public criteria” on who gets to be on the list.

The board upheld Facebook’s decision to ban Trump last year out of concern he incited violence leading to the riot on the U.S. Capitol. But it said the company failed to mention the cross-check system in its request for a ruling. The company has until Jan. 7 to decide whether to let Trump back on.

Clegg said in a blog post that Meta has already been making changes to cross-check, including standardizing it so that it’s “run in a more consistent way,” opening up the system to content from all 3 billion Facebook users and holding annual reviews to verify its list of elite users and entities.

After widespread criticism that it failed to respond swiftly and effectively to misinformation, hate speech and harmful influence campaigns, Facebook set up the oversight panel as the ultimate referee of thorny content issues it faces. Members include a former Danish prime minister, the former editor-in-chief of British newspaper the Guardian, as well as legal scholars and human rights experts.

Some critics have previously questioned the board’s independence and said its narrow content decisions seemed to distract from wider problems within Facebook and concerns about government regulation.

Robinhood takes on retirement in search for more growth

NEW YORK — Robinhood, the company that blazed onto Wall Street after turning millions of novices into investors by making trading fun, is now setting its sights on a more staid corner of the industry: saving for retirement.

The company on Tuesday is initiating signups for a retirement program, where customers can sock savings into an Individual Retirement Account, something better known as an IRA.

It’s the first such effort for Robinhood, which is trying to recapture some of the high-flying growth that fell off as painful downturns made day-trading of stocks and cryptocurrencies much less fun.

Robinhood has often appealed to younger customers, and many of them are working jobs that don’t have access to a traditional 401(k) retirement plan offered by an employer, said Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s chief executive.

Such 401(k) accounts have been instrumental in getting millions of Americans to save for retirement, with many workers getting enrolled automatically by their employer. But many of Robinhood’s customers are in parts of the job market that don’t get the luxury of such programs.

“Today, you’re seeing an increasing number of people doing contract work, part-time work, gig-economy work,” Tenev said

in an interview. “They just don’t have access. We wanted to bring that to everyone, no employer needed.”

Robinhood is promising to match 1% of eligible contributions that customers put into their IRA. That could mean up to $65 for someone who contributes the maximum allowed $6,500 to an IRA next year. People aged 50 and over can contribute up to $7,500 in 2023.

Early signups will get access to Robinhood’s IRAs over the coming weeks, with the program be -

coming fully available in January.

A retirement program is something that Robinhood’s customers have long been requesting, Tenev said. And it’s something that could significantly boost Robinhood’s bottom line.

Retirement savers can be less prone to move between different brokerages, and retirement savings offer a huge potential market.

Total U.S. retirement investments totaled $33.7 trillion this summer, according to the Invest-

ment Company Institute. They account for 31% of all household financial assets. IRAs make up the biggest single chunk of that, at $11.7 trillion.

Growth for Robinhood has slowed sharply since its popularity took off through the pandemic. Its stock has fallen roughly 45% this year and is below $10 after hitting a peak above $70 shortly after its stock-market debut in the summer of 2021.

Its growth hit a zenith in the first half of 2021, when the new generation of investors it helped convert was a major factor in the meme-stock frenzy that sent GameStop and others to market-bending heights.

But the meme-stock craze has since calmed. So, too, has crypto trading, another big source of revenue for Robinhood.

One reason for the GameStop explosion was the number of traders at Robinhood and other brokerages that were using stock options to ride the wave. In some cases, trading options can increase the possible reward if a trader is correct but can also increase the risk.

Tenev said Robinhood’s retirement customers won’t be able to trade options in their IRAs, as some other providers allow, at least not yet.

“On day one, they won’t,” he said. “It’s only going to be stocks and ETFs. We’re going to be looking at feedback and will look to add assets.”

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Facebook's Meta logo sign is seen at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on, Oct. 28, 2021.

AP PHOTO

The logo for the Robinhood app on a smartphone is shown in New York, Dec. 17, 2020.

2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

A 33 mile-EV with no range anxiety

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

SAN DIEGO — I wish every car were available as a plug-in hybrid.

Our choices remain limited, though, which is a shame because they’re perfect for so many people. A plug-in hybrid or PHEV is a stepping stone to fully electric cars and trucks. I’ve reviewed a number of PHEVs in recent months, including the Range Rover Sport PHEV, the Toyota RAV4 Prime, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe — and I loved them all.

For the automaker, the brief is simple: build an electric car with enough range to cover most everyday driving, with a gasoline engine thrown in to get you around when you need to go a bit further. Range anxiety is genuine and legitimate since public charging is still messy (unless you have a Tesla), and most people don’t drive more than 40 miles a day.

The Hyundai Tucson PHEV is the standard Tucson, which I drove last year and liked, plus a 13.8 kWh battery good for 33 miles of EPA-estimated electric range. After that, the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid takes over and delivers a respectable 35 mpg combined city and highway.

To show the financial benefits, at North Carolina electricity prices of around $0.12 per kWh, those 33 electric miles will be priced similarly to gas at around $1.65 per gallon.

It will take a long time to break

even, as the Tucson Limited PHEV I drove priced out to $43,970 fully loaded — some $10,000 more than a standard Tucson. This wasn’t as bad a hit when the Tucson PHEV was eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. But, as the vehicle is currently built in Ulsan, Korea, it’s ineligible under the new Inflation Reduction Act EV tax credit scheme, where vehicles must be assembled in the United States to qualify.

For the price, though, you get a remarkably well-equipped SUV

and for quite a bit less than its main competition. The Toyota RAV4 Prime quickly closes in on $50,000 when fully loaded. However, the Toyota gets an impressive 42 miles of electric range from its 18.1 kWh battery, almost 30 percent more range than the Tucson does (and its gasoline fuel economy is slightly better, too, at 38 mpg).

At this point, however, it’s tricky to say that the RAV4 Prime or the Tucson PHEV is better than the other simply because they’re

so hard to find. Both vehicles are nearly impossible to locate on dealer lots, so if you find one… that’s the one to buy.

That said, if I had to choose, I’d give the edge to the Tucson PHEV because of its terrific interior and exterior design, its comprehensive tech stack, and its long list of luxury-esque features.

The 10-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are excellent. My only major complaint

is the annoying touch-sensitive up/down thermostat buttons to change the temperature settings. Can we just have a knob to spin instead of needing to jab a button repeatedly when we get cold?

It’s also worth calling out Hyundai’s outstanding Highway Drive Assist feature. It allows the driver to momentarily take their hands off the wheel while driving. The car uses forward-facing radar and cameras to determine the vehicle’s position between the lane lines and helps provide steering input. This is coming to more and more vehicles, but the Hyundai implementation is one of the best on the mainstream end of the market, making a stop-and-go commute significantly less painful.

Hyundai’s 10-year/100K-mile powertrain warranty covers the battery and hybrid system in addition to the engine and transmission components, while a 5-year/60Kmile bumper-to-bumper warranty is one of the best you can find anywhere. I drive a ton of vehicles and can tell you that this is not the Hyundai of old and that the company is making tremendous vehicles up and down the line — but that extended warranty is sure to deliver peace of mind to potential buyers skeptical about buying a Korean car.

It’s true that 20 or 25 years ago, Hyundai and Kia were making some truly dreadful cars, but that’s no longer the case. Both companies are making highly competitive vehicles worth considering in just about every vehicle segment.

I wish they offered (and built!) more plug-in hybrids, though. An EV around town and a regular gas vehicle for long drives is the perfect setup for most folks in 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY HYUNDAI

Greenville’s classic restaurants continue to grow

By Emmie Brooks For North State Journal

GREENVILLE — For years, Greenville has been a town filled with small businesses that bring in visitors from around the nation. These businesses are the backbone of the area, and many are considered must-visit spots for both locals and people passing through, maybe on the hunt for some true Down East flavor.

William “Bill” McLawhorn, started B’s Barbecue with the hopes of beginning a restaurant that would bring family and friends around to eat eastern style barbecue. B’s Barbecue has been a popular attraction for Greenville for 44 years.

For many eastern North Carolina barbecue purists, B’s Barbecue is considered one of the mother churches of the “holy grub.”

Judy Drach, McLawhorn’s daughter, has been serving customers at B’s Barbecue for years.

“We have a lot of long-time customers,” Drach said. “I think people like the simplicity of it, it’s a fun morning when you wake up and say we’ve got to go to B’s.”

Aside from the delicious barbecue; the no phone, “eat until we run out” closing time, and overall atmosphere of the barbecue joint brings in visitors waiting in line, rain or shine.

“We stick true to what daddy started and he didn’t have a phone or believe in phones,” Drach said. “That person in front of us is more important than a person on the phone.”

Cubbies is another outstanding

restaurant recognized and loved by many around Greenville. Cubbies opened in 1985, all because of a dream owner Dean Barrow had to unite families around the town through delicious burgers and casual dining.

Aside from their famous burgers, cheesesteaks, and shrimp burgers, Cubbies also offers freshly squeezed orangeade and lemonade that leaves customers’ mouths watering.

“Greenville is a great town, a college town,” Barrow said. “We based it (Cubbies) off of a drive-in my hometown [Morehead City], El’s Drive-in.”

“Over the last 35 years, employees come back, students, home football games, people I’ve met over the years just make it fun,”

Barrow said. “Each week it’s kind of just like hanging out with your friends.”

Eastern North Carolina knows and adores these classic gems in Greenville, but in uptown Greenville’s core, new excitement in a history-saturated building has come about.

Fifth Street Hardware is a new locally owned and operated eatery that opened in March of this year. The location of Fifth Street Hardware is particularly special to Greenville natives because of the way the restaurant and taproom honors its past. What was once Globe Hardware for close to 100 years, the building features exposed brick and wood beams that housed a livery stable in the late 19th century, now restored and reimagined by its new owners.

“Customers come and they get to know the staff and get to know the area and a lot of the history brings them back,” Fifth Street Hardware marketing manager Douglas Rifenburg said.

The restaurant offers event space and catering along with

their everyday restaurant and bar services. Popular menu items include burgers, salads, and flatbread pizzas. Fifth Street Hardware also has an extensive cocktail menu, with their customer favorite drink being the “Airhead,” a take on the popular sweet-sour candy.

“My kitchen team is amazing,” Chef Kelly Hammonds said. “Some of them have been here since it was Winslow’s, so when I first started, I was a little hesitant because I was scared - they were set in a routine - but they have adapted to changes and it’s just been amazing.”

Greenville continues to thrive through its always-lively local restaurant scene, connecting this part of Eastern N.C. to its rich history while finding ways to make revered spaces new again.

Concord, NC 28025

Being the same property conveyed to Grantor by Deed recorded on April 29, 2013 at Book 10493, Page 344, in the Cabarrus County Recording Office.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of

Commonly known as: 547 Newell St NW, Concord, NC 28025 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity

sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

City of Concord, Number

of Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Southwest side of Newell Street, Northwest,

all of Lot Number SIXTEEN (16) of TARLTON DOWNS Subdivision, Final Plat, as surveyed and platted, a copy of which plat is filed in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County in Map Book 29, Page 11, to which map book and page reference is hereby made for a complete description thereof by metes and bounds. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 547 Newell Street, Northwest, Concord, North Carolina.

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

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

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: 9910 - 40075

in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068

https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 9939 - 40232

CABARRUS

“I think people like the simplicity of it, it’s a fun morning when you wake up and say we’ve got to go to B’s.”

Judy Drach, B’s Barbecue

COURTESY PHOTO

B’s Barbecue, on B’s Barbeque Road Greenville, North Carolina.

COURTESY PHOTO

Left, kitchen staff at Cubbies flipping patties to serve their classic burgers. Right, Abigail Marshall, server at Fifth Street Hardware, creating a “mocktail” for customers.

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku solutions

Norwood Christmas Parade welcomes in the holiday season

Stanly commissioners sworn in, appointed to committees

Stolen delivery vehicle leads police on two-county chase

A Hertz-rented Amazon vehicle was stolen this past weekend, resulting in a two-county police chase. The chase began in Salisbury, according to the Rockwell Police Department, before the drive led officers into Stanly County and back to Rowan County. It eventually came to an end in the Town of Rockwell after officers deployed stop sticks to halt the vehicle. In addition to Rockwell officers, the Salisbury Police Department was also involved in the chase. The chase ended without injuries, and one individual was arrested and charged.

Christmas with the Celts makes its Stanly County debut Christmas with the Celts is set to make its debut in Stanly County this weekend at the Agri-Civic Center as part of the Stanly County Concert Association’s 74th season.

The performance will take place on December 11 at 3 pm. Christmas with the Celts is celebrating 13 years of successful touring across the nation and has performed at concert halls such as The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and the Lincoln Center in New York City. The group founder, Ric Blair, said that viewers could expect an array of Christmas carols, ranging from those of 1300’s Ireland and Scotland to Mariah Carey. There will also be Irish dancing and bagpipe performances. The show is expected to last about 90 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Starnes Bramlett Jewelers and the Agri-Civic Center. For more information, please visit stanlyconcert.com.

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

ALBEMARLE — It was a mix of change and familiarity at Monday night’s Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting, as three newly-elected members were sworn in and two returning members were appointed to leadership positions.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, commissioners Patty Crump, Brandon King, and Trent Hatley sat through their first meeting on the board while returning commissioners Scott Efird and Mike Barbee were unanimously voted to the board’s chairman and vice chairman positions, respectively.

In the Republican Party primary election held on May 17, Crump won her race against previous board member Lane Furr in the county’s At-Large seat;

King overtook previous board chairman Tommy Jordan for the District 3 seat, while Hatley ran unopposed to the District 4 seat that had been held by prior vice chairman Zach Almond.

For the District 1 race, Barbee notched his second consecutive term, edging past challengers Levi Greene and Mike Haigler. Meanwhile, Bill Lawhon (District 2) secured his third term with enough votes to outlast Thomas Townsend and Jon Ledbetter.

With a 5-2 vote on Monday night, the commissioners voted to approve an appointment package that had previously been given by the county’s Planning Board.

In the package, Lawhon and Barbee received seats on the Economic Development Commission, while Crump and Peter Ascuitto were added to the Health and Human Services Board. Hat-

ley was appointed as the primary member of the Airport Authority Board, with Lawhon as an alternate.

King received a seat on the Library Board of Trustees and a chairman position with the Fire District Commission, while Barbee was named to the Senior Services Advisory Board. For the Rocky River Rural Planning Organization, Ascuitto was appointed as the primary member, and King got the alternate seat.

Barbee (primary) and Hatley (alternate) were voted in as Stan-

Auction Academy students raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

North State Journal

ALBEMARLE — Students from Stanly Community College’s (SCC) Carolina Auction Academy (CAA) recently conducted an auction to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The public benefit auction is one of the requirements needed to complete their coursework, be eligible to complete the state exam and become licensed auctioneers.

The auction was hosted by Hinson Auction in Oakboro, a longtime supporter of CAA. With a large crowd of family, friends, and former CAA students in attendance, the event raised $2,200 for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. Each student was tasked with donating three items to auction off. The award for Best All Around went to student Hunter Davis, and the award for Most Improved went to student Josh Smith.

After completing this last step in their coursework, the CAA students will travel to Fuquay-Varina, NC, on December 1 to complete the state exam and become licensed auctioneers.

Carolina Auction Academy is one of only three approved schools of auctioneering in North Carolina. The course meets two nights per week to provide a comprehensive 96-hour course designed to prepare participants to pass the state exam, obtain a license, and have the tools necessary to enter

the business world as an auctioneer. The next class begins Monday, January 9, at SCC’s Crutchfield Education Center in Locust. For more information on the program, contact Betty O’Neal at 704-991-0142 or eoneal8048@stanly.edu or the Eagles One Stop, 704-991-0123, onestop@stanly.edu.

ly Water and Sewer Authority members, whereas Crump (primary) and Efird (alternate) were added to the Centralina Council of Government’s Region F Aging Committee.

Lastly, Efird was named to the Partners Mental Health Board, and Hatley was named to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

Prior to the 5-2 vote, Crump noted that she agreed with the planning board’s recommendations with one exception, however, as she requested that the vote for the Health and Human Services Board be separated from the others.

Crump asked her fellow commissioners if they would consider approving Hatley to that board instead of Ascuitto, citing the latter’s voting record pertaining to COVID-19 matters throughout the past few years.

“I know that Mr. Ascuitto has had very strong beliefs and has supported the lockdowns and the mandated masking and the quarantines,” Crump said. “He has even been an ambassador with Atrium for the vaccination rollout.

do not believe that is

I

“If my sin is being the vaccine ambassador for Atrium Health, then so be it.”

Commissioner Peter Asciutto

COURTESY PHOTO

Carolina Auction Academy Fall 2022 Class Participants: Michael Parker (Instructor), Jon Canupp, Dave Scott, Dana Doutt, Connie Beatty, Sylandra Massey, Wade Messina, Betty O’Neal (Instructor), Jason Smith, Kenneth Myers, Rob Walker, Hunter Davis, Ryan Sabedra, and Bill O’Neal (Instructor).

PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Clockwise from top: Veterans of Foreign Wars lead the Norwood Christmas parade in Norwood last Wednesday; The Son-shine kids learning center during the parade; Stanly County Board of Commissioners wave to parade watchers. The parade is put on by the Center Rural Fire Department.

Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278

Robbins Publisher

The Associated Press HOLIDAY HORTICULTURE tends to revolve around the same handful of plants. So if you don’t already have any or all of these five holiday plants, now is the time to get them:

Paperwhites

The bulbs of these daffodil family members are pre-chilled so they can be planted now and produce flowers in a month to six weeks. If you find them for sale, by all means buy as many as you can. The only caveat is that some family members may object to the unbelievably sweet smell of their blooms.

While you can grow these bulbs by siting their bases in just a bit of water, it is best to plant them in a shallow container of soil. They don’t need much water and will perform well if given the best light you have. If yours sprouts, you are guaranteed flowers, at least the first year. People usually toss them when they are finished, as they’re unlikely to flower again.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias, of course, are for sale in all manner of venues this time of year. Many of us buy them, keep them for the next few weeks and then toss them. The trick is to keep them alive for the holiday season.

This requires first bringing the plant home with a minimum exposure to cold air. If you live in a cold climate, consider warming the car before transporting them. Once home, the plants should not be exposed to drafts from doorways or windows. Place them where daytime temperatures are between 65 and 75 Fahrenheit, and with 60 as an ideal night temp.

Soak the entire pot whenever the surface turns dry. Let them drain, and keep checking the soil surface for the next dunking.

Poinsettias should never sit in water, so if you want to keep the decorative foil that accompanies many of them, poke a hole in it to

let water out.

Christmas trees

These, too, are their own gardening activity. Make sure your tree is kept in plenty of water and pay the strictest attention to safety rules if you use lights. After Christmas, look for a place that will chip up and recycle your tree, or place it in a back corner of your yard as cover for birds.

Amaryllis

These are the easiest and showiest bulbs you can buy, and they produce the largest flowers you are ever likely to grow. They are usually sold together with pot and soil, and all you need to do is ensure yours is planted so that 1/3 of the top of the bulb is above the soil line.

Keep the plant growing right through summer. Then put yours into a cool, dark location so it goes dormant, to be brought out again next holiday season for flowering.

Christmas cactus

Christmas cactuses, Schlumbergeras, are another great plant that blooms during the mid-winter holidays. They will live for dozens of holiday seasons (some are passed on from one generation to the next) and bloom each year if exposed to shortening days. Rooting cuttings is easy using just a leaf, so it is not uncommon for a clone of the same plant to be in more than one family member’s home.

Christmas cactuses do best in bright light. When it is in bloom, a Christmas cactus should only be watered when the soil is dry. Too much water and the flowers will drop off, so this is one of those times when too dry is better than too wet.

The rest of the year, water by soaking the pot when the surface soil dries out. Next fall, give yours natural light and keep cool, up against a window, and they will bloom again.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦

MULLIGAN, ASHLEY ANTHONY (B /M/55), FELONY POSSESSION SCH II CS, 12/4/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦ SARTAIN, JONATHON LEE (W /M/24), ASSAULT WDW GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, 12/04/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦

♦

BRAFFORD, JONATHAN BRIAN (W /M/37), THIRD DEG SEX EXPLOIT MINOR, 12/01/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

BOWMAN, TODD MICHAEL EDWIN (W /M/37), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 11/30/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦

♦

DAVIS, GARY WAYNE (W /M/38), SEX OFFENDER/ CHILD PREMISES, 11/30/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

HURLOCKER, ROBIN MICHELLE (W /F/43), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 11/30/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦ PORTER, JAMIE DUSTIN (W /M/29), SIMPLE POSSESS SCH VI CS (M), 11/30/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦

♦

BARNES, TAYLOR ORYAN (W /M/24), POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, 11/29/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

OSBORNE, BENJAMIN LLEE (W /M/32), CONTEMPT OF COURT, 11/29/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

♦ THOMPSON, DUPREE DARIUS (B /M/29), ATTEMPTED COMMON LAW ROBBERY, 11/28/2022, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

The Associated Press

ASTORIA, Ore. — The listing agent for the Victorian home featured in the “The Goonies” film in Astoria, Oregon, said this week the likely new owner is a fan of the classic coming-ofage movie about friendships and treasure hunting, and he promises to preserve and protect the landmark.

The 1896 home with sweeping views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean was listed in November with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million.

Jordan Miller of John L. Scott Real Estate said the sale is expected to close in mid-January, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The new owner, a self-described serial entrepreneur, will make his name known at that time, Miller said.

Since the movie came to theaters in 1985, fans have flocked to the home in northwestern Oregon’s historic port of Astoria. The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event.

An offer was accepted six days after the house was listed, according to public record.

“After the word spread that the property was for sale, we re -

ceived multiple offers, at asking price and higher, and we have a full backup offer,” Miller said.

Seller Sandi Preston is passing along movie memorabilia she has collected or has been given, and some of the furniture in the home, restored to its original 1896 style, may also be sold to the buyer, according to Miller.

Preston was known to be

largely welcoming to visitors. But she lived in the house and the constant crowds were a strain that prompted her at times to close it to foot traffic.

After the film’s 30th anniversary drew about 1,500 daily visitors in 2015, Preston posted “no trespassing” signs prohibiting tourists from walking up to the property. She reopened it to the

public in August.

Based on a story by Steven Spielberg, the film features a group of friends fighting to protect their homes from an expanding country club and threats of foreclosure. In the process, they discover an old treasure map that leads them on an adventure and allows them to save their “Goon Docks” neighborhood.

in alignment with the people of Stanly County, and that was evidenced by over 18,000 votes the other conservative commissioners received.”

Attending the meeting remote -

ly via speakerphone, Ascuitto responded to Crump’s statements: “I was at that meeting a few weeks ago talking about how we need to do research on people and stuff like that. Evidently, you never checked on what I’ve done for the department of health and the

citizens of Stanly County, including not showing up tonight because I’m under the weather. The one thing you don’t want to do is be around people when you’re ill.

If my sin is being the vaccine ambassador for Atrium Health, then so be it.”

With Crump and King being the only nay votes on the appointment plank, the Planning Board’s initial recommendations were approved by the commissioners.

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will next meet on January 17.

Neal

Stanly County Journal

AP PHOTO

Poinsettias appear on display at a nursery in Larchmont, N.Y. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. AP PHOTO,

Paperwhites appear on display at a nursery in Larchmont, N.Y. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

by RETO Media

the house featured in the Steven Spielberg film

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

If Holocaust deniers don’t go to Hell, there is no God

IT IS A CENTRAL TENET of moral theology that there are gradations of sin. To argue that God views stealing a towel from a hotel and raping a child as moral equivalents renders God a moral fool. And doing that to God is a sin. If we mortals perceive the universe of difference between such actions, it goes without question that God does, too. The idea that we have greater moral clarity than God is logically and theologically untenable.

In the pantheon of evils, among the worst is Holocaust denial.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Given the murder of 6 million Jews and the unspeakable amount of suffering they and Jewish survivors underwent at the hands of the Nazis, it takes a particularly vile individual to say this never happened. Think of how we would regard anyone who denied thousands of Americans were murdered on 9/11.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with Gens. George Patton and Omar Bradley, visited Ohrdruf, a Nazi concentration camp, on April 12, 1945, a week after it was liberated.

Eisenhower then cabled to Gen. George Marshall:

“The things I saw beggar description... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me a bit sick. In one room, where they were piled up twenty or thirty naked men, killed by starvation, George Patton would not even enter. He said that he would get sick if he did so. I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to ‘propaganda.’”

A week later Eisenhower again cabled Marshall, asking that members of Congress and journalists be brought to the newly liberated camps so that they could tell Americans the truth about German Nazi atrocities.

Patton wrote in his diary: “When we began to approach with our troops, the Germans thought it expedient to remove the evidence of their crime. Therefore, they had some of the slaves exhume the bodies and place them on a mammoth griddle composed of 60-centimeter railway tracks laid on brick foundations. They poured pitch on the bodies and then built a fire of pinewood and coal under them. They were not very successful in their operations because there was a pile of human bones, skulls, charred torsos on or under the griddle which must have accounted for many hundreds.”

To his great credit, Eisenhower understood that what the Nazis had done to the Jews (and many others, but overwhelmingly to Jews) would be difficult for humanity to comprehend and therefore needed to be documented in writing and in photographs. And, it is important to note, Eisenhower saw only a small concentration camp, not one of the enormous death camps.

Beginning in about 1941, the Nazi regime dedicated itself to murdering every Jew -- man, woman, child and baby -- in countries

it occupied. Eventually, more than six of every 10 Jews in Europe were murdered.

Nazi mobile killing units murdered more than a million Jews, usually family by family, in front of open ditches the Jews were forced to dig. Most died upon being shot; the even less fortunate ended up being buried alive. All witnessed the murder of their loved ones.

