A pack of cars take a green flag restart during the NASCAR All-Star Cup Series auto race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in North Wilkesboro. Read about the week-long celebration of the venerable racetrack and how Sunday’s race unfolded with Kyle Larson winning the $1 million prize see page B1.
Biden campaign says
NC will be a priority in 2024 election
Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden ‘s reelection campaign is vowing to hold the states that won him the White House in 2020 but also compete in places it lost like North Carolina and increasingly Republicandominated Florida, providing what it says are “a number of viable pathways to the 270 electoral votes” needed to clinch four more years.
Julie Chavez Rodriguez wrote in a memo the campaign is planning early investments to try to retain battleground states Biden won in 2020 including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada and New Hampshire, and to hold Georgia and Arizona, which hadn’t voted Democratic in a presidential race in decades prior to three years ago.
But the campaign will also “look to expand the map even further in states like North Carolina and Florida” and Rodriguez said both would be included in a “7-figure” advertising buy that encompassed investments in a string of swing states.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longtime Angus Barn chef dies at 67
Raleigh
The longtime executive chef for the Angus Barn, Walter Royal, has died at the age of 67. Royal was hired at the Angus Barn in 1997. He would spend the rest of his life leading one of the most respected restaurants in North Carolina and appeared on the cooking competition Iron Chef America in 2006.
Remembrances and condolences from North Carolina restaurant and political luminaries immediately began pouring in Monday night on social media.
State Sen. Mike Woodard of Durham County wrote on Twitter, “With Walter Royal’s sudden passing, North Carolina has lost a true treasure. I bet he prepared more #ncpol meals than any other chef. Rest in peace, Chef.” Royal was only one of three chefs in the Angus Barn’s storied history and the only one to ever be granted the title of executive chef.
the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.
Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court got rid of a pandemic-related immigration case with a single sentence.
Justice Neil Gorsuch had a lot more to say, leveling harsh criticism of how governments, from small towns to the nation’s capital, responded to the gravest public health threat in a century.
The justice, a 55-year-old conservative who was President Donald Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee, called emergency measures taken during the COVID-19 crisis that killed more than 1 million Americans perhaps “the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country.”
He pointed to orders closing schools, restricting church services, mandating vaccines
and prohibiting evictions. His broadside was aimed at local, state and federal officials — even his colleagues.
“Executive officials across the country issued emergency decrees on a breathtaking scale,” Gorsuch wrote in an eightpage statement Thursday that accompanied an expected Supreme Court order formally dismissing a case involving the use of the Title 42 policy to prevent asylum seekers from entering the United States.
The policy was ended last week with the expiration of the public health emergency first declared more than three years ago because of the coronavirus pandemic.
From the start of his Supreme Court tenure in 2017, Gorsuch, a Colorado native who
See COVID, page A2
By Matt Mercer North State JournalRALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday said a ‘state of emergency’ exists over the future of North Carolina’s public education.
“It’s time to declare a state of emergency for public education in North Carolina. There’s no Executive Order like with a hurricane or the pandemic, but it’s no less important,” said Cooper in a six-minute statement.
“It’s clear that the Republican legislature is aiming to choke the life out of public education. I’m declaring this state of emergency because you need to know what’s happening. If you care about public schools in North Carolina, it’s time to take immediate action and tell them to stop the damage that will set back our schools for a generation,” he continued.
The governor and his team highlighted three areas they claim are threatened.
First, Cooper launched an attack on a universal school choice bill expected to be sent to him with a veto-proof margin. That bill, HB 823, would allow the state’s popular Opportunity Scholarship program to be extended on an income-based scale to all families in the state. It passed the N.C. House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 17 and is awaiting action in the N.C. Senate.
Derisively calling the program a “voucher scheme,” Cooper says tax dollars would be poured into private schools “that are unaccountable to the public and can decide which students they want to keep out.” He also complained that “even millionaires” could get taxpayer money for their children’s tuition.
A summary of the bill includes a provision stating that no student is awarded more than the required
See EDUCATION, page A8
“The governor is advocating for systems rather than students themselves. Education is not one-sizefits-all and NC families should have the freedom to determine what kind of education is best for them.”
State Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Mecklenburg) By A.P. Dillon North State JournalRALEIGH — A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court involving California’s Proposition 12 may have ramifications for North Carolina pork producers.
The case, brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation (the plaintiffs) against the secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, challenged the California law forbidding the instate sale of whole pork meat from pigs raised in a “confined in a cruel manner.”
Proposition 12 was passed in 2018 and among its requirements is that sows should have at least 24 square feet of living space.
The plaintiffs in the case had argued that “Proposition 12 violates the U. S. Constitution by impermissibly burdening interstate commerce,” per the Supreme Court’s ruling. They also alleged estimated costs of compliance would make production costs rise – a cost borne by producers outside of California.
According to the plaintiff’s filing, “California consumes 13% of U.S. pork, but produces only 0.1% of what it consumes,” and that the requirements would “disrupt the $26-billion-a-year market in pork, force California’s preferred production methods on farmers everywhere, and impose the high costs of those methods on out-of-state farmers and consumers.”
The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Ninth Circuit
which had upheld the district court’s ruling. The district court had ruled the petitioners’ complaint failed to state a claim as a matter of law and had dismissed the case.
“We are very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s opinion,” National Pork Producers Council President and Missouri pork producer Scott Hays said in a press release. “Allowing state overreach will increase prices for consumers and drive small farms out of business, leading to more consolidation. We are still evaluating the Court’s full opinion to understand all the implications. NPPC will continue to fight for our nation’s pork farmers and American families against misguided regulations.”
Cooper declares ‘state of emergency’ over Republican education policies
US Supreme Court ruling on pork products may have ramifications for NC
COVID emergency orders are among ‘greatest intrusions on civil liberties,’ Justice Gorsuch says
The North Carolina Pork Council (NCPC) also issued a statement on the ruling.
We are disappointed in the decision from the US Supreme Court,” the NCPC statement said in part. “Hog farmers in North Carolina do not understand how the State of California could have any say in how hogs are raised in NC. The pork produced here is safe, abundant and affordable. California’s Proposition 12 will increase prices for consumers in California.”
“We are in the midst of the most challenging economic times our industry has seen in the last 20 years. The cost of production is at record high levels,” NCPC’s statement says. “That’s the cost of feed, equipment, labor and other supplies. Nothing in Proposition 12 will help farmers deal with those record costs. In fact, compliance with Proposition 12 will significantly increase costs for NC hog farmers with no corresponding return on that investment.”
North Carolina’s economy is heavily tied to agriculture and pork production is a major factor.
The pork industry generates $10 billion in economic output for the state per an economic impact report published in 2019 by NC State University. The report cites pork production and processing categories as contributing $5.9 billion in sales, providing 19,298 jobs, and accounting for almost 20% of the state’s total cash receipts.
According to the most recent data on the NC Office of State Budget and Management website, the state has over 8.4 million hogs and pigs.
North Carolina was third in the country for hog production in 2022 at 8 million, behind Iowa (23 million) and Minnesota (8.6 million).
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision was not a clean one, as well-re-
Psalm 46:1
Philippians 4:13
Many a great battle is won by the reserves. The struggle is perfectly balanced, and victory is uncertain. Then, one side or the other brings up the reserve army, and instantly the question is settled.
Life’s battles and crises are often determined in the same manner: by reserve resources — or their absence.
Our days are not all bright, easy, and free of pain. The course is not always smooth. We all have tasks and duties which completely overwhelm our ability. We are all assailed by spiritual foes and temptations — and victory comes only if we can call our reserves into action.
Blessed are those who have learned to draw on the infinite resources of divine
strength. With the fullness of God as a reserve, they can never fail.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
“And my God will meet all your needs
according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.
ported by the website SCOTUS Blog, with the justices being split among various parts of the ruling.
“Companies that choose to sell products in various States must normally comply with the laws of those various States. Assuredly, under this Court’s dormant Commerce Clause decisions, no State may use its laws to discriminate purposefully against out-of-state economic interests,” wrote Justice Gorsuch, who delivered the opin-
ion. “But the pork producers do not suggest that California’s law offends this principle. Instead, they invite us to fashion two new and more aggressive constitutional restrictions on the ability of States to regulate goods sold within their borders. We decline that invitation. While the Constitution addresses many weighty issues, the type of pork chops California merchants may sell is not on that list.”
Of the various concurrence and
differing of justices in the ruling, Justice Barrett disagreed on a Pike claim made by the plaintiffs.
“… I disagree with my colleagues who would hold that petitioners have failed to allege a substantial burden on interstate commerce,” wrote Barrett. “The complaint plausibly alleges that Proposition 12’s costs are pervasive, burdensome, and will be felt primarily (but not exclusively) outside California. For this reason, I do not join Part
IV–C of JUSTICE GORSUCH’s opinion. If the burdens and benefits were capable of judicial balancing, I would permit petitioners to proceed with their Pike claim.”
The Pike claim refers to the Supreme Court’s 1970 decision in Pike v. Bruce Church. Under that claim, they argued that the benefits for California residents shouldn’t have more bearing than the costs Proposition 12 places on out-of-state parties.
loves to ski and bicycle, has been more willing than most justices to part company with his colleagues, both left and right.
He has mainly voted with the other conservatives in his six years as a justice, joining the majority that overturned Roe v. Wade and expanded gun rights last year.
But he has charted a different course on some issues, writing the court’s 2020 opinion that extended federal protections against workplace discrimination to LGBTQ people. He also has joined with the liberal justices in support of Native American rights. When the omicron variant surged in late 2021 and early 2022, Gorsuch was the lone justice to appear in the courtroom unmasked even as his seatmate, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who
has diabetes, reportedly did not feel safe in close quarters with people who were not wearing masks.
So Sotomayor, who continues to wear a mask in public, did not take the bench with the other justices in January 2022. The two justices denied reports they were at odds over the issue.
The emergency orders about which Gorsuch complained were first announced in the early days of the pandemic, when Trump was president, and months before the virus was well understood and a vaccine was developed.
The thrust of his complaint is not new. He has written before in individual cases that came to the court during the pandemic, sometimes dissenting from orders that left emergency decrees in place.
The justices intervened in several COVID-related cases. With Gorsuch and five oth-
er conservatives in the majority, they ended the eviction moratorium and blocked a Biden administration plan to require workers at larger companies to be vaccinated or wear a mask and submit to regular testing. Once Amy Coney Barrett joined the court, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, they ended restrictions on religious services in some areas. By a 5-4 vote from which
Gorsuch and three conservative colleagues dissented, the court allowed the administration to require many health care workers to be vaccinated.
Gorsuch gathered his complaints in one place, writing about lessons he hoped might be learned from the past three years.
“One lesson might be this: Fear and the desire for safety are powerful forces. They can lead to a clamor for action —almost any action — as long as someone does something to address a perceived threat. A leader or an expert who claims he can fix everything, if only we do exactly as he says, can prove an irresistible force,” he wrote.
Another possible lesson, he wrote: “The concentration of power in the hands of so few may be efficient and sometimes popular. But it does not tend toward sound government.”
He also had strong words for the Republican-led states that tried to keep the Title 42 policy in place, and the five conservatives justices whose votes extended the policy five months beyond when it would have otherwise ended in late December.
“At the very least, one can hope that the Judiciary will not soon again allow itself to be part of the problem by permitting litigants to manipulate our docket to perpetuate a decree designed for one emergency to address another,” Gorsuch wrote.
In the final paragraph of his statement, Gorsuch acknowledged, but only grudgingly, that emergency orders sometimes are necessary. “Make no mistake — decisive executive action is sometimes necessary and appropriate. But if emergency decrees promise to solve some problems, they threaten to generate others,” he wrote.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“The concentration of power in the hands of so few may be efficient and sometimes popular. But it does not tend toward sound government.”
Justice Neil Gorsuch
RALEIGH — Surry County elementary principal Donna L. Bledsoe was named the 2023 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year at a ceremony held in Raleigh on May 19. Bledsoe has been the principal of Cedar Ridge Elementary School since 2016. In 2022, the school was named by the North Carolina Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development as one of two Lighthouse Schools for its positive atmosphere and advancement of student achievement and innovation.
“Mrs. Bledsoe and her staff tru-
ly have put students at the center of all that they do,” State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a statement. “It’s one thing to say that and another thing entirely to make it happen, every day, in every class and with every student. It’s clear that Cedar Ridge does. That takes committed and visionary leadership.”
Bledsoe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Appalachian State University in 2004. Since then, she has only worked in the Surry County School district. Her first role was as a third-grade teacher. She also served as an elementary school assistant principal before being promoted to principal in
RALEIGH — At a May 19 event ahead of the annual Got To Be NC Festival in Raleigh, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness in the state has risen from $92.9 billion last year to over $103.2 billion this year.
Agriculture is North Carolina’s top industry and accounts for one fifth of the state’s workforce.
NC Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Dr. Sandy Stewart delivered the news at the event as Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was unexpectedly called away.
“When I took office in 2005, the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness was $59 billion and $100 billion seemed like a good goal to work toward.
In 2016, I made a prediction that North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness industry would soon reach $100 billion,” Troxler
said in a press release. “I’m proud to say that we’ve reached that goal and surpassed last year’s economic impact by more than 11%. Reaching this milestone is a big accomplishment for everyone in agriculture and agribusiness and proves how much we can accomplish when we are all pulling together.”
Troxler’s statement said that the over $103 billion economic impact figures were from N.C. State economist and professor emeritus Dr. Mike Walden.
The figures use the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics and reflect the state’s economic value of growing, process -
2015. She also obtained a Master of Arts degree as a curriculum specialist from Appalachian State in 2008.
“Congratulations to Mrs. Bledsoe and Cedar Ridge Elementary on this well-deserved honor,” said
Juan Austin, Community Impact and Sustainability Senior Manager for Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo is proud to continue our support for the North Carolina Principal of the Year program and to celebrate administrators like Mrs. Bledsoe who serve as leaders and role models for all of us. They inspire us through their tireless commitment to their schools, students and communities.”
As the Principal of the Year, Bledsoe will travel the state as an ambassador for the profession during the 2023-24 school year.
As the 2023 winner, she receives $3,000 for personal use, $3,000 for their school, an engraved vase, a custom-made N.C. Principal of the Year signet ring from Jostens, and resources to help combat child hunger from No Kid Hungry NC.