Most of the other murdered Jews were shipped in cattle cars to concentration and death camps where they were worked to death, starved to death, tortured to death and most often gassed to death in gas chambers.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Yet, some people, including an American named Nick Fuentes, aggressively deny the Holocaust, asserting that a few hundred thousand Jews, not millions, were killed.

It is important to understand why this is evil.

First, it is a Big Lie. Big Lies inevitably lead to violence and can even destroy civilizations.

If the Holocaust never happened, why would Germany maintain that it did?

Second, Holocaust denial is not only a Big Lie; it is pure Jewhatred, i.e., antisemitism. The proof that it emanates from antisemitism is that no other 20th-century genocide is denied (with the exception of the Turkish government’s denial of the Turks’ mass murder of Armenians during World War I). No one denies Stalin’s mass murder of tens of millions of Soviet citizens in the Gulag Archipelago or his deliberate starvation of about five million Ukrainians (the Holodomor); or the Cambodian communists’ murder of about one in every four Cambodians; or Mao’s killing of about 60 million Chinese. The only genocide-denial is the genocide of the Jews.

Third, the denial of this Nazi evil is a slap in the face of all the Americans who died fighting the Nazis. As Eisenhower said on seeing the Nazi atrocities, “We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against.” If the Holocaust is a fabrication, Americans died fighting against nothing particularly evil.

As a college student, I dated a woman whose parents were Holocaust survivors. She told me on a number of occasions how often she would hear her father scream in the middle of the night as he dreamed about watching his family be murdered. Unable to live with these memories, one night, her father hanged himself. That man is one of millions of reasons Fuentes -- and those who ally themselves with him — will go to hell. If there is a just God.

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

Qatar is the ally we need to counter Putin’s growing influence

RUSSIA’S REPREHENSIBLE invasion of Ukraine has made one thing clear: The global order is changing. An axis of repressive, authoritarian world powers — all with ties to Vladimir Putin — is growing bolder and more confident, and wants to see America’s influence decline.

Qatar is the secondhighest exporter of liquified natural gas.

It’s more important than ever for the United States and all libertyminded Western nations to have dependable, moderate allies to counter Putin and his cronies. As policymakers look abroad to cultivate relationships, they shouldn’t overlook Qatar, a rising star on the world stage.

While some folks might have trouble locating Qatar on a map, millions of eyes are turning to the Arab nation. Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, having beat out the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Korea for the bid.

Hosting the World Cup will put the modern capital city of Doha in the limelight and further Qatar’s use of “sports diplomacy” to enhance cooperation, respect and tolerance among all nations.

And there’s certainly good reason to pay attention to Qatar. Although smaller than Connecticut, it has the fourth-highest gross domestic product per capita in the world, and is the second-highest exporter of liquified natural gas. It is also home to thriving financial and tourism sectors, as well as the highly influential Al Jazeera media group.

Qatar has long cooperated with the United States and NATO in maintaining security in the Persian Gulf. When the West conducts air operations against Islamic State terrorists, Qatar has often provided space for staging zones.

After the United States withdrew from Afghanistan last year, Qatar helped to evacuate more than 40,000 civilians as the Taliban swiftly took over the country. The Biden administration recently

designated it a major non-NATO ally.

Qatar played a pivotal role in supporting pro-democracy movements with financial and military resources during the Arab Spring. The country has backed youth, liberal, and conservative change movements working to implement democratic governance and advance liberty and justice.

Qatar has also proven itself able and willing to oppose Putin and his proxies. While Putin aided the reign of terror of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad during the Syrian civil war, it was Qatar that supported the rebels who opposed him.

Even more important than Qatar’s aid is its position as a top petroleum exporter. In a world where controlling the global supply of energy is of increasing strategic importance, Qatar may very well be able to deprive Putin of one of his greatest advantages over the West.

Washington may not agree with Doha on all issues, particularly its history of providing financial support to extremist groups. If such support still exists, Qatar should certainly rethink it. But that possibility should not stop the United States from courting Qatar as a friend and ally. The nation can play a vital role in countering Putin and his gang of illiberal authoritarians. That includes Syria’s murderous dictator, Assad, who has long oppressed the people of my homeland.

Now is the time to build lasting ties with moderate nations. It’s time for the United States and its Western allies to strengthen ties with Qatar.

Dr. Tarek Kteleh is a practicing medical doctor and president of Rheumatology of Central Indiana. He is the author of The Six Pillars of Advocacy: Embrace Your Cause and Transform Lives. This piece originally ran in Issues & Insights.

COLUMN | DR. TAREK KTELEH

SIDELINE REPORT

NASCAR

Ty

Nashville, Tenn.

Ty Gibbs on Thursday declined to discuss the death of his father, which occurred just hours after the NASCAR driver won the Xfinity Series championship last month. Gibbs was asked about his grandfather, Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, telling employees at Joe Gibbs Racing they all had to move forward even as they mourn. Coy Gibbs died in his sleep at the age of 49 hours after his 20-year-old son won the Xfinity Series title on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. Ty Gibbs said for now he’s just going to stick with racing questions while in Nashville for the NASCAR Awards.

NFL Watson returns from ban, declines to express remorse

Houston Deshaun Watson, playing in his first game in 700 days, showed plenty of rust in his debut with Cleveland but the Browns didn’t need him to do much in a 2714 victory over the Texans on Sunday. He declined to express remorse for behavior that earned him an 11-game suspension and, playing in Houston where he spent his first four pro seasons before missing all of last season and much of this one, was jeered before each snap ifor much of the afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SEC halftime contest booed, both students awarded $100K

Atlanta Two college students have won $100,000 in tuition after a confusing finish in the SEC championship game’s halftime competition. Boos rained down from the fans in attendance when one of the two students appeared to win the Dr Pepper ball toss competition in overtime on a technicality. The winner was due to get $100,000 and the runner-up $20,000. Baylor student Reagan Whitaker and St. Augustine student Kayla Gibson exchanged leads multiple times in regulation and tied again in overtime, but Whitaker was declared the winner. It was announced on the broadcast in the fourth quarter of the game that Dr Pepper would gift both Whitaker and Gibson with $100,000 in tuition.

HORSE RACING

Ortiz sets singleseason record with 77th stakes win

New York Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. earned his record 77th single-season North American stakes victory when he guided Dr B to victory in the $200,000 Go for Wand at Aqueduct. The 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico broke the old mark of 76 set by the late Hall of Fame rider Garrett Gomez in 2007. Ortiz Jr. won the Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal in June to go with three Breeders’ Cup victories in November. He leads North American riders with 304 overall victories so far this year.

Logano celebrates 2nd NASCAR Cup title, already wanting 3rd

Logano said Thursday before he was feted at NASCAR’s annual awards ceremony.

By Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Joey Logano has a simple target for the future even as he celebrates his 2022 NASCAR Cup championship.

Add yet another.

Logano this season joined Kyle Busch as the only active NASCAR drivers with multiple Cup series titles, adding to the first Cup championship he won in 2018. Being the only active driver with three Cup titles would be even sweeter.

“That’s where my head is at right is, ‘Let’s go get another one,’”

“It is something special though for sure. Winning championships is hard in professional sports, right? This is so hard to come by and so hard to do, and everything has to come together at the right time,” he continued. “It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Logano, at 32, was already the oldest of the four drivers in the championship finale. Credit — or blame — the new Next Gen car for evening out competition to where the Cup Series had 19 different winners, with five first-timers and two drivers making their first appearance in the championship race.

Logano won his second Cup

championship by finishing first in a winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway, giving Team Penske both the Cup and IndyCar titles in the same season for the first time in 31 tries.

Roger Penske, owner of Logano’s No. 22 Ford, knows how hungry Logano is to win a third title.

He’s part of a roster that includes Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric,

who both made the playoffs, and Harrison Burton in an affiliate Wood Brothers Racing car.

“We’ve got the same team, so we should,” Penske said. “We should be able to compete now. A lot of great talent out there today. New talent, young talent. Teams and the cars brought us closer together. But I think we’re someone you’re going to have to beat in ’23.”

Logano said he loves picking up tips and ideas on how other people at the top of their sports work to stay there because he’s learned that nobody, even in the same sport, sees or approaches things the same way.

“So it’s good to learn all that for sure,” Logano said.

Logano also knows he’s among one of NASCAR’s older current drivers and wants to embrace being more of a leader and help grow the sport. He’s still young enough to relate to all the young drivers coming into NASCAR, yet old enough to remember what it was like over a decade ago.

“I feel like that’s a huge responsibility for all of us as an industry to care about the next generation of our sport,” Logano said.

CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta

FOR THIS COLLEGE football season, the BCS probably would have been fine.

Two days after the College Football Playoff announced it is expanding to 12 teams, the field of four to determine this season’s national champion included two schools that did not even win their conferences.

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were selected Sunday for the playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple programs in the fourteam field for the first time.

The top-ranked and reigning champion Bulldogs (13-0) and fourth-seeded Buckeyes (11-1) will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Ohio State got a reprieve, moving back into the top four after losing to Big Ten rival Michigan just a week ago.

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The second-seeded Wolverines (13-0) and third-ranked Horned

Frogs (12-1) will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, in the first game of the New Year’s Eve doubleheader.

The Horned Frogs were third coming into the weekend but had to sweat out their spot Saturday night after losing the Big 12 title game to Kansas State in overtime.

“I was really nervous,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said about watching ESPN’s slow rollout of the pairings Sunday after-

noon.

The Frogs had nothing to fear. They had already built enough equity to stay in the top four, and they erupted with cheers of relief at their watch party in Fort Worth, Texas, when it became official.

Georgia, which won the Southeastern Conference championship game in a rout, is a 6½-point favorite against Ohio State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Michigan, which took the Big Ten title,

is favored by 9½ points over TCU.

CFP selection committee chairman and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said the 13-member panel went through its usual process of grouping teams in threes to compare them for the final rankings, but not for long.

“I can’t actually remember which team got pulled in for the third, but as we went into it, we wanted to make sure we got those first two set and then we moved forward,” said Corrigan.

The national championship game is Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could be a rematch of rivals Ohio State and Michigan in what will soon be Big Ten country as the conference expands with UCLA and USC.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines have never played outside of their annual regular season game in a bitter rivalry that dates to 1902.

The Team Penske driver joined Kyle Busch as the only active drivers with multiple Cup Series titles

Alabama was on the outside looking in and will face Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell holds the Big Ten trophy as he celebrates with teammates after defeating Purdue on Sunday. The Wolverines will face TCU in the College Football Playoff seminfinals on Dec. 31.

AP PHOTO

NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano speaks during the NASCAR Awards last Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gibbs declines to discuss sudden death of his father

“It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Joey Logano

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here.” Ryan Day, Ohio State coach

Colorado hires Deion Sanders as next football coach

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion North Carolina Central.

BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders is taking over as head coach at Colorado, bringing his charisma and larger-than-life persona to a beleaguered Pac-12 program that’s plunged to the bottom of college football.

The deal was announced Saturday night by CU athletic director Rick George.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been at Jackson State, a historically black college that plays in the NCAA’s second tier of Division I, since 2020. Sanders has guided the Tigers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.

The Tigers beat Southern in the SWAC championship game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi, and a few hours later Colorado announced he was coming to Boulder.

Sanders told his team after the game he had accepted another job but intended to coach Jackson State (12-0) in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 in Atlanta against

“In coaching you either get elevated or you get terminated,” Sanders told his team. “There ain’t no graveyard for coaches where they die at the place. They either going to run you off or you going to walk off.”

Sanders talked about the dearth of black head coaches at the highest levels of college football and trying to be a catalyst for change.

“It’s not about a bag,” Sanders said. “It’s about an opportunity.”

The Tigers went 27-5 in the Sanders era and he was named SWAC coach of the year the last two seasons.

Known as “Prime Time” during his high-stepping, play-making NFL career, the 55-year-old Sanders prefers “Coach Prime” these days. Colorado will prove a challenge for the magnetic Sanders, who inherits a program coming off a 1-11 season. But he brings instant name recognition and a track record of being able to recruit top-level talent.

“There were a number of highly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colora-

do, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders,” George said in a statement. “Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character.”

The Buffaloes have turned in just one full-length winning season since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. They dismissed Karl Dorrell in October and interim coach Mike Sanford finished out the season that culminated with a 63-21 blowout loss to No. 12 Utah at home.

Sanders figures to bring a few players along with him — possibly even his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a 6-foot-2 sophomore at Jackson State who’s thrown 36 TD passes this season and just six interceptions.

Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson said in a statement Sanders “challenged norms and transformed mindsets of what was perceived to be possible to create new visions for success while inspiring the community and creating a spotlight on the HBCU sports and culture.”

Comets get past Colts in rivalry game at Pfeiffer’s gym

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

THE WEST STANLY Colts and North Stanly Comets varsity boys’ basketball teams squared off at Pfeiffer University’s Merner Gym on Dec. 5 in a battle between intracounty and interconference rivals.

The Comets (3-2) came away with an 87-71 victory over the Colts (1-3). West Stanly fell behind by 10 points early and the Comets led 3828 at halftime.

Still behind 10 points heading into the final quarter, the Colts were unable to cut into North’s lead. West is now set to travel to South Stanly (1-2) on Dec. 8. North will look to win its third game in a row as it hosts fellow Yadkin Valley Conference opponent Robinson (32) on Dec. 9.

Southwestern Randolph 50, South Stanly 37

The South Stanly Bulls (1-2) suffered a 13-point road loss to the Southwestern Randolph Cougars (2-3) in a low-scoring, defensive-minded game.

W hile the Bulls opened up their season with a 76-72 road win over the Colts, they haven’t been able to get back into the win column since but will look to get a victory in a rematch with West Stanly on Thursday.

West Stanly 87, Albemarle 71

The Albemarle Bulldogs (0-3), who are still looking for their first win of the year after a 16-point road loss to West on Dec. 2, faced off at home with Mountain Island Charter (1-1) on Dec. 6.

In the Bulldogs’ recent contest against the Colts, they posted a season-high 71 points after averaging 55.5 in their first two games. For Albemarle coach Chauncey Bruton, hopefully that increase is a good sign of things to come.

S outh Davidson 61, Gray Stone 50

The Gray Stone Day Knights (0-3) are still looking for their first win since Jan. 8, 2020, after losing by 11 to the South Davidson Wildcats (1-2) last Friday.

The Knights battled Anson (1-2) on the road on Dec. 6 and will open up YVC play with a home matchup against conference contender Mount Pleasant (3-1) on Dec. 9.

McGriff elected to Hall; Bonds, Clemens left out of again

Griff the biggest honor of his impressive big league career.

SAN DIEGO — Moments after Fred McGriff was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, almost two decades after his final game, he got the question.

Asked if Barry Bonds belonged in Cooperstown, a smiling McGriff responded: “Honestly, right now, I’m going to just enjoy this evening.”

A Hall of Fame committee delivered its answer Sunday, passing over Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling while handing Mc-

The lanky first baseman, nicknamed the “Crime Dog,” hit .284 with 493 homers and 1,550 RBIs over 19 seasons with six major league teams. The five-time AllStar helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Series.

McGriff got 169 votes (39.8%) in his final year on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot in 2019. Now, he will be inducted into Cooperstown on July 23, along with anyone chosen in the writers’ vote, announced Jan. 24.

“It’s all good. It’s been well worth the wait,” said McGriff, who played his last big league game in 2004.

It was the first time that Bonds, Clemens and Schilling had faced

a Hall committee since their 10th and final appearances on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. Bonds and Clemens have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, and support for Schilling dropped after he made hateful remarks toward Muslims, transgender people, reporters and others.

While the 59-year-old McGriff received unanimous support from the 16 members of the contemporary baseball era committee — comprised of Hall members, executives and writers — Schilling got seven votes, and Bonds and Clemens each received fewer than four.

The makeup of the committee likely will change over the years, but the vote was another indication

that Bonds and Clemens might never make it to the Hall.

This year’s contemporary era panel included Greg Maddux, who played with McGriff on the Braves, along with Paul Beeston, who was an executive with Toronto when McGriff made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 1986.

Another ex-Brave, Chipper Jones, was expected to be part of the committee, but he tested positive for COVID-19 and was replaced by Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall.

The contemporary era committee considers candidates whose careers were primarily from 1980 on. A player needs 75% to be elected.

“It’s tough deciding on who to vote for and who not to vote for and

so forth,” McGriff said. “So it’s a great honor to be unanimously voted in.”

Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Belle, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy rounded out the eight-man ballot. Mattingly was next closest to election, with eight votes of 12 required. Murphy had six.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling fell short in January in their final chances with the BBWAA. Bonds received 260 of 394 votes (66%), Clemens 257 (65.2%) and Schilling 231 (58.6%).

Palmeiro was dropped from the BBWAA ballot after receiving 25 votes (4.4%) in his fourth appearance in 2014, falling below the 5% minimum needed to stay on. His high was 72 votes (12.6%) in 2012.

The “Crime Dog” won a World Series with the Braves in 1995

The Associated Press

The Hall of Famer leaves HBCU Jackson State

The Associated Press

Albemarle and Gray Stone Day are looking for their first wins of the season

AP PHOTO

Deion Sanders holds up a jersey before speaking after being introduced as the new football coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Braves slugger Fred McGriff hits a two-run home run during the 1993 playoffs. McGriff was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

AP PHOTO

DOJ appointee eyes 1-year window for Jackson water upgrades

By Michael Goldberg The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — The manager appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee reforms to the beleaguered water system in Mississippi’s capital city said he hopes to wrap up work in one year or less.

Ted Henifin outlined his intended time frame during a news conference Monday, echoing the Justice Department’s order appointing him as interim manager of the Jackson water system. The order sets 12 months for Henifin to implement 13 projects for improving the system’s near-term stability.

Henifin’s work begins after the Justice Department won a federal judge’s approval last week to carry out a rare intervention to fix Jackson’s water system, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle.

For days last August, people waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets in Jackson, a majority-black city of about 150,000. The partial failure of the water system followed torrential rains and flooding of the Pearl River, which exacerbated problems at one of the city’s two treatment plants.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who appeared alongside Henifin at the news conference, added that he saw the city’s work with the federal government to improve the water system as an effort that would take longer than one year.

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has

looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility,” Lumumba said. “We anticipate a working relationship with the federal government that is beyond one year.”

Henifin’s work is meant to be an interim step while the federal government, the city of Jackson and the Mississippi State Department of Health negotiate a court-enforced consent decree to mandate upgrades to the water system.

The negotiations stem from a

complaint the Justice Department filed on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against Jackson, alleging that the city has failed to provide drinking water that is reliably compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act. That litigation will be put on hold for six months.

The work Henifin will oversee includes a winterization project to make the water system less vulnerable and a plan to increase staffing at the city’s treatment plants, which have suffered from a dearth of skilled workers.

Henifin first arrived in Jackson on Sept. 14 at the request of the US Water Alliance, a Washington-based nonprofit that works on sustainability and water management. He stayed for over two weeks and returned again in October and November to learn more about the water system and the city.

Henifin spent 15 years as general manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District in Virginia before retiring in February. He will be paid $400,000 including travel and living expenses to run Jack-

Tennessee roads plan mulls toll lanes, electric car fee hike

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is considering allowing express toll lanes on highways and tripling a fee for electric car owners as he targets his first big push after winning reelection — paying for tens of billions of dollars in roadway projects.

The Republican is adamant about what he won’t do: Raise the gas tax; add fully tolled roads; or issue debt in lieu of the state’s payas-you-go road funding method.

Lee says the timing is crucial to pivot quickly to roads. With Tennessee’s rapid growth and truck traffic, state transportation officials say $26 billion in projects are needed to address worsening congestion, and only $3.6 billion of it is planned under a big swipe at roads by Lee’s predecessor. Officials also say projects are taking so long — 15 years on average — that they are coming in 40% over budget.

Like other states, Tennessee’s current road funding through gas taxes looks less reliable as more people switch to fuel-efficient and electric cars. Tennessee is also becoming a electric vehicle production hub, highlighted by a massive upcoming Ford electric vehicle project with a partner company’s battery factory.

Lee will need Republican lawmakers on board for much of what he wants. That includes opening up the possibility for private companies to bid to build new express lanes on highways and impose tolls for profit. Lawmakers would also need to approve raising the annual fee on owning an electric vehicle from $100 to $300.

Transportation commissioner Butch Eley has stated that any

express toll lanes would be newly built, and would not turn existing carpool lanes into paid ones.

Across the country, five states have express toll lanes, 10 states have carpool lanes that let others join at a price, and some have both, according to a February 2021 report by the Federal Highway Administration.

The state could control driver eligibility and the pricing policy, which can fall or rise based on current congestion, while charging only those who want the quicker ride. A private company would de-

sign, build, finance, operate and maintain the lanes.

“There’s nothing, I think, more fair than people paying for what they use,” Eley told reporters Thursday.

The $300 electric vehicle fee could be the country’s most expensive. As of July, 31 states have a similar yearly fee, ranging from $50 in Colorado to $225 in Washington, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eley says the increase better reflects what electric car drivers would be paying in federal and state gas tax-

es.

Lee, however, said officials may or may not settle on $300.

“We want to make sure there’s a fair fee for everyone,” Lee told reporters. “We’ll figure out what that number is and move forward.”

Vehicle taxes are a mixed bag state by state. Some have property taxes and annual inspection fees, for example. Tennessee phased out its last required vehicle testing and doesn’t charge property taxes on personal cars.

Lee’s sweeping roads push, which also calls for pay increas-

son’s water system. The city of Jackson will not pay for Henifin’s work, a condition Henifin said he demanded of the Justice Department before accepting the interim manager position.

“DOJ wanted to argue that it is sort of (Jackson) taxpayer’s fault,” Henifin said. “C’mon now. Yeah, everyone pays it, the U.S. tax(payers, the treasury, but it’s not coming out of the city of Jackson’s revenue.”

Lumumba and Henifin will host a town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss the city’s agreement with the Justice Department and EPA over plans to fix the water system. Henifin said the EPA is still testing Jackson water on a regular basis.

“I tell everybody this is the most tested water in America right now,” Henifin said. “So if you’re worried about drinking water, come to Jackson because this water is really high quality, and it’s very well tested.”

es for transportation workers and other expansions to public-private partnerships, comes after former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam struck a deal during a drag-out fight over his 2017 plan. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act increased Tennessee’s gas tax from $0.20 to $0.26 per gallon over three years and upped the diesel rate as well, among other changes that in part reduced separate taxes.

Lee’s push comes after the passage of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law. The governor’s transportation team, however, has said Tennessee’s five-year building plan was up about $1.7 billion under the law, saying that is not a major funding influx.

Rail expansion, meanwhile, is not part of Lee’s immediate plans. The concept has been hotly debated around Nashville, where a light rail ballot vote failed in 2018, toppled by tax increase opposition and concerns it could quicken gentrification that has pushed some lower-income people out of their communities. Eley said the state will keep looking at future rail possibilities.

In the GOP-led Legislature, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally said they are on board with a deep dive into how transportation infrastructure is funded.

They’ll have plenty to hammer out when lawmakers return for their annual legislative session in January. For one, Sexton mentioned rail as a topic that needs discussion.

“We must have honest discussions on infrastructure in our state to solve the traffic congestion issue,” Sexton said. “Those must include expansion of rail access, shortening the decades-long timeline to build roads, as well as looking at express lanes on our interstates in highly congested areas.”

The Associated Press

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility.”

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Jackson Mayor

BARBARA GAUNTT/THE CLARION-LEDGER VIA AP

Ted Henifin, left, the City of Jackson water system third-party administrator, addresses media questions during a news conference at City Hall as Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba listens on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Jackson, Miss.

AP PHOTO, FILE

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.

obituaries

Beverly G Harrison

September 7, 1951 ~ November 25, 2022

Our beloved, Beverly Gaines Harrison, age 71, was called home peacefully Friday, November 25, 2022. Beverly was born September 7, 1951, in Stanly County, North Carolina; and was the daughter of the late Frank James Gaines and Mossie Mae Boyd. During her journey through life, Beverly resided in Norwood, North Carolina. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Beverly was educated in the Stanly County public schools and was retired from the Stanly County Board of Education, Albemarle, North Carolina. A believer, Beverly was a member of Barringer Chapel Baptist Church, Norwood. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Most of all she loved family and enjoyed spending time with them.

She has finished her life’s journey and has joined her parents; grandchildren: Josiah and Dakara McLendon; seven siblings; and former husband, Cleveland Clay McLendon Sr., where the woes of the world are no more.

Left to cherish fond memories are her husband, James Thomas Harrison; children: Star Gaines, Cleveland McLendon Jr., Debbin McLendon, Jazmine Harrison, Malayne Martinez, Yvette Lee, James Harrison Jr., Mark Harrison, and Damien West; grandchildren she helped rear: Madeline Smith, Terence Smith Jr., and Davion Martinez; a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings: Betty Harrison, Barbara Rush, Shonta Chambers, James Gaines (Gloria Jean), Douglas Gaines (Vanessa), Bill Brown (Pam), Sylvester Brown (Nancy), Stewart Boulware (Gwen), and Steve Boulware (Gwen); a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Lonnie Ray Phillips

August 17, 1934 - December 2, 2022

Lonnie Ray Phillips, 88, of New London, passed away Friday, December 2, 2022 in his daughters home.

Mr. Phillips was born August 17, 1934 in Stanly County, NC to the late Floyd Jackson Phillips and Esther Louise Earnhardt Phillips. He retired from Wiscassett Mill Company. Lonnie enjoyed playing pool, fishing, and going to yard sales with his wife. He enjoyed repairing cars, mowers and watching western movies. He loved his dog, Rover. Mr. Phillips was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving in Germany during the Korean Conflict.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his wife, Roxie Phillips. He is survived by a daughter, Judy Hatley (David) of New London, NC; a sister, Shirley P. Smith of Albemarle, NC; granddaughter, Sarah Louise Lopez and a greatgranddaughter, Stephanie Dawn Lopez. Mr. Phillips is also preceded in death by a son, Alvin Ray Phillips, a brother, Roger Grover Phillips, a sister, Bonnie Lee Troutman and a granddaughter, April Dawn White.

Robert Calvin Gaddy

August 30, 1938 - December 3, 2022

Robert Calvin Gaddy of Oakboro passed away on Saturday, December 3 at McWhorter Hospice House in Monroe, North Carolina.

Born August 30, 1938, in Anson County, he was the son of the late James Prentice Gaddy and Emma Tucker Gaddy. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and retired from Cooper Tools, as a production planner. He was also an ENT and fireman with the Burnsville Fire and Rescue Department and was involved in the beginning of the annual Burnsville Fire and Rescue Barbecue. However, his greatest joy were his grandchildren. Robert enjoyed going to the sporting events that the grandkids participated in and cheering them on. He could also be found at dance and music recitals, church events and school functions and any other events that the kids were participating in.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Carolyn Broome Gaddy of the home. Other survivors include daughter Beth Parker and husband Anthony of Oakboro, three grandchildren Nicholas, Matthew, and Madison Parker and special nephews and their families, Mark Bennett, Greg Traywick, Kent Traywick and Tim Traywick. Robert is also survived by his sister-in-law Bobbie Stegall and husband, Ray. He was preceded in death by two brothers James Gilford Gaddy and William Cecil Gaddy.

Ollie Mae (Voncannon) Griffin

February 13, 1932 ~ December 1, 2022

Ollie Mae Griffin, 90, of Stanfield, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 1, 2022.

Ollie was born February 13, 1932, in Cabarrus County to the late Elwood and Laura Voncannon. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Robert Kermit Griffin; and sister, Evelyn Hooks.

Ollie was a devoted Christian. She was a lifelong member of Philadelphia Baptist Church, Stanfield, and charter member of the Women's Missionary Union. She spent many years singing in the choir and working with the children and youth of the church. In earlier years, Ollie enjoyed gardening and sharing fruits of the harvest with others. Ollie dearly loved her family. She was a wonderful mother, sister and grandma. Ollie will be forever loved and greatly missed.

Survivors include daughter, Saundra (Jerry) Smith of Stanfield; son, Michael (Tammy) Griffin of Stanfield; three brothers, E.J., Jerry, and Darrell Voncannon; three sisters, Carolyn Austin, Pat Reynolds, and Judy Foley; four grandchildren, Emily (Brandon) Douglas, Brooke (Jacob) Hartsell, Matthew (Paige) Smith, and Kayce Smith Vaughan (Chase Coleman); seven greatgrandchildren, Ava, Breanna, Taryn, and Tate Douglas, Addilyn Hartsell, Emma Vaughan and Houston Coleman.

Foister Lester Boring

May 17, 1941 ~ November 28, 2022

Foister Lester Boring, 81, of Richfield, passed away Monday, November 28, 2022 at Atrium Health Stanly Hospital in Albemarle, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Lester was born May 17, 1941 in North Carolina to the late Powell Lester Boring and the late Lily Mae Crane Boring.

He was also preceded in death by wife, Carolyn Boring; brothers, Kyle, Clyde, and Odell (Pete).

Survivors include son, Alan Lester (Sarah) Boring of Gold Hill, NC; daughter, Jeanette (Roland) Stroud of Richfield, NC; grandchildren, Alan (Alyssa) Boring, Jessica (Shea) Dixon, Leslie (Sean) Clark, Karen (Kevin) Dennis; greatgrandchildren, Aubree, Sadie, Kelsie, Emma, Riley, Wyatt, Lauren, and Blake; sister, Myrtle Boring of the home; and brother, "Buck" Boring of the home.

December

James "Devon" Baker

April 6, 1951 ~ November 24, 2022

James "Devon" Baker, 71, of Albemarle, NC passed away Thursday, November 24, 2022.

Devon was born April 6, 1951 in Monroe, NC to the late James Ervin Baker and the late Rosie Lee Long Baker.

George Hildreth

September 1, 1942 ~ November 25, 2022

George Winslow Hildreth, 80, passed away Friday, November 25, 2022, following a five-year battle with cancer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Cancer Society or Cedar Hill UMC or Red Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Hilda Pauline Baker of the home; brother, John Roger Baker; brother, William Daryl Baker; sister, Wanda Renee Baker; sister, Deborah Lee Baker Hines; sister, Dean Baker Linker and husband Butch; brother, Mitchell Wayne Baker; as well as several nieces and nephews; and his English Bulldog named Happy.

Devon was a man of many talents. He loved working on cars and enjoyed taking care of his garden. Devon was a faithful member of Freedom Baptist Church for many years. He was someone who always put other's needs ahead of his own, and would drop everything to go help someone. James "Devon" Baker will be dearly missed by his family, friends and all others who knew him.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Eric Snuggs

August 2, 1988 ~ November 29, 2022

Charles Eric Snuggs, of Albemarle, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

Mr.Snuggs was born on August 2, 1988, to Chris Carlton Snuggs and Evon Smith Jordan.

Survivors include, mother, Evon Jordan and husband Jerry; father, Chris Carlton Snuggs and wife Shannon; brother, Chris Carlton Snuggs, II; stepbrothers, Aaron and Brent Jordan.

Barbara was born December 29, 1947, in North Carolina to the late Vance Drye Brooks and the late Laura Kennedy Brooks.

She was also preceded in death by husband, Marvin Ray Hinson. Barbara was a devoted mother to her daughter, Michelle. She loved for people to stop by her home and visit. If it was lunch time, she would set a place at her dinner table for you to join them in a delicious meal as she was an excellent cook. She did not like to bake though.

Survivors include sister, Janette Barbee (McChord); brother, Marvin Brooks (Annette); daughter, Michelle; son, Kevin Efird; granddaughter, Misty Tanner; nephews, Randy Brooks, Wesley Barbee (Angela), Jeremy Barbee (Shelby); and niece, Kelly Smith (Mike); and great nephews, Landon Brooks, Jason Brooks, Michael Barbee, Christopher Barbee and Carson Barbee and great niece, Allison Barbee. She claimed the nephews and nieces as her own grandchildren as she loved them dearly. Barbara was a woman of God and a devout Baptist. She will be missed and remembered.

Barbara Ann (Brooks) Hinson

29, 1947 ~ November 25, 2022

Barbara Brooks Hinson, 74, of New London, passed away Friday, November 25, 2022, at her home in New London.

STATE & NATION

Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider

The Associated Press

PALMDALE, Calif. — America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China.

The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified.

As evening fell over the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, the public got its first glimpse of the Raider in a tightly controlled ceremony. It started with a flyover of the three bombers still in service: the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit. Then the hangar doors slowly opened and the B-21 was towed partially out of the building.

“This isn’t just another airplane,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China’s rapid military modernization.

China is on track to have 1,500 nuclear weapons by 2035, and its

gains in hypersonics, cyber warfare and space capabilities present “the most consequential and systemic challenge to U.S. national security and the free and open international system,” the Pentagon said this week in its annual China report.

“We needed a new bomber for the 21st Century that would allow us to take on much more complicated threats, like the threats that we fear we would one day face from China, Russia, “ said Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secre-

tary when the Raider contract was announced in 2015.

While the Raider may resemble the B-2, once you get inside, the similarities stop, said Kathy Warden, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Corp., which is building the bomber.

“The way it operates internally is extremely advanced compared to the B-2, because the technology has evolved so much in terms of the computing capability that we can now embed in the software of the B-21,” Warden said.

Other changes include advanced materials used in coatings to make the bomber harder to detect, Austin said.

“Fifty years of advances in low-observable technology have gone into this aircraft,” Austin said. “Even the most sophisticated air defense systems will struggle to detect a B-21 in the sky.”

Other advances likely include new ways to control electronic emissions, so the bomber could spoof adversary radars and disguise itself as another object, and use of new propulsion technologies, several defense analysts said.

“It is incredibly low observability,” Warden said. “You’ll hear it, but you really won’t see it.”

Six Raiders are in production. The Air Force plans to build 100 that can deploy either nuclear weapons or conventional bombs and can be used with or without a human crew. Both the Air Force and Northrop also point to the Raider’s relatively quick development: The bomber went from contract award to debut in seven years. Other new fighter and ship programs have taken decades.

The cost of the bombers is unknown. The Air Force previously put the price at an average cost of $550 million each in 2010 dollars — roughly $753 million today — but it’s unclear how much is actually being spent. The total will depend on how many bombers the Pentagon buys.

“We will soon fly this aircraft, test it, and then move it into production. And we will build the bomber force in numbers suited to the strategic environment ahead,” Austin said.

The B-21 Raider, which takes its name from the 1942 Doolittle Raid

over Tokyo, will be slightly smaller than the B-2 to increase its range, Warden said. It won’t make its first flight until 2023. However, Warden said Northrop Grumman has used advanced computing to test the bomber’s performance using a digital twin, a virtual replica of the one unveiled Friday.

Northrop Grumman has also incorporated maintenance lessons learned from the B-2, Warden said.

In October 2001, B-2 pilots set a record when they flew 44 hours straight to drop the first bombs in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. The B-2 often does long round-trip missions because there are few hangars globally that can accommodate its wingspan, which limits where it can land for maintenance. The hangars also must be air-conditioned because the Spirit’s windows don’t open and hot climates can cook cockpit electronics.

The new Raider will also get new hangars to accommodate its size and complexity, Warden said.

However, with the Raider’s extended range, ‘it won’t need to be based in-theater,” Austin said. “It won’t need logistical support to hold any target at risk.”

A final noticeable difference was in the debut itself. While both went public in Palmdale, the B-2 was rolled outdoors in 1988 amid much public fanfare. Given advances in surveillance satellites and cameras, the Raider was just partially exposed, keeping its sensitive propulsion systems and sensors under the hangar and protected from overhead eyes.

“The magic of the platform,” Warden said, “is what you don’t see.”

Iowa caucuses lose place at head of the line in Democrats’ reshuffling

By Thomas Beaumont The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Hy-Vee Hall ballroom in Des Moines erupted in cheers in 2008 when the youthful Illinois senator hinted at the improbable possibility of the feat ahead: “Our time for change has come!”

That Iowa, an overwhelmingly white state, would propel Barack Obama’s rise to become America’s first black president seemed to ratify its first-in-the-nation position in the presidential nominating process.

But in the half-century arc of the state’s quirky caucuses, Obama’s victory proved to be an outlier. All other Democratic winners turned out to be also-rans.

The caucuses and their outsize importance were largely an exercise in myth-making, that candidates could earn a path to the White House by meeting voters in person where they live, and earnest, civic-minded Midwesterners would brave the winter cold to stand sometimes for hours to discuss issues and literally stand for their candidate.

As the caucuses have played out, the flaws have become glaring. First among them: The state’s Democrats botched the count in 2020, leaving an embarrassing muddle. But there were more.

Since 2008, the state’s political makeup has changed dramatically, from a reliable swing state to solidly Republican.

“We’ve been headed this way for a while,” said Joe Trippi, who

managed Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt’s winning Iowa campaign in 1988, adding “2020 broke the camel’s back.”

The Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm voted to remove Iowa as the leadoff state in the presidential nominating order and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President Joe Biden.

The caucuses were once a novel effort to expand local participation in national party deci-

sion-making, but this vestige of 19th century Midwestern civic engagement has simply been unable to keep pace with the demands of 21st century national politics.

“The times have changed and maybe it’s time for this nominating process to change,” said Emily Parcell, Obama’s 2008 Iowa political director.

To much of the nation, the caucuses were a quadrennial curiosity, seen in TV shots framed by snowy cornfields, with a reminder

piece the summer before featuring candidates awkwardly sampling the Iowa State Fair’s menu of fried food or gazing at a lifesized cow carved from butter.

The seeds of the myth were etched into the national narrative in the 1970s by a cadre of political writers, mostly from Washington, who tracked Indiana’s Birch Bayh, Arizona’s Mo Udall, Idaho’s Frank Church and an obscure governor from Georgia, Jimmy Carter, to cafes, VFW halls and living rooms.

Their stories offered a sheen of quaint civic responsibility, citizens meeting candidates, often several times, and a willingness to brave a bone-chilling winter night for them.

The caucuses are not elections, but rather party-run events, conducted by local Democratic officials and volunteers, a concept that has long bedeviled outsiders.

Like Iowa’s Republican Party caucuses, which remain first in the GOP’s 2024 presidential sequence, the Democratic caucuses are open only to voters who note the party affiliation on their voter registration.

Iowa first moved its caucuses from spring to winter before the 1972 campaign, and added a presidential vote to the agenda to invite more participation during an era of unrest.

“There was a kind of romanticism of neighbors gathering to make this important decision. There was something wholesome about that,” said Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who

was senior adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign.

“They took on sort of mythic importance and, over time, they became somewhat of an industry,” said Axelrod, who also advised the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon’s 1988 campaign and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ in 2004. “Some of that wholesomeness wore off.”

Likewise, the campaigns evolved from tests of more provincial interests to national trial runs.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt won the 1988 Iowa caucuses on a local economic populist message aimed at addressing the financial crisis gripping Iowa farmers.

With each cycle, the Democrats’ criticism of Iowa as non-representative of the party increased, coming to a calamitous head on caucus night in February 2020.

A smartphone app designed to calculate and report results failed, prompting a telephone backlog that prevented the party from reporting final results for nearly a week after the Feb. 3 contest.

The Associated Press was unable to declare a winner after irregularities and inconsistencies marred the results. Top finishers Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were denied the full measure of momentum ahead of New Hampshire eight days later.

“I think we all look back and recognize that was the death knell,” said John Norris, who managed Kerry’s 2004 Iowa campaign and the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s in 1988.

AP PHOTO

The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Precinct 68 Iowa Caucus voters seated in the Biden section hold up their first votes of the caucus as they are counted at the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

Randolph record

Santa for a cause

Clockwise from top left: Riders with Randolph County’s 36th annual CBA Toy Run fill N.C. 64 as they make their way toward Lexington; Santa Claus rides on the back of a motorcycle down N.C. 65 as he leads Randolph County’s 36th annual CBA Toy Run; Marian Clark (front), Kisha Shelton (middle), and Judy Wamsley (back) watch and wave as riders pass by.

Original owner group sells Tot Hill Farm Golf Club

Randolph Community College searches for a new president

Following the retirement of longtime President Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr., Randolph Community College has been undergoing an extensive process of finding a new president. The Board of Trustees is inviting residents of the county to complete a survey or participate in one of two forums to help build an “RCC Presidential Profile.” Survey responses are anonymous and can be completed at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/ RCCPresidentSearch until Saturday, December 10. In addition, two forums will be held to elicit feedback from stakeholders on Tuesday, December 13, at 10 am and 1:30 pm. Both forums will take place at the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center on the Asheboro Campus. Seating is limited, but interested participants can register online until December 12 at 5 pm.

Asheboro apartment complexes targeted in string of vehicle-related thefts

Over the course of three days last week, a series of thefts and vehicle break-ins took place around apartment complexes located on North Fayetteville Street in Asheboro. Between the night of November 28 and the evening of November 30, officers from the Asheboro Police Department responded to over ten separate reports of vehicle break-ins. In some instances, the thieves stole cash, debit cards, personal items, spare keys, and firearms. At least two vehicles were completely stolen. One vehicle owner managed to capture a video of two black males, both dressed in dark clothing, going through the center console and glove box of their car. Stolen debit cards have had purchases traced to restaurants and stores in Randleman, Greensboro, and Kernersville. At this time, the Asheboro Police Department has not released any additional updates on this series of incidents.

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — It was more than a foursome, but it was a partnership that worked so well that breaking up was hard to do.

But Ogburn Yates, whose family has owned the land for more than 80 years, said it had come time for Tot Hill Farm Golf Club to be sold.

“It has been an interesting run,” said Ogburn Yates, 88, a member of the ownership group. “We’re very glad we did it and took part in a project that turned out like this. Forming this group and doing this for so long, it was subject to a lot of prayer.”

The sale of the 18-hole layout became official last week and was purchased by Pat Barber of Charleston, S.C. He owns two courses – The Links at Stono Ferry and The Plantation Course at Edisto – in the

Charleston area.

For the local partners and investors, it played out to a satisfactory conclusion amid all the ups and downs of owning and operating a

golf club.

“On a project like this, everything has to work out,” Yates said. “The remarkable thing about this is the partners all stuck together.”

The core of the partners included Yates, C.C. Pharr, Delbert Cranford, Maxton McDowell, Jack Lail, former Asheboro mayor David Jarrell, Sam Gruber, Hi Marziano, Henry Yates (Ogburn’s son) and Tony Cranford (Delbert’s brother). Deceased partners included Keith Crisco, Bill Hoover, and Mack Priest.

For many of the recent years, Pharr was credited with steering the group in the right direction as vice president and managing partner.

The property had been in the Yates family since it was purchased in 1943. It was used for cattle well before it became a development. Yates said in the late 1990s, when plans were put in place, family members didn’t want to sell the property because there were too many memories.

They also didn’t want it to sit idle.

“At that point, golf was booming in the late ‘90s,” he said. “We discussed it and decided to develop it. A lot of this was prayer,” Yates said. Partners were needed to assist in the financing. The course opened in May 2000.

A vision becomes reality

Commissioners resworn in, positions approved for new cycle

Kintegra to partner with health department to provide county dental services

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, where the board had select members resworn in and updates on various county projects were provided.

Commissioners Darrell Frye, David Allen, and Hope Haywood – all of whom won reelection back in November – were resworn into their positions. Following that, the board also voted to reappoint Frye as the chairman of the board and Allen as the vice chair.

Other positions that were voted in were the reappointment of Ben Morgan as the county attorney, Dana Crisco as clerk to the board, and Sarah Pack as deputy clerk to the board.

The other board representative positions were all reappointed en masse, the only difference being a

change to the representative to the Animal Services Advisory Board. Both Frye and Allen served on it as a newly formed board, but moving forward, only Allen will continue those duties.

The board was then briefed on a potential partnership between the health department and Kintegra Family Dentistry.

“The health department has provided much-needed dental services for many, many years,” said Public Health Director Tara Aker. “Probably for the last six to eight years, though, we’ve had difficulty finding full-time dentists. There’s just not enough dentists to go around, and a public health department has a really hard time recruiting and retaining a dentist because we just can’t compete with a private practice.”

According to Aker, Randolph County has been unable to recruit and retain a dentist on staff and so to help meet demand, they have decided to partner with Kintegra Family Dentistry.

“Our plan is for Kintegra Family Dental, which is a part of a federally qualified health center, to come into our health department, and

they will be taking over our dental clinic and providing staff and equipment to continue the services that are needed here in the county,” Aker said.

“The key is partnership,” said Kintegra Family Dentistry Chief Dental Officer Dr. William Donigan. “Kintegra is the largest federally qualified health center in the state of North Carolina. Our dental program last year saw 35,000 patient visits. Our school-based learning program is the largest in the state, and last year, with two mobile units, we saw over 6,000 children in the schools. We have seven fixed brick-and-mortar sites, and now we’ve added a third mobile dental unit. And we just purchased, for Randolph County, a three-chair mobile dentistry unit because we want to get into those schools where we can help reach them. The purpose of the whole partnership is to serve the people of Randolph County.”

According to Aker, the estimated go date for the restart of the county dental services with Kintegra is

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Here’s an overview of one of the hole layouts of Asheboro’s Tot Hill Farm Golf Club.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT PELKEY | FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

| DENNIS PRAGER

If Holocaust deniers don’t go to Hell, there is no God

IT IS A CENTRAL TENET of moral theology that there are gradations of sin. To argue that God views stealing a towel from a hotel and raping a child as moral equivalents renders God a moral fool. And doing that to God is a sin. If we mortals perceive the universe of difference between such actions, it goes without question that God does, too. The idea that we have greater moral clarity than God is logically and theologically untenable.

In the pantheon of evils, among the worst is Holocaust denial.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Given the murder of 6 million Jews and the unspeakable amount of suffering they and Jewish survivors underwent at the hands of the Nazis, it takes a particularly vile individual to say this never happened. Think of how we would regard anyone who denied thousands of Americans were murdered on 9/11.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with Gens. George Patton and Omar Bradley, visited Ohrdruf, a Nazi concentration camp, on April 12, 1945, a week after it was liberated.

Eisenhower then cabled to Gen. George Marshall:

“The things I saw beggar description... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me a bit sick. In one room, where they were piled up twenty or thirty naked men, killed by starvation, George Patton would not even enter. He said that he would get sick if he did so. I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to ‘propaganda.’”

A week later Eisenhower again cabled Marshall, asking that members of Congress and journalists be brought to the newly liberated camps so that they could tell Americans the truth about German Nazi atrocities.

Patton wrote in his diary:

“When we began to approach with our troops, the Germans thought it expedient to remove the evidence of their crime. Therefore, they had some of the slaves exhume the bodies and place them on a mammoth griddle composed of 60-centimeter railway tracks laid on brick foundations. They poured pitch on the bodies and then built a fire of pinewood and coal under them. They were not very successful in their operations because there was a pile of human bones, skulls, charred torsos on or under the griddle which must have accounted for many hundreds.”

To his great credit, Eisenhower understood that what the Nazis had done to the Jews (and many others, but overwhelmingly to Jews) would be difficult for humanity to comprehend and therefore needed to be documented in writing and in photographs. And, it is important to note, Eisenhower saw only a small concentration camp, not one of the enormous death camps.

Beginning in about 1941, the Nazi regime dedicated itself to murdering every Jew -- man, woman, child and baby -- in countries

it occupied. Eventually, more than six of every 10 Jews in Europe were murdered.

Nazi mobile killing units murdered more than a million Jews, usually family by family, in front of open ditches the Jews were forced to dig. Most died upon being shot; the even less fortunate ended up being buried alive. All witnessed the murder of their loved ones.

Most of the other murdered Jews were shipped in cattle cars to concentration and death camps where they were worked to death, starved to death, tortured to death and most often gassed to death in gas chambers.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Yet, some people, including an American named Nick Fuentes, aggressively deny the Holocaust, asserting that a few hundred thousand Jews, not millions, were killed.

It is important to understand why this is evil.

First, it is a Big Lie. Big Lies inevitably lead to violence and can even destroy civilizations.

If the Holocaust never happened, why would Germany maintain that it did?

Second, Holocaust denial is not only a Big Lie; it is pure Jewhatred, i.e., antisemitism. The proof that it emanates from antisemitism is that no other 20th-century genocide is denied (with the exception of the Turkish government’s denial of the Turks’ mass murder of Armenians during World War I). No one denies Stalin’s mass murder of tens of millions of Soviet citizens in the Gulag Archipelago or his deliberate starvation of about five million Ukrainians (the Holodomor); or the Cambodian communists’ murder of about one in every four Cambodians; or Mao’s killing of about 60 million Chinese. The only genocide-denial is the genocide of the Jews.

Third, the denial of this Nazi evil is a slap in the face of all the Americans who died fighting the Nazis. As Eisenhower said on seeing the Nazi atrocities, “We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against.” If the Holocaust is a fabrication, Americans died fighting against nothing particularly evil.

As a college student, I dated a woman whose parents were Holocaust survivors. She told me on a number of occasions how often she would hear her father scream in the middle of the night as he dreamed about watching his family be murdered. Unable to live with these memories, one night, her father hanged himself.

That man is one of millions of reasons Fuentes -- and those who ally themselves with him — will go to hell. If there is a just God.

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

Qatar is the ally we need to counter Putin’s growing influence

RUSSIA’S REPREHENSIBLE invasion of Ukraine has made one thing clear: The global order is changing. An axis of repressive, authoritarian world powers — all with ties to Vladimir Putin — is growing bolder and more confident, and wants to see America’s influence decline.

It’s more important than ever for the United States and all libertyminded Western nations to have dependable, moderate allies to counter Putin and his cronies. As policymakers look abroad to cultivate relationships, they shouldn’t overlook Qatar, a rising star on the world stage.

Qatar is the secondhighest exporter of liquified natural gas.

While some folks might have trouble locating Qatar on a map, millions of eyes are turning to the Arab nation. Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, having beat out the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Korea for the bid.

Hosting the World Cup will put the modern capital city of Doha in the limelight and further Qatar’s use of “sports diplomacy” to enhance cooperation, respect and tolerance among all nations.

And there’s certainly good reason to pay attention to Qatar. Although smaller than Connecticut, it has the fourth-highest gross domestic product per capita in the world, and is the second-highest exporter of liquified natural gas. It is also home to thriving financial and tourism sectors, as well as the highly influential Al Jazeera media group.

Qatar has long cooperated with the United States and NATO in maintaining security in the Persian Gulf. When the West conducts air operations against Islamic State terrorists, Qatar has often provided space for staging zones.

After the United States withdrew from Afghanistan last year, Qatar helped to evacuate more than 40,000 civilians as the Taliban swiftly took over the country. The Biden administration recently

designated it a major non-NATO ally.

Qatar played a pivotal role in supporting pro-democracy movements with financial and military resources during the Arab Spring. The country has backed youth, liberal, and conservative change movements working to implement democratic governance and advance liberty and justice.

Qatar has also proven itself able and willing to oppose Putin and his proxies. While Putin aided the reign of terror of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad during the Syrian civil war, it was Qatar that supported the rebels who opposed him.

Even more important than Qatar’s aid is its position as a top petroleum exporter. In a world where controlling the global supply of energy is of increasing strategic importance, Qatar may very well be able to deprive Putin of one of his greatest advantages over the West.