“As a staff, we reimagined our school mission, vision and belief statements around our organizational values,” Bledsoe said in her submission to the Principal of the Year selection committee. She
also said her staff decided on their main purpose “to do what is best for students.”
The other finalists for the 2023 award included:
Northeast: John Lassiter, Hertford Grammar (Perquimans County Schools)
Sandhills: Jim Butler, Richmond Senior High (Richmond County Schools)
Northwest: Jessica Gravel, Drexel Elementary (Burke County Public Schools)
Southeast: Ashley Faulkenberry, Trent Park Elementary (Craven County Schools)
North Central: Dr. William Logan, Hillside High (Durham Public Schools)
Western: Ruafika Cobb, Ira B. Jones Elementary (Asheville City Schools)
Southwest: Tonya Williams, Concord Middle (Cabarrus County Schools)
Charter: T.J. Worrell, NE Academy for Aerospace and Advance Technologies (Elizabeth City).
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) received some good news about its spending plan based on a recent audit report by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor (OSA).
According to the audit report, the NCDOT did not exceed its spending plan for the 2022 fiscal year.
“Department planned to spend approximately $6.86 billion, and actually spent $6.34 billion,” according to the OSA.
Per the findings, the NCDOT appeared to have implemented the OSA’s recommendations to develop spending plans based on operations and specific projects as well as conduct monitoring and enforcement of the spending plans.
engineer’s office and that the agency’s spending plan was not based on actual cost estimates for operations and projects. The overspending and budget issues resulted in construction contracts being cut by $2 billion that year accompanied by rolling employee furloughs.
The audit was followed by a legislative hearing featuring testimony from State Auditor Beth Wood who said cash mismanagement was “absolutely” a factor.
A second audit of the NCDOT by the OSA in 2020 found improper salary raises and adjustments totaling around $39 million.
ing and delivering food, natural fiber and forestry products.
“We are blessed to have a strong, resilient, and engaged agriculture community that includes farmers, agribusiness owners, commodity associations, agricultural associations and effective leadership in the North Carolina General Assembly,” Troxler said. “I can assure you we will set new goals and keep North Carolina agriculture growing.”
Speakers included Interim NC State University CALS Dean John Dole, incoming CALS Dean Garey Fox, NC A&T State University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Associate Dean Antoine Alston, NC Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding, and NC Grange President Jimmy Gentry. Both Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) and Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin) were also on hand to deliver remarks and congratulations.
A theme among all of the speakers was that of the partnerships built between research, agribusiness, lawmakers, and farmers. Several of the speakers highlighted the importance of the family farm and of small farms, referring to them as the “foundation” and “backbone” of the state’s agricultural industry.
Following the economic impact announcement there was an event celebrating N.C. Forever Farms, which are farms that have a permanent conservation easement.
The findings of this most recent report are an improvement over the prior’s year’s audit which found the NCDOT was still at risk of exceedingly its spending plan.
In 2002, a law was enacted requiring the OSA to conduct annual performance audit’s of the NCDOT’s spending plan due to persistent issues with the fiscal management of the agency.
A 2020 audit of the NCDOT found overspending of $742 million mainly due to lack of planning and monitoring by the chief
Following the audits in July 2020, N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell called for the COO and CFO of the NCDOT to resign. Around the same time, a bill altering the board for the NCDOT became law without Governor Roy Cooper’s signature. The law sought to increase oversight of the department in the wake of the poor audit results by allowing the General Assembly to pick six of the 20 members. The board has 19 voting members, all of whom were chosen by the governor prior to the law change.
Just before the audits were published, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the NCDOT Secretary James Trogdon had resigned on Feb. 4. 2020.
“Mrs. Bledsoe and her staff truly have put students at the center of all that they do.”State
Superintendent Catherine Truitt
“I can assure you we will set new goals and keep North Carolina agriculture growing.”Agriculture Commissioner
Steve Troxler
PURELY FROM A COST/BENEFIT analysis angle, what the Biden administration is doing ― and not doing ― at the border doesn’t make any financial sense at all.
Whether they let every illegal entrant stay in the US or deport them back to their home country, US taxpayers are left holding the bag and paying tens of billions of their tax dollars each year, much of which is supporting a very expensive, and many times a very inhumane, merrygo-round.
another $2000 to transport them back to their home country for a total of over $15,000 per deported person.
The cost just to deport 1.3 million people in one year alone, 2021, was $19.5 billion.
The estimate to complete the border wall under President Donald Trump over four years was $18 billion ― total.
The estimate to complete the Border Wall under President Donald Trump over four years was $18 billion ― total.
People who cross the border are detained and processed by Homeland Security border patrol agents ― which costs a lot of money. The total annual cost for US border patrol personnel and operations is over $5 billion, up from $263 million in 1990.
Six million people have crossed the southern border illegally since Joe Biden became president. His reasons have never been fully explained in a coherent manner ― which is not unusual for this president and his entire cabinet to be honest.
We have experienced a massive surge of illegal immigrants before. President George W. Bush essentially turned a blind eye to the flood of immigrants from 2002 to 2008 ostensibly bowing to agriculture and construction interests who wanted more low-wage workers to pick produce and build buildings.
Maybe President Biden is trying to out-do Bush 43.
However, not every illegal immigrant is allowed to stay in America forever. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Homeland Security are actually deporting millions of them ― as they are supposed to do.
According to the Yearbook on Immigration Statistics, over 1.3 million illegals who crossed the border previously were returned to their home country in 2021. God only knows when some of them entered the US but at least in Biden’s first year in office, Homeland Security personnel were allowed to do their jobs.
89,191 noncitizens were confirmed removed from the US based on a government-issued order of removal. 178,227 people returned to their home of origin on their own volition. 1,071,074 people were expelled based on public health grounds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic under US Code Title 42 which was recently rescinded.
The process to deport each immigrant costs at least $13,000 in taxpayer money if they are denied permanent status in the US. It costs
WE’RE LIVING IN A WORLD gone mad, as evidenced by some “new normals” that Democrats are proposing that are not normal at all.
Take, for instance, some suggestions we heard in the aftermath of the death of 30-year-old homeless man, Jordan Neely, who died on May 1st after being subdued by multiple passengers on a New York City subway for allegedly behaving in an aggressive and threatening manner, saying he was hungry and didn’t care if he got arrested.
The most complete, modern, up-to-date high-tech physical and virtual border wall could have been built with the same amount of money American taxpayers paid in one year to allow people to enter the country illegally; detain them; process them and send them back home.
It is a cruel thing on the part of the Biden administration to entice millions of desperate families to risk everything to try to enter the United States. 90% of the people who are deported hail from Mexico, Latin and South America. All of them, people of modest means, paid up to $10,000 of their own meager resources to someone, ethical or not, to help them make the 1,125-mile trek from the Guatemala border to the US border, enduring serious hardship and physical harm along the way.
How “compassionate” is it to dangle the possibility of asylum in America to such people and then turn around and send them home after they wasted $10,000 and a year of their life?
None of this includes the cost to the taxpayer for any “got-aways” ― people who enter illegally and never show up for their court date. Various estimates say each illegal costs $65,000 in government assistance during their time in the US. We may never know what the final accumulated cost is to the federal government and state capitals now inundated with immigrants.
If the Biden administration somehow deports every one of the six million people who have entered the US illegally since he took office, the US taxpayer will spend $90 billion to process and deport all of them.
What a colossal waste of taxpayer money to have such an inhumane merry-go-round at the border.
It doesn’t make any sense at all.
In her reaction to Neely’s death, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) insinuated that mentally ill people have the right to intimidate and harass others.
“Neely’s last words were literally about how going to jail was easier than accessing the social safety net support to get back on his feet and lead a life,” she tweeted. “Yet leaders want to raise his record as if that warrants a public execution on the subway?”
Though multiple witnesses have described how Neely was acting on the train, Rev. Al Sharpton stirred the pot during the eulogy he gave for Neely, claiming “Jordan was not annoying someone on the train” and that people like Neely “don’t need abuse, they need help.”
Rev. Al Sharpton stirred the pot, claiming “Jordan was not annoying someone on the train.”
Prior to the incident, Neely, who was a well-known fixture on NYC streets and subways and had an extensive arrest record of over 40 arrests, with four of them for alleged assault.
24-year-old Marine Daniel Penny, seen in the video clip putting Neely in what some have called a “submission hold” or “headlock,” has been charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with second-degree manslaughter over Neely’s death, though some witnesses have described Penny as a reluctant “hero” who only intervened after Neely became more erratic and unpredictable.
In a commentary on what happened, far-left “Majority Report” cohost Emma Vigeland actually suggested that people who were being victimized should check their privilege and feel more sympathetic for the plight of the person harassing/assaulting them than they should for themselves. Incredibly, Vigeland talked about how she herself was allegedly a victim of a mentally unwell subway passenger assaulting her, but that her heart went out to the person who hit her in the course of an outburst.
“My fear is not the primary object we should be focusing on right now,” Vigeland suggested. “It’s the fact that this person is in pain.”
“And so, like, the politics of dehumanization, privileges, the bourgeois kind of concern of people’s, like, immediate discomfort in this narrow, narrow instance, as opposed to larger humanity and life. It’s really freaking twisted,” she continued.
While everyone would agree that people with mental health issues need help, what’s astonishing is that there is disagreement on whether it should be ok for people to defend themselves when someone else is going through a mental episode to the point they are threatening others and perhaps putting them in danger.
I like to consider myself a compassionate person, but I’m pretty sure the first thing I’m going to think about if I’m on a bus or train and someone is harassing me is not “I feel so bad for this person and what they’re going through on the inside.”
I’m going to do what I can to defend myself and also pray that the person is apprehended before they can hurt me or someone else.
If the Emma Vigelands and the AOCs of this world want to sit back and take being abused by someone who is mentally ill in the name of political correctness and wokeness, they can go right ahead. But for pretty much everyone else, the survival instinct is understandably going to kick in, and they are going to do what they need to do to protect themselves and others.
As they should.
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
Democrats push for ‘new normals’ that aren’t normal at allEDITORIAL | FRANK HILL
THE CURRENT REPORTS of executive branch illegality make Watergate look like kindergarten mischief.
It is clear from the Durham Report and the work of House Republican hearings that the current scandals in the Biden White House — and senior bureaucracies at the Justice Department, IRS, and elsewhere — are much deeper and more cancerous than Watergate ever was.
Garland seems to be doing a lot more obstructing of justice than Mitchell ever dreamed of doing.
It may be hard to remember, but Watergate came about due to a weird, dumb, and fairly narrow set of criminal behaviors which mushroomed into 69 officials being indicted and 48 imprisoned. I remember Watergate vividly, because I first ran for Congress in 1974 during the Watergate scandal.
President Richard Nixon had won the largest popular vote majority in modern history in 1972 (60.7% to 37.5%). He won every state and territory except Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.
Two short years later, he became the first president to resign from office.
In an idiotic move, the Nixon Presidential campaign sent five men to burglarize the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. Aside from being a crime, it was idiotic because Nixon was clearly going to win in a landslide. They did not need any information. But the Nixon re-elect campaign had so much money, had hired so many people, and had become so drunk with power that it lost control of what it was doing.
The real problem came when President Nixon and his team intervened to try to control the investigation. Ultimately, the President used the CIA, the FBI, and the IRS to try to divert and cover up the involvement of the campaign with the Watergate burglars.
John Mitchell became the first attorney general to be sent to jail. He was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury. He was ultimately sentenced to 19 months in a federal minimum-security prison in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mitchell is an extremely important parallel to the current disaster because Attorney General Merrick Garland seems to be doing a lot more obstructing of justice than Mitchell ever dreamed of doing. Garland’s Justice Department
reportedly instructed the IRS to disband the unit investigating Hunter Biden’s taxes. He has used the FBI to harass former President Donald Trump and a wide range of Republicans. And he has turned a blind eye to every report of foreign money going to the Biden family ($3 million in one Chinese transaction, a diamond sent to Hunter Biden, millions of dollars sent by the widow of the Mayor of Moscow, etc.).
Garland’s also done nothing with the clear references to “the big guy” in various Hunter Biden emails. He’s ignored the testimony of Hunter Biden’s associates that Joe Biden was actively supporting them as vice president. The list goes on.
If Nixon’s White House was trying, unsuccessfully, to manipulate the IRS, the FBI, and the CIA, Biden’s White House has become quite good at it. These institutions are now so corrupted that their senior leadership is instinctively willing to break the law, frame the innocent, and obstruct justice in defense of their chosen leader. This includes lying to FISA courts, leaking falsehoods to the equally corrupt elite media, and isolating and punishing would-be whistle blowers.
Compare the shock of Democrats and Republicans in the Watergate era with the staunch unwillingness of virtually any Democrat to go after the Biden family scandals — or to be infuriated at the blatant abuses of power and obstructions of justice.
The Durham Report had an impact, because it began to build a narrative of such institutional illegality and corruption that the hand of the House Republican investigators has been dramatically strengthened.
Over the next few months, we will learn more about just how sick the system has become, just how dishonest the elite corporate media are, and just how deep the need for reform is.
In Watergate, a narrow trail of idiotic criminal behavior and cover up led to 69 officials being indicted and 48 going to jail.
When the tide turns, and honest people are once again openly enraged and demanding action, we are going to learn just how much corruption there is.
At that point, we will realize that Watergate was a modest preliminary venture into lawbreaking. The Biden-Garland-establishment system is filled with criminality on a grand scale.
AS THE FORMER North Carolina State Veterinarian, I have a profound interest in the care and well-being of animals raised in our state. That’s why I was so disappointed in a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court which imposes arbitrary — and potentially harmful — standards on how North Carolina farmers raise pigs. These standards create an environment less favorable to the health and well-being of pigs compared to the conditions under which they are currently raised.
The May 11 ruling (National Pork Producers Council v Ross) allows the State of California to move forward with Proposition 12, a 2018 ballot initiative put forward by the Humane Society of the United States. Prop 12 requires all pork sold in California to come from female breeding pigs (sows) that are raised in pens with a minimum of 24 square feet of space. For some of you, that probably sounds reasonable. Even admirable.
But there are important factors to consider when it comes to animal wellbeing. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians, an expert on these issues, concluded that changing the way sows are raised is likely to do more harm than good.