Washington may not agree with Doha on all issues, particularly its history of providing financial support to extremist groups. If such support still exists, Qatar should certainly rethink it. But that possibility should not stop the United States from courting Qatar as a friend and ally. The nation can play a vital role in countering Putin and his gang of illiberal authoritarians. That includes Syria’s murderous dictator, Assad, who has long oppressed the people of my homeland.

Now is the time to build lasting ties with moderate nations. It’s time for the United States and its Western allies to strengthen ties with Qatar.

Dr. Tarek Kteleh is a practicing medical doctor and president of Rheumatology of Central Indiana. He is the author of The Six Pillars of Advocacy: Embrace Your Cause and Transform Lives. This piece originally ran in Issues & Insights.

COLUMN

COLUMN | DR. TAREK KTELEH

SIDELINE REPORT

NASCAR

Nashville, Tenn.

Ty Gibbs on Thursday declined to discuss the death of his father, which occurred just hours after the NASCAR driver won the Xfinity Series championship last month. Gibbs was asked about his grandfather, Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, telling employees at Joe Gibbs Racing they all had to move forward even as they mourn. Coy Gibbs died in his sleep at the age of 49 hours after his 20-year-old son won the Xfinity Series title on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. Ty Gibbs said for now he’s just going to stick with racing questions while in Nashville for the NASCAR Awards.

NFL Watson returns from ban, declines to express remorse

Houston Deshaun Watson, playing in his first game in 700 days, showed plenty of rust in his debut with Cleveland but the Browns didn’t need him to do much in a 2714 victory over the Texans on Sunday. He declined to express remorse for behavior that earned him an 11-game suspension and, playing in Houston where he spent his first four pro seasons before missing all of last season and much of this one, was jeered before each snap ifor much of the afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SEC halftime contest booed, both students awarded $100K

Atlanta

Two college students have won $100,000 in tuition after a confusing finish in the SEC championship game’s halftime competition. Boos rained down from the fans in attendance when one of the two students appeared to win the Dr Pepper ball toss competition in overtime on a technicality. The winner was due to get $100,000 and the runner-up $20,000. Baylor student Reagan Whitaker and St. Augustine student Kayla Gibson exchanged leads multiple times in regulation and tied again in overtime, but Whitaker was declared the winner. It was announced on the broadcast in the fourth quarter of the game that Dr Pepper would gift both Whitaker and Gibson with $100,000 in tuition.

HORSE RACING

Ortiz sets singleseason record with 77th stakes win

New York

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. earned his record 77th single-season North American stakes victory when he guided Dr B to victory in the $200,000 Go for Wand at Aqueduct.

The 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico broke the old mark of 76 set by the late Hall of Fame rider Garrett Gomez in 2007. Ortiz Jr. won the Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal in June to go with three Breeders’ Cup victories in November. He leads North American riders with 304 overall victories so far this year.

Logano celebrates 2nd NASCAR Cup title, already wanting 3rd

Logano said Thursday before he was feted at NASCAR’s annual awards ceremony.

By Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Joey Logano has a simple target for the future even as he celebrates his 2022 NASCAR Cup championship.

Add yet another.

Logano this season joined Kyle Busch as the only active NASCAR drivers with multiple Cup series titles, adding to the first Cup championship he won in 2018. Being the only active driver with three Cup titles would be even sweeter.

“That’s where my head is at right is, ‘Let’s go get another one,’”

“It is something special though for sure. Winning championships is hard in professional sports, right? This is so hard to come by and so hard to do, and everything has to come together at the right time,” he continued. “It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Logano, at 32, was already the oldest of the four drivers in the championship finale. Credit — or blame — the new Next Gen car for evening out competition to where the Cup Series had 19 different winners, with five first-timers and two drivers making their first appearance in the championship race.

Logano won his second Cup

championship by finishing first in a winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway, giving Team Penske both the Cup and IndyCar titles in the same season for the first time in 31 tries.

Roger Penske, owner of Logano’s No. 22 Ford, knows how hungry Logano is to win a third title. He’s part of a roster that includes Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric,

who both made the playoffs, and Harrison Burton in an affiliate Wood Brothers Racing car.

“We’ve got the same team, so we should,” Penske said. “We should be able to compete now. A lot of great talent out there today. New talent, young talent. Teams and the cars brought us closer together. But I think we’re someone you’re going to have to beat in ’23.”

Logano said he loves picking up tips and ideas on how other people at the top of their sports work to stay there because he’s learned that nobody, even in the same sport, sees or approaches things the same way.

“So it’s good to learn all that for sure,” Logano said.

Logano also knows he’s among one of NASCAR’s older current drivers and wants to embrace being more of a leader and help grow the sport. He’s still young enough to relate to all the young drivers coming into NASCAR, yet old enough to remember what it was like over a decade ago.

“I feel like that’s a huge responsibility for all of us as an industry to care about the next generation of our sport,” Logano said.

CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta

FOR THIS COLLEGE football season, the BCS probably would have been fine.

Two days after the College Football Playoff announced it is expanding to 12 teams, the field of four to determine this season’s national champion included two schools that did not even win their conferences.

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were selected Sunday for the playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple programs in the fourteam field for the first time.

The top-ranked and reigning champion Bulldogs (13-0) and fourth-seeded Buckeyes (11-1) will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Ohio State got a reprieve, moving back into the top four after losing to Big Ten rival Michigan just a week ago.

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The second-seeded Wolverines (13-0) and third-ranked Horned

Frogs (12-1) will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, in the first game of the New Year’s Eve doubleheader.

The Horned Frogs were third coming into the weekend but had to sweat out their spot Saturday night after losing the Big 12 title game to Kansas State in overtime.

“I was really nervous,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said about watching ESPN’s slow rollout of the pairings Sunday after-

noon.

The Frogs had nothing to fear. They had already built enough equity to stay in the top four, and they erupted with cheers of relief at their watch party in Fort Worth, Texas, when it became official.

Georgia, which won the Southeastern Conference championship game in a rout, is a 6½-point favorite against Ohio State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Michigan, which took the Big Ten title,

is favored by 9½ points over TCU.

CFP selection committee chairman and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said the 13-member panel went through its usual process of grouping teams in threes to compare them for the final rankings, but not for long.

“I can’t actually remember which team got pulled in for the third, but as we went into it, we wanted to make sure we got those first two set and then we moved forward,” said Corrigan.

The national championship game is Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could be a rematch of rivals Ohio State and Michigan in what will soon be Big Ten country as the conference expands with UCLA and USC.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines have never played outside of their annual regular season game in a bitter rivalry that dates to 1902.

The Team Penske driver joined Kyle Busch as the only active drivers with multiple Cup Series titles

Alabama was on the outside looking in and will face Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell holds the Big Ten trophy as he celebrates with teammates after defeating Purdue on Sunday. The Wolverines will face TCU in the College Football Playoff seminfinals on Dec. 31.

AP PHOTO

NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano speaks during the NASCAR Awards last Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ty Gibbs declines to discuss sudden death of his father

“It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Joey Logano

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here.”

Ryan Day, Ohio State coach

Troutman returns to UCA, passes 1,000 points

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Ashton Troutman returned to the Uwharrie Charter Academy boys’ basketball team and pretty much picked up where he left off.

After spending a few months as a transfer at The Burlington School, Troutman decided to finish his high school career where it began.

“It was just a lot (of reasons), nothing basketball-related,” Troutman said of coming back to UCA. “I just had a good three years at Uwharrie, and I missed what was going on. I was missing my home and my family.”

In his fourth game this season, Troutman reached a milestone. He scored his 1,000th career point Friday night in an 83-64 loss at Richmond County. The milestone basket – a contested layup in traffic – was part of his 34-point outburst.

Troutman, a 6-foot-8 post player, was the centerpiece of UCA’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship last season. His return could shake up the PAC’s projected pecking order, though he’s the only returning starter for the Eagles.

He transferred to TBS, which is the two-time defending Class 2-A state champion in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic

PREP NOTES

Association, in an effort to expand his exposure and see a different level of competition. TBS school plays a schedule with national flavor.

Troutman was involved in fall competitions with TBS, but his return to UCA came before official games, and thus his eligibility wasn’t affected.

Troutman, already the school-record holder for points, had 15 points in the Eagles’ season-opening 77-33 loss to visiting Chatham Charter. Three days later, he poured in 32 points – all in the first half -- in an 85-37 romp past Bethany Community. He racked up 24 points in a 45-33 loss last week at Southern Guilford.

Troutman had planned to commute from his Asheboro home to Burlington, but that became too taxing, and he began living with a family of another TBS player.

“I just got tired of living up there,” he said.

On the court at TBS, which sometimes has college coaches and scouts representing recruiting services attend practices, Troutman was part of a low post pairing with highly regarded Ty Outlaw.

“I was in the starting lineup,” Troutman said. “I had gotten a lot better with all the workouts. We just made each other better.”

He has been recruited by a variety of colleges. Some of the exposure might wane, but college

coaching staffs will know where to find him.

“I was getting the looks I wanted,” he said of his time in the TBS program. “It’s a risk (coming back to UCA) that I’m willing to take.”

Troutman, who averaged 20.9 points and ten rebounds per game last season, said his relationship with UCA coach Brad Monroe, who has been with the Eagles throughout the player’s career, remained strong even with the brief transfer. He said the coach has been supportive of each move.

“He has always got the best out of me,” Troutman said. The Eagles will need plenty from their senior standout, who faces double- and triple-team defensive tactics.

“It’s a lot like last year,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of shooters. I know how to get others involved.”

The 1,000-point plateau was a nice marker, something he had considered for several years. He has been UCA’s leading scorer in each of the last three seasons.

“Since my freshman year, when I realized I could put up points like I could, I knew I really would like to do that,” he said of the 1,000 points.

Troutman’s scoring numbers would be higher if not for the COVID-reduced schedule in his sophomore year and missing three games with an injury last season

Trinity players keep rapid scoring paces

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

TRINITY — It was another big week for Trinity guard Dominic Payne.

He racked up 32 points in a 6653 victory at Jordan-Matthews. That was just the appetizer. He scored 27 points in a 61-45 victory against visiting North Carolina Leadership Academy. Then he finished the week in style by going for 42 points when the Bulldogs defeated host East Rowan 82-68.

Payne wasn’t the only big scorer during the week for Trinity.

Autumn Gentry poured in 33 points to go with 11 rebounds, and Kennedy Jackson pumped in 26 points in a 61-44 victory against East Rowan for the girls’ team.

Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston had a big week as well.

It began with 21 points in a 6747 romp past visiting Ledford. His basket off a steal provided the winning points in a 56-54 victory against visiting Union Pines. The Tigers lost 59-56 at Oak Grove despite Goldston’s 25 points.

On the girls’ side, Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly supplied 31 points in a 58-49 home loss to Western Alamance.

Wrestling

At Millers Creek, with three individual champions, Wheatmore’s team was the runner-up in the eight-team C.H. Necessary Invitational at West Wilkes.

Trey Swaney (132 pounds), Dominic Hittepole (160), and Zechariah Starkweather (170) were the champions for Wheatmore. Renato Barron (220) of the Warriors placed second.

West Wilkes won the title with 169 points, and Wheatmore was next with 135.

Joey Smith of Trinity won the

Allie Frazier

basketball

Frazier had three strong outings for the Patriots, who went 2-1 in those games.

Frazier’s impactful week started with 19 points in the 50-34 victory against visiting East Davidson.

By scoring 17 points, the senior guard had more than half of the Patriots’ points in a 38-32 road loss to Southern Guilford.

Frazier capped the week with 19 points in a 49-43 triumph against Asheboro.

Through four games this season, Frazier had a scoring average of 17.3 points per game. She also shared the team rebounding lead with Asia Steverson with 7.3 per outing.

Southwestern

Trinity

Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference

HERE’S

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Runner of the Year: Hunter Creech (Oak Grove) Coaches of the Year: Trey Cook (Central Davidson), Eric Pennymaker (Ledford), Shawn Loggins (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Seth Hydzik

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Runner of the Year: Jillian Parks-Wooten (Central Davidson)

Coach of the Year: Shawn Loggins (Oak Grove)

FOOTBALL

Lineman of the Year: Jackson Greene (Central Davidson)

Offensive Player of the Year: Nate Carr (Ledford)

Defensive Player of the Year: Chase Robertson (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Chris Doby (Ledford)

Asheboro: Eddie Soto (defense), Hakemme Butler (offense), Markell Graham (offense)

GIRLS’ GOLF

Player of the Year: Salem Lee (Asheboro)

Coach of the Year: Heather Norris (Asheboro)

Asheboro: Addison Allen, Salem Lee.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Player of the Year: Stephany Jimenez (Montgomery Central)

Coach of the Year: Delana Cagle (Montgomery Central)

Asheboro: Katelyn Thomas, Blair Thomas, Cassie Proctor

SOCCER

BOYS’

Offensive Player of the Year: Christian Ortiz Benitez (Asheboro)

Defensive Player of the Year: Calvin Smith (Asheboro)

Coach of the Year: Nick Arroyo (Asheboro)

Asheboro: Christian Ortiz Benitez, Calvin Smith, David Adudelo, Edwin Perez Vazquez, Daniel Gutierrez Resendez, Diego Gutierrez, Brandon Santos, Cristian Cruz Mendez

VOLLEYBALL

Player of the Year: Ciara Major (Oak Grove)

Defensive Player of the Year: Olivia Dixon (Oak Grove)

Coach of the Year: Sissy Rausch (Oak Grove)

Providence Grove, girls’

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL Allie Frazier of Providence Grove goes up for a shot against visiting East Davidson during a game last week.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL Calvin Smith, an Asheboro senior, was named the top defensive player for boys’ soccer in the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

Randolph Record

A LIST of the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s major award winners plus Asheboro’s all-conference selections for fall sports:

220-pound weight class in the 20team Mount Pleasant Invitational.

Smith defeated Alex Lahners of Cannon School in the final with a first-period pin. Smith notched two pins and two decisions by shutouts in the tournament.

Trinity’s Brayden Hall (113), Spencer May (120), and Gavin Hardister (182) all placed third.

Randolph’s Erick Lopez (160) was fourth.

was seventh in the team standings, and Southwestern Randolph was 15th.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Tyshaun Goldston of Randleman dunks against Lexington during one of his big games last week.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ashton Troutman of Uwharrie Charter Academy goes up for a shot against Trinity last season.

DOJ appointee eyes 1-year window for Jackson water upgrades

By Michael Goldberg The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — The manager appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee reforms to the beleaguered water system in Mississippi’s capital city said he hopes to wrap up work in one year or less.

Ted Henifin outlined his intended time frame during a news conference Monday, echoing the Justice Department’s order appointing him as interim manager of the Jackson water system. The order sets 12 months for Henifin to implement 13 projects for improving the system’s near-term stability.

Henifin’s work begins after the Justice Department won a federal judge’s approval last week to carry out a rare intervention to fix Jackson’s water system, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle.

For days last August, people waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets in Jackson, a majority-black city of about 150,000. The partial failure of the water system followed torrential rains and flooding of the Pearl River, which exacerbated problems at one of the city’s two treatment plants.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who appeared alongside Henifin at the news conference, added that he saw the city’s work with the federal government to improve the water system as an effort that would take longer than one year.

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has

looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility,” Lumumba said. “We anticipate a working relationship with the federal government that is beyond one year.”

Henifin’s work is meant to be an interim step while the federal government, the city of Jackson and the Mississippi State Department of Health negotiate a court-enforced consent decree to mandate upgrades to the water system.

The negotiations stem from a

complaint the Justice Department filed on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against Jackson, alleging that the city has failed to provide drinking water that is reliably compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act. That litigation will be put on hold for six months.

The work Henifin will oversee includes a winterization project to make the water system less vulnerable and a plan to increase staffing at the city’s treatment plants, which have suffered from a dearth of skilled workers.

Henifin first arrived in Jackson on Sept. 14 at the request of the US Water Alliance, a Washington-based nonprofit that works on sustainability and water management. He stayed for over two weeks and returned again in October and November to learn more about the water system and the city.

Henifin spent 15 years as general manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District in Virginia before retiring in February. He will be paid $400,000 including travel and living expenses to run Jack-

Tennessee roads plan mulls toll lanes, electric car fee hike

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is considering allowing express toll lanes on highways and tripling a fee for electric car owners as he targets his first big push after winning reelection — paying for tens of billions of dollars in roadway projects.

The Republican is adamant about what he won’t do: Raise the gas tax; add fully tolled roads; or issue debt in lieu of the state’s pay-asyou-go road funding method.

Lee says the timing is crucial to pivot quickly to roads. With Tennessee’s rapid growth and truck traffic, state transportation officials say $26 billion in projects are needed to address worsening congestion, and only $3.6 billion of it is planned under a big swipe at roads by Lee’s predecessor. Officials also say projects are taking so long — 15 years on average — that they are coming in 40% over budget.

Like other states, Tennessee’s current road funding through gas taxes looks less reliable as more people switch to fuel-efficient and electric cars. Tennessee is also becoming a electric vehicle production hub, highlighted by a massive upcoming Ford electric vehicle project with a partner company’s battery factory.

Lee will need Republican lawmakers on board for much of what he wants. That includes opening up the possibility for private companies to bid to build new express lanes on highways and impose tolls for profit. Lawmakers would also need to approve raising the annual fee on owning an electric vehicle from $100 to $300.

Transportation commissioner Butch Eley has stated that any express toll lanes would be newly built, and would not turn existing carpool lanes into paid ones. Across

the country, five states have express toll lanes, 10 states have carpool lanes that let others join at a price, and some have both, according to a February 2021 report by the Federal Highway Administration.

The state could control driver eligibility and the pricing policy, which can fall or rise based on current congestion, while charging only those who want the quicker ride. A private company would design, build, finance, operate and maintain the lanes.

“There’s nothing, I think, more

fair than people paying for what they use,” Eley told reporters Thursday.

The $300 electric vehicle fee could be the country’s most expensive. As of July, 31 states have a similar yearly fee, ranging from $50 in Colorado to $225 in Washington, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eley says the increase better reflects what electric car drivers would be paying in federal and state gas taxes.

Lee, however, said officials may or may not settle on $300.

“We want to make sure there’s a fair fee for everyone,” Lee told reporters. “We’ll figure out what that number is and move forward.”

Vehicle taxes are a mixed bag state by state. Some have property taxes and annual inspection fees, for example. Tennessee phased out its last required vehicle testing and doesn’t charge property taxes on personal cars.

Lee’s sweeping roads push, which also calls for pay increases for transportation workers and other expansions to public-private partnerships, comes after former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam struck a deal during a drag-out fight over his 2017 plan. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act increased Tennessee’s gas tax from $0.20 to $0.26 per gallon over three years and upped the diesel rate as well,

son’s water system. The city of Jackson will not pay for Henifin’s work, a condition Henifin said he demanded of the Justice Department before accepting the interim manager position.

“DOJ wanted to argue that it is sort of (Jackson) taxpayer’s fault,” Henifin said. “C’mon now. Yeah, everyone pays it, the U.S. tax(payers, the treasury, but it’s not coming out of the city of Jackson’s revenue.”

Lumumba and Henifin will host a town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss the city’s agreement with the Justice Department and EPA over plans to fix the water system. Henifin said the EPA is still testing Jackson water on a regular basis.

“I tell everybody this is the most tested water in America right now,” Henifin said. “So if you’re worried about drinking water, come to Jackson because this water is really high quality, and it’s very well tested.”

among other changes that in part reduced separate taxes.

Lee’s push comes after the passage of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law. The governor’s transportation team, however, has said Tennessee’s five-year building plan was up about $1.7 billion under the law, saying that is not a major funding influx.

Rail expansion, meanwhile, is not part of Lee’s immediate plans. The concept has been hotly debated around Nashville, where a light rail ballot vote failed in 2018, toppled by tax increase opposition and concerns it could quicken gentrification that has pushed some lower-income people out of their communities. Eley said the state will keep looking at future rail possibilities.

In the GOP-led Legislature, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally said they are on board with a deep dive into how transportation infrastructure is funded.

They’ll have plenty to hammer out when lawmakers return for their annual legislative session in January. For one, Sexton mentioned rail as a topic that needs discussion.

“We must have honest discussions on infrastructure in our state to solve the traffic congestion issue,” Sexton said. “Those must include expansion of rail access, shortening the decades-long timeline to build roads, as well as looking at express lanes on our interstates in highly congested areas.”

The Associated Press

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility.”

Chokwe

Antar Lumumba, Jackson Mayor

BARBARA GAUNTT/THE CLARION-LEDGER VIA AP

Ted Henifin, left, the City of Jackson water system third-party administrator, addresses media questions during a news conference at City Hall as Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba listens on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Jackson, Miss.

AP PHOTO, FILE

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.

Dr. David Poe, Jr. age 75, of Asheboro, NC passed away on December 1, 2022, at his home after a short illness from an aggressive brain tumor. He is now in his heavenly home as a believer in Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents Orren David Poe, Sr and Saluda Northington Poe.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara Griffin Poe; their daughter, Ashley Proctor-Gann and husband, Roger of Asheboro; and their son Brian Poe and wife Natalie of Seagrove. He is also survived by 4 grandchildrenEmily Gann, Cassie Proctor, Reece Poe, and Kynleigh Poe.

David had a life long career in public education as did his parents. He enjoyed elementary age the most and retired in 2010 from Donna Lee Loflin in Asheboro City Schools. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Asheboro and enjoyed volunteer work with the Kiwanis. He graduated from UNCChapel Hill with his doctorate in education and enjoyed watching UNC in football and basketball. David and Barbara loved to travel. They went to all 50 states, saw the courthouses in all 100 of NC’s counties, and enjoyed their most recent trip on Route 66 to California. They loved the hunt of memorabilia in antique shops, auctions, and yard sales. They enjoyed collecting yard sticks, matchbooks, pencils, Coke items and Santa décor. The joy of his life was his children and grandchildren.

Margie Jewel Seawell

September 28, 1932 — December 1, 2022

Margie Jewel Seawell, age 90, of New London, NC passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 1, 2022.

Margie was born in Montgomery County to the late Frank Brock and the late Grace Marks. Margie, who everyone called "MeMe", loved gardening and working with her flowers. She was a wonderful cook and was known for her biscuits.

Margie is survived by her children: Billy Seawell (Lisa) of New London, Pam Tysinger (Tim) of New London, Mark Seawell (Linda) of Eldorado, Barbara Freeman (Rick) of Trinity, Debbie Landis (Mark) of New London, Amy Dennis (Danny) of Mt. Gilead, and Arnold Seawell of New London; twelve grandchildren, twentyone great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren; and two sisters: Gracie Hatcher of Randleman and Annie Bost of Denton. She was preceded in death by her husband Cleo Melvin Seawell, daughter, Carol Morris, grandson, Chris Seawell, three brothers, and two sisters.

December 31, 1940 — November 30, 2022

Patricia Irene Moore McMahon, 81, passed away under the care of Amedisys Hospice on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at her home. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Patricia was born on December 31, 1940, to James Robert Moore and Mary Kye Toomes. She was a member of Damascus Congregational Christian Church in Chapel Hill, NC. Mrs. McMahon was a kind soul, never having an ill word to speak of anyone. She had a big heart and was an especially good listener.

Patricia loved going to Cherokee, NC. She enjoyed watching the leaves change as well as gambling. Her dream was to strike it rich playing the lottery, so she could get her loved ones out of debt and enjoy life without worrying about finances. She also loved fishing, working puzzles and playing the slots on her phone! She was affectionately referred to as the “weather granny”, for she always informed her family of what they could expect from the forecast. Her family will miss her dearly.

Patricia is survived by her granddaughters, Kelly (Bill) Hackney of the home, and Kara Moore Greenwood of Asheboro; great-grandchildren, Chase Weeks (fiancée Alexandra Hussey) of Chapel Hill, Kyela Hackney of the home, Deekon Scarrboro of Asheboro and Memphis Greenwood of Asheboro. She has one great-great-grandson, Nash Weeks, also of Chapel Hill.

Anthony Lauro "Tony" Concutelli

May 5, 1960 — November 30, 2022

Mr. Anthony Lauro “Tony” Concutelli of Asheboro passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, November 30, 2022. He was the son of Lauro and Connie Biggers Concutelli whom preceded him in death. Tony was fondly remembered for his love for the game of golf, where he was an 8-time Asheboro City Amateur Champion. He loved his family, especially his son Nick. He was a member of Balfour Baptist Church where he enjoyed hearing Pastors Gary Mason and Mark Wilburn preach the gospel.

Tony is survived by his son, Nicholas “Nick” Concutelli of Raleigh, sister Laurine Concutelli Varner (Sam) of Asheboro.

Randy K. Hicks, Sr.

November 1, 1941 — November 30, 2022

Randall "Randy" Kivett Hicks, Sr., age 81, of Ramseur passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Moses Cone Hospital.

Mr. Hicks was born in Randolph County on November 1, 1941, to Eugene and Nellie Kivett Hicks. Randy attended Jordan-Matthews High School and was known as the top dancer in the school. Randy was a barber on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro for 63 years. He owned and operated Forum Barber Shop until 2008 and most recently was associated with Huffman's Barber Shop. In addition to his parents, Randy was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimbra Wrenn and brother, Dal Hicks. Randy loved his grandchildren and was constantly praying for them.

Patricia Ann Moore

November 12, 1948 — November 28, 2022

Patricia Ann Moore, 74, of Star, passed away on November 28, 2022 at First Health Hospice House.

Patricia was born on November 12, 1948 in Moore County, to James and Audrey Moore.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister Janice Phillips and brother JR Moore.

She is survived by her daughter Wendy DiPiazza (Johnny) of Jackson Springs and grandchildren Antonina and Gianni.

Kermit Cox

September 10, 1937 — November 28, 2022

James Kermit Cox, age 85, of Asheboro passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022 at his home.