There are many different types of sow housing. Pig farmers in North Carolina use a combination of group housing and individual gestation stalls when caring for sows.
Individual stalls protect each sow from more aggressive animals in the pens and allow each animal to receive personalized care. Group housing or pen gestation allows for greater movement for the sows but also subjects smaller or timid sows to more aggressive animals.
We’ve all heard stories about “Boss Hog” and those stories are true. In any group of sows, one or two animals are dominant. They bully the smaller sows and get more feed and water.
That’s why leading veterinary groups oppose California’s new requirements.
In addition to the potential harm these changes could create for our animals, Prop 12 also poses a threat to North Carolina’s $11 billion pork industry. Adopting new standards will be extremely costly, requiring farmers to retrofit barns or significantly reduce the number of sows they raise. Those increased costs will be passed onto consumers, not just in California but across the country.
What is the right answer?
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians says: “The best solution for animal welfare is for each team of farmers and veterinarians to have flexibility to determine the housing arrangements that are best for their animals in their circumstances.”
I’ll go one step farther and say that each state should have the flexibility to determine what is best for their animals. The court made a supreme mistake in allowing Prop 12 to move forward. It will do nothing to improve the welfare of the animals. On the contrary, it could create a less desirable environment for sows and their piglets while increasing production costs for farmers and pork prices for consumers.
R. Douglas Merkes lives in Apex
BE IN
THIS HAS BEEN the year for school choice all over the country. At least six additional states joined Arizona and Florida to give parents the funds to send their children to private and charter schools.
King represents a Texas Panhandle school district where less than half of students are at or above grade level in reading.
Surprisingly, deep-red Texas is not among these states — at least not yet. Currently, there is no school choice in the Lone Star State for lowincome parents. Gov. Greg Abbott and a broad coalition of parent groups are pushing for the state House to clear a historic education savings account bill that has already passed the state Senate.
But a small handful of rural Republican politicians in the House are still voting with the Democrats and teachers unions to block a measure that would give over 5 million Texas students and their parents the power to decide which school to attend. Rural representatives are arguing that this would take money from their local grade schools and high schools.
State Reps. Ken King, a former school board president from Canadian, Texas, Gary VanDeaver, a former school superintendent from New Boston, Texas, and Drew Darby of San Angelo, Texas, are among the Republicans holding up this game-changing bill. They all argue that the public schools in their districts are working just fine.
Really? King represents a Texas Panhandle school district where less than half of students are at or above grade level in reading, and only
40% of students in his district are at or above grade level in math. VanDeaver represents a northeast Texas district where only 52% of students in his district are at or above grade level in reading, and only 43% are at or above grade level for math. Darby’s Central Texas district has less than half of the children reading or doing math at or above grade level.
An additional Republican lawmaker, state Rep. Ernest Bailes from the small Southeast Texas city of Shepherd, is voting against choice even though only 27% of students are performing at or above grade level in math in his district.
Are these Republicans really arguing this miserable performance is the best Texas can do for its children? The opponents also fail to acknowledge that the bill they oppose actually directs more money per student for rural district schools and higher pay for teachers. Meanwhile, states such as Arizona report improvements in test scores in rural areas once schools had to compete for students with private schools.
All this is to say that education choice is proving to be a win-win for Texas children that stay in public schools and the families who are given the funds to opt for better alternatives.
Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. His latest book is “Govzilla: How the Relentless Growth of Government Is Devouring Our Economy.”
Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.
The Associated Press
TIMOTHY KELLER, a pastor and best-selling author who founded the influential Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, died Friday morning at home after three-year bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.
His family announced that he had been in hospice care, and that he died with his wife of 48 years, Kathy, by his side.
Keller and his family launched Redeemer in 1989, and the congregation went on to welcome more than 5,000 attendees across its multiple locations each week.
A new evangelical church in Manhattan filled with young adults was unique in a city known more for its secularism and the Gothic spires of its older sanctuaries. But Keller was passionate about evangelizing to people in cities, and his ministry would go on to help start 1,000 churches in 150 other cities around the world.
Keller became an evangelical Christian in college, and he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America in 1975. Active in the so-called New Calvinist movement, Keller brought a gentleness to a brand of Christianity known for its emphasis on sin and the depravity of humanity.
He once wrote, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
Keller’s teachings reached far beyond the spaces that Redeemer rented for its Sunday services. He wrote prolifically for the public in erudite essays and 31 books, several of them New York Times bestsellers. In 2005, he helped found the Gospel Coalition, a prominent network of conservative evangelical churches and New Calvinist leaders.
Keller was quick to point out that Christianity did not fit neatly into a two-party political system.
Though he eschewed the bombast of a culture warrior, many of his views on hot-button social issues — same-sex marriage and abortion — remained conservative but nuanced.
Still, in an essay for The New Yorker in 2017, Keller lamented that it was harder to wear the label “evangelical” after President Donald Trump’s election, which many other leading evangelicals had championed.
“’Evangelical’ used to denote people who claimed the high moral ground; now, in popular usage, the word is nearly synonymous with ‘hypocrite,’” he wrote.
“When I used the word to describe myself in the nineteen-seventies, it meant I was not a fundamentalist. If I use the name today, however, it means to hearers that
I am.”
Among those expressing admiration for Keller on Friday was former President George W. Bush.
“He was a great church builder, a prolific author, and a profound philosopher,” Bush said in a statement. “I’m one of many who is blessed to have learned from Dr. Keller’s teachings and benefited from his compassion.”
Keller was born in 1950 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Bill and Louise Keller. He was educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. Early in his career, he served churches and ministries in Virginia and Georgia. He stepped down from his senior pastor role at Redeemer in 2017 but continued on as a staff
member.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, David, Michael, and Jonathan, his sister Sharon Johnson, along with his three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.
Keller was diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer in 2020. In the years since, he chronicled his treatments and asked for prayers from his more than 900,000 social media followers.
In 2020, he published a short book, “On Death,” which urged Christians not to fear their mortal end.
“When you are at a funeral, especially one for a friend or a loved one,” he wrote, “listen to God speaking to you, telling you that everything in life is temporary except for His love.”
$3 billion accounting error means the Pentagon can send more weapons to Ukraine Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon has overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by at least $3 billion — an accounting error that could be a boon for the war effort because it will allow the Defense Department to send more weapons now without asking Congress for more money.
The acknowledgment comes at a time when Pentagon is under increased pressure by Congress to show accountability for the billions of dollars it has sent in weapons, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine and as some lawmakers question whether that level of support should continue.
It also could free up more money for critical weapons as Ukraine is on the verge of a much anticipated counteroffensive — which will require as much military aid as they can get. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously said the offensive was delayed because they did not yet have everything they needed.
The error was caused when officials overvalued some of the systems sent to Ukraine, using the value of money it would cost to replace an item completely rather than the current value of the weapon. In many of the military aid packages, the Pentagon has opted to draw from its stockpiles of older, existing gear because it can get those items to Ukraine faster.
To date the U.S. has provided Ukraine nearly $37 billion in military aid since Russia invaded in February 2022. The bulk of that has been in weapons systems, millions of munitions and ammunition rounds, and an array of trucks, sensors, radars and other equipment pulled from Pentagon stockpiles and sent quickly to Ukraine.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
tuition and fees of the school the student attends.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Mecklenburg), countered in a statement.
“The governor is advocating for systems rather than students themselves. Education is not one-size-fits-all and NC families should have the freedom to determine what kind of education is best for them. My bill to expand the Opportunity Scholarship program, to allow all NC families to make that choice, will soon be on his desk, waiting on his signature. NC kids are waiting, Governor! Stop the political theater and put kids first!”
Cotham’s support for school choice was well-known prior to her move to the Republican Party in April. That has angered Cooper and his allies, who have worked to oppose those in his party who support school choice.
That includes former Democratic Rep. Marcus Brandon, who tweeted in response, “Gov Cooper has 0% credibility on this issue. He spent 40k to one of the top private schools and diverted funds from public schools for his daughter. It’s disingenuous and elitist. This is exhibit A why he and Dems continue to lose elections at historic proportions.”
The second plank of Cooper’s outline was the issue of teacher raises and education staffing levels.
“The chance to fix our teacher shortage will also evaporate if the legislature chooses corporations over classrooms. We have more than 5,000 teacher vacancies in kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, leaving tens of thousands of students without a qualified educator. Our students deserve good teachers. That’s why, instead of tax breaks for rich folks and private school vouchers, I’ve proposed a pay raise of 18% over the next two years because our teachers deserve better pay and more respect,” said Cooper in his address.
In his budget proposal earlier
this year, he included a massive spending effort to give teachers a pay bump – more than double the amount he included for state government workers. At an event in Hoke County touting his budget recommendations, he said “I put education number one right now, and we have to do that,” Cooper said about the disparity between teacher and state government raises.
He criticized the N.C. Senate’s budget as a “tax giveaway” to the wealthy that harms the state’s youngest learners.
Families and businesses across the state have called for strong investments in early childhood education. But so far, the legislature is turning its back on children, parents and the businesses that want to hire these parents by shortchanging pre-K, Smart Start and quality child care. Our strong state economy is built on strong schools at every level,” said Cooper.
The N.C. Senate budget, which passed with numerous Democrats voting with all Republicans, spends over $17.2 billion on education in the 2023–24 fiscal year and over $17.6 billion the following year.
“After more than a decade of responsible fiscal policy North Carolina remains on steady ground as we continue to face economic uncertainty,” Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson), a senior appropriations chair, said his chamber’s funding package.
N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore’s Communications Director, Demi Dowdy, told North State Journal, “The governor’s political stunts and misinformation are simply counterproductive. The House and Senate are currently hard at work negotiating a budget that will include pay raises for teachers, tax cuts for families, and expands school choice for students.”
The third plank of Cooper’s criticism of legislative Republicans was an effort to, in his words, “inject culture wars into the classroom.”
“If they get their way, our State Board of Education will be replaced by political hacks who can dictate what is taught — and not taught — in our public schools. North Carolina schools need rigorous science, reading and math classes, not more politicians policing our children’s curriculum with
book bans, elimination of science courses and more” he said, adding that “put together, these ideas spell disaster that requires emergency action. The North Carolina I know was built on support for public schools and we can’t let the legislature tear them down.”
That appears to be a reference to proposed legislation that would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2024 to allow voters to choose the members of the powerful State Board of Education.
The proposed amendment, which is not certain to even pass both chambers, is being held up by Cooper to claim that politicians would be able to micromanage teachers and target LGBTQ+ students.
Left out of Cooper’s statement about culture wars are his opposition to both parents’ bill of rights legislation and opposition to forbidding biological males from competing in girls’ sports.
Two bills from previous sessions that would align with supporting parental involvement in schools were vetoed by the governor.
A bill titled Ensuring Dignity and Nondiscrimination in Schools, which passed the General Assembly in 2021, would have forbidden the teaching of Critical Race Theory-aligned lessons in schools. In a veto message of that bill, Cooper said the bill pushed “calculated, conspiracy-laden politics in public education.”
The second, the Free the Smiles Act in early 2022, would have allowed parents to choose whether their children would wear face masks in schools. Cooper vetoed that bill as well, which allowed boards of education around the state to compel masking of students.
“I’m fighting back, and I need you to do it too. Public schools can survive this legislative session if we can limit the damage, but we all need to pull together to do it,” Cooper said in closing. A statewide tour echoing his unsuccessful effort to enforce a veto of the state’s 12-week abortion limit is expected in the coming days.
Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins formally resigns in wake of ethics probes
Worcester, Mass. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins formally resigned Friday after wide-ranging investigations by two federal watchdog agencies found she sought to use her position to influence a local election and lied to investigators.
In a letter to President Joe Biden obtained by The Associated Press, Rollins thanked the White House for supporting her during her contentious nomination process and said she wishes the administration “the best of luck in the months and years ahead.”
Her resignation comes two days after the release of scathing reports from the Justice Department’s inspector general and another watchdog outlined a litany of alleged misconduct by the top federal law enforcement officer in Massachusetts.
The AP revealed in November that the Justice Department’s inspector general had opened an ethics investigation into Rollins after she was photographed last July at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser featuring first lady Jill Biden. The probe quickly expanded to explore other issues, including her use of her personal cellphone for Justice Department business.
She served as U.S. attorney for just 16 months and was under federal investigation for almost a year.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MLS
Nashville sends Charlotte FC to 2-1 loss
Charlotte Hany Mukhtar scored two goals — the second on a penalty kick in the third minute of second-half stoppage time — to lift Nashville SC to a 2-1 v ictory over Charlotte FC on Saturday night. Charlotte took the lead in the 6th minute when Brandt Bronico took a pass from Justin Meram and found the net for the first time this season. Nashville pulled even on a goal by Mukhtar, the defending league MVP, in the 39th minute. Mukhtar used an assist from Sean Davis to score for a seventh time on the year. Nashville (7-3 - 4) ended a club -record five -match home win streak for Charlotte (5- 6 -3). Charlotte entered play having won six of its last seven matches in all competitions, including a club -record four in a row. Charlotte travels to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.
NFL Steelers sign Trubisky to new 3-year deal
Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Mitch Trubisky to a three -year contract on Friday, giving the club some long-term stability behind starter Kenny Pickett. Trubisky, the second overall pick out of UNC by Chicago in the 2017 draft, was about to enter the second season of a two -year deal he signed with Pittsburgh last spring. The signing gives the Steelers a bit of salary cap relief as they try to fortify the roster ahead of the 2023 season.
He joined the Steelers in March 2022 after a stint backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo. He began 2022 as the starter in Pittsburgh before being replaced by Pickett at halftime of what became a loss to the New York Jets in Week 4. Trubisky passed for 1,252 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions while appearing in seven games for the Steelers last season.
CHARLOTTE — Heading into last week’s NBA Draft lottery at No. 4 in the pre-lottery standings, the Charlotte Hornets received a much-needed stroke of good fortune as they moved up to the second pick in next month’s draft.
While they fell one pick short of the chance to draft a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama — a lock as the top selection for San Antonio — the Hornets will have their pick of G League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama wing Brandon Miller as the second player taken off the board.
Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak met with the media after the draft lottery and talked about the excitement as it was revealed the Hornets had jumped up from the No. 4 spot. “Of course, human nature sets you up to get greedy, so when it was the two teams left, yeah, we wanted No. 1,” he said. “For a second, there was a little bit of, ‘Ah, shucks. We didn’t get it,’ But overall, to go from four and not to go back to eight and then to go from No. 4 to No. 2, it’s an incredible stroke of luck. I wish there was some way we could have
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
NORTH WILKESBORO — The historic track
may have shown its age, with a patched-up racing surface, but NASCAR returned to its roots on Saturday night.
For the first time since 1996, the Cup Series held a race at North Wilkesboro, as the All-Star Race produced a dominating victory by Kyle Larson. Larson won the million-dollar prize for the third time in his career, winning the nonpoints event at a third different track.
“Winning at a historic track like this,” Larson marveled in his postrace press conference, “to be the first Cup winner since ’96 and put my name in the book of guys that have won here.”
“I really want to see us come back here.
NASCAR has a lot of roots here.”
Kyle Larsonprepared for it and done something to improve our luck other than lose games. Incredibly excited about getting a pick like that.”
The Hornets will likely be deciding between Henderson and Miller, and there are several factors to consider in ultimately deciding who will be wearing purple and teal next season.
Many believe Henderson is the second-best player in the class, while Miller could be a better positional fit for Charlotte.
During most years, Henderson would be an easy choice as the No. 1 overall pick.
Larson took advantage of an early trip to pit row during a caution, then took advantage of his new tires to blow past the field into first place, leading for the final 145 laps and winning by 12 seconds.
“I didn’t know whether it was a tire advantage or what, but once (I pitted) I was picking people off,” he said.
The performance on race day was a surprise, as Larson struggled with his car all week.
“We were godawful,” Larson said of the days leading up to the All-Star Race. “In practice Friday, I was the (second) worst 30-lap average, and I went backwards in the heat races yesterday. But I drove from dead last to the lead. Everything my car did bad on Friday and Saturday, it did great today.”
Number of times the Charlotte franchise has previously selected second overall: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2012), Emeka Okafor (2004) and Alonzo Mourning (1992).
The speedy, explosive playmaker from Georgia has dazzled league draft experts with his combination of superb court vision, promising defensive talent and an All-Star ceiling that has had scouts interested for years now. While just 6-foot-2, the 19-yearold possesses a 6-foot-9 wingspan and an overall tenacity in his game that could eventually make him a team’s primary offensive threat.
Though his 2022-23 G League season numbers aren’t eye-popping — he averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 43% shooting — most analysts agree that he checked all the right boxes as a young star-in-the-making right out of high school and a lottery selection.
Charlotte’s choice on whether or not to take Henderson could come down to how the Hornets think he
Larson won the truck series race on Saturday night and found a line on the back turn that he thought would pay dividends and save wear on his tires in Sunday’s race. But he didn’t think it would matter much, let alone consider his chances of sweeping both races.
“Friday was really bad,” he said. “And I was super loose in the heat race, with no grip. I had not great expectations for tonight. I didn’t think there was enough they (the crew) could do to make it better. I thought we’d run around 15th tonight. Plus it’s a short race, you can’t pass here.”
At the start of the race, the car was responding better than he hoped. “I put the anchor down,” he said. “I got stuck in the outside lane, but things were stable. I was thinking, ‘I might be all right here. Not bad. I still can’t pass.’ I was never thinking I could track the lead.”
Then came the pit stop that changed everything. “That was an old-school ass whooping for sure!” he said in his Victory Lane interview, as his wife chugged a beer to help get the celebration started. “It was a great car in the long run. I got out to a big lead. I could see everyone’s cars were driving like crap in front of me.”
The remarkable turnaround of Larson’s car after a pit crew makeover mirrored the change that has gone on at North Wilkesboro over the past year. The track had fallen into disrepair after being closed for more than a decade and had
Ron Hainsey: The former Hurricanes defenseman was promoted to assistant executive director of the NHL Players’ Association. The retired Hainsey joined the union two years ago and is now among the most prominent former players on new NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh’s staff. Hainsey played 17 seasons with seven NHL franchises, including four years in Carolina, and won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017.
Aaron Hicks:
The struggling outfielder was cut by the Yankees. New York owes Hicks about $27.6 million from the $70 million, seven‑year contract with 2½ seasons remaining. Hicks was designated for assignment to make room for outfielder Greg Allen, acquired in a trade with Boston on Friday. The 33‑year‑old Hicks was batting .188 with a homer and five RBIs in 28 games this season. He agreed to his contract with the Yankees in February 2019 but injured his right elbow that Aug. 3 and missed the rest of the regular season.
Martina Navratilova:
The 18‑time Grand Slam singles champion is doing “OK” after being diagnosed with throat cancer and breast cancer. The 66‑year‑old Navratilova said in January that her prognosis was good and that she was going to start treatment that month. She said she noticed an enlarged lymph node in her neck in November and a biopsy showed early stage throat cancer. Early stage breast cancer was discovered then too. Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles overall in her Hall of Fame career.
National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes in disgraced Hall of Famer trainer Bob Baffert’s return to horse racing’s Triple Crown. Blazing Sevens finished second over Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Mage’s defeat means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fifth consecutive year. National Treasure paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. Blazing Sevens paid $5 to place and $2.80 to show. Mage, the 7‑5 favorite, paid $2.40 to show.
New Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown on working with quarterback Bryce Young.
Two‑time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte on the prospects of bringing NASCAR’s top series back to another North Carolina track.
PRIME NUMBER
139:47
The length of last Thursday’s Game 1 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals between the Hurricanes and Panthers, the sixth‑longest game in NHL history. Florida won on a goal by Matthew Tkachuk with 12.7 second remaining in the fourth overtime.
NFL legend Jim Brown died last Thursday at the age of 87. Brown shattered records during a relatively short NFL career, leading the Browns to their last championship in 1964 — and retired in his prime to become an actor. Brown dedicated much of his life to social causes, but he also faced allegations of violence against women.
Alex Palou will lead the field to green in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 after the young Spaniard put together the fastest four‑lap pole run in history. He edged Rinus VeeKay and Felix Rosenqvist and gave Chip Ganassi Racing its third pole in a row. Palou whipped four laps around the historic 2.5‑mile speedway at an average of 234.217 mph.
Brooks Koepka fended off challenges from Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler to win his third PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Pittsford, New York. Koepka fired a 3‑under 67 in the final round to finish at 9 under for the tournament, two clear of Hovland and Scheffler. Koepka now has five major titles: U.S. Opens in 2017 and 2018 and PGAs in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
“You don’t want to take away a guy’s superpower.”
“I would love for some day to see Rockingham come back on the schedule.”MIKE MCCARN | AP PHOTO
The Bull City has hosted the league’s championship more than any other city
By Shawn Krest North State JournalThe ACC may be moving its conference headquarters to Charlotte and away from its Greensboro roots, but the league’s baseball capital remains in Durham.
The ACC Tournament returns to the Bull City for the first time since the pandemic and the 13th time in the 49-season history of the event, more than any other host city. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, where the 15 games of this year’s tourney will take place, is hosting for the 11th time, more than any other venue. Since it opened in 1996, the DBAP has hosted more than one out of every three ACC Tournaments.
There’s plenty at stake in this year’s tournament, which started with three games on Tuesday. Of the 12 teams playing for the league title, eight are projected to make the NCAA Baseball Tournament, ac-
cording to the most recent D1Baseball and Baseball America mock brackets.
The tournament will feature four days of tripleheaders for pool play, with the league divided into four groupings of three teams each.
Each team will play the other two members of its pool, and the four pool winners will advance to a single-elimination semifinal and final round over the weekend.
Here’s a pool-by-pool breakdown of what to expect this week.
Pool A: Looking out for No. 1
Wake Forest won the ACC regular season championship in dominant fashion as the Demon Deacons enter the postseason as the No. 1 team in the nation. Wake won all of its ACC series this season, the first team to accomplish that since UNC in 2017, and the Deacs are holding out hope that they will bring the school’s second College World Series title back to Winston-Salem.
Wake is led by pitcher Rhett Lowder, who won the ACC Pitcher of the Year award for the second season in a row. The junior from Al-
bemarle is the first to win the award in back-to-back years since 2011 and is the only hurler in the country with an undefeated record in at least 12 decisions.
The Deacs also have the ACC Coach of the Year in Tom Walter, the first Wake coach to take the award since 2002.
Wake is joined in Pool A by two teams that didn’t have a winning ACC record this season. No. 8 seed Notre Dame was 15-15, 30-22 overall, and No. 12 Pitt was 10-18, 23-30 overall. The Irish are coming off of a College World Series appearance and are playing to hold onto a potential NCAA bid. Notre Dame enters the tournament as one of the last four in, according to Baseball America.
Pool B: Coastal champs and the player of the year
Virginia finished the season on a nine-game winning streak to win the Coastal Division by a game and earn the top seed in Pool B.
The Cavs feature the ACC Player of the Year in catcher Kyle Teel along with three other first-teamers. Only
Wake had more than UVA’s seven players chosen for one of the three All-Conference teams.
Virginia is expected to host in the NCAA first round and will be playing to hold onto that advantage.
Virginia is joined in the pool by No. 7 seed UNC, which was swept by Clemson in the final series of the regular season. A four-game losing streak to close out the schedule dropped the Heels to 14-14 in the conference. UNC center fielder Vance Honeycutt was named the league’s top defensive player. The final team in the pool is Georgia Tech, which finds itself on the NCAA bubble after a 12-18 ACC season. The Jackets are the second team out in D1Baseball’s bracket and the eighth team out in Baseball America’s.
Pool C: Home to the hottest team and the toughest matchup
Clemson enters on a league-high 12-game winning streak, which earned the Tigers the No. 3 overall seed. Clemson is led by ACC Freshman of the Year Cam Cannarella,
The Tar Heels avenged their only loss of the season, beating rival NC State in the championship match
By Ryan Henkel North State JournalNo. 1-ranked UNC took home its first NCAA women’s tennis title Saturday in Orlando, defeating Tobacco Road rival and fourthranked NC State 4-1 in the championship matchup.
The Tar Heels were the undisputed top seed all season, having lost just a single match — a 4-1 loss in the ACC Championship to the Wolfpack. They were not going to be denied their second chance at
NASCAR from page B1 weeds growing on the track.
“They did a great job reviving this place and making this feel real,” Larson said. “I don’t think any of us ever thought it would get to this point when Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) and everybody was here cleaning up weeds and everything, trying to get it ready for drag racing. None of us thought an All-Star Race could be here or a Cup Series race in general.”
Ty Gibbs, a NASCAR rookie who earned a spot in the race by finishing in the top two in the 100-lap open race that preceded the All-Star Race, put North Wilkesboro’s revival in perspective.
bringing a trophy back to Chapel Hill.
“A lot of special teams have come real close in the last 10 to 13 years, and this team got it done,” said UNC coach Brian Kalbas to the Tennis Channel, which broadcasted the match. “This team was special since Day 1, and I’m just so proud of everybody. What a great victory for our program.”
UNC started off the match with the advantage as they took the doubles point, 2-1, but NC State answered by winning the first singles point thanks to a 6-3, 6-4 win by Diana Shnaider over Reese Brantmeier on Court 1.
However, the Heels started to pick up momentum when Fiona Crawley, the No. 1-ranked play-
“It’s pretty cool, pretty special to be here,” Gibbs said. “I wasn’t alive when they raced here, but it’s really cool. It’s a worn-out race track, but it’s fun. Just kind of looking for patches, looking for grip.”
The track certainly wasn’t pretty to look at, with a hodgepodge of repairs, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“Friday, I was like, ‘We suck. They need to repave this place.’” Larson said. “Tonight, I’m like, ‘Leave it! Don’t touch it!’”
The original plan was to repave the whole track eventually, although there were mixed feelings on the need for that in the near future.
“This team was special since Day 1, and I’m just so proud of everybody.”
Brian Kalbas, UNC women’s tennis coach
er, took care of business with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Alana Smith for UNC’s first singles win of the match.
Elizabeth Scotty followed suit with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Abigail Rencheli, and Carson Tanguilig sealed the victory with a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over
“I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing them add patches of pavement,” Larson said. “I don’t think they need to repave the whole thing. I’d hate to see them repave the whole surface, but maybe go in and add to the character with patches in certain spots.”
Regardless of the work still in store for one of the places where motorsports were born, the feeling seemed unanimous that North Wilkesboro shouldn’t be mothballed again.
“I really want to see us come back here,” Larson said. “NASCAR has a lot of roots here. It deserves a spot on our schedule — off-points, points race, whatever.”
who led the league in steals. The Tigers will be tested by sixth-seeded Boston College, which finished with a winning conference record, one of just six ACC teams to do so.
The final team in the pool is No. 10 Virginia Tech, which enters with a 12-17 league mark.
BC is fighting to host as the Eagles play in just their third ACC Tournament ever. D1Baseball just dropped the Eagles from a hosting spot, while Baseball America still projects them as one.
The final pool should have plenty of fireworks with three closely grouped teams. No. 4 Miami finished 18-12 in the ACC, 1½ games ahead of No. 5 Duke. NC State swept its final series of the season to earn the No. 9 seed and a pool date with a Triangle rival.
Duke is on the bubble to host, with D1Baseball projecting the Devils with a spot but Baseball America has them travel for the first weekend. NC State is on the tourney bubble and is the second team out, according to Baseball America.
The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs, an honor that has been held by a team from the tournament’s home state since 2019. UNC (2) and Duke (1) have shared the last three crowns, the longest streak by teams from the Old North State since 1982-1984.
Amelia Rajecki to crown the Tar Heels as champions.
“I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, and I think just looking over to them and hearing them, seeing Scotty fight so hard on this court, Anika [Yarlagadda] and Reilly [Tran] of course forcing third sets,” Tanguilig said. “It’s amazing and it only makes you want to compete harder and harder. You just have to put your head down. Our support was amazing if you couldn’t hear. I think that’s what helped me through it. Definitely couldn’t have done it on my own.”
Despite being one of the top teams for the past few years, the Tar Heels reached the NCAA Championship for the first time
since 2014.
UNC also became the first Triangle-area university to win the title since Duke in 2009.
It was also just the first time in program history that the Wolfpack had made it to the NCAA Championships, making a spectacular run through the bracket that included knocking off Stanford, the winner of 20 out of the 41 total NCAA titles, in the semifinals.