Mr. Cox was born in Randolph County on September 10, 1937 to William Henry and Ava Florence Maness Cox. He was a graduate of Coleridge High School and retired from Eveready Battery. Kermit was a member of Fayetteville Street Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Kermit was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Cox Coble, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters. Kermit had a good sense of humor and was always willing to help others.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Faye Dean York Cox; daughters, Pam Henderson of Asheboro and Joy Hunt (Gary) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Daniel Henderson (Tiffany), Alex Pugh, Haley Henderson, Dylan King, Andrew Hunt, Avery Hunt, and Ava Hunt; and great grandchildren, Paige Luther, Mason Walls, Bradley Henderson, Natalee Henderson, Chandler Henderson, and Noah Pugh.

Lois Marie Davis

November 13, 1927 — November 28, 2022

Lois Marie Davis, 95, of Seagrove, passed away on November 28, 2022, at Alpine Health and Rehabilitation in Asheboro.

Lois was born in Montgomery County on November 13, 1927, to Earl and Fannie Brewer Davis.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Richard Alton Davis and daughter Diana Hopkins.

She is survived by her son Richard Farrell Davis of Asheboro; and daughter Janice Richardson. Four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Catherine Floyd Parsons

August 17, 1920 — December 4, 2022

Catherine Floyd Parsons, 102, of Candor, passed away on December 4, 2022, at Autumn Care.

Mrs. Parsons was born in Montgomery County on August 17, 1920, to Walter Claude and Josephine Wallace Floyd. Catherine operated her beauty shop for over 50 years and she enjoyed putting together puzzles as well as spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband D.S. Parsons, son Virgil Parsons, sisters Mitchell Phillips, Frances Sheffield, Virginia Cranford, Jane Wissel and brothers W.C. Floyd, Hoyt Floyd and Jack Floyd.

She is survived by her son, Tony Parsons of Candor; daughter in law, Penny Ledbetter Parsons of Candor; sister, Betty Maynard of Star; grandchildren, David Parsons (April) of Candor; Kellie Cody (Brian) of Richfield; great grandchildren, Katie Stephens (Hunter) of Candor; Tyler Cody, Carson Bruton, Ashley Cody, Emma Cody, and Nickolas Parsons; great great grandchildren Allie Beth, Andie Brooke, Averie Briggs.

Randy loved watching sports and Bubble Guppies with his family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois Johnson Hicks; sons, Randall K. Hicks, Jr. of Ramseur, Daniel Hicks (Amy) of Greenville, SC, and Samuel Hicks (Jamie) of Ramseur; grandchildren, Anna Elizabeth Wrenn, Rebecka Louise Wrenn, Randall Kivett Hicks III, James Daniel Hicks, Alyssa Katherine Winfield, Kaelynn Micaiah Hicks, BreAnna "Bre" Elizabeth Hicks, Abigail "Abby" Jolene Hicks, Samatha Ruth Hicks, Hannah Marie Hicks, Noah Daniel Hicks, Judah Quinn Hicks, Eleanor Rose Hicks, and Ezra Wesley Hicks; great grandchildren, Colton, Jackson, Weston, Mason, Mae Lee, and Mabry Hicks, and Brooklyn and Jayden Winfield.

Rebecca (Becky) Newsome, age 78 of Randleman, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday November 28, 2022 at the Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro. Ms. Newsome was born June 1, 1944 in Illinois. She was the daughter of Robert and Delores Batson. Becky worked for Klaussner for many years and retired from Michael Thomas Furniture in Liberty. Ms. Newsome enjoyed working in her yard, spending time with her family, and playing with her cat Rosco. She was a member of Full Gospel Bible Church of God in Franklinville.

Ms. Newsome is survived by her daughter, Linda Culler (Fiancé), Thomas Atkins, granddaughter Ashley Hausler (James), and Thomas’s son, Cody Atkins. Becky will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Orren David Poe Jr. March 17, 1947 — December 1, 2022

Patricia Irene Moore McMahon

Rebecca Ann Newsome

June 1, 1944 — November 28, 2022

STATE & NATION

Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider

The Associated Press

PALMDALE, Calif. — America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China.

The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified.

As evening fell over the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, the public got its first glimpse of the Raider in a tightly controlled ceremony. It started with a flyover of the three bombers still in service: the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit. Then the hangar doors slowly opened and the B-21 was towed partially out of the building.

“This isn’t just another airplane,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China’s rapid military modernization.

China is on track to have 1,500 nuclear weapons by 2035, and its

gains in hypersonics, cyber warfare and space capabilities present “the most consequential and systemic challenge to U.S. national security and the free and open international system,” the Pentagon said this week in its annual China report.

“We needed a new bomber for the 21st Century that would allow us to take on much more complicated threats, like the threats that we fear we would one day face from China, Russia, “ said Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secre-

tary when the Raider contract was announced in 2015.

While the Raider may resemble the B-2, once you get inside, the similarities stop, said Kathy Warden, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Corp., which is building the bomber.

“The way it operates internally is extremely advanced compared to the B-2, because the technology has evolved so much in terms of the computing capability that we can now embed in the software of the B-21,” Warden said.

Other changes include advanced materials used in coatings to make the bomber harder to detect, Austin said.

“Fifty years of advances in low-observable technology have gone into this aircraft,” Austin said. “Even the most sophisticated air defense systems will struggle to detect a B-21 in the sky.”

Other advances likely include new ways to control electronic emissions, so the bomber could spoof adversary radars and disguise itself as another object, and use of new propulsion technologies, several defense analysts said.

“It is incredibly low observability,” Warden said. “You’ll hear it, but you really won’t see it.”

Six Raiders are in production. The Air Force plans to build 100 that can deploy either nuclear weapons or conventional bombs and can be used with or without a human crew. Both the Air Force and Northrop also point to the Raider’s relatively quick development: The bomber went from contract award to debut in seven years. Other new fighter and ship programs have taken decades.

The cost of the bombers is unknown. The Air Force previously put the price at an average cost of $550 million each in 2010 dollars — roughly $753 million today — but it’s unclear how much is actually being spent. The total will depend on how many bombers the Pentagon buys.

“We will soon fly this aircraft, test it, and then move it into production. And we will build the bomber force in numbers suited to the strategic environment ahead,” Austin said.

The B-21 Raider, which takes its name from the 1942 Doolittle Raid

over Tokyo, will be slightly smaller than the B-2 to increase its range, Warden said. It won’t make its first flight until 2023. However, Warden said Northrop Grumman has used advanced computing to test the bomber’s performance using a digital twin, a virtual replica of the one unveiled Friday.

Northrop Grumman has also incorporated maintenance lessons learned from the B-2, Warden said.

In October 2001, B-2 pilots set a record when they flew 44 hours straight to drop the first bombs in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. The B-2 often does long round-trip missions because there are few hangars globally that can accommodate its wingspan, which limits where it can land for maintenance. The hangars also must be air-conditioned because the Spirit’s windows don’t open and hot climates can cook cockpit electronics.

The new Raider will also get new hangars to accommodate its size and complexity, Warden said.

However, with the Raider’s extended range, ‘it won’t need to be based in-theater,” Austin said. “It won’t need logistical support to hold any target at risk.”

A final noticeable difference was in the debut itself. While both went public in Palmdale, the B-2 was rolled outdoors in 1988 amid much public fanfare. Given advances in surveillance satellites and cameras, the Raider was just partially exposed, keeping its sensitive propulsion systems and sensors under the hangar and protected from overhead eyes.

“The magic of the platform,” Warden said, “is what you don’t see.”

Iowa caucuses lose place at head of the line in Democrats’ reshuffling

By Thomas Beaumont The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Hy-Vee Hall ballroom in Des Moines erupted in cheers in 2008 when the youthful Illinois senator hinted at the improbable possibility of the feat ahead: “Our time for change has come!”

That Iowa, an overwhelmingly white state, would propel Barack Obama’s rise to become America’s first black president seemed to ratify its first-in-the-nation position in the presidential nominating process.

But in the half-century arc of the state’s quirky caucuses, Obama’s victory proved to be an outlier. All other Democratic winners turned out to be also-rans.

The caucuses and their outsize importance were largely an exercise in myth-making, that candidates could earn a path to the White House by meeting voters in person where they live, and earnest, civic-minded Midwesterners would brave the winter cold to stand sometimes for hours to discuss issues and literally stand for their candidate.

As the caucuses have played out, the flaws have become glaring. First among them: The state’s Democrats botched the count in 2020, leaving an embarrassing muddle. But there were more.

Since 2008, the state’s political makeup has changed dramatically, from a reliable swing state to solidly Republican.

“We’ve been headed this way for a while,” said Joe Trippi, who

managed Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt’s winning Iowa campaign in 1988, adding “2020 broke the camel’s back.”

The Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm voted to remove Iowa as the leadoff state in the presidential nominating order and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President Joe Biden.

The caucuses were once a novel effort to expand local participation in national party deci-

sion-making, but this vestige of 19th century Midwestern civic engagement has simply been unable to keep pace with the demands of 21st century national politics.

“The times have changed and maybe it’s time for this nominating process to change,” said Emily Parcell, Obama’s 2008 Iowa political director.

To much of the nation, the caucuses were a quadrennial curiosity, seen in TV shots framed by snowy cornfields, with a reminder

piece the summer before featuring candidates awkwardly sampling the Iowa State Fair’s menu of fried food or gazing at a lifesized cow carved from butter.

The seeds of the myth were etched into the national narrative in the 1970s by a cadre of political writers, mostly from Washington, who tracked Indiana’s Birch Bayh, Arizona’s Mo Udall, Idaho’s Frank Church and an obscure governor from Georgia, Jimmy Carter, to cafes, VFW halls and living rooms.

Their stories offered a sheen of quaint civic responsibility, citizens meeting candidates, often several times, and a willingness to brave a bone-chilling winter night for them.

The caucuses are not elections, but rather party-run events, conducted by local Democratic officials and volunteers, a concept that has long bedeviled outsiders.

Like Iowa’s Republican Party caucuses, which remain first in the GOP’s 2024 presidential sequence, the Democratic caucuses are open only to voters who note the party affiliation on their voter registration.

Iowa first moved its caucuses from spring to winter before the 1972 campaign, and added a presidential vote to the agenda to invite more participation during an era of unrest.

“There was a kind of romanticism of neighbors gathering to make this important decision. There was something wholesome about that,” said Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who

was senior adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign.

“They took on sort of mythic importance and, over time, they became somewhat of an industry,” said Axelrod, who also advised the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon’s 1988 campaign and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ in 2004. “Some of that wholesomeness wore off.”

Likewise, the campaigns evolved from tests of more provincial interests to national trial runs.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt won the 1988 Iowa caucuses on a local economic populist message aimed at addressing the financial crisis gripping Iowa farmers.

With each cycle, the Democrats’ criticism of Iowa as non-representative of the party increased, coming to a calamitous head on caucus night in February 2020.

A smartphone app designed to calculate and report results failed, prompting a telephone backlog that prevented the party from reporting final results for nearly a week after the Feb. 3 contest.

The Associated Press was unable to declare a winner after irregularities and inconsistencies marred the results. Top finishers Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were denied the full measure of momentum ahead of New Hampshire eight days later.

“I think we all look back and recognize that was the death knell,” said John Norris, who managed Kerry’s 2004 Iowa campaign and the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s in 1988.

AP PHOTO

The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Precinct 68 Iowa Caucus voters seated in the Biden section hold up their first votes of the caucus as they are counted at the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

Precincts

Precinct 2

Tony Hunt 209 21.09%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 184 18.57%

Johnny Boyles 164 16.55%

David Frump 152 15.34%

Harry Southerland 145 14.63%

Christopher Holland 137 13.82%

Precinct 4

Choice Total Votes Percent

David Frump 190 24.48%

Johnny Boyles 179 23.07%

Christopher Holland 165 21.26%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 82 10.57%

Tony Hunt 81 10.44%

Harry Southerland 79 10.18%

Precinct 5

Choice Total Votes Percent

David Frump 227 23.60%

Johnny Boyles 227 23.60%

Christopher Holland 212 22.04%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 103 10.71%

Tony Hunt 102 10.60%

Harry Southerland 91 9.46%

Precinct 6b

Choice Total Votes Percent

David Frump 327 19.88%

Christopher Holland 315 19.15%

Johnny Boyles 309 18.78% Allen Thomas, Jr. 250 15.20%

Harry Southerland 227 13.80%

Tony Hunt 217 13.19%

Precinct 12

Choice

David Frump 415 23.67%

Christopher Holland 391 22.30%

Johnny Boyles 388 22.13%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 205 11.69%

Tony Hunt 179 10.21%

Harry Southerland 175 9.98%

Precinct 13

Choice Total Votes Percent

Johnny Boyles 201 25.97%

David Frump 194 25.06%

Christopher Holland 187 24.16%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 71 9.17%

Tony Hunt 66 8.53%

Harry Southerland 55 7.11%

Precinct 14

Allen Thomas, Jr. 379 21.46%

Harry Southerland 332 18.80%

Tony Hunt 320 18.12%

David Frump 248 14.04% Christopher Holland 248 14.04% Johnny Boyles 239 13.53%

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Billy Jacobs receives the Mitch Tyler award from the HNASA

Bill Jacobs, a Lumbee Tribal employee, was recently awarded the Mitch Tyler ward from the Hoke County Native American Scholarship Association (HNASA). The award is named after Hoke County’s first Native American school superintendent. Jacobs was chosen due to his dedication and support to the Native American students throughout his 27year career with the Hoke County School System. He recently retired as the Hoke County School Indian Education Director. The award was presented to Jacobs by Kirk Lowery, Chairman of the HNASA.

Man hospitalized following a daytime shooting on Doc Brown Road

A Hoke County man was taken to the hospital over the weekend following a shooting that took place just northeast of Raeford. According to the police report, detectives from the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office responded to First Health Hoke around noon on Sunday after receiving word of a shooting victim. The victim was shot while he was walking on the 300 block of Doc Brown Road, which is located just outside of Raeford. The gunshot victim was treated for his injuries and is not facing any life-threatening injuries. At this time, the investigation is still ongoing. If you or anyone else has any additional information regarding this shooting, please contact Detective Arbos at (910) 875-5111.

Allen Thomas, Jr. 209 20.78% Tony Hunt 173 17.20% Harry Southerland 166 16.50% David Frump 160 15.90% Christopher Holland 152 15.11% Johnny Boyles 146 14.51%

Johnny Boyles 98 21.17% David Frump 95 20.52% Christopher Holland 86 18.57% Allen Thomas, Jr. 66 14.25% Harry Southerland 61 13.17% Tony Hunt 57 12.31%

Allen Thomas, Jr. 194 21.34% Harry Southerland 173 19.03% Tony Hunt 146 16.06% Johnny Boyles 137 15.07% David Frump 130 14.30% Christopher Holland 129 14.19%

David Frump 223 20.59% Christopher Holland 212 19.58% Johnny Boyles 207 19.11% Allen Thomas, Jr. 168 15.51% Harry Southerland 142 13.11% Tony Hunt 131 12.10%

Harry Southerland 75 36.76% Allen Thomas, Jr. 65 31.86% Tony Hunt 60 29.41% Christopher Holland 2 0.98% David Frump 1 0.49% Johnny Boyles 1 0.49%

State Board of Elections certifies 2022 results; new Hoke commissioners sworn in

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s State Board of Elections certified the results of the November general election on Tuesday after an extensive canvassing process designed to ensure the votes have been tabulated correctly.

The five-member panel tasked with overseeing statewide electoral operations authenticated the count for every ballot item in national, state and local contests, making the results official.

Among those were the election of Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd to the U.S. Senate and the state’s 14 U.S. House races, which resulted in a 7-7 partisan split.

Just over 3.79 million people, or a little more than 51% of the state’s 7.41 million registered voters, cast ballots, according to state board data. Turnout for the last midterm election, in 2018, was 53%.

In the weeks following the Nov. 8 vote, each of the 100 county election boards canvassed their

results to confirm all eligible ballots were counted, including provisional and absentee ballots. Bipartisan teams at each board also performed hand recounts of ballots from randomly selected groups.

Three subsequent state audits assessed voter history data, tabulator accuracy and provisional voter eligibility. The state board compared the number of authorized voters and absentee ballot applications with the number of ballots cast to identify any instances of fraud, such as ballot stuffing.

The comparison, along with equipment checks at more than 180 polling locations, substantiated the accuracy of the count, said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state board.

“These audit results — and the results of similar audits conducted after every election — show that our certified voting machines count ballots accurately and can be trusted,” she said in a recent

Allen Thomas

statement.

More than 187,600 voters cast absentee-by-mail ballots this year, nearly double the number from 2018.

Republican board member Tommy Tucker cited that figure Tuesday in rekindling his argument that the board should reconsider its prohibition on county elections officials scrutinizing signatures on absentee voting documents to account for the sharp in-

Moore Co. suffers stunning attack on power grid

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

PINEHURST — On Saturday, Dec. 3, Moore County suffered an attack on two substations that left over 40,000 residents and businesses in the dark.

Just after 7 p.m., several different communities across Moore County began experiencing power outages. As utility companies began responding to the different substations, evidence was discovered that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at multiple sites.

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said at a Sunday news conference in Carthage that authorities have not determined a motivation. The sheriff said it appeared the culprits pulled up and “opened fire on the substation, the same thing with the other one.”

“No group has stepped up to acknowledge or accept that they’re the ones that done it,” Fields said.

“We’re looking at all avenues.”

The sheriff noted that the FBI was working with state investigators to determine who was responsible. “It was targeted. It wasn’t random,” Fields added. State leaders weighed in on the attack.

“An attack like this on critical infrastructure is a serious, intentional crime, and I expect state and federal authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice,” Gov. Roy Cooper wrote on Twitter Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, who moved to Southern Pines earlier this year, said, “Last night, unknown individuals vandalized at least two substations in Moore County with criminal intent. Motive for this crime remains unknown. Many Moore County residents remain without power. I want to thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and all local law enforcement, as well as the SBI and FBI, for their quick action to respond

to the incident. I have also been in contact with Duke Energy and know they are working on all options to restore power as quickly as possible.”

In the aftermath, Moore County citizens have banded together to get through the cold temperatures in the Sandhills.

The Southern Pines Police Department at 450 W. Pennsylvania Ave. has opened its C. Michael Haney Community Room to the public for charging electronic devices. Numerous churches have provided meals, showers, and charging stations.

A shelter opened at the Moore County Sports Complex located at 155 Hillcrest Park Ln. In Carthage.

Both Duke Energy and Randolph Electric Membership Cooperative have crews working around the clock to replace equipment and route power to their customers.

REMC said its crews continue to work and has brought in additional contractor crews to complete the construction work. Early Tuesday, the cooperative completed the construction of the Seven Lakes tie-in and were able to de -

crease in absentee ballot use.

The board’s Democratic majority, which in July rejected a Republican motion to allow signature comparisons between absentee voting documents and voter registration records, maintained its stance that the proposal would create unequal voting access across the state.

In Hoke County, the five-person county commission held its first meeting on Monday with the winners of the Nov. 8 contest.

Democrats Allen Thomas, Harry Sutherland and Tony Hunt were sworn in for their terms. Thomas, the leading vote-getter, was reappointed the board’s chairman.

“I want to thank the board for believing in me. Each of us brings a unique perspective to this board. I strive to ensure that every voice is heard and valued. We are stronger together,” Thomas said at the meeting.

North State Journal staff contributed to this report.

The Associated Press

“I want to thank the board for believing in me. Each of us brings a unique perspective to this board. I strive to ensure that every voice is heard and valued. We are stronger together.”

5 plants that say ‘holiday season,’ and how to care for them

The Associated Press HOLIDAY HORTICULTURE tends to revolve around the same handful of plants. So if you don’t already have any or all of these five holiday plants, now is the time to get them:

Paperwhites

The bulbs of these daffodil family members are pre-chilled so they can be planted now and produce flowers in a month to six weeks. If you find them for sale, by all means buy as many as you can. The only caveat is that some family members may object to the unbelievably sweet smell of their blooms.

While you can grow these bulbs by siting their bases in just a bit of water, it is best to plant them in a shallow container of soil. They don’t need much water and will perform well if given the best light you have. If yours sprouts, you are guaranteed flowers, at least the first year. People usually toss them

when they are finished, as they’re unlikely to flower again.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias, of course, are for sale in all manner of venues this time of year. Many of us buy them, keep them for the next few weeks and then toss them. The trick is to keep them alive for the holiday season.

This requires first bringing the plant home with a minimum exposure to cold air. If you live in a cold climate, consider warming the car before transporting them. Once home, the plants should not be exposed to drafts from doorways or windows. Place them where daytime temperatures are between 65 and 75 Fahrenheit, and with 60 as an ideal night temp.

Soak the entire pot whenever the surface turns dry. Let them drain, and keep checking the soil surface for the next dunking.

Poinsettias should never sit in water, so if you want to keep the decorative foil that accompanies

many of them, poke a hole in it to let water out.

Christmas trees

These, too, are their own gardening activity. Make sure your tree is kept in plenty of water and pay the strictest attention to safety rules if you use lights. After Christmas, look for a place that will chip up and recycle your tree, or place it in a back corner of your yard as cover for birds.

Amaryllis

These are the easiest and showiest bulbs you can buy, and they produce the largest flowers you are ever likely to grow. They are usually sold together with pot and soil, and all you need to do is ensure yours is planted so that 1/3 of the top of the bulb is above the soil line.

Keep the plant growing right through summer. Then put yours into a cool, dark location so it goes dormant, to be brought out again

next holiday season for flowering.

Christmas cactus

Christmas cactuses, Schlumbergeras, are another great plant that blooms during the mid-winter holidays. They will live for dozens of holiday seasons (some are passed on from one generation to the next) and bloom each year if exposed to shortening days. Rooting cuttings is easy using just a leaf, so it is not uncommon for a clone of the same plant to be in more than one family member’s home.

Christmas cactuses do best in bright light. When it is in bloom, a Christmas cactus should only be watered when the soil is dry. Too much water and the flowers will drop off, so this is one of those times when too dry is better than too wet.

The rest of the year, water by soaking the pot when the surface soil dries out. Next fall, give yours natural light and keep cool, up against a window, and they will bloom again.

liver power to the local substation to deliver some level of power to all of its residential members in the affected area.

“I want to commend the REMC team on their ingenuity and hard work to restore some level of power to our members,” stated Dale

Lambert, CEO of REMC. “I also want to thank the N.C. Department of Transportation for closing a road, allowing us to work much faster on Monday to construct this tie line.”

The cooperative says its immediate goal is to continue to provide power to members in Moore County in rotating two to three-

hour intervals, and continuous, uninterrupted power will occur only once Duke Energy has fully repaired their transmission lines.

Jeff Brooks, a spokesman for Duke Energy, said multiple pieces of equipment were damaged and will have to be replaced.

“We are looking at a pretty sophisticated repair with some fair-

Jones, Laurie Ann (I/F/41), Larceny from Construction Site, 12/03/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

Gillespie, Brian Marcus (B/M/30), Assault - Point Gun, 12/01/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

Holder, Jeremy Justin (W/M/37), Possess Drug Paraphernalia, 12/01/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office ♦

Parsons, Brian (W/M/46), Resisting Arrest, 12/01/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

ly large equipment, and so we do want citizens of the town to be prepared that this will be a multiday restoration for most customers, extending potentially as long as Thursday,” Brooks said. Anyone with any information regarding the attack is asked to contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at 910-947-2931.

♦ Johnson, Eric (W/M/38), Identity Fraud, 11/30/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

Black, Jeffrey Smith (W/M/52), Ethnic Intimidation, 11/30/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office ♦ Turney, Ken Sullivan (W/M/45), B&E Paper Currency Machines, 11/29/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

♦ Locklear, Nancy Faye, Children Required to Attend School, 11/28/2022, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

If Holocaust deniers don’t go to Hell, there is no God

IT IS A CENTRAL TENET of moral theology that there are gradations of sin. To argue that God views stealing a towel from a hotel and raping a child as moral equivalents renders God a moral fool. And doing that to God is a sin. If we mortals perceive the universe of difference between such actions, it goes without question that God does, too. The idea that we have greater moral clarity than God is logically and theologically untenable.

In the pantheon of evils, among the worst is Holocaust denial.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Given the murder of 6 million Jews and the unspeakable amount of suffering they and Jewish survivors underwent at the hands of the Nazis, it takes a particularly vile individual to say this never happened. Think of how we would regard anyone who denied thousands of Americans were murdered on 9/11.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with Gens. George Patton and Omar Bradley, visited Ohrdruf, a Nazi concentration camp, on April 12, 1945, a week after it was liberated.

Eisenhower then cabled to Gen. George Marshall:

“The things I saw beggar description... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me a bit sick. In one room, where they were piled up twenty or thirty naked men, killed by starvation, George Patton would not even enter. He said that he would get sick if he did so. I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to ‘propaganda.’”

A week later Eisenhower again cabled Marshall, asking that members of Congress and journalists be brought to the newly liberated camps so that they could tell Americans the truth about German Nazi atrocities.

Patton wrote in his diary:

“When we began to approach with our troops, the Germans thought it expedient to remove the evidence of their crime. Therefore, they had some of the slaves exhume the bodies and place them on a mammoth griddle composed of 60-centimeter railway tracks laid on brick foundations. They poured pitch on the bodies and then built a fire of pinewood and coal under them. They were not very successful in their operations because there was a pile of human bones, skulls, charred torsos on or under the griddle which must have accounted for many hundreds.”

To his great credit, Eisenhower understood that what the Nazis had done to the Jews (and many others, but overwhelmingly to Jews) would be difficult for humanity to comprehend and therefore needed to be documented in writing and in photographs. And, it is important to note, Eisenhower saw only a small concentration camp, not one of the enormous death camps.