It marked the second time that the two rivals had ever faced off against each other with an NCAA championship on the line. The last time was in 1988 when UNC defeated NC State in women’s soccer.
The win was UNC’s second NCAA title of the school year — the other belonging to the Tar Heels’ field hockey team — and the school’s 49th all-time championship. Thirty-six of those championships have been won by a women’s team.
RALEIGH — One look at the thin, gentle-looking man standing in the front of the room is all it takes to draw an inescapable conclusion.
“This can’t be Rick Barnes.”
There are no visible horns on his head, no forked tail, no cloven hooves. He looks a bit like Bob Newhart, not the face of basketball evil in the state.
Barnes earned the “honor” early in his coaching career when UNC coaching legend Dean Smith took issue with his Clemson Tigers’ rough play, and the upstart Barnes didn’t back down from the esteemed Smith. Both coaches were fined after going jaw to jaw in a near brawl at the 1995 ACC Tournament.
Fast forward 28 years and Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers eliminated Duke in the 2023 NCAA Tournament in a game that Blue Devil fans complained was filled with rough play by Barnes’ men.
After engineering his way into becoming an overly physical thorn in the sides of North Carolina’s highest profile programs, Barnes was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in the class of 2023, and for the life of him, he can’t understand why that fact caused spit takes from basketball fans across the state.
“I’m from North Carolina,” he
COLUMN
said. “And you know, my mom lived here her entire life. My brothers still live here. My family’s here. And you know, I just have fond memories, growing up. More than anything, I tell people all the time, I wish everybody can have a childhood like I did growing up in Hickory.”
Barnes left Hickory for Lenoir-Rhyne and, after his playing days, embarked on his coaching career. He spent two seasons as
an assistant for Eddie Biedenbach at Davidson, then left his home state to find coaching fame. He’s led four schools — Providence, Clemson, Texas and Tennessee — to the NCAAs and the latter three to the Sweet 16. His heart, however, has always been back in Hickory.
“That is something that, as we’re on bus trips, everywhere I’ve ever been I’ve always said that the best five out of North Caroli-
na would beat the best five out of anyplace else,” he said. “I love to compare. I love when people from Virginia, from Texas, would start calling names out and I would trump them. And I would always say, ‘Let’s keep going.’ They couldn’t keep up. There’s no doubt I think this is the greatest basketball state ever.”
Of course, that makes beating the blue blood programs from the state that much sweeter for him.
“Well, you know, what would I say? Like they say in the SEC, it means more?” he said. “I have incredible respect for the history of those schools. I mean, I know what it means. I know how from the time that I started studying and understanding basketball from the early ’60s and ’70s, all the way through, how this state has been represented in college basketball.
“So I believe that even if I had never grown up in the state, if you’re somewhere else in college basketball and you have a chance to play North Carolina, you’re going to be up for it because of their success and what they’ve done for decade after decade.”
Decade after decade, Barnes has been outside the borders of his state, causing the top programs within to pull out their hair. Now he’s been invited in to sit among them.
“I walked through the Hall today and realized how many people that not only had directly touched my life but people that whether I’ve seen him play or whether I coached against him,” Barnes said. “My very first little league baseball coach was Marion Kirby. And then Frank Barger from Hickory High School. I’m humbled because I love this state.
“So I’m so glad that God had me be born in Catawba County in Hickory, North Carolina. And for all the people that that I knew at an early age, I knew I wanted to be a coach because of the people that the good Lord put in my life.”
AFTER THE CLOCK EXPIRED in Game 3, sending the Hurricanes to a 1-0 loss and 3-0 series hole to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals, frustration reached a boiling point.
A video of center Jesperi Kotkaniemi smashing his stick on his way to the locker room while rookie Jack Drury covered his face for protection circulated social media. Yelling could be heard coming from the area of Carolina’s locker room as the media waited to be let in.
“It feels like we’re losing but we’re not really getting beat, and that’s where it gets frustrating.”
Rod Brind’AmourWhen the doors were opened, team captain Jordan Staal sat alone, waiting in his stall — as he has done for countless losses during his 11 years with the franchise — to assess what might be his most frustrating defeat in his more than a decade with the Hurricanes.
“I think we start with one win here,” Staal said of looking ahead to Game 4, a refrain that has since been echoed countless times already in the 13 or so hours since Monday’s loss in Sunrise. “We continue to play like that, I think we’re gonna get a bounce and we’ll move on from there.
“I think it was right there again for us. Well take another stab at it and take Game 4 and go from there.”
The Hurricanes have been here before — and the “here” in that statement is doing a lot of work.
They’ve been “here” in struggling to score in the postseason. Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has been nearly perfect, stopping 97.8% of the shots he’s faced in three games against Carolina. That has catapulted him into the lead for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and his only competition at the moment might be teammate Matthew Tkachuk, whose overtime goals in Games 1 and 2 helped bring the Panthers back to The Sunshine State with a two-game lead in the series.
But it’s also not new for the Hurricanes’ offense to dry up. In November, Carolina mustered just eight goals in five games, all losses. In last year’s seven-game loss to the Rangers, the Hurricanes managed just 13 goals in the second round series against Igor Shesterkin. In the 2021 playoffs, they scored nine goals in five games — and a combined two in three home games — against Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Lightning, losing that series 4-1.
The Hurricanes have also been “here” when it comes to the Eastern Conference finals. Carolina has now lost 11 straight games in the NHL’s semifinal series after sweeps by the Penguins in 2009 and Bruins in 2019 ended their quest to reach the third Stanley Cup finals in franchise history.
There are still links to that 2009 team — namely Brind’Amour and assistant coach Tim Gleason, who were both still players at that point.
But this edition of the Hurricanes still has several of the core players that made up that
would coexist with franchise point guard LaMelo Ball.
Both players prefer to have the ball in their hands, so a Henderson-Ball backcourt would require each to take turns playing off the ball. That could also backfire if both struggle to share the responsibilities as the primary ball handler.
The latter scenario is where the idea of drafting Miller instead comes into play.
The 6-foot-9 small forward is coming off a spectacular freshman season with the Crimson Tide. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and his draft stock soared throughout the year. Miller is also versatile — he can slash into the lane while also
2019 team. Sebastian Aho, Jaccob Slavin, Teuvo Teravainen and Staal were the top four scorers on that Carolina team in the postseason. Jordan Martinook — playing with, as he described to me near the end of the regular season, his groin torn off his pelvis during those playoffs — and Brett Pesce were on that team.
So were Andrei Svechnikov and Calvin de Haan, neither of whom have played in this postseason due to injury and coach’s decision, respectively.
That ’19 team, an upstart underdog not all that unlike the Panthers this season, was shut out in Game 4 against Boston.
This version is definitely a better team — more talented and more experienced than the one that crashed the postseason four years ago.
“Back in 2019, I think they were probably the better team and they were beating us because they were the better team,” Slavin said of the sweep at the hands of the Bruins. “Right now, it’s been three super tight games, two overtime games, another
shooting 38% from behind the arc.
But the ongoing legal problems of Charlotte restricted free agent Miles Bridges could make the Hornets reluctant to move forward with Miller. Although no charges were filed against him, Miller was investigated in the off-campus murder of a woman in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,
one-goal game last night. And so we’re playing good hockey, it’s just been unfortunate so far.”
The frustration from this series is that Carolina doesn’t feel it’s been outplayed.
“There’s times when you lose and you’re frustrated because you got beat,” Brind’Amour said after Game 3. “But it feels like we’re losing but we’re not really getting beat, and that’s where it gets frustrating.”
So there are two problems for the Hurricanes to solve. One, they need to — somehow, someway — figure out Bobrovsky. Secondly, they need to show they’ve learned from their past.
“This is new for me,” second-year winger Seth Jarvis said. “But lucky for me, we have a lot of veterans on our team, a lot of guys who have been in this situation and been on both ends of it. So they have all the guidance I need if I have any questions or anything.
“But I think right now we’re just trying to regroup and get ready for tomorrow. … It’s do or die for us.”
earlier this year when it was determined that he had provided the gun used in the murder to former teammate Darius Miles. Miller is on record stating that he was unaware that the murder weapon was in his car.
If the Hornets decide that Miller’s connection to the incident isn’t reflective of him as a person, the All-American could very well
be a top target for the team. Miller’s talent ceiling might not be as high as Henderson’s, but he makes sense from a need point of view with Kelly Oubre Jr. becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Whether it is Henderson or Miller who puts on a Hornets hat next month, Charlotte should be adding another star player to its lineup.
“If you’re somewhere else in college basketball and you have a chance to play North Carolina, you’re going to be up for it”Rick Barnes HORNETS from page B1
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lessness. But Democrats have said any changes to work requirements for government aid recipients are nonstarters.
GOP lawmakers are also seeking cuts in IRS funding and, by sparing defense and veterans accounts from reductions, would shift the bulk of spending reductions to other federal programs.
The White House has countered by keeping defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years.
All sides have been eyeing the potential for the package to include a framework to ease federal regulations and speed energy project developments. They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in unspent COVID-19 funds now that the pandemic emergency has officially lifted.
For months, Biden had refused to engage in talks over the debt limit, contending that Republicans in Congress were trying to use the borrowing limit vote as leverage to extract administration concessions on other policy priorities.
But with June nearing and Republicans putting their own spending legislation on the table, the White House launched talks on a budget deal that could accompany an increase in the debt limit.
The Associated Press
AMERICAN AIRLINES and JetBlue Airways must abandon their partnership in the northeast United States, a federal judge in Boston ruled Friday, saying that the government proved the deal reduces competition in the airline industry.
The ruling is a major victory for the Biden administration, which has used aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws to fight against mergers and other arrangements between large corporations.
The Justice Department argued during a trial last fall that the deal would eventually cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin wrote in his decision that American and JetBlue violated antitrust law as they carved up Northeast markets between them, “replacing full-throated competition with broad cooperation.”
The judge said the airlines offered only minimal evidence that the partnership, called the Northeast Alliance, helped consumers. The airlines said they were considering whether to appeal.
“We believe the decision is wrong and are considering next steps,” said American spokesman Matt Miller. “The court’s legal analysis is plainly incorrect and unprec-
edented for a joint venture like the Northeast Alliance. There was no evidence in the record of any consumer harm from the partnership.”
JetBlue spokeswoman Emily Martin said her airline was disappointed, adding, “We made it clear at trial that the Northeast Alliance has been a huge win for customers.”
The Justice Department, meanwhile, hailed the ruling.
“Today’s decision is a win for Americans who rely on competition between airlines to travel affordably,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
The partnership had the blessing of the Trump administration when it took effect in early 2021.
It let the airlines sell seats on each other’s flights and share revenue from them. It covered many of their flights to and from Boston’s Logan Airport and three airports in the New York City area: John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty in New Jersey.
But soon after President Joe Biden took office, the Justice Department took another look. It found an economist who predicted that consumers would spend more than $700 million a year extra because of reduced competition.
American is the largest U.S. airline and JetBlue is the sixth-biggest overall. But in Boston, they hold down two of the top three spots, alongside Delta Air Lines, and two
Attorney General Merrick
of the top four positions in New York.
The Justice Department sued to kill the deal in 2021, and was joined by six states and the District of Columbia.
“It is a very important case to us ... because of those families that need to travel and want affordable tickets and good service,” Justice Department lawyer Bill Jones said during closing arguments.
The trial featured testimony by current and former airline CEOs and economists who gave wildly different opinions on how the deal would affect competition and ticket prices.
The airlines and their expert witnesses argued that the government couldn’t show that the alliance, which had been in place for about 18 months at the time, had led to higher fares. They said it helped them start new routes from New York and Boston. And most importantly, they said, the deal benefitted
The Associated Press DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford CEO Jim Farley says his company is remaking itself by cutting costs, raising quality and offering software, services and new vehicles that will make profit margins among the best in the industry.
Farley and other executives gave details on how it will get there over the next few years during a capital markets day event Monday near its Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.
One way is to reduce investment in hypercompetitive market segments such as two-row smaller SUVs, Farley told industry analysts.
The company, he said, has been “stuck in a box,” with thin profit margins, weak growth and low stock valuation.
Ford, Farley said, will emphasize software and services as well as iconic vehicles such as pickup trucks, large SUVs, commercial vehicles and advanced second-generation electric vehicles. He said the company is eliminating waste to close a cost gap with the best in the industry with a “lean disciplined operating system” that reaches into all Ford factories.
By focusing on software and Ford’s strengths in products, the company won’t be as vulnerable to a downturn as in the past. He said the company has let complexity “overrun our business as we tried to be all things to all people.”
Farley says Ford will be com-
peting differently, going for tailored ownership experiences rather than “jockeying for slivers of market share.” He said Ford will go to non-negotiated vehicle prices.
Ford has said it will get to a 10% pretax profit margin in 2026. It reiterated 2023 full-year guidance of $9 billion to $11 billion in adjusted pretax profits. Farley said the company has even greater margin ambitions.
To get there, Ford says it will cut costs by reducing the number of parts in its vehicles, as well as cutting warranty and recall expenses by boosting quality.
But Farley said he doesn’t see reductions in the number of factory employees or among engineers and other office workers.
The company predicted it would sell 5.6 million vehicles in 2026 as global sales recover, and it will need workers to design and produce them, Farley said. Ford sold roughly 4.2 billion vehicles last year.
Farley has long complained about Ford’s high retail and warranty costs, and Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, the company’s internal combustion unit, said the company is making
changes to reduce those to improve profit margins.
Rather than testing the new Super Duty pickup to a particular standard, the company tested it until parts and systems failed, he said. Now Ford is finding the eventual weak point and eliminating it, prolonging vehicle life, Galhotra said. Ford also is focusing on reduc-
ing the number of vehicle parts, and on the stability of parts supply companies, he said. For example, by the time Ford rolls out a new version of the F-150 pickup this year, it will have cut 2,400 parts from the existing model.
A study by Plante Moran released Monday showed that Ford’s working relations with parts suppliers has declined dra-
consumers by creating more competition against Delta and United Airlines.
The judge was not persuaded.
“Though the defendants claim their bigger-is-better collaboration will benefit the flying public, they produced minimal objectively credible proof to support that claim,” he wrote. “Whatever the benefits to American and JetBlue of becoming more powerful — in the northeast generally or in their shared rivalry with Delta — such benefits arise from a naked agreement not to compete with one another.”