Beginning in about 1941, the Nazi regime dedicated itself to murdering every Jew -- man, woman, child and baby -- in countries

it occupied. Eventually, more than six of every 10 Jews in Europe were murdered.

Nazi mobile killing units murdered more than a million Jews, usually family by family, in front of open ditches the Jews were forced to dig. Most died upon being shot; the even less fortunate ended up being buried alive. All witnessed the murder of their loved ones.

Most of the other murdered Jews were shipped in cattle cars to concentration and death camps where they were worked to death, starved to death, tortured to death and most often gassed to death in gas chambers.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Yet, some people, including an American named Nick Fuentes, aggressively deny the Holocaust, asserting that a few hundred thousand Jews, not millions, were killed.

It is important to understand why this is evil.

First, it is a Big Lie. Big Lies inevitably lead to violence and can even destroy civilizations.

If the Holocaust never happened, why would Germany maintain that it did?

Second, Holocaust denial is not only a Big Lie; it is pure Jewhatred, i.e., antisemitism. The proof that it emanates from antisemitism is that no other 20th-century genocide is denied (with the exception of the Turkish government’s denial of the Turks’ mass murder of Armenians during World War I). No one denies Stalin’s mass murder of tens of millions of Soviet citizens in the Gulag Archipelago or his deliberate starvation of about five million Ukrainians (the Holodomor); or the Cambodian communists’ murder of about one in every four Cambodians; or Mao’s killing of about 60 million Chinese. The only genocide-denial is the genocide of the Jews.

Third, the denial of this Nazi evil is a slap in the face of all the Americans who died fighting the Nazis. As Eisenhower said on seeing the Nazi atrocities, “We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against.” If the Holocaust is a fabrication, Americans died fighting against nothing particularly evil.

As a college student, I dated a woman whose parents were Holocaust survivors. She told me on a number of occasions how often she would hear her father scream in the middle of the night as he dreamed about watching his family be murdered. Unable to live with these memories, one night, her father hanged himself.

That man is one of millions of reasons Fuentes -- and those who ally themselves with him — will go to hell. If there is a just God.

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

Qatar is the ally we need to counter Putin’s growing influence

RUSSIA’S REPREHENSIBLE invasion of Ukraine has made one thing clear: The global order is changing. An axis of repressive, authoritarian world powers — all with ties to Vladimir Putin — is growing bolder and more confident, and wants to see America’s influence decline.

It’s more important than ever for the United States and all libertyminded Western nations to have dependable, moderate allies to counter Putin and his cronies. As policymakers look abroad to cultivate relationships, they shouldn’t overlook Qatar, a rising star on the world stage.

Qatar is the secondhighest exporter of liquified natural gas.

While some folks might have trouble locating Qatar on a map, millions of eyes are turning to the Arab nation. Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, having beat out the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Korea for the bid.

Hosting the World Cup will put the modern capital city of Doha in the limelight and further Qatar’s use of “sports diplomacy” to enhance cooperation, respect and tolerance among all nations.

And there’s certainly good reason to pay attention to Qatar. Although smaller than Connecticut, it has the fourth-highest gross domestic product per capita in the world, and is the second-highest exporter of liquified natural gas. It is also home to thriving financial and tourism sectors, as well as the highly influential Al Jazeera media group.

Qatar has long cooperated with the United States and NATO in maintaining security in the Persian Gulf. When the West conducts air operations against Islamic State terrorists, Qatar has often provided space for staging zones.

After the United States withdrew from Afghanistan last year, Qatar helped to evacuate more than 40,000 civilians as the Taliban swiftly took over the country. The Biden administration recently

designated it a major non-NATO ally.

Qatar played a pivotal role in supporting pro-democracy movements with financial and military resources during the Arab Spring. The country has backed youth, liberal, and conservative change movements working to implement democratic governance and advance liberty and justice.

Qatar has also proven itself able and willing to oppose Putin and his proxies. While Putin aided the reign of terror of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad during the Syrian civil war, it was Qatar that supported the rebels who opposed him.

Even more important than Qatar’s aid is its position as a top petroleum exporter. In a world where controlling the global supply of energy is of increasing strategic importance, Qatar may very well be able to deprive Putin of one of his greatest advantages over the West.

Washington may not agree with Doha on all issues, particularly its history of providing financial support to extremist groups. If such support still exists, Qatar should certainly rethink it. But that possibility should not stop the United States from courting Qatar as a friend and ally. The nation can play a vital role in countering Putin and his gang of illiberal authoritarians. That includes Syria’s murderous dictator, Assad, who has long oppressed the people of my homeland.

Now is the time to build lasting ties with moderate nations. It’s time for the United States and its Western allies to strengthen ties with Qatar.

Dr. Tarek Kteleh is a practicing medical doctor and president of Rheumatology of Central Indiana. He is the author of The Six Pillars of Advocacy: Embrace Your Cause and Transform Lives. This piece originally ran in Issues & Insights.

COLUMN | DR. TAREK KTELEH

SIDELINE REPORT

NASCAR

Ty Gibbs declines to discuss sudden death of his father Nashville, Tenn.

Ty Gibbs on Thursday declined to discuss the death of his father, which occurred just hours after the NASCAR driver won the Xfinity Series championship last month. Gibbs was asked about his grandfather, Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, telling employees at Joe Gibbs Racing they all had to move forward even as they mourn. Coy Gibbs died in his sleep at the age of 49 hours after his 20-year-old son won the Xfinity Series title on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway.

Ty Gibbs said for now he’s just going to stick with racing questions while in Nashville for the NASCAR Awards.

NFL Watson returns from ban, declines to express remorse

Houston Deshaun Watson, playing in his first game in 700 days, showed plenty of rust in his debut with Cleveland but the Browns didn’t need him to do much in a 27-14 victory over the Texans on Sunday. He declined to express remorse for behavior that earned him an 11-game suspension and, playing in Houston where he spent his first four pro seasons before missing all of last season and much of this one, was jeered before each snap ifor much of the afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SEC halftime contest booed, both students awarded $100K Atlanta

Two college students have won $100,000 in tuition after a confusing finish in the SEC championship game’s halftime competition. Boos rained down from the fans in attendance when one of the two students appeared to win the Dr Pepper ball toss competition in overtime on a technicality. The winner was due to get $100,000 and the runner-up $20,000. Baylor student Reagan Whitaker and St. Augustine student Kayla Gibson exchanged leads multiple times in regulation and tied again in overtime, but Whitaker was declared the winner. It was announced on the broadcast in the fourth quarter of the game that Dr Pepper would gift both Whitaker and Gibson with $100,000 in tuition.

Logano celebrates 2nd NASCAR Cup title, already wanting 3rd

titles

By Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Joey Logano has a simple target for the future even as he celebrates his 2022 NASCAR Cup championship.

Add yet another.

Logano this season joined Kyle Busch as the only active NASCAR drivers with multiple Cup series titles, adding to the first Cup championship he won in 2018. Being the only active driver with three Cup titles would be even sweeter.

“That’s where my head is at right is, ‘Let’s go get another one,’” Logano said Thursday before he was feted at NASCAR’s annual awards ceremony.

“It is something special though for sure. Winning championships is hard in professional sports, right? This is so hard to come by and so hard to do, and everything has to come together at the right time,” he continued. “It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Logano, at 32, was already

the oldest of the four drivers in the championship finale. Credit — or blame — the new Next Gen car for evening out competition to where the Cup Series had 19 different winners, with five first-timers and two drivers making their first appearance in the championship race.

Logano won his second Cup

championship by finishing first in a winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway, giving Team Penske both the Cup and IndyCar titles in the same season for the first time in 31 tries.

Roger Penske, owner of Logano’s No. 22 Ford, knows how hungry Logano is to win a third title.

He’s part of a roster that includes

Logano

Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric, who both made the playoffs, and Harrison Burton in an affiliate Wood Brothers Racing car.

“We’ve got the same team, so we should,” Penske said. “We should be able to compete now. A lot of great talent out there today. New talent, young talent. Teams and the cars brought us closer together. But I think we’re someone you’re going to have to beat in ’23.”

Logano said he loves picking up tips and ideas on how other people at the top of their sports work to stay there because he’s learned that nobody, even in the same sport, sees or approaches things the same way.

“So it’s good to learn all that for sure,” Logano said.

Logano also knows he’s among one of NASCAR’s older current drivers and wants to embrace being more of a leader and help grow the sport. He’s still young enough to relate to all the young drivers coming into NASCAR, yet old enough to remember what it was like over a decade ago.

“I feel like that’s a huge responsibility for all of us as an industry to care about the next generation of our sport,” Logano said.

CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta

FOR THIS COLLEGE football season, the BCS probably would have been fine.

Two days after the College Football Playoff announced it is expanding to 12 teams, the field of four to determine this season’s national champion included two schools that did not even win their conferences.

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were selected Sunday for the playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple programs in the four-team field for the first time.

The top-ranked and reigning champion Bulldogs (13-0) and fourth-seeded Buckeyes (11-1) will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Ohio State got a reprieve, moving back into the top four after losing to Big Ten rival Michigan just a week ago.

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The second-seeded Wolverines (13-0) and third-ranked Horned Frogs (12-1) will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, in the first game of the New Year’s Eve doubleheader.

The Horned Frogs were third

coming into the weekend but had to sweat out their spot Saturday night after losing the Big 12 title game to Kansas State in overtime.

“I was really nervous,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said about watching ESPN’s slow rollout of the pairings Sunday afternoon.

The Frogs had nothing to fear. They had already built enough equity to stay in the top four, and they erupted with cheers of relief at their watch party in Fort Worth, Texas, when it became official.

Georgia, which won the South-

“I can’t actually remember which team got pulled in for the third,

but as we went into it, we wanted to make sure we got those first two set and then we moved forward,” said Corrigan.

The national championship game is Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could be a rematch of rivals Ohio State and Michigan in what will soon be Big Ten country as the conference expands with UCLA and USC.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines have never played outside of their annual regular season game in a bitter rivalry that dates to 1902.

Dr. Tony Santangelo, DC, named NC Chiropractic Association Chiropractor of the Year, based on community service & the profression

The Team Penske driver joined Kyle Busch as the only active drivers with multiple Cup Series

Alabama was on the outside looking in and will face Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl

The Associated Press

eastern Conference championship game in a rout, is a 6½-point favorite against Ohio State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Michigan, which took the Big Ten title, is favored by 9½ points over TCU.

CFP selection committee chairman and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said the 13-member panel went through its usual process of grouping teams in threes to compare them for the final rankings, but not for long.

AP PHOTO

AP PHOTO

NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano speaks during the NASCAR Awards last Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

“It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Joey

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell holds the Big Ten trophy as he celebrates with teammates after defeating Purdue on Sunday. The Wolverines will face TCU in the College Football Playoff seminfinals on Dec. 31.

Colorado hires Deion Sanders as next football coach

BOULDER, Colo. — Deion

Sanders is taking over as head coach at Colorado, bringing his charisma and larger-than-life persona to a beleaguered Pac-12 program that’s plunged to the bottom of college football.

The deal was announced Saturday night by CU athletic director Rick George.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been at Jackson State, a historically black college that plays in the NCAA’s second tier of Division I, since 2020. Sanders has guided the Tigers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.

The Tigers beat Southern in the SWAC championship game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi, and a few hours later Colorado announced he was coming to Boulder.

Sanders told his team after the game he had accepted another job but intended to coach Jackson State (12-0) in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 in Atlanta against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion North Carolina Central.

“In coaching you either get elevated or you get terminated,”

Sanders told his team. “There ain’t no graveyard for coaches where they die at the place. They either going to run you off or you going to walk off.”

Sanders talked about the dearth of black head coaches at the highest levels of college football and trying to be a catalyst for change.

“It’s not about a bag,” Sanders said. “It’s about an opportunity.”

The Tigers went 27-5 in the Sanders era and he was named SWAC coach of the year the last two seasons.

Known as “Prime Time” during his high-stepping, play-making NFL career, the 55-year-old Sand-

ers prefers “Coach Prime” these days. Colorado will prove a challenge for the magnetic Sanders, who inherits a program coming off a 1-11 season. But he brings instant name recognition and a track record of being able to recruit top-level talent.

“There were a number of high-

ly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders,” George said in a statement. “Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character.”

The Buffaloes have turned in just one full-length winning season since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. They dismissed Karl Dorrell in October and interim coach Mike Sanford finished out the season that culminated with a 6321 blowout loss to No. 12 Utah at home.

Sanders figures to bring a few players along with him — possibly even his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a 6-foot-2 sophomore at Jackson State who’s thrown 36 TD passes this season and just six interceptions.

Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson said in a statement Sanders “challenged norms and transformed mindsets of what was perceived to be possible to create new visions for success while inspiring the community and creating a spotlight on the HBCU sports and culture.”

McGriff elected to Hall; Bonds, Clemens left out of again

Griff the biggest honor of his impressive big league career.

SAN DIEGO — Moments after Fred McGriff was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, almost two decades after his final game, he got the question.

Asked if Barry Bonds belonged in Cooperstown, a smiling McGriff responded: “Honestly, right now, I’m going to just enjoy this evening.”

A Hall of Fame committee delivered its answer Sunday, passing over Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling while handing Mc-

The lanky first baseman, nicknamed the “Crime Dog,” hit .284 with 493 homers and 1,550 RBIs over 19 seasons with six major league teams. The five-time AllStar helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Series.

McGriff got 169 votes (39.8%) in his final year on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot in 2019. Now, he will be inducted into Cooperstown on July 23, along with anyone chosen in the writers’ vote, announced Jan. 24.

“It’s all good. It’s been well worth the wait,” said McGriff, who played his last big league game in 2004.

It was the first time that Bonds, Clemens and Schilling had faced

a Hall committee since their 10th and final appearances on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. Bonds and Clemens have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, and support for Schilling dropped after he made hateful remarks toward Muslims, transgender people, reporters and others.

While the 59-year-old McGriff received unanimous support from the 16 members of the contemporary baseball era committee — comprised of Hall members, executives and writers — Schilling got seven votes, and Bonds and Clemens each received fewer than four.

The makeup of the committee likely will change over the years, but the vote was another indica-

tion that Bonds and Clemens might never make it to the Hall.

This year’s contemporary era panel included Greg Maddux, who played with McGriff on the Braves, along with Paul Beeston, who was an executive with Toronto when McGriff made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 1986.

Another ex-Brave, Chipper Jones, was expected to be part of the committee, but he tested positive for COVID-19 and was replaced by Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall.

The contemporary era committee considers candidates whose careers were primarily from 1980 on. A player needs 75% to be elected.

“It’s tough deciding on who to vote for and who not to vote for and

so forth,” McGriff said. “So it’s a great honor to be unanimously voted in.”

Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Belle, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy rounded out the eight-man ballot. Mattingly was next closest to election, with eight votes of 12 required. Murphy had six.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling fell short in January in their final chances with the BBWAA. Bonds received 260 of 394 votes (66%), Clemens 257 (65.2%) and Schilling 231 (58.6%).

Palmeiro was dropped from the BBWAA ballot after receiving 25 votes (4.4%) in his fourth appearance in 2014, falling below the 5% minimum needed to stay on. His high was 72 votes (12.6%) in 2012.

The Associated Press

The “Crime Dog” won a World Series with the Braves in 1995

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Deion Sanders holds up a jersey before speaking after being introduced as the new football coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Braves slugger Fred McGriff hits a two-run home run during the 1993 playoffs. McGriff was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

AP PHOTO

DOJ appointee eyes 1-year window for Jackson water upgrades

By Michael Goldberg The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. — The manager appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee reforms to the beleaguered water system in Mississippi’s capital city said he hopes to wrap up work in one year or less.

Ted Henifin outlined his intended time frame during a news conference Monday, echoing the Justice Department’s order appointing him as interim manager of the Jackson water system. The order sets 12 months for Henifin to implement 13 projects for improving the system’s near-term stability.

Henifin’s work begins after the Justice Department won a federal judge’s approval last week to carry out a rare intervention to fix Jackson’s water system, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle.

For days last August, people waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets in Jackson, a majority-black city of about 150,000. The partial failure of the water system followed torrential rains and flooding of the Pearl River, which exacerbated problems at one of the city’s two treatment plants.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who appeared alongside Henifin at the news conference, added that he saw the city’s work with the federal government to improve the water system as an effort that would take longer than one year.

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has

looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility,” Lumumba said. “We anticipate a working relationship with the federal government that is beyond one year.”

Henifin’s work is meant to be an interim step while the federal government, the city of Jackson and the Mississippi State Department of Health negotiate a court-enforced consent decree to mandate upgrades to the water system.

The negotiations stem from a

complaint the Justice Department filed on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against Jackson, alleging that the city has failed to provide drinking water that is reliably compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act. That litigation will be put on hold for six months.

The work Henifin will oversee includes a winterization project to make the water system less vulnerable and a plan to increase staffing at the city’s treatment plants, which have suffered from a dearth of skilled workers.

Henifin first arrived in Jackson on Sept. 14 at the request of the US Water Alliance, a Washington-based nonprofit that works on sustainability and water management. He stayed for over two weeks and returned again in October and November to learn more about the water system and the city.

Henifin spent 15 years as general manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District in Virginia before retiring in February. He will be paid $400,000 including travel and living expenses to run Jack-

Tennessee roads plan mulls toll lanes, electric car fee hike

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is considering allowing express toll lanes on highways and tripling a fee for electric car owners as he targets his first big push after winning reelection — paying for tens of billions of dollars in roadway projects.

The Republican is adamant about what he won’t do: Raise the gas tax; add fully tolled roads; or issue debt in lieu of the state’s payas-you-go road funding method.

Lee says the timing is crucial to pivot quickly to roads. With Tennessee’s rapid growth and truck traffic, state transportation officials say $26 billion in projects are needed to address worsening congestion, and only $3.6 billion of it is planned under a big swipe at roads by Lee’s predecessor. Officials also say projects are taking so long — 15 years on average — that they are coming in 40% over budget.

Like other states, Tennessee’s current road funding through gas taxes looks less reliable as more people switch to fuel-efficient and electric cars. Tennessee is also becoming a electric vehicle production hub, highlighted by a massive upcoming Ford electric vehicle project with a partner company’s battery factory.

Lee will need Republican lawmakers on board for much of what he wants. That includes opening

up the possibility for private companies to bid to build new express lanes on highways and impose tolls for profit. Lawmakers would also need to approve raising the annual fee on owning an electric vehicle from $100 to $300.

Transportation commissioner Butch Eley has stated that any express toll lanes would be newly built, and would not turn existing carpool lanes into paid ones.

Across the country, five states have express toll lanes, 10 states have carpool lanes that let others join at a price, and some have both, according to a February 2021 report by the Federal Highway Administration.

The state could control driver eligibility and the pricing policy, which can fall or rise based on current congestion, while charging only those who want the

quicker ride. A private company would design, build, finance, operate and maintain the lanes.

“There’s nothing, I think, more fair than people paying for what they use,” Eley told reporters Thursday.

The $300 electric vehicle fee could be the country’s most expensive. As of July, 31 states have a similar yearly fee, ranging from $50 in Colorado to $225 in Washington, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eley says the increase better reflects what electric car drivers would be paying in federal and state gas taxes.

Lee, however, said officials may or may not settle on $300.

“We want to make sure there’s a fair fee for everyone,” Lee told reporters. “We’ll figure out what that number is and move forward.”

Vehicle taxes are a mixed bag state by state. Some have property taxes and annual inspection fees, for example. Tennessee phased out its last required vehicle testing and doesn’t charge property taxes on personal cars.

Lee’s sweeping roads push, which also calls for pay increases for transportation workers and other expansions to public-private partnerships, comes after former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam struck a deal during a drag-out fight over his 2017 plan. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act increased Tennessee’s gas tax from $0.20 to

son’s water system. The city of Jackson will not pay for Henifin’s work, a condition Henifin said he demanded of the Justice Department before accepting the interim manager position.

“DOJ wanted to argue that it is sort of (Jackson) taxpayer’s fault,” Henifin said. “C’mon now. Yeah, everyone pays it, the U.S. tax(payers, the treasury, but it’s not coming out of the city of Jackson’s revenue.”

Lumumba and Henifin will host a town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss the city’s agreement with the Justice Department and EPA over plans to fix the water system. Henifin said the EPA is still testing Jackson water on a regular basis.

“I tell everybody this is the most tested water in America right now,” Henifin said. “So if you’re worried about drinking water, come to Jackson because this water is really high quality, and it’s very well tested.”

$0.26 per gallon over three years and upped the diesel rate as well, among other changes that in part reduced separate taxes.

Lee’s push comes after the passage of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law. The governor’s transportation team, however, has said Tennessee’s five-year building plan was up about $1.7 billion under the law, saying that is not a major funding influx.

Rail expansion, meanwhile, is not part of Lee’s immediate plans. The concept has been hotly debated around Nashville, where a light rail ballot vote failed in 2018, toppled by tax increase opposition and concerns it could quicken gentrification that has pushed some lower-income people out of their communities. Eley said the state will keep looking at future rail possibilities.

In the GOP-led Legislature, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally said they are on board with a deep dive into how transportation infrastructure is funded.

They’ll have plenty to hammer out when lawmakers return for their annual legislative session in January. For one, Sexton mentioned rail as a topic that needs discussion.

“We must have honest discussions on infrastructure in our state to solve the traffic congestion issue,” Sexton said. “Those must include expansion of rail access, shortening the decades-long timeline to build roads, as well as looking at express lanes on our interstates in highly congested areas.”

The Associated Press

“We’re going to try to keep Ted as long as we can, but from a negotiating standpoint, the city has looked at trying to have a longer-term understanding of the various components of what needs to be accomplished with our water treatment facility.”

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Jackson

Mayor

BARBARA GAUNTT/THE CLARION-LEDGER VIA AP

Ted Henifin, left, the City of Jackson water system third-party administrator, addresses media questions during a news conference at City Hall as Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba listens on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Jackson, Miss.

AP PHOTO, FILE

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.

obituaries

Ellen Arlene Adamec

November 25, 1957 ~ December 4, 2022

Mrs. Ellen Arlene Adamec of Raeford went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 4, 2022, in her home, surrounded by her family.

Ellen was born in Jersey City, NJ on November 25, 1957, to the late George and Irene Zadroga.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Tucker and Mark Zadroga.

Ellen worked over 30 years in the medical field before retiring. She loved watching sports, especially the New York Giants; crocheting, spending time outdoors, and cooking. Ellen was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Thomas Michael Adamec; her children, Jeffery Michael Adamec (Sara), Christine Michelle Tatum (Brian), Allison Patricia Olson (Kevin), 4 grandchildren, Trent, Peyton, JT, and Caitlyn.

Larry Wayne Morgan

November 1, 1950 ~ December 1, 2022

Mr. Larry Wayne Morgan of Raeford NC passed away peacefully in his sleep, at home, and surrounded by his family on December 1, 2022.

Larry was born in Troy NC on November 1, 1950, to the late Odia and Janie Morgan.

He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Clifford Lee Morgan, and Roger Morgan.

Larry served our country for 7 years and was a Vietnam veteran. After the military, he worked for 34 years with the USDA. Larry spent his retirement years working with his hands and doing projects around the neighborhood. He was a farm boy at heart. He loved helping others and was always willing to lend a hand.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Donna Morgan; two children, Martha Morgan and Adam Lee Morgan; four stepchildren, Tyrone Plessner, Shawna Burke, JoLean Osorio, Joseph Osorio III; 14 grandchildren; 7 greatgrandchildren; and his sister, Faye Reeves.

Lois Bradley

February 20, 1930 ~ November 30, 2022

Mrs. Lois Hair Bradley of Raeford went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her family where she said she’s seeing Heaven’s gate.

Lois was born in Cumberland County on February 20, 1930, to the late Malcolm S. Hair and Lela Mae Scull Hair.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Shirley Jean Campbell.

She was a member of Galatia Presbyterian Church and Rockfish Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Lois is survived by her husband James L. Bradley of Raeford; a son, Harold Holcomb, and his wife Debbie of Raeford; two grandchildren, Kim Holcomb of Spring Lake and Heather Holcomb Thrawl of Supply; two great-grandchildren, Wesley Wilburn and Cody Holcomb; and three stepchildren, Rick, Christine, and Becky.

Margaret Peggy Quick

April 28, 1926 ~ November 30, 2022

Margaret T. Quick passed away on November 30,2022 at Moore Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Margaret was the daughter of the late Rev. E. C. Taylor and Mary Roller Taylor. She is predeceased by her siblings, Joseph, Ed, Woodrow, Lee, Ruth and Aliene. She is survived by her daughters, Beverly, Sarah(Gene), Katie (Gary), Jeannie, Faye (Rich).

Margaret worked for the Hoke County Schools as a Food Service employee for many years. She and her former husband, David, owned the Family Restaurant for several years and she finished her career in food service at Howell Drug Company. In 1976, she returned to school and received her highschool diploma. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church. She is survived by her grandchildren, Al, Sarah Ann (Keith), Will, Kelly (Steven), Scott (Kelly), Edmund (Melissa), Mark (Jenna), Stephanie (Jason), Taylor (Abby), Nicole and her fiance (Matt). Also surviving her are greatgrandchildren: Cade, Coen, Julia, David, Brad, Harrison, Jackson, Henry, Reid, Laney, Ian, Nate, Karsyn, Davis, Kendall, Jacob, Lily, Kali and two special young men, Chris and Evan.

She was preceded in death by a son, David, a granddaughter, Jill and the father of her children David Quick.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

STATE & NATION

Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider

The Associated Press

PALMDALE, Calif. — America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China.

The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified.

As evening fell over the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, the public got its first glimpse of the Raider in a tightly controlled ceremony. It started with a flyover of the three bombers still in service: the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit. Then the hangar doors slowly opened and the B-21 was towed partially out of the building.