Hanging over the trial was JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines, the nation’s largest discount carrier. In March, while Sorokin was mulling his decision, the Justice Department sued to block that deal too, arguing that it would reduce competition and be especially harmful to consumers who depend on Spirit to save money.
JetBlue has countered that acquiring Spirit will make it a bigger, stronger low-cost competitor to Delta, United, Southwest — and American — which together control about 80% of the domestic U.S. air-travel market.
The government’s lawsuit against the JetBlue-Spirit deal is pending before a different judge in the same Boston courthouse.
matically since 2020.
Ford said its new or revamped electric vehicle manufacturing plants will be far more efficient, with nearly 30% less labor overhead than the company’s current large internal combustion vehicle plants. But Farley said that doesn’t mean fewer factory workers because they’ll be needed to make batteries and other EV parts.
Ford Motor Co. also cut deals with a number of companies to supply its rapidly growing electrical vehicle division, Ford Model e, according to a flurry of announcements Monday.
Ford will get more than 100,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide from Albemarle, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Compass Minerals International announced a multiyear deal to supply Ford with up to 40% of the battery-grade lithium carbonate coming from its project in Utah.
EnergySource Minerals will supply the carmaker with lithium hydroxide from a new site in Imperial Valley, California, and Nemaska Lithium, a Canadian miner, will supply Ford with 13,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually for 11 years. per year over 11 years.
Because the materials are coming from the U.S. and Canada, it ensures that Ford’s electric vehicles will qualify for new federal tax credits, making them more competitive.
Ford has split itself into three business units, Ford Blue, Ford Model e for electric vehicles and digital products, and Ford Pro, the company’s commercial vehicle business.
“I’m not here to tell you that we’re under valued,” Farley said Monday. “You make your own decision.”
“Today’s decision is a win for Americans who rely on competition between airlines to travel affordably,”
Garland
“I’m not here to tell you that we’re under valued. You make your own decision.”
Ford CEO Jim FarleyAP PHOTO A JetBlue Airbus A320 taxis to a gate on Oct. 26, 2016, after landing, as an American Airlines jet is seen parked at its gate at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla.
SALISBURY — Cheerwine barbeque, Cheerwine infused beers, Cheerwine cannolis, and so much more, were just the tip of the iceberg for Salisbury’s annual Cheerwine Festival. This year’s festival was May 20th from noon to 10PM, featuring shops, snacks, and shows galore to celebrate the over 100 year old family business.
“There is always such a buzz and excitement. People come to the festival from literally all over the country,” Vivian Koontz, City of Salisbury Events Coordinator said. “Cheerwine has such a strong following that people are really excited to be here.”
Cheerwine began in 1917 by L.D. Peeler in Salisbury in the midst of a sugar shortage. Due to the shortage, Peeler discovered a wild cherry flavoring that paired well with the other flavors in motion. Cheerwine is the oldest continuing soft drink and has been run by the same family since the start.
“You could say Cheerwine runs through my blood,” Joy Harper, Vice President of Marketing for Cheerwine said. Harper’s great-great-grandfather, is L.D. Peeler. “I always had an interest in the family business growing up. I held summer jobs, then I went to school to focus on business and there was an opportunity to come back to work for the family business.”
The mix of the soft drink was and is today a burgundy color, bringing the “wine” reference into
play. The “cheer” was added because of how the drink made people feel: cheery. “Cheerwine has been based here in our hometown for over 100 years, still family owned and operated, and employing over 800 people in the area” Harper said.
“Our fans through generations have made it a part of their celebrations, traditions, and it’s become engraved as a part of southern culture.”
The first Cheerwine Festival
was hosted by Cheerwine in 2017 to celebrate the compay’s 100th birthday. Following that festival, the city of Salisbury decided to partner with Cheerwine to make the festival an annual event. The Cheerwine Festival itself offers activities for both children and adults to indulge in.
“We have always had the rock wall at the festival, it’s kind of the staple piece, right in the middle, it showcases the festival,” Koontz said. “F&M Bank provides our activities, they are the sponsor of the Kids Zone and they have a lot of activities for the kids.”
Along with the rock tower available for children to climb, F&M bank also provides balloons, sandboxes, games, and much more. Many adult activities are also found around the streetways.
“We try to have really great food, we’re selective about our mu-
sic to make sure we have a good variety that reaches all genres,” Koontz said. “The Cheerwine beer is always a driving force, and all of those Cheerwine-inspired things you can only get at the festival.”
The four featured artists/bands ranged from everyone’s favorite country music, performed by Ryan Perry, to New Local, a Charlotte local band, playing admired pop music. Divided by Four brought a saltwater breeze to Salisbury with their classic jazz and beach music. To end the night, the multiplatinum alternative quartet Neon Trees performed award winning songs to hundreds of screaming fans.
“If you are new to the Carolinas, it [Cheerwine] is a great welcoming to the Carolinas,” Harper said. “It is unlike any other soft drink, and you are supporting a local business.”
“You could say Cheerwine runs through my blood.”
Joy Harper, Vice President of Marketing for Cheerwine
Jack Morton Estate gifts $487,000 to SCC Foundation
The Stanly Community College (SCC) Foundation announced a philanthropic gift of $487,000 given by the family of Jack Morton, who passed away in May 2022. Jack, an attorney for the U.S. Treasury Department for many years and Deputy Chief Council at his retirement, was a long-time supporter of higher education and SCC. This sizable donation is unrestricted and gives SCC the ability to use the funds for anything that supports the college’s mission. “My father was always an advocate for having some form of higher education to better oneself,” said Bryan Morton. “When he and his brother, Joe, were looking for a way to give back to the community that made them who they were, they felt strongly about a gift given to Stanly Community College.”
Approval sought to acquire a fixed MRI scanner in Stanly County
West Stanly Imaging LLC has filed a certificate of need application with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to acquire a fixed MRI scanner at Atrium Health Imaging Locust in response to a need determination for Stanly County in the 2023 State Medical Facilities Plan. The Project is expected to cost $5.3 million and would be completed in April 2025. A public hearing for this project will be held June 9, 2023, at 11 a.m. in the Stanly County Courthouse, room 403, 201 S. 2nd St. in Albemarle. Anyone may file written comments concerning this proposal. Comments must be received by the Healthcare Planning and Certificate of Need Section no later than 5 p.m. on May 31. Comments may be submitted as an attachment to an email if they are sent to DHSR.CON.Comments@ dhhs.nc.gov. Comments may also be sent to the to the following address: 2704 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2704. For more information, please contact Cynthia Bradford at (919)855-3873 or Cynthia.bradford@dhhs.nc.gov.
North State Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly Community College Foundation has announced the appointment of Adam Elkins, Trent Helms, Cathy Lowder and Frank Sparger to their board of directors.
A native of Montgomery County, Elkins received his bachelor’s degree from NC State University and his law degree from Campbell University. He practiced law in Troy until joining the Stanly County District Attorney’s Office in 2019, where he currently works as the Chief Assistant Attorney for Stanly County and
prosecutes a broad range of felony criminal charges. He and his wife, Morgan, have lived in Albemarle since 2019. Elkins enjoys all sports but spends his spare time playing golf and participating in a men’s softball league.
Helms lives in Norwood along with his wife and two sons. With a love for electronics, computer, and networking, he started taking classes at SCC in the Computer Engineering Technology Program. After graduating in 2001, he came to SCC full-time, where he worked as a lab assistant and earned degrees in both computer engineering technology and
Top, Albemarle’s Dre Davis took second place in the 100m dash finals with a time of 10.91 during the Track and Field State Championship at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, on May 19, 2023. Bottom left, Albemarle’s Mary Grace Krol finished 4th in the long jump with a jump of 15ft-10in. Bottom right, Albemarle Miles Gregory finished 6th with a throw of 46ft
lowing year. He earned his bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and his master’s degree from Fort Hays State University in 2019. Away from work, he enjoys finding new experiences and adventures with his family, spending time outdoors and being active.
The SCC Foundation has announced the appointment of Adam Elkins, Trent Helms, Cathy Lowder and Frank Sparger to their board of directors.
electronics engineering technology. In 2003, Helms taught within those programs as an adjunct faculty member before becoming a full-time instructor for the Technology Division the fol-
ALBEMARLE —
In a narrow decision at the Albemarle City Council’s recent meeting, the council voted 4-3 against adopting a text amendment to the city’s code of ordinances that would allow bars in downtown Albemarle under a special use permit.
The city currently only permits full-service restaurants to sell liquor in its central business district while also prohibiting liquor sales at breweries and taprooms. Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall and council members Bill Aldridge, David Hunt and Chris Bramlett opposed the ordinance, while Benton Dry, Chris Whitley and Dexter Townsend voted for it.
The city’s planning and zoning board had previously voted 5-2 to recommend approval of the special use permit amendment. Bramlett was clear about
where he stood on the issue: “I don’t see a bar as being anywhere but a place to go get drunk. I don’t like that in downtown, and I don’t like that anywhere in this area.”
Prior to the vote on the board’s approved amendment, the council opened up a public hearing in order to receive feedback on the issue.
Badin Brews owner Joshua Hicks made his case for allowing bars in the downtown, saying that the focus city leaders have spotlighted on its new social district should come with loosened restrictions to help business owners and to promote city growth.”
“I don’t intend my place to become a nightclub. I don’t intend it to be an eyesore to downtown,” Hicks said. “I want it to be something profitable for me and the businesses that are around me. Hilltop Seafood has profited greatly from me being next door, and a lot of people bring in food from next door when they’re there to enjoy the bever-
ages with their friends. We lose a lot of people downtown to Locust and to The Boat House (in Norwood), and we need to keep downtown to help it grow. I just hope you will see it the same way.”
Hicks also cited The Brew Room’s success as a new bar in Locust.
Joy Almond, director for the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation and manager of Main Street, also spoke in favor of allowing bars in the downtown area.
“Now that we have the social district, it is really working — as Mr. Hicks has mentioned — and it’s working so well for the businesses here in downtown Albemarle,” Almond said. “It enables the full-service restaurants to send the patrons out the door with to-go mixed beverages that contain liquor, and it leaves our taprooms and breweries that may want to serve liquor at a disadvantage to provide the same beverages under the current ordinance.”
Lowder earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics with minors in chemistry and physics from Pfeiffer University before obtaining her master’s degree in mathematics from UNC Charlotte. As a teacher with Cabarrus County Schools for 32 years, she served as Chairperson of the Science Department and Student Council. Lowder currently works with the Daughters of the American Revolution program and makes Hope Pillows for the Roy M. Hinson Cancer Center. She and her husband, Steve, live in the Millingport community and
See FOUNDATION, page 2
While the new text amendment for downtown bars ultimately failed to get enough votes, it could reappear in the future in one way or another as the general public and the council members reflect on the current decision.
The next Albemarle City Council meeting is set for June 5.
are members of Salem United Methodist Church.
Sparger received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in finance and economics from Appalachian State University and his master’s degree in business administration from Queens University of Charlotte. He has worked as a financial advisor since 1988 and currently owns and operates Sparger Investments. Sparger’s board service includes holding offices with the Albemarle Optimist Club, Albemarle Rotary Club, Piney Point Golf Club, Stanly County Family YMCA and Stanly County Partnership for Children. He has one daughter and enjoys golf, racquetball and saltwater fishing in his free time.
To ensure that the college can continue its tradition of serving as an education resource, the foundation strives to meet and address the current and anticipated needs of the college and its students.
WEEKLY CRIME LOG
♦ BRADY, CHRIS ALLEN (W /M/55), ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON (M), 05/22/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ SCOTT, JOHNNY LYNN (W /M/45), ASSAULT ON FEMALE, 05/21/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ TERRY, BLANQUINTON TIRESE (B /M/24), POSSESS MARIJUANA UP TO 1/2 OUNCE, 05/21/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ TURNER, CASEY RENEE (W /F/32), SIMPLE ASSAULT, 05/21/2023,
ALBEMARLE — The family of Allen Bowers has established an endowed scholarship with the Stanly County Community College (SCC) Foundation.
Bowers, who passed away in 2020, was a lifelong resident of Stanly County. He and his wife, Nadine Bowers, knew each other as they grew up, and together were married for 58 years. They had two sons and three grandchildren.
At an early age, he fell in love with agriculture whilst working alongside his father at Bowers Implement Company. He owned and operated the family business for many years and was a well-respected leader in the farm equipment industry.
Bowers served on multiple community boards, including 17 years on the local hospital board, now known as Atrium Health Stanly.
He was also an active member of Salem United Methodist Church and the Millingport community. “We wanted to establish this scholarship because Allen and I always recognized the importance of education,” Mrs. Bowers said. “It’s something that can never be taken away. SCC is so very valuable to our community in that way, and we would like to help make a difference in any way we can.”
The scholarship is for $1000 ($500/fall and $500/spring) for eligible students pursuing a business degree and will be available on an ongoing basis starting the fall 2023 semester. Scholarship applications are now being accepted and are located on the financial aid page at www.stanly.edu.
To learn more about the scholarship and the SCC Foundation, please contact Jeanie Martin at (704) 991-0370 or jmartin8295@ stanly.edu.
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Teenagers will officially be allowed to open a Venmo account with their parent’s permission, the company said Monday, expanding the popular social payments app to an age demographic that is likely to embrace it almost immediately.
Using Venmo won’t necessarily be new to a good number of teens — parents often set up accounts for their children through their own accounts, which is a violation of Venmo’s terms of service. There have been guides on the Internet for some time showing parents how to create a child’s account without Venmo penalizing them.
Venmo has been a popular way to send money to individuals for years, and now has more than 90 million users. The product for teens comes at a time when other social apps are being watched closely by politicians and regulators. The state of Montana banned TikTok last week and other states are considering a ban as well.
Opening up Venmo to teenagers will be a significant expansion of Venmo’s market. Company executives in March estimated that a Venmo account for teenagers could create 25 million potential new customers. The company estimated that 9 million teenagers were using Venmo through their parents.
The Venmo Teen Account will be
available for 13- to 17-year-olds and comes with a debit card as well. Parents will be able to monitor transactions, adjust privacy settings as well as move money to their teenager. Parents will also be able to lock and unlock the debit card and see who the teenager is sending money to and receiving it from.
Withdrawals from ATMs using the debit card will have a $400 daily limit and users will need to withdraw money from participating ATMs or incur a $2.50 fee. Otherwise there are no fees attached to creating or maintaining the account.
Parents will be able to monitor up to five Venmo accounts for teenagers.
FILE PHOTO
Banks have been creating children’s bank account products for decades, but with the rise in e-commerce and financial technology companies, a basic checking account for a teenager no longer suffices.
Venmo acknowledged that opening the service to teenagers was done in response to frequent requests from users over the years, a nod to the fact that teenagers were likely using the service already. The mainstream accounts provide the teenagers more security and identity verification, and also give them access to the debit card.
Chase offers its Chase First Banking product which can be opened for children as young as six years old as well as a high school checking product. Both products come with a debit card and ways for parents to monitor spending on the account. The high school checking also gives access to Zelle, the bank’s own peerto-peer payment service, as well as credit monitoring services.
WEDNESDAY MAY 24 HI 75° LO 56° PRECIP 3% THURSDAY MAY 25 HI 78° LO 55° PRECIP 6% FRIDAY MAY 26 HI 7 1° LO 5 4° PRECIP 1 4% SATURDAY MAY 27 HI 69° LO 55° PRECIP 5 8% SUNDAY MAY 28 HI 75° LO 5 8° PRECIP 47% MONDAY MAY 29 HI 80° LO 59° PRECIP 49% TUESDAY MAY 30 HI 82° LO 63° PRECIP 24% Allen Bowers, who passed away in 2020, was a lifelong resident of Stanly County. Andrew Addison holds up a sign advertising that he takes Venmo for payment at his corner drink stand, Monday, May 30, 2022, in Nolensville, Tenn.
Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ BERNARDES, LUIS CARLOS (W /M/57), ASSAULT BY STRANGULATION, 05/20/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ FRANCESCO, MICHAEL ANDREW (W /M/45), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 05/20/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ HEADRICK, MATTHEW LEON (W /M/33), ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON (M), 05/20/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ PERRY, ADRIANNA CHRISTINE (W /F/26), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 05/20/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ PRESLAR, JOSEPH MICHAEL (W /M/41), ASSAULT ON FEMALE, 05/20/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ LEGGETT, TIMOTHY JAMES (W /M/35), PWIMSD SCH II CS, 05/18/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ MURRAY, DOUGLAS KASHIF
(B /M/37), ASSAULT BY STRANGULATION, 05/18/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ WELLS, JOHNNY GARY (B /M/74), ATT OBTAIN PROP FALSE PRETENSE, 05/18/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ WHEELER, LONNIE SCOTT (W /M/49), RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, 05/18/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ COLE, CHRISTINA BURRIS (W /F/45), TRAFFICKING,OPIUM OR HEROIN,
05/16/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ HETLAND, JAMES TERRY (W /M/47), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 05/16/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office
♦ WILLIAMS, MARK ANTHONY (W /M/33), ATTEMPT BREAK/ENTER MOTOR VEH, 05/16/2023, Stanly County Sh
Venmo to be officially available for teenagers, although many use it already
House Bill 246 puts an end to the unfair practices of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) by targeting spread pricing, fees, and rebates.
MANY OF US FONDLY REMEMBER the days when Main Street was bustling with a vibrant, localized economy. Small businesses flourished, creating jobs and driving growth that directly supported our communities. A quintessential feature of these towns was the presence of a local pharmacy, serving as the heart of Main Street.
However, in recent times, the takeover of Big Government and Big Pharma has disrupted this landscape, leading to the closure of several cherished businesses and the relocation of jobs out-ofstate.
As legislators, we are dedicated to the prosperity of North Carolina. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor House Bill 246, an important piece of legislation that champions local pharmacies, stimulates small business growth, and improves healthcare access for our citizens. This legislation is key to reinvigorating Main Streets across our state, cementing our status as the best state to live, work, and run a business.
House Bill 246 puts an end to the unfair practices of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) by targeting spread pricing, fees, and rebates which hurt locally-owned pharmacies. These measures will deliver transparency and fairness to the pharmaceutical industry, strengthening the foundation of local pharmacies and allowing them to continue serving as pillars of our communities.
In addition to addressing PBM practices, House Bill 246 establishes uniform standards for accreditation and streamlines the process by eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles which disproportionately burden the locally-owned pharmacies. This provision ensures an environment conducive
to entrepreneurial growth, innovation, and healthy competition — which would drive down the prices of prescription drugs for everyone. Our goal is to empower local pharmacies to thrive and provide exceptional care while upholding the highest standards of patient safety.
House Bill 246 also reaffirms and protects a patient’s right to choose their preferred pharmacy. We recognize the value of strong patient-pharmacy relationships and aim to preserve them by clarifying and safeguarding this right — empowering patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare and recognizing local pharmacies as trusted healthcare providers.
Last but not least, House Bill 246 ensures the accurate calculation and transparent communication of patients’ outof-pocket expenses — mitigating confusion and preventing undue financial burdens on patients. This provision emphasizes our commitment to protecting patients’ rights and promoting financial transparency in the healthcare system.
House Bill 246 will help small businesses thrive, enhance healthcare access, and create an environment where local pharmacies flourish as cornerstones of our communities. By cutting back on Big Government mandates and ensuring accessible, quality healthcare for all North Carolinians, this legislation serves as a significant step towards a more competitive, patient-centric pharmaceutical industry.
Rep. Chris Humphrey (R) represents Lenoir, Jones, Greene Counties Rep. Wayne Sasser (R) represents Stanly and Montgomery Counties
COLUMN
THE DURHAM REPORT confirmed that the FBI not only failed to corroborate the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton’s oppo-doc against former President Donald Trump, but it regularly ignored existing, sometimes dispositive, evidence to keep the investigation alive. Some officials were credulous. Others were devious. But no one “stole” our democracy — other than perhaps intelligence officials and the journalists who helped feed the collective hysteria over Russia.
my name to the list. Good initiative. Thanks for asking me to sign on,” Brennan replied.
Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate.
John Brennan, Hamas-loving authoritarian and partisan propagandist, almost surely knew it was a con from the start. Yet he spent four years on television sounding like a deranged subreddit commenter. Even after privately admitting he knew there was no collusion, Brennan kept lying and using his credentials to mislead the public.
From John Durham’s report:
“CIA Director John Brennan and Deputy Director David Cohen were interviewed by the Office and were asked about their knowledge of any actual evidence of members of the Trump campaign conspiring or colluding with Russian officials. When Brennan was provided with an overview of the origins of the Attorney General’s Review after Special Counsel Mueller finding a lack of evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities, Brennan offered that ‘they found no conspiracy.’”
As Durham points out, even after Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report, and after Brennan admitted no one found a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the former head of the CIA went on air with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, another all-star election “denier,” and claimed that he “suspected there was more” to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin than Mueller had let on.
Did I mention this was the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
Brennan must have been relying on that same gut instinct that led him to sign a letter asserting that the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop scoop, a journalistic effort with more corroboration than virtually anything connected to Trump’s alleged “collusion,” had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
The House Judiciary Committee recently uncovered an Oct. 19, 2020, email from CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was working with the Biden campaign to concoct “a talking point” to “push back on Trump” during the final presidential debates, asking Brennan to sign on to the “disinformation” letter. “Ok, Michael, add
That’s all it takes for the former CIA director, a man who was given immense unchecked power — a man who oversaw secret kill lists and was the driving force behind drone strikes on civilians (including an American citizen) — to sign a letter he knew would obstruct the workings of “democracy” and the free press. This is a man who still has access to classified documents. You might remember all the hand-wringing over broken norms when Trump allegedly barred intelligence agencies from sharing classified information with Brennan. The New York Times even gave him a column to argue that Trump’s claims of “no collusion” were “why the president revoked my security clearance,” which, again, he almost certainly knew was a lie.
Of course, Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate. CIA officials broke into Senate computer files and viewed emails and drafts of a report on torture. All of it was illegal. Brennan covered up the agency’s actions (also illegal), blamed the Senate and pushed to fire at least one staffer who was tasked with investigating his agency.
All this happened when the tan-suited Obama was in charge, so most people probably missed it.
It wasn’t until the CIA’s inspector general confirmed this wrongdoing that Brennan began negotiating with the lily-livered senators about owning up to the spying. Even then, Brennan was lying. When asked about the CIA hacking into Senate computers at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Brennan responded by saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Nothing? “I mean, we wouldn’t do that,” he went on. “I mean, that’s just beyond the — you know, the scope of reason in terms of what we would do.” Brennan went on to say: “Let me assure you the CIA was in no way spying on (the committee) or the Senate.”
The Obama administration backed Brennan fully, and the Senate moved on. No one put him under oath and grilled him about the specifics. As with the FBI interference in the 2016 election, not one person was held accountable for domestic spying, much less fired.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books -- the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
Schembechler’s son resigns at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
A son of longtime Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler has resigned from his position with the Wolverines, with the school saying it was aware of his social media activity that may have caused “pain” in the community. Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler stepped down Saturday, just days after he had been hired as assistant director of recruiting on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. The Detroit News reported that Schembechler’s Twitter feed contained posts and likes of offensive material, including some that suggested slavery and Jim Crow were positives to strengthen black individuals and families. Schembechler played for his father, who coached Michigan from 1969-89.
USC AD Bohn resigns after 3½ years
Los Angeles
Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned. USC confirmed the 62-year-old Bohn’s resignation roughly 3½ years after he succeeded Lynn Swann in the high-profile job. The Trojans’ athletic department experienced a surge of success during Bohn’s tenure. The football team made a dramatic turnaround after the hiring of coach Lincoln Riley last year, while the men’s basketball team has made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Andy Enfield. Bohn mentioned “ongoing health challenges” in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times about his resignation.
TENNIS
Gaston’s unsportsmanlike conduct draws
$155K fine
London
A professional tennis player from France has been fined more than he’s collected in prize money so far in 2023 for pulling a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the court during a point in an attempt to get a doover. Hugo Gaston’s fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season drew a fine of about $155,000 from the ATP Tour. Gaston has made a little more than $120,000 in prize money this year. Gaston’s appeal of the punishment got it reduced by half to about $77,500, as long as he meets certain conditions, including no additional violations during a probationary period of a year.
WNBA
Indiana loses
WNBA record-tying
20th straight game
New York
The New York Liberty beat Indiana 90-73, handing the Fever a 20th consecutive loss that matched the WNBA record for futility. The Fever equaled the Tulsa Shock, who lost 20 straight games in 2011. Indiana lost 18 consecutive games to close out last season before falling to the Connecticut Sun on Friday in their opener. Indiana plays at Atlanta next Sunday. The Fever went 5-31 last season and last won June 19, 2022.
The Associated Press PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Confidence was never an issue for Brooks Koepka until the injuries piled up, the doubts crept in and he began to wonder if he still belonged among golf’s elite.
Koepka answered every question at the PGA Championship with a performance that ranks among his best. His fifth major title was the sweetest of them all. No doubt about that, either.
“It feels damned good. Yeah, this one is definitely special,” Koepka said. “I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with everything that’s gone on, all the crazy stuff over the last few years.”
One knee injury kept him from the Masters, another from the
Presidents Cup in Australia. Two years ago, he tried to pop his knee back into place and shattered his knee cap. And then last summer, uncertain about his future, he decided to leave the PGA Tour for the guaranteed Saudi riches of LIV Golf, bringing a mixture of criticism and skepticism.
And there he was Sunday at Oak Hill, looking good as new, dominant as ever, against the best collection of golfers in the world on a punishing golf course.
Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland, and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory.
He held up his index finger as he posed next to the Wanamaker Trophy, but he may as well have held up all five.
With three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, he became the 20th player with five or more majors. He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and
The running back and actor fought for black rights but also faced allegations of violence against women
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena. Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist — and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women — has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of pro football’s first superstars, Brown was a wrecking
ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player. Brown led the Browns to their last championship in 1964 before quitting football in his prime at age 30 to make movies. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
A powerful runner with speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television, and he remained an indomitable figure well after his playing days ended.
Brown was also a champion for black Americans and used his platform and voice to fight for equality.
In June 1967, Brown organized “The Cleveland Summit,” a meeting of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against serving in Vietnam. In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
Players with at least five major tournament victories after Brooks Koepka claimed his fifth at last week’s PGA Championship
Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more times — and captured his first major in what felt like four years.
And to think that over the last few years, Koepka was so wounded he felt he couldn’t compete, a decision that might have led to him leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf in a shocking move last June after the U.S. Open. Koepka left little doubt about
his place in the game with his two-shot win over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.
“To look back to where we were two years ago, I’m so happy right now,” Koepka said. “This is just the coolest thing.”
20The victory moves Koepka to No. 13 in the world and No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six automatically qualify, and it would be hard to fathom leaving Koepka off the American team. He can only earn points in the majors, and two more are still to come.
Koepka had to share the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.
He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year at Valhalla. It was the best finish by a club pro since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986 at Inverness. Block earned just short of $290,000.
Koepka, who finished at 9-under 271, received $3.15 million for his win.
“If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were black, Jim Brown was a God.”
LeBron James
Off the field, Brown was a contentious, complicated figure.
While he had a soft spot for those in need, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife called 911, saying Brown had
smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
Brown is survived by his wife and son, Aris; daughter, Morgan, son, Jim Jr.; daughter, Kimberly; son, Kevin; daughter, Shellee; and daughter, Kim. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ward.
Jim Brown, all-time NFL great and social activist, dead at 87AP PHOTO NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown passed away last Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.
OAKBORO — With five NCHSAA state championships under its belt, the three-year reigning 2A champion West Stanly Colts softball team is on the hunt for its sixth trophy as the regional series of the state playoffs begins this week.
The former Syracuse star also won an NCAA title and three Olympic gold medals
The Associated Press
CARMELO ANTHONY, the star forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement on Monday.
Anthony, who was not in the NBA this season, retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history.
Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal scored more than Anthony — who finishes his career with 28,289 points.
“Now the time has come for me to say good-bye ... to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony said in a videotaped message announcing his decision — one he called “bittersweet.”
Anthony’s legacy has long been secure: He ends his playing days after being selected as one of the
75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a past scoring champion and a six-time AllNBA selection.