“This isn’t just another airplane,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China’s rapid military modernization.

China is on track to have 1,500 nuclear weapons by 2035, and its

gains in hypersonics, cyber warfare and space capabilities present “the most consequential and systemic challenge to U.S. national security and the free and open international system,” the Pentagon said this week in its annual China report.

“We needed a new bomber for the 21st Century that would allow us to take on much more complicated threats, like the threats that we fear we would one day face from China, Russia, “ said Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secre-

tary when the Raider contract was announced in 2015.

While the Raider may resemble the B-2, once you get inside, the similarities stop, said Kathy Warden, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Corp., which is building the bomber.

“The way it operates internally is extremely advanced compared to the B-2, because the technology has evolved so much in terms of the computing capability that we can now embed in the software of the B-21,” Warden said.

Other changes include advanced materials used in coatings to make the bomber harder to detect, Austin said.

“Fifty years of advances in low-observable technology have gone into this aircraft,” Austin said. “Even the most sophisticated air defense systems will struggle to detect a B-21 in the sky.”

Other advances likely include new ways to control electronic emissions, so the bomber could spoof adversary radars and disguise itself as another object, and use of new propulsion technologies, several defense analysts said.

“It is incredibly low observability,” Warden said. “You’ll hear it, but you really won’t see it.”

Six Raiders are in production. The Air Force plans to build 100 that can deploy either nuclear weapons or conventional bombs and can be used with or without a human crew. Both the Air Force and Northrop also point to the Raider’s relatively quick development: The bomber went from contract award to debut in seven years. Other new fighter and ship programs have taken decades.

The cost of the bombers is unknown. The Air Force previously put the price at an average cost of $550 million each in 2010 dollars — roughly $753 million today — but it’s unclear how much is actually being spent. The total will depend on how many bombers the Pentagon buys.

“We will soon fly this aircraft, test it, and then move it into production. And we will build the bomber force in numbers suited to the strategic environment ahead,” Austin said.

The B-21 Raider, which takes its name from the 1942 Doolittle Raid

over Tokyo, will be slightly smaller than the B-2 to increase its range, Warden said. It won’t make its first flight until 2023. However, Warden said Northrop Grumman has used advanced computing to test the bomber’s performance using a digital twin, a virtual replica of the one unveiled Friday.

Northrop Grumman has also incorporated maintenance lessons learned from the B-2, Warden said.

In October 2001, B-2 pilots set a record when they flew 44 hours straight to drop the first bombs in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. The B-2 often does long round-trip missions because there are few hangars globally that can accommodate its wingspan, which limits where it can land for maintenance. The hangars also must be air-conditioned because the Spirit’s windows don’t open and hot climates can cook cockpit electronics.

The new Raider will also get new hangars to accommodate its size and complexity, Warden said.

However, with the Raider’s extended range, ‘it won’t need to be based in-theater,” Austin said. “It won’t need logistical support to hold any target at risk.”

A final noticeable difference was in the debut itself. While both went public in Palmdale, the B-2 was rolled outdoors in 1988 amid much public fanfare. Given advances in surveillance satellites and cameras, the Raider was just partially exposed, keeping its sensitive propulsion systems and sensors under the hangar and protected from overhead eyes.

“The magic of the platform,” Warden said, “is what you don’t see.”

Iowa caucuses lose place at head of the line in Democrats’ reshuffling

By Thomas Beaumont The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Hy-Vee Hall ballroom in Des Moines erupted in cheers in 2008 when the youthful Illinois senator hinted at the improbable possibility of the feat ahead: “Our time for change has come!”

That Iowa, an overwhelmingly white state, would propel Barack Obama’s rise to become America’s first black president seemed to ratify its first-in-the-nation position in the presidential nominating process.

But in the half-century arc of the state’s quirky caucuses, Obama’s victory proved to be an outlier. All other Democratic winners turned out to be also-rans.

The caucuses and their outsize importance were largely an exercise in myth-making, that candidates could earn a path to the White House by meeting voters in person where they live, and earnest, civic-minded Midwesterners would brave the winter cold to stand sometimes for hours to discuss issues and literally stand for their candidate.

As the caucuses have played out, the flaws have become glaring. First among them: The state’s Democrats botched the count in 2020, leaving an embarrassing muddle. But there were more.

Since 2008, the state’s political makeup has changed dramatically, from a reliable swing state to solidly Republican.

“We’ve been headed this way for a while,” said Joe Trippi, who

managed Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt’s winning Iowa campaign in 1988, adding “2020 broke the camel’s back.”

The Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm voted to remove Iowa as the leadoff state in the presidential nominating order and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President Joe Biden.

The caucuses were once a novel effort to expand local participation in national party deci-

sion-making, but this vestige of 19th century Midwestern civic engagement has simply been unable to keep pace with the demands of 21st century national politics.

“The times have changed and maybe it’s time for this nominating process to change,” said Emily Parcell, Obama’s 2008 Iowa political director.

To much of the nation, the caucuses were a quadrennial curiosity, seen in TV shots framed by snowy cornfields, with a reminder

piece the summer before featuring candidates awkwardly sampling the Iowa State Fair’s menu of fried food or gazing at a lifesized cow carved from butter.

The seeds of the myth were etched into the national narrative in the 1970s by a cadre of political writers, mostly from Washington, who tracked Indiana’s Birch Bayh, Arizona’s Mo Udall, Idaho’s Frank Church and an obscure governor from Georgia, Jimmy Carter, to cafes, VFW halls and living rooms.

Their stories offered a sheen of quaint civic responsibility, citizens meeting candidates, often several times, and a willingness to brave a bone-chilling winter night for them.

The caucuses are not elections, but rather party-run events, conducted by local Democratic officials and volunteers, a concept that has long bedeviled outsiders.

Like Iowa’s Republican Party caucuses, which remain first in the GOP’s 2024 presidential sequence, the Democratic caucuses are open only to voters who note the party affiliation on their voter registration.

Iowa first moved its caucuses from spring to winter before the 1972 campaign, and added a presidential vote to the agenda to invite more participation during an era of unrest.

“There was a kind of romanticism of neighbors gathering to make this important decision. There was something wholesome about that,” said Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who

was senior adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign.

“They took on sort of mythic importance and, over time, they became somewhat of an industry,” said Axelrod, who also advised the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon’s 1988 campaign and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ in 2004. “Some of that wholesomeness wore off.”

Likewise, the campaigns evolved from tests of more provincial interests to national trial runs.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt won the 1988 Iowa caucuses on a local economic populist message aimed at addressing the financial crisis gripping Iowa farmers.

With each cycle, the Democrats’ criticism of Iowa as non-representative of the party increased, coming to a calamitous head on caucus night in February 2020.

A smartphone app designed to calculate and report results failed, prompting a telephone backlog that prevented the party from reporting final results for nearly a week after the Feb. 3 contest.

The Associated Press was unable to declare a winner after irregularities and inconsistencies marred the results. Top finishers Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were denied the full measure of momentum ahead of New Hampshire eight days later.

“I think we all look back and recognize that was the death knell,” said John Norris, who managed Kerry’s 2004 Iowa campaign and the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s in 1988.

AP PHOTO

The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Precinct 68 Iowa Caucus voters seated in the Biden section hold up their first votes of the caucus as they are counted at the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

Substation vandlism in Moore County leaves residents without power

A gate blocks the road leading to the West End Substation, at 6910 NC Hwy 211 in West End, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, where a serious attack on critical infrastructure has caused a power outage to many around Southern Pines. Many residents were expected to remain without power until late in the week.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Historic Kernersville home to host Victorian Christmas

You can experience the magic of Christmas past in Kernersville for the next month. The Körner’s Folly historic home in Kernersville will host a Victorian Christmas for the 2022 Holiday Season. The even began the day after Thanksgiving and will run until to Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Each winter, this remarkable 22room home takes on an extra layer of embellishment and excitement with ornate displays of Christmas décor. Thanks to the energy and creativity of volunteers, Körner’s Folly will be filled with Victorianinspired trees, garlands, and decorations. Körner’s Folly is open for self-guided tours Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm, with the last entry at 3 pm. Tickets are available for purchase onsite inside Aunt Dealy’s Cottage (credit or debit cards only), or advance purchase at online.

The Körner’s Folly Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Körner’s Folly for the education and enjoyment of the public, welcoming over 10,000 visitors a year.

VISITWINSTONSALEM.COM

Holiday events in Winston-Salem this weekend

The 2022 Lewisville Christmas Parade is one of the largest Christmas parades in the Triad.

The 37th Annual Lewisville Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 pm. Friday Dec. 9 is Enchanted Christmas Evening at Reynolda House. Visit Reynolda for this special after-hours opportunity to see the historic house lit up for Christmas, featuring authentic early twentieth-century glass ornaments from the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Guests will also enjoy a live organ performance of festive Christmas carols. The event is free with museum admission

Wake Forest, Missouri meet for first time in Gasparilla Bowl

City finishes high in rankings of potential retirement locations and affordable cities

The Associated Press

WAKE FOREST will head to a bowl game for the seventh straight season, after the Demon Deacons were selected for the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. Wake will play Missouri in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Dec. 23.

“I’m excited for our football program to have the opportunity to compete one more time together in our seventh-straight bowl game as we attempt to win a bowl championship,” coach Dave Clawson said in a statement released by the school. “We are thrilled and honored to be the ACC representative in the 2022 Union Home Mortgage Gaspar-

illa Bowl. Tampa is a city with a lot of Wake Forest fans and alums and I have a lot of respect for Coach Eliah Drinkwitz and the Missouri Tigers football program. I look forward to being in Florida and beginning preparations for this exciting bowl game with our staff.”

While this is the first time Wake Forest and Missouri have played, the Tigers of the SEC have a familiar face in Drinkwitz, who was NC State’s offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018. He left for a year as App State’s head coach before moving on to Missouri.

“I’ve been tasked with going against Dave and [offensive coordinator] Warren Ruggiero several times when I was at NC State,” Drinkwitz said. “I’ve seen this offense up close and personal. They do a tremendous job of using the RPO, playing to their players’ strengths. Sam [Hartman]

is a tremendous quarterback. It’ll be a great challenge. … Dave’s football teams are always well coached. They don’t beat themselves, they don’t turn the football over. They’re very much attacking on the defensive side of the ball, but do not give up big plays. They keep everything in front of [them]. You got to really work to sustain drives.”

Top players

Wake Forest: QB Sam Hartman ranked second among ACC passers with 3,421 yards and tied for first with 35 touchdowns despite missing a game because of injury. He completed 63% of his attempts and tossed just 11 interceptions.

Missouri: DL Isaiah McGuire tied for fourth in the SEC with seven sacks, including two in the regular season finale against Arkansas. He had 39 tackles, in-

cluding 24 solo stops.

Notable

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons struggled down the stretch, losing four of five after reaching No. 10 in the AP Top 25 on Oct. 23.

Missouri: The Tigers won four of their final six games to become bowl eligible. They ranked fourth in SEC total defense (337.1 yards per game) and were fourth against the run (127.2).

Bowl history

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are 10-6 lifetime. They are making their seventh consecutive bowl appearance and first in the Gasparilla Bowl. They topped Rutgers 38-10 in last year’s Gator Bowl.

Missouri: The Tigers are making their fourth bowl appearance in six seasons. They are 15-19 lifetime, including a 24-22 loss to Army last season in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Twin City Herald staff contributed to this report

Forsyth

Rezoning

approval paves way for food mart in Kernersville Road Corridor

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

WINSTON-SALEM — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners met Thursday with five public hearings on the agenda.

The agenda started off with five public hearings dealing with rezoning requests, site amendments and economic development projects.

The first hearing was a request by Kripalu Abodes, LLC and Deepak Patel to rezone 1.21 acres of land located on the northwest corner of Kernersville Road and Hastings Hill Road from RS9 to Neighborhood Business - Special Use (NB-S) in order to build a site entitled Hastings Hill Food Mart.

The rezoning would allow for a food market to be built on the site, however City/County Planning Director Chris Murphy noted some

concerns with the proposed development.

“The proposed development could further promote commercial strip development along a largely residential section of the Kernersville Road Corridor,” said City/ County Planning Director Chris Murphy. “The proposed development would likely attract customers from outside the neighborhood and primarily cater to motorists, possibly increasing traffic in the area.”

Although the project was viewed as inconsistent with the adopted plan for the area, the perceived need of a community-scale grocery store outweighed that and so following the hearing, the board approved the request.

The second request was from P & P of Asheboro, LLC to rezone 25.8 acres on the south side of Hastings Hill Road, west of Water Mill Road RS9 to RM8-S.

“The development has a proposed density of 3.88 units per acre which is similar to the neighboring developments to the east

and south as far as density goes,” Murphy said. “The request will promote a mix of housing types in the area, providing more housing choices. The proposed traffic impact of the townhomes is actually less than that of single-family homes based on the accepted trip generation rate through transportation and engineering documents. The townhomes will also act as an appropriate transition between the beltway and the single-family neighborhood to the east.”

The applicant’s representation further clarified the need for the rezoning.

“RM-8 is actually a higher density than we need for the proposed amount of units that we’ve intended here, but the reason for that choice is a technical one,” said Amanda Hodierne, the attorney representing the applicant. “RM5 which would more closely align with our proposed number of units and allow our land use, does

AP PHOTO

SIDELINE REPORT

NASCAR

Nashville, Tenn.

Ty Gibbs on Thursday declined to discuss the death of his father, which occurred just hours after the NASCAR driver won the Xfinity Series championship last month. Gibbs was asked about his grandfather, Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, telling employees at Joe Gibbs Racing they all had to move forward even as they mourn. Coy Gibbs died in his sleep at the age of 49 hours after his 20-year-old son won the Xfinity Series title on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. Ty Gibbs said for now he’s just going to stick with racing questions while in Nashville for the NASCAR Awards.

NFL Watson returns from ban, declines to express remorse

Houston Deshaun Watson, playing in his first game in 700 days, showed plenty of rust in his debut with Cleveland but the Browns didn’t need him to do much in a 2714 victory over the Texans on Sunday. He declined to express remorse for behavior that earned him an 11-game suspension and, playing in Houston where he spent his first four pro seasons before missing all of last season and much of this one, was jeered before each snap ifor much of the afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SEC halftime contest booed, both students awarded $100K

Atlanta

Two college students have won $100,000 in tuition after a confusing finish in the SEC championship game’s halftime competition. Boos rained down from the fans in attendance when one of the two students appeared to win the Dr Pepper ball toss competition in overtime on a technicality. The winner was due to get $100,000 and the runner-up $20,000. Baylor student Reagan Whitaker and St. Augustine student Kayla Gibson exchanged leads multiple times in regulation and tied again in overtime, but Whitaker was declared the winner. It was announced on the broadcast in the fourth quarter of the game that Dr Pepper would gift both Whitaker and Gibson with $100,000 in tuition.

HORSE RACING

Ortiz sets singleseason record with 77th stakes win

New York

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. earned his record 77th single-season North American stakes victory when he guided Dr B to victory in the $200,000 Go for Wand at Aqueduct. The 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico broke the old mark of 76 set by the late Hall of Fame rider Garrett Gomez in 2007. Ortiz Jr. won the Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal in June to go with three Breeders’ Cup victories in November. He leads North American riders with 304 overall victories so far this year.

Logano celebrates 2nd NASCAR Cup title, already wanting 3rd

Logano said Thursday before he was feted at NASCAR’s annual awards ceremony.

By Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Joey Logano has a simple target for the future even as he celebrates his 2022 NASCAR Cup championship.

Add yet another.

Logano this season joined Kyle Busch as the only active NASCAR drivers with multiple Cup series titles, adding to the first Cup championship he won in 2018. Being the only active driver with three Cup titles would be even sweeter.

“That’s where my head is at right is, ‘Let’s go get another one,’”

“It is something special though for sure. Winning championships is hard in professional sports, right? This is so hard to come by and so hard to do, and everything has to come together at the right time,” he continued. “It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Logano, at 32, was already the oldest of the four drivers in the championship finale. Credit — or blame — the new Next Gen car for evening out competition to where the Cup Series had 19 different winners, with five first-timers and two drivers making their first appearance in the championship race.

Logano won his second Cup

championship by finishing first in a winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway, giving Team Penske both the Cup and IndyCar titles in the same season for the first time in 31 tries.

Roger Penske, owner of Logano’s No. 22 Ford, knows how hungry Logano is to win a third title. He’s part of a roster that includes Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric,

who both made the playoffs, and Harrison Burton in an affiliate Wood Brothers Racing car.

“We’ve got the same team, so we should,” Penske said. “We should be able to compete now. A lot of great talent out there today. New talent, young talent. Teams and the cars brought us closer together. But I think we’re someone you’re going to have to beat in ’23.”

Logano said he loves picking up tips and ideas on how other people at the top of their sports work to stay there because he’s learned that nobody, even in the same sport, sees or approaches things the same way.

“So it’s good to learn all that for sure,” Logano said.

Logano also knows he’s among one of NASCAR’s older current drivers and wants to embrace being more of a leader and help grow the sport. He’s still young enough to relate to all the young drivers coming into NASCAR, yet old enough to remember what it was like over a decade ago.

“I feel like that’s a huge responsibility for all of us as an industry to care about the next generation of our sport,” Logano said.

CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta

FOR THIS COLLEGE football season, the BCS probably would have been fine.

Two days after the College Football Playoff announced it is expanding to 12 teams, the field of four to determine this season’s national champion included two schools that did not even win their conferences.

Georgia, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State were selected Sunday for the playoff, giving the Big Ten multiple programs in the fourteam field for the first time.

The top-ranked and reigning champion Bulldogs (13-0) and fourth-seeded Buckeyes (11-1) will meet Dec. 31 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Ohio State got a reprieve, moving back into the top four after losing to Big Ten rival Michigan just a week ago.

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The second-seeded Wolverines (13-0) and third-ranked Horned

Frogs (12-1) will play at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, in the first game of the New Year’s Eve doubleheader.

The Horned Frogs were third coming into the weekend but had to sweat out their spot Saturday night after losing the Big 12 title game to Kansas State in overtime.

“I was really nervous,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said about watching ESPN’s slow rollout of the pairings Sunday after-

noon.

The Frogs had nothing to fear. They had already built enough equity to stay in the top four, and they erupted with cheers of relief at their watch party in Fort Worth, Texas, when it became official.

Georgia, which won the Southeastern Conference championship game in a rout, is a 6½-point favorite against Ohio State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Michigan, which took the Big Ten title,

is favored by 9½ points over TCU.

CFP selection committee chairman and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said the 13-member panel went through its usual process of grouping teams in threes to compare them for the final rankings, but not for long.

“I can’t actually remember which team got pulled in for the third, but as we went into it, we wanted to make sure we got those first two set and then we moved forward,” said Corrigan.

The national championship game is Jan. 9 at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it could be a rematch of rivals Ohio State and Michigan in what will soon be Big Ten country as the conference expands with UCLA and USC.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines have never played outside of their annual regular season game in a bitter rivalry that dates to 1902.

The Team Penske driver joined Kyle Busch as the only active drivers with multiple Cup Series titles

Alabama was on the outside looking in and will face Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl

The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell holds the Big Ten trophy as he celebrates with teammates after defeating Purdue on Sunday. The Wolverines will face TCU in the College Football Playoff seminfinals on Dec. 31.

AP PHOTO

NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano speaks during the NASCAR Awards last Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ty Gibbs declines to discuss sudden death of his father

“It’s not just the driver, but it’s the team, the cars. Everything has to be clicking at the right time to be able to do it.”

Joey Logano

“How we got here, at this point, I guess doesn’t really matter now that we’re here.” Ryan Day, Ohio State coach

STATE & NATION

Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider

The Associated Press

PALMDALE, Calif. — America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber made its debut Friday after years of secret development and as part of the Pentagon’s answer to rising concerns over a future conflict with China.

The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified.

As evening fell over the Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, the public got its first glimpse of the Raider in a tightly controlled ceremony. It started with a flyover of the three bombers still in service: the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit. Then the hangar doors slowly opened and the B-21 was towed partially out of the building.

“This isn’t just another airplane,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon’s efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China’s rapid military modernization.

China is on track to have 1,500 nuclear weapons by 2035, and its

gains in hypersonics, cyber warfare and space capabilities present “the most consequential and systemic challenge to U.S. national security and the free and open international system,” the Pentagon said this week in its annual China report.

“We needed a new bomber for the 21st Century that would allow us to take on much more complicated threats, like the threats that we fear we would one day face from China, Russia, “ said Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secre-

tary when the Raider contract was announced in 2015.

While the Raider may resemble the B-2, once you get inside, the similarities stop, said Kathy Warden, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Corp., which is building the bomber.

“The way it operates internally is extremely advanced compared to the B-2, because the technology has evolved so much in terms of the computing capability that we can now embed in the software of the B-21,” Warden said.

Other changes include advanced materials used in coatings to make the bomber harder to detect, Austin said.

“Fifty years of advances in low-observable technology have gone into this aircraft,” Austin said. “Even the most sophisticated air defense systems will struggle to detect a B-21 in the sky.”

Other advances likely include new ways to control electronic emissions, so the bomber could spoof adversary radars and disguise itself as another object, and use of new propulsion technologies, several defense analysts said.

“It is incredibly low observability,” Warden said. “You’ll hear it, but you really won’t see it.”

Six Raiders are in production. The Air Force plans to build 100 that can deploy either nuclear weapons or conventional bombs and can be used with or without a human crew. Both the Air Force and Northrop also point to the Raider’s relatively quick development: The bomber went from contract award to debut in seven years. Other new fighter and ship programs have taken decades.

The cost of the bombers is unknown. The Air Force previously put the price at an average cost of $550 million each in 2010 dollars — roughly $753 million today — but it’s unclear how much is actually being spent. The total will depend on how many bombers the Pentagon buys.

“We will soon fly this aircraft, test it, and then move it into production. And we will build the bomber force in numbers suited to the strategic environment ahead,” Austin said.

The B-21 Raider, which takes its name from the 1942 Doolittle Raid

over Tokyo, will be slightly smaller than the B-2 to increase its range, Warden said. It won’t make its first flight until 2023. However, Warden said Northrop Grumman has used advanced computing to test the bomber’s performance using a digital twin, a virtual replica of the one unveiled Friday.

Northrop Grumman has also incorporated maintenance lessons learned from the B-2, Warden said.

In October 2001, B-2 pilots set a record when they flew 44 hours straight to drop the first bombs in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks. The B-2 often does long round-trip missions because there are few hangars globally that can accommodate its wingspan, which limits where it can land for maintenance. The hangars also must be air-conditioned because the Spirit’s windows don’t open and hot climates can cook cockpit electronics.

The new Raider will also get new hangars to accommodate its size and complexity, Warden said.

However, with the Raider’s extended range, ‘it won’t need to be based in-theater,” Austin said. “It won’t need logistical support to hold any target at risk.”

A final noticeable difference was in the debut itself. While both went public in Palmdale, the B-2 was rolled outdoors in 1988 amid much public fanfare. Given advances in surveillance satellites and cameras, the Raider was just partially exposed, keeping its sensitive propulsion systems and sensors under the hangar and protected from overhead eyes.

“The magic of the platform,” Warden said, “is what you don’t see.”

Iowa caucuses lose place at head of the line in Democrats’ reshuffling

By Thomas Beaumont The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Hy-Vee Hall ballroom in Des Moines erupted in cheers in 2008 when the youthful Illinois senator hinted at the improbable possibility of the feat ahead: “Our time for change has come!”

That Iowa, an overwhelmingly white state, would propel Barack Obama’s rise to become America’s first black president seemed to ratify its first-in-the-nation position in the presidential nominating process.

But in the half-century arc of the state’s quirky caucuses, Obama’s victory proved to be an outlier. All other Democratic winners turned out to be also-rans.

The caucuses and their outsize importance were largely an exercise in myth-making, that candidates could earn a path to the White House by meeting voters in person where they live, and earnest, civic-minded Midwesterners would brave the winter cold to stand sometimes for hours to discuss issues and literally stand for their candidate.

As the caucuses have played out, the flaws have become glaring. First among them: The state’s Democrats botched the count in 2020, leaving an embarrassing muddle. But there were more.

Since 2008, the state’s political makeup has changed dramatically, from a reliable swing state to solidly Republican.

“We’ve been headed this way for a while,” said Joe Trippi, who

managed Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt’s winning Iowa campaign in 1988, adding “2020 broke the camel’s back.”

The Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm voted to remove Iowa as the leadoff state in the presidential nominating order and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President Joe Biden.

The caucuses were once a novel effort to expand local participation in national party deci-

sion-making, but this vestige of 19th century Midwestern civic engagement has simply been unable to keep pace with the demands of 21st century national politics.

“The times have changed and maybe it’s time for this nominating process to change,” said Emily Parcell, Obama’s 2008 Iowa political director.

To much of the nation, the caucuses were a quadrennial curiosity, seen in TV shots framed by snowy cornfields, with a reminder

piece the summer before featuring candidates awkwardly sampling the Iowa State Fair’s menu of fried food or gazing at a lifesized cow carved from butter.

The seeds of the myth were etched into the national narrative in the 1970s by a cadre of political writers, mostly from Washington, who tracked Indiana’s Birch Bayh, Arizona’s Mo Udall, Idaho’s Frank Church and an obscure governor from Georgia, Jimmy Carter, to cafes, VFW halls and living rooms.

Their stories offered a sheen of quaint civic responsibility, citizens meeting candidates, often several times, and a willingness to brave a bone-chilling winter night for them.

The caucuses are not elections, but rather party-run events, conducted by local Democratic officials and volunteers, a concept that has long bedeviled outsiders.

Like Iowa’s Republican Party caucuses, which remain first in the GOP’s 2024 presidential sequence, the Democratic caucuses are open only to voters who note the party affiliation on their voter registration.

Iowa first moved its caucuses from spring to winter before the 1972 campaign, and added a presidential vote to the agenda to invite more participation during an era of unrest.

“There was a kind of romanticism of neighbors gathering to make this important decision. There was something wholesome about that,” said Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who

was senior adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign.

“They took on sort of mythic importance and, over time, they became somewhat of an industry,” said Axelrod, who also advised the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon’s 1988 campaign and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ in 2004. “Some of that wholesomeness wore off.”

Likewise, the campaigns evolved from tests of more provincial interests to national trial runs.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt won the 1988 Iowa caucuses on a local economic populist message aimed at addressing the financial crisis gripping Iowa farmers.

With each cycle, the Democrats’ criticism of Iowa as non-representative of the party increased, coming to a calamitous head on caucus night in February 2020.

A smartphone app designed to calculate and report results failed, prompting a telephone backlog that prevented the party from reporting final results for nearly a week after the Feb. 3 contest.

The Associated Press was unable to declare a winner after irregularities and inconsistencies marred the results. Top finishers Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were denied the full measure of momentum ahead of New Hampshire eight days later.

“I think we all look back and recognize that was the death knell,” said John Norris, who managed Kerry’s 2004 Iowa campaign and the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s in 1988.

AP PHOTO

The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is unveiled at Northrop Grumman Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Palmdale, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Precinct 68 Iowa Caucus voters seated in the Biden section hold up their first votes of the caucus as they are counted at the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus in Des Moines, Iowa.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

USGA and Sandhills Community College to launch Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program

The United States Golf Association (USGA) is officially partnering with Sandhills Community College to launch a USGA Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program (GAP). This 12-month registered program through ApprenticeshipNC is designed for anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in golf course maintenance or those working on a course and wishing to advance their skills. A collaborative effort with area golf course superintendents, GAP aims to recruit, educate, and train the next generation of golf course maintenance professionals while removing barriers to entering the profession and providing participants with a living wage. Inperson college classes will begin in January and will be combined with on-thejob training at Pinehurstarea golf courses, including Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Forest Creek Golf Club, and The Country Club of North Carolina.

Qualified applicants will attend classes free of charge through a regional partnership with the USGA, ApprenticeshipNC, and area golf facilities.

Participating Pinehurstarea golf courses will employ all students at the start of the program at a minimum of $15 per hour pay scale. Registration is now open at sandhills.edu.

Moore County suffers stunning attack on power grid

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

PINEHURST — On Saturday, Dec. 3, Moore County suffered an attack on two substations that left over 40,000 residents and businesses in the dark.

Just after 7 p.m., several different communities across Moore County began experiencing power outages. As utility companies began responding to the different substations, evidence was discovered that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at multiple sites.

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said at a Sunday news conference in Carthage that authorities have not determined a motivation. The sheriff said it appeared

the culprits pulled up and “opened fire on the substation, the same thing with the other one.”

“No group has stepped up to acknowledge or accept that they’re the ones that done it,” Fields said. “We’re looking at all avenues.”

The sheriff noted that the FBI was working with state investigators to determine who was responsible. “It was targeted. It wasn’t random,” Fields added.

State leaders weighed in on the attack.

“An attack like this on critical infrastructure is a serious, intentional crime, and I expect state and federal authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice,” Gov. Roy Cooper wrote on Twitter Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, who

moved to Southern Pines earlier this year, said, “Last night, unknown individuals vandalized at least two substations in Moore County with criminal intent. Motive for this crime remains unknown. Many Moore County residents remain without power. I want to thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and all local law enforcement, as well as the SBI and FBI, for their quick action to respond to the incident. I have also been in contact with Duke Energy and know they are working on all options to restore power as quickly as possible.”

In the aftermath, Moore County citizens have banded together to get through the cold temperatures in the Sandhills.

The Southern Pines Police De-

partment at 450 W. Pennsylvania Ave. has opened its C. Michael Haney Community Room to the public for charging electronic devices. Numerous churches have provided meals, showers, and charging stations.

A shelter opened at the Moore County Sports Complex located at 155 Hillcrest Park Ln. In Carthage.

Both Duke Energy and Randolph Electric Membership Cooperative have crews working around the clock to replace equipment and route power to their customers.

REMC said its crews continue to work and has brought in additional contractor crews to complete the construction work. Early

Under new management: Moore County Schools swears in new board members

New conservative members shift the makeup of the Moore school board

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

SEAGROVE — Moore County

Public Schools installed three new school board members at a ceremony held at Westmoore Elementary held on Dec. 5. The full event can be viewed on the district’s YouTube channel.

The new additions were touted on the district’s holiday parade float, which carried a banner that read “under new management.”

A total of 83 school boards had elections this year in the state, with 41 of them being partisan races.

Republicans swept all seats in 21 of those 41 races, while Democrats only swept three. Moore’s school board races were nonpartisan; however, the new members are all Republicans and represent a shift in control for the board.

Moore County Clerk of Court

Todd Manness was on hand to administer the oath of office to new members Shannon Davis, Ken Benway, and Pauline Bruno.

Bruno and Benway won the two

at-large seats. Davis ousted the board’s Chair Pam Thompson for her District 3 seat.

“I would like to wish our school board the best,” Manness said after all three had taken the oath. “May God bless all of you ,and I know that you will diligently serve our children in Moore County. Thank you.”

The board and all attendees observed a moment of silence to remember those in Moore County affected by the recent power outage due to an apparent attack on a power substation in the county.

Officer elections were held, with members Bob Levy elected as the new chair and David Hensley elected as vice chair.

“We have a really great board in front of us,” Levy said before speaking a little bit about each new member.

Of Benway, Levy noted his military service would bring the board “discipline and clear thought.” Levy cited the importance of Bruno’s experience in special education.

When speaking about the addition of Shannon Davis in District 3, Levy noted she homeschooled her children and that 12 percent of students in Moore County are homeschooled.

“We need her here in our board

of education,” Levy said.

After delivering remarks detailing the financial mismanagement in the district related to building schools, leaky roofs, and putting air conditioning in gyms, newly elected Vice Chair Hensley said the board’s first business meeting would be to rectify those issues.

“North Moore, the days of you being ignored are over,” Hensley said.

The newly sworn-in members also gave some brief remarks.

Citing Article 9 of North Carolina’s Constitution, Davis remarked during the meeting that “religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind” and that she promised to do her best to support those ideals.

Benway thanked the voters for having confidence in him and said that the district has a “bright future” ahead of it.

“I want to want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart,” Bruno told attendees of the ceremony. “You put us in these seats, and we are forever grateful. We are really going to work hard to listen to you to do what we promise and what the community expects of us.”

She added, “We are all for the parents. We are all for your stu-

dents.”

Davis was born in Pinehurst and remained in Moore County, where she homeschooled her three children, who are now ages 22, 17, and 14. She believes her extensive educational base of knowledge gained as a homeschooling mom will provide invaluable insight as a board member.

Davis’ candidate platform included preserving foundational American values, protecting students, parents, and teachers, supporting a culture of learning, and strengthening the community through education.

Davis beat Thompson in both election day and early voting turnout, even though Thompson led in absentee-by-mail voting. In the end, Davis won by an over 8 percent margin.

Thompson had been criticized in the past for attempts to include controversial “gender identity” ideology into certain MCS policies as well as for removing board member Bob Levy from the policy committee after he introduced a measure barring the use of Critical Race Theory from policies and instruction in Moore schools.

Bruno is a retired Special Educa-

“We faced something here in Moore County we’ve never faced before… but I promise you, we will get through this and we will get through it together... to the perpetrators out there, we will find you.”

Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields

Tuesday, the cooperative completed the construction of the Seven Lakes tie-in and were able to deliver power to the local substation to deliver some level of power to all of its residential members in the affected area.

“I want to commend the REMC team on their ingenuity and hard work to restore some level of power to our members,” stated Dale Lambert, CEO of REMC. “I also want to thank the N.C. Department of Transportation for closing a road, allowing us to work much faster on Monday to construct this tie line.”

The cooperative says its immediate goal is to continue to provide power to members in Moore County in rotating two to three-hour intervals, and continuous, uninterrupted power will occur only once Duke Energy has fully repaired their transmission lines.

Jeff Brooks, a spokesman for Duke Energy, said multi ple pieces of equipment were damaged and will have to be re placed.

“We are looking at a pretty sophisticated repair with some fairly large equipment, and so we do want citizens of the town to be prepared that this will be a multiday restoration for most customers, extending po tentially as long as Thursday,” Brooks said.

Anyone with any informa tion regarding the attack is asked to contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at 910-947-2931.

tion teacher, and Benway is a 27year Army Special Forces veteran.

Of the four candidates vying for the at-large seats, Bruno and Benway received the most votes; 21,158 and 19,240, respectively. The bottom two finishing candidates were Robin Calcutt with 18,882 votes and Rollie Sampson with 14,466 votes.

Bruno has a strong background in education, holding a degree in Elementary and Special Education from Kent State University and a master’s degree in Reading from Waldon University. She put those degrees to work teaching children with Special needs from pre-school to high school and even juveniles in detention facilities.

Bruno has served as President of the Moore Republican Women’s organization for the past four of the 15 years she has lived in the county and, per her campaign website, “led the fight to keep CRT out of Moore County Schools.”

While campaigning, Benway characterized himself as a “problem solver” who wants safe schools, appropriate materials for students, and a return academic excellence as the primary focus of the district. As a candidate, Benway garnered numerous endorsements, including Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields and Civil Rights icon Clarence Henderson.

Moore County Public Schools (MCS) is also operating under a new superintendent after former Superintendent Dr. Bob Grimesey announced his intention to retire

in October 2021 and whose last day with MCS was Jan. 31, 2022.

Dr. Tim Locklair, who was serving as the Chief Officer for Academic and Student Support Services, was selected as an interim superintendent. The role was made permanent, effective July 1, 2022.

Grimesey had been criticized by conservative members of the board for failing to prioritize academic achievement over “equity” initiatives infused with social justice and an emphasis on social and emotional learning.

In the year prior to his resignation, Grimesey was questioned about involvement with a secretive education non-profit called The Innovation Project (TIP). The non-profit has been collecting over $2.048 million in dues from 33 public school districts around the state during the time period spanning 2017 to 2021. Of that total, MCS was found to have paid out $83,837 in three dues installments to TIP. To date, TIP has not responded to requests for comment about its activities, including topics like racial and social justice.

Both the new board and Locklair have their work cut out for them in terms of academic achievement and school safety.

In mid-November, the district received four threats to district schools within a 24-hour period. Per a Facebook post by Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields, after an investigation involving the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, a 15-year-old from Aberdeen

was arrested in connection with threats of mass violence directed at Union Pines High School.

During his tenure, Grimesey was called out by board member David Hensley for a lack of attention to school safety, including blocking the previous MCS police chief and school resources officers from being questioned by the board. Following Grimesey’s departure, Hensley issued a Facebook statement indicating it had been discovered the MCS police department and its SROs had “not received ANY meaningful training in the past five years.”

Since returning to school fulltime following the pandemic, MCS has seen an increase in fights on its campuses. Over a dozen such fights were caught on camera at a single school: Crain’s Creek Middle.

Crain’s Creek has been plagued by high turnover in staff. At least one former teacher at the school says Principal Melonie Jones is to blame for a “hostile work environment” that includes undermining educators when it comes to student discipline.

Following reporting on the Crain’s Creek Middle School fights, another parent came forward about her son having been “choked out” by another student in the lunchroom at Elise Middle School. The same parent also said she found out a child in her daughter’s class at Robbins Elementary brought a gun to school. The parent only found out about the incident because the daughter brought it up.

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

Dec. 8

Moore County Schools Job Fair

3pm – 7pm

Moore County Schools is holding a job fair on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Moore County Schools Central Office, which is located at 5277 US 15 501 in Carthage.

Trivia Thursday at the Brewery

6pm

Come out for Trivia at the Southern Pines Brewery! Enjoy fun and prizes each Thursday.

Highlanders Farm: Drive Thru Christmas Lights

6pm – 9pm

Come out for the second annual Highlander’s Farm Drive Thru Christmas Lights Show! Take a winding tour around the farm fields, which are located at 5748 NC Hwy 22 in Carthage!

Dec. 9

Moore County Toys for Tots 2022 12pm

The Moore County Toys for Tots donation stations are open from now until Dec. 16! Please consider donating new, unwrapped toys which will be distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in our community.

Letters to Santa –Aberdeen 1pm

Come by the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation at Lake Crossing and deliver your letter to Santa! Make sure to include your return address on the envelope and address it to Santa Claus, North Pole!

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

As we navigate the power outage, check on one another

I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE on the power outage affecting much of our region in Moore County.

While crews continue to work, I urge everyone to check on their neighbors, especially those on medications or in nursing homes.

Over the weekend, an unknown individual or individuals vandalized at least two power substations in Moore County with criminal intent, leaving numerous hospitals, schools, businesses, and close to 40,000 residents without power. The motive for this crime remains unknown, but law enforcement continues to investigate. I want to thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and all local law enforcement, as well as the State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for their quick action to respond to the incident. I have also been in contact with Duke Energy and know they are working on all options to restore power as quickly as possible.

We must hold those responsible for this reprehensible act accountable. As officials continue to work to restore power and investigate the details of what happened Saturday night, numerous resources will be available for those affected.

Currently, a state of emergency has been issued for Moore County, and a curfew is in effect beginning at 9 pm on Sunday, December 4th, lasting until 5 am Monday, December 5th. Moore County Schools will also be closed on Monday, December 5th. Local EMS and fire services are running as normal, and Moore Regional Hospital is operating normally thanks to the use of generators.

For those in need, a shelter has been opened at the Moore County Sports Complex located at 155 Hillcrest Park Ln. in Carthage. Folks can call 910-947-6317 for transportation to the shelter.

Additionally, the Southern Pines Police Department at 450 W. Pennsylvania Ave. has opened its C. Michael Haney Community Room to the public for charging electronic devices. Many local

COLUMN | DENNIS PRAGER

businesses and groups are also making resources available to assist families in the area. For example, Harris Teeter distributed free bags of ice on Sunday afternoon to help families keep food and medicines cold. These examples of businesses and neighbors helping each other remind us of the strength of our community.

According to the Red Cross, food should be thrown out if it reaches 40 degrees. An unopened refrigerator can keep temperature for 4 hours, while a full freezer will keep temperature for about 48 hours.

People can report power outages at ReadyNC.gov. Reporting your power failure may help to expedite your ability to access emergency services and information.

Furthermore, anyone with any information about this act of violence should contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at 910-9472931.

While crews continue to work, I urge everyone to check on their neighbors, especially those on medications or in nursing homes. I am remaining in constant communication with law enforcement, Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, and our community, and I will provide resources on my social media or website at http://Hudson.house.gov. If you or your family need assistance, you can contact my office in Washington, DC, at 202-225-3715.

Richard Hudson is serving his fifth term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and in House leadership as the Republican Conference Secretary.

If Holocaust deniers don’t go to Hell, there is no God

IT IS A CENTRAL TENET of moral theology that there are gradations of sin. To argue that God views stealing a towel from a hotel and raping a child as moral equivalents renders God a moral fool. And doing that to God is a sin. If we mortals perceive the universe of difference between such actions, it goes without question that God does, too. The idea that we have greater moral clarity than God is logically and theologically untenable.

In the pantheon of evils, among the worst is Holocaust denial.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Given the murder of 6 million Jews and the unspeakable amount of suffering they and Jewish survivors underwent at the hands of the Nazis, it takes a particularly vile individual to say this never happened. Think of how we would regard anyone who denied thousands of Americans were murdered on 9/11.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with Gens. George Patton and Omar Bradley, visited Ohrdruf, a Nazi concentration camp, on April 12, 1945, a week after it was liberated.

Eisenhower then cabled to Gen. George Marshall:

“The things I saw beggar description... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me a bit sick. In one room, where they were piled up twenty or thirty naked men, killed by starvation, George Patton would not even enter. He said that he would get sick if he did so. I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to ‘propaganda.’”

A week later Eisenhower again cabled Marshall, asking that members of Congress and journalists be brought to the newly liberated camps so that they could tell Americans the truth about German Nazi atrocities.

Patton wrote in his diary:

“When we began to approach with our troops, the Germans thought it expedient to remove the evidence of their crime. Therefore, they had some of the slaves exhume the bodies and place them on a mammoth griddle composed of 60-centimeter railway tracks laid on brick foundations. They poured pitch on the bodies and then built a fire of pinewood and coal under them. They were not very successful in their operations because there was a pile of human bones, skulls, charred torsos on or under the griddle which must have accounted for many hundreds.”

To his great credit, Eisenhower understood that what the Nazis had done to the Jews (and many others, but overwhelmingly to Jews) would be difficult for humanity to comprehend and therefore needed to be documented in writing and in photographs. And, it is important to note, Eisenhower saw only a small concentration camp, not one of the enormous death camps.

Beginning in about 1941, the Nazi regime dedicated itself to murdering every Jew -- man, woman, child and baby -- in countries

it occupied. Eventually, more than six of every 10 Jews in Europe were murdered.

Nazi mobile killing units murdered more than a million Jews, usually family by family, in front of open ditches the Jews were forced to dig. Most died upon being shot; the even less fortunate ended up being buried alive. All witnessed the murder of their loved ones.

Most of the other murdered Jews were shipped in cattle cars to concentration and death camps where they were worked to death, starved to death, tortured to death and most often gassed to death in gas chambers.

There may not be a more documented single event in history than the Holocaust.

Yet, some people, including an American named Nick Fuentes, aggressively deny the Holocaust, asserting that a few hundred thousand Jews, not millions, were killed.

It is important to understand why this is evil.

First, it is a Big Lie. Big Lies inevitably lead to violence and can even destroy civilizations.

If the Holocaust never happened, why would Germany maintain that it did?

Second, Holocaust denial is not only a Big Lie; it is pure Jewhatred, i.e., antisemitism. The proof that it emanates from antisemitism is that no other 20th-century genocide is denied (with the exception of the Turkish government’s denial of the Turks’ mass murder of Armenians during World War I). No one denies Stalin’s mass murder of tens of millions of Soviet citizens in the Gulag Archipelago or his deliberate starvation of about five million Ukrainians (the Holodomor); or the Cambodian communists’ murder of about one in every four Cambodians; or Mao’s killing of about 60 million Chinese. The only genocide-denial is the genocide of the Jews.

Third, the denial of this Nazi evil is a slap in the face of all the Americans who died fighting the Nazis. As Eisenhower said on seeing the Nazi atrocities, “We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for. Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against.” If the Holocaust is a fabrication, Americans died fighting against nothing particularly evil.

As a college student, I dated a woman whose parents were Holocaust survivors. She told me on a number of occasions how often she would hear her father scream in the middle of the night as he dreamed about watching his family be murdered. Unable to live with these memories, one night, her father hanged himself.

That man is one of millions of reasons Fuentes -- and those who ally themselves with him — will go to hell. If there is a just God.

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

COLUMN | RICHARD HUDSON

Richard

("Ricky") Wilson Lea

August 1, 1956 - November 26, 2022

Richard Wilson Lea, 66, of Eastwood, passed away peacefully at Hospice House in Pinehurst on Saturday, Nov 26, 2022.

Richard (“Ricky”) was born August 1, 1956, the second child of William and Carlene Lea. Immediately following graduation from Pinecrest High School in 1974, Ricky proudly enlisted into the United States Navy. Stationed aboard the USS Midway, Ricky served during the evacuation missions at the closing of the Vietnam War. After retiring from active duty, he continued to serve in the Naval Reserve until achieving full retirement in 1994, as a Petty Officer 1st Class.

While working on the family farm, Ricky expanded his passion for service by joining the Eastwood Volunteer Fire Department. That passion quickly grew and he built a career in the Pinehurst Fire Department serving 25 years and retiring as Battalion Chief in 2019. Ricky built lifelong friendships with his fellow firemen and regarded them as family.

His other passions included riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles, racing, and classic cars with his Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird being one of his most cherished cars in his collection. Ricky also loved studying The Bible and reading God’s Word. The scriptures brought him much comfort throughout his life and especially as he fought his illness in recent years. We will all look to these comforting words in the days ahead as we begin to face life without this wonderful man.

Ricky was preceded in death by his loving mother, Carlene Furr Lea; and infant son, Aaron.

He is survived by his son, Joshua Wilson Lea (Maegan), of Pinehurst; his daughter, Elizabeth Caroline Lea Tyndall (Jared), of Sanford; and his son, James Nolan Lea (Sophie), of Colorado Springs, CO. His father William “Bill” Lea (Linda); brother William “Billy” Lea; sister Donna Lea Ford (Wesley); sister Carla Lea Sehestedt (Jack); lifelong friend, Anisa Crosby. He is also survived by four grandchildren, who filled his heart with pure joy: Eloise Lea, Olivia Tyndall, Mabel Lea, and Allison Tyndall. Additionally, he was very much looking forward to a fifth grandchild on the way.

Peter A.S. Pfeiffer

September 17, 1959 - November 25, 2022

Peter A.S. Pfeiffer Sr., age 63, passed away on November 25th, 2022 after fighting a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born on September 17, 1959 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Alexis and Peggy Pfeiffer.

Peter impacted the lives of so many. His character, integrity and genuine caring was a light to those who knew him. Peter was always a fighter. He served as a Lieutenant in the 82nd airborne division. While he left active duty, he joined an Army Reserve unit and became Special Forces qualified. Peter volunteered many hours promoting Folds of Honor to help children of veterans. Peter was a dedicated coach for his daughter and son’s sports teams where the term “Lean Forward”, one of his favorite phrases, was born.

Peter lived his faith. He demonstrated his faith through the way in which he lived and treated others. He was a rocka warrior - a man of God. Peter hosted many home groups, served as an elder in his church, and was a missionary who traveled across the world to help those in need and spread the word of God.

Peter enjoyed reading book after book, journaling, spending nights playing games and watching movies and shows with his beloved family, and spending time outdoors. Peter was known to wake up before the crack of dawn. Before everyone else would wake up, he would send daily text messages to his children, work out for hours, and take his beloved Golden Retriever, Mo, on a walk. He’d always make just enough of his daily morning oatmeal so Mo could have his leftovers.

His love for his family and others who were blessed to be part of his life was steadfast. He is survived by his loving wife, Kristina Pfeiffer; his daughter Tiffany and his son Peter Jr, his Golden Retriever, Mo, two brothers, Walter Pfeiffer and Dale Pfeiffer; and also survived by one nephew, AP Pfeiffer.

Kevin Robert Sweeney

July 29, 1952 - November 24, 2022

Kevin Robert Sweeney, 70, of Hulett, WY, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of November 24, 2022, at his home in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Kevin was born in Arnaudville, Louisiana on July 29, 1952, to Robert Clinton Sweeney and Lenola LaPorte Sweeney. Growing up the eldest of 7, Kevin and his family moved from Louisiana to Chile on missionary work and later returned to Massapequa, New York where he graduated high school.

Anyone who knew Kevin would readily agree that he could not be still for long; therefore, when he decided to try his hand at carpentry it perfectly allowed him to travel to the unsuspecting town of Casper, Wyoming where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Kay Roberts. After surviving thorough vetting by Bonnie’s family, Kevin and Bonnie were married on December 22, 1979, in Hulett, Wyoming. They later welcomed two daughters, Holly and Brooke, who became his pride and joy.

Kevin was a passionate man who gave 100% to all his endeavors. Kevin could captivate an audience with his incredible stories, from how he met Bonnie, to how he taught his grandsons to appropriately water petrified wood.

Kevin would tell you that his greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He loved spending time together, whether it was flying with Bonnie to see the grandkids, showing the girls how to saddle their horses, teaching his grandsons to drive the Jeep, or going to check out trains with his brother-in-law, Ron. Kevin also took great pride in the time spent with his nieces and nephews imparting wisdom and cracking jokes. He would fondly recall bonding moments with his sister and brothers while at a music festival in Colorado or fishing in the mountains of North Carolina. Kevin looked forward to stopping at his in-laws in the morning to get some of Betty’s world-famous biscuits and gravy and talk shop with Donnie. He thoroughly enjoyed the hours spent roping with his brother-in-law, Jim, and devouring the fresh made donuts baked by Dianne.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughters, Holly Weiss and Brooke (Jason) Proskovec; grandsons, Jason and Gavin Weiss; sister, Mary Clare Sweeney; brothers, Colin (Rachel) Sweeney, Michael (Joanne) Sweeney, Tim (Patricia) Sweeney, and Dennis (Ruthie) Sweeney; mother-in-law, Betty Roberts, brothers-in-law, Ronald Roberts and Jim (Dianne) Roberts; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lenola Sweeney, and brother, Patrick Sweeney.

Edward "Ed" (Jr.) Deeb

February 25, 1946 ~ November 29, 2022

Edward "Ed" Deeb, Jr. of Pinehurst passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2022, at the age of 76.

Ed was born in Detroit, MI to the late Edward Deeb, Sr., and Mae Heintz Deeb. Following high school, Ed joined the Army, serving two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military he met his wife, Sheila. Ed was a dedicated and patriotic soldier that loved his country. He was a loving family man, and a devoted husband to his wife, Sheila. He enjoyed reading, working with his hands, and cooking. Ed had a deep and sincere love for his Lord and personal savior, Jesus Christ. He was a faithful member of Raeford Praise and Worship Center.

He leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Sheila Deeb of Pinehurst; his children, Edward Lewis and his spouse, Thoa of Apex, Jon Deeb and his spouse, Aley of Mechanicsville, VA; his grandchildren, Lindsay, Hannah, Mason, Sophia, and Benton; three great-grandchildren.

Memorial may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and/or St. Jude Children's Hospital