And while he never got to the NBA Finals — he only played in the conference finals once, with Denver against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 — Anthony also knew what it was like to be a champion.
He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 Final Four when he led Syracuse to the national championship, and he helped USA Basketball win Olympic gold three times — at Beijing in 2008, at London in 2012 and at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Anthony has played in 31 games in four appearances at the Olympics, the most of any U.S. men’s player ever. Anthony’s 37 points against Nigeria in the 2012 games is a USA Basketball men’s record at an Olympics, as are his 10 3-pointers from that game and his 13-for-13 effort from the foul line against Argentina in 2008.
“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” NBA Com-
missioner Adam Silver said. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year career and look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame.”
Anthony will remain part of international basketball for at least a few more months; Anthony is one of the ambassadors to the Basketball World Cup, FIBA’s biggest event, which will be held this summer in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall by Denver in 2003, part of the star-studded class that included James at No. 1, Hall of Famer Chris Bosh at No. 4, and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade — he gets officially enshrined this summer — at No. 5.
Anthony will join them at the Hall of Fame before long. He averaged 22.5 points in his 19 seasons, spending the bulk of those years with Denver and the New York Knicks. Anthony has long raved about his time with the Knicks, and what it was like playing at Madison Square Garden, especially as a kid who was born in Brooklyn.
“The Garden,” Anthony said in 2014. “They call it The Mecca for a reason.”
Anthony also played for Portland, Oklahoma City, Houston and ended his career with the Lakers last season. He went unsigned this year, and now his retirement is official.
The fourth-seeded Colts (27-1), riding a 27-game winning streak, began a best-of-three series at third-seeded West Wilkes (22-0) on Tuesday and will come back to Oakboro for the second game on Thursday at 7 p.m. A third game, if necessary, will be at West Wilkes on Friday at 7 p.m.
The Colts have been dominant in their four playoff games so far, outscoring opponents by a combined 24-4 margin. Now they face an undefeated Blackhawks team that has had a 32-4 run differential in its four playoff matchups.
West Stanly has experience knocking off a previously undefeated team: The Colts beat No. 1 seed McMichael in a 4-2 thriller on May 19.
Teagan Ritchie put the Colts on the board early with a first-inning home run off Phoenix pitcher Dakota Redmon, who returned the favor with a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning.
West two-way star Lily Huneycutt soon reclaimed the lead for the Colts with an RBI double before Payton Lofton provided two more runs for the Colts. On the mound, Huneycutt allowed only two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks in the game.
Albemarle girls’ track places second at 1A state meet
The West Stanly softball team isn’t the only local squad experiencing postseason success.
Last weekend at North Carolina A&T, the Albemarle Bulldogs girls’ track and field team finished as the runner-up to Swain County in the overall competition for the state title. The Bulldogs recorded 83 points in the event — 17 less than the champion Maroon Devils.
Bulldogs senior Akala Garrett — the Most Outstanding Athlete award-winner for the event — set three state records to go with three individual state titles and was also part of a new relay race record.
A lbemarle’s 4x400 relay team of Baldwin, Garrett, Abigail Clayton and Mary Grace Krol set a 1A record for the state meet with a time of 3:57.16.
The team also recently won first place at the NCHSAA Midwest Regional, where the Bulldogs came out on top with 118 points, easily topping second-place North Rowan (90 points).
West Stanly softball’s run differential through four NCHSAA playoff games
The disgraced trainer returned to the Winner’s Circle as Mage’s Triple Crown bid ended
The Associated Press BALTIMORE — Bob Baffert choked back tears and his voice cracked while he tried to juggle the conflicting feelings of seeing one of his horses win the Preakness Stakes hours after another was euthanized on the same track.
“This business is twists and turns, ups and downs,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “To win this — losing that horse today really hurt. ... It’s been a very emotional day.”
National Treasure won the Preakness on Saturday in Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension, ending Kentucky Derby champion Mage’s Triple Crown bid in the race Baffert has now captured more than any other trainer. But the joy was tempered by the agony of another 3-year-old colt, Havnameltdown, injuring his left front leg in an un-
dercard race and being put down.
“When he got hurt, it’s just the most sickening feeling a trainer can have,” Baffert said. “It put a damper on the afternoon.”
It also put the sport squarely back in a familiar spot, two weeks after seven horses died in a 10-day span at Churchill Downs leading up to the Derby. National Treasure did not run in the Derby at Churchill Downs, where Baffert has been barred the past two years because of a suspension stemming from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s failed drug test that led to a
disqualification in that race. Medina Spirit was Baffert’s most recent Preakness horse, finishing third.
The 5-2 second choice Saturday, National Treasure came through, delivering Baffert a record-breaking eighth victory in the Preakness and his 17th in a Triple Crown race, also the most among trainers. National Treasure held off hard-charging Blazing Sevens down the stretch to win the 1 3/16-mile, $1.65 million race by a head in 1:55.12.
“He fought the whole way,” said jockey John Velazquez, who won the Preakness for the first time
National Treasure, with jockey John Velazquez, front right, edges out Blazing Sevens, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., second from left, to win the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes on aturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
in his 13th try. “He put up a really good fight. ... That’s what champions do.”
National Treasure paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. Blazing Sevens paid $5 to place and $2.80 to show.
Mage finished third after going off as the 7-5 favorite, paying $2.40 to show. Despite the smallest Preakness field since 1986, horses at the lead went much slower than in the Derby, which did not benefit Mage’s running style of closing late and passing tired rivals down the stretch.
“Slow, very slow,” Mage’s trainer, Gustavo Delgado Sr., said.
Mage’s defeat means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fifth consecutive year since Baffert’s Justify in 2018.
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The general election campaign for Kentucky governor got off to a feisty start as Democrats worked to link the freshly minted Republican nominee to heavily criticized pardons by the vanquished predecessor of Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is trying to win a second term in GOP territory.
Republicans united behind attacks of their own, declaring at a Friday rally that Beshear has overstated his role in achievements they say stemmed from actions taken by the GOP-led Legislature.
“The governor has a press conference to take credit for the sun rising,” said Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers. “And I’m sure tonight he’ll probably have a press conference taking credit for the sun setting.”
While Republicans, led by their gubernatorial nominee, Daniel Cameron, ridiculed the governor’s record, Beshear stayed mostly above the fray. Beshear touted the state’s record-setting pace of economic development projects and said he intended to deliver more as he trekked across Kentucky on a bus tour.
“We can be the generations that change everything for Kentucky,” Beshear told more than 200 supporters who chanted “Andy, Andy” at an afternoon rally in Owensboro in western Kentucky. “We can turn our brain drain into a brain gain.”
If there was any doubt about national interest in the race, which could offer something of a preview of voter sentiment ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign, that was put to rest with a blistering ad launched on statewide television against Cameron by a group tied to the Democrat-
ic Governors Association.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the association’s chair, has vowed to spend heavily in Kentucky on Beshear’s behalf, “maybe even at a historic pace to make sure he gets reelected.”
The association-backed ad accuses the Kentucky attorney general, who won the GOP nomination for governor in last Tuesday’s primary, of shirking his duties by failing to hold former Gov. Matt Bevin accountable for issuing
hundreds of pardons and commutations in his final days in office.
It claims Cameron “passed the buck” by failing to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the last-minute pardons of violent criminals and others by Bevin before he left office following his electoral loss to Beshear in 2019.
Cameron joined other Republican nominees for statewide offices Friday at the rally at state GOP headquarters, where he ripped into the governor’s deci-
sion to allow the early release of some nonviolent inmates during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the people released ended up committing new crimes, Cameron said. They were mostly nonviolent drug and property crime offenders who were released to help ease the spread of the virus in prison populations, according to the governor.
Cameron called himself the “law-and-order candidate” and derisively labeled his Democrat-
ic opponent as the “catch-and-release candidate.”
Cameron’s barb reflected contrasting tones between the campaigns, the governor responded.
“While I’m out there talking about the future, trying to bring us together, move us not right nor left but forward, all you hear from my opponents are name calling, attempts to create division,” Beshear told reporters at his Owensboro rally.
The Democratic attack ad is the first volley in what’ sure to be a bitterly fought campaign. It previews a strategy of linking Cameron to Bevin, whose pugnacious style was rejected by many Kentuckians in favor of Beshear four years ago.
“Instead of passing the buck again, Daniel Cameron must finally answer for why he sided with Bevin and his cronies instead of Kentuckians by refusing to get to the bottom of this dangerous scandal,” Sam Newton, spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a news release Friday.
Cameron was just weeks into his tenure as attorney general when he asked the FBI to investigate the flurry of Bevin pardons. The pardons included clemency for a convicted killer whose family held a fundraiser for Bevin and a convicted sex offender whose mother was married to a millionaire road contractor. Bevin’s actions drew bipartisan repudiations.
Cameron responded that the Democratic attack ad was “completely absurd.” He said his decision to turn the investigation over to the FBI drew broad support at the time. Cameron also signaled that Beshear’s record will be ripe for attacks.
“It’s a record that does not reflect the values of the men, women and children of all 120 counties” in Kentucky, Cameron said.
Cameron, Kentucky’s first major-party black nominee for governor, claimed a convincing victory in a 12-candidate field. Beshear easily beat two under-the-radar challengers in his own primary.
The Associated Press
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents will remain behind bars while he awaits trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy said releasing 21-yearold Jack Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice. The judge cited Teixeira’s “fascination with guns,” disturbing online statements and admonitions by Teixeira’s military superiors about his handling of sensitive information before his arrest.
The ruling comes after prosecutors revealed that Teixeira had a history of violent rhetoric, and was caught by fellow military members months before his arrest taking notes on classified information or viewing intelligence not related to his job.
Teixeira is accused of sharing classified military documents on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The stunning breach exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.
The judge said the case represented “a profound breach of the defendant’s word that he would protect information related to the security of the United States.”
“Who did he put at risk? I mean, you could make a list as long as a phone book,” Hennessy said, including military personnel, medical workers overseas and Ukrainian citizens.
The judge indicated that he found persuasive prosecutors’ arguments that U.S. adversaries who might be interested in mining Teixeira for information could facilitate his escape.
“Foreign countries know that this defendant was disloyal to the United States,” the judge said. “It doesn’t seem implausible at all that a foreign government would make an overture to this defendant to get information.”
Teixeira appeared to show no emotion as he was lead out of the courtroom in handcuffs and orange jail clothes. He smiled at his father sitting in the front as he walked into the hearing in Worcester, Massachusetts, federal court.
In a statement after the hearing, Teixeira’s family said it was disappointed with the outcome but “we realize there is a long road ahead of us all, and Jack’s wellbeing and safety is our priority right now. As
a family, we are as committed as ever and remain steadfast and determined in our complete support of Jack as we continue to wade through this process.”
The high-profile case is being prosecuted by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office, whose leader — U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins — resigned on Friday after two federal watchdog agencies found she committed a slew of ethical and legal violations.
Teixeira has been behind bars since his April 13 arrest on charges, under the Espionage Act, of unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors had urged the judge to keep Teixeira jailed, in part because of his arsenal of weapons and history of online statements, including one social media post from last November saying that, if he had his way, he would like to kill a “ton of people” because it would be “culling the weak minded.”
Prosecutors have detailed a troubling history going back to high school, where Teixeira was suspended in 2018 when a classmate overheard him discussing Molotov cocktails and other weapons as well as racial threats. His initial application for a firearms identification
card that same year was denied due to police concerns over those remarks.
He regularly made statements about violence and murder on social media, and also used his government computer to research past mass shootings and standoffs with federal agents, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said he also kept his gun locker within reach of his bed and in it were handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AKstyle high-capacity weapon and a gas mask.
Teixeira’s father told the judge that he removed all the guns from his home and would ensure that his son followed his pretrial conditions if he were released. Teixeira’s lawyer argued that despite the statements highlighted by prosecutors he was
not a danger to the community or a flight risk.
Prosecutors revealed in court papers filed this week that Teixeira’s superiors had raised concerns in the months before his arrest about his mishandling of classified information.
He was twice admonished by superiors in September and October, and was again observed in February viewing information “that was not related to his primary duty and was related to the intelligence field,” according to internal Air National Guard memos filed in court.
The revelations have raised questions about why Teixeira continued to have access to military secrets after what prosecutors described as “concerning actions” related to his handling of classified information.
Guardsman Jack Teixeira, Pentagon leak suspect, to remain jailed as he awaits trial
April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023
Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.
April 25, 1936 - May 19, 2023
Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.
Martha Marie Brooks Efird, 87, of Oakboro passed away on May 19, 2023.
Born April 25, 1936 in Stanly County, NC she was the daughter of the late Dee Brooks and Martha Ann Smith Brooks.
Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Garfield.
She was preceded in death by her husband Fred Efird. Survivors include daughter Kim Terry of Reidsville, two grandchildren Riley McMillian (Doug) of Eden and Sam Davis (Emily) of Eden, great-grandchildren Cayden and Declan McMillian and Elijah, Micah, Maggie, and Abbie Davis. A daughter Dee Ann Efird and a grandson Tanner Davis preceded her in death.
Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.
January 31, 1939 ~ May 13, 2023
Darrell Smith, 84, of Norwood, passed away on May 13, 2023.
Darrell was born in Stanly County, NC to Lennox and Georgia (Cooper) Smith on January 31, 1939.
Darrell is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlene Smith, daughters Jan (Guy) Wilkerson, of Winston-Salem, NC; Ginger Grimes of Charlotte, NC; four grandchildren, Kidd (Katelyn) Wilkerson, Chelsi Wilkerson, Kane Wilkerson, Drake (Alec) Beauchamp, of WinstonSalem, NC; and three greatgrandchildren, Roby and Cooper Beauchamp and Whit Wilkerson; and one brother, Dwight Smith of Norwood, NC. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, Lennox and Georgia, and son-inlaw, Jim Grimes.
January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023
June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023
March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023
Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.
April 26, 1933 - May 17, 2023
Lavenia Chandler passed away at Trinity Place on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 at the age of 90.
Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.
Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.
Born April 26th, 1933 in Mitchell County, Mrs. Chandler is survived by one son, Kent Chandler (DeAnn) of Richfield, NC, one daughter Trina Skidmore (Eric) of Albemarle, NC and daughter in-law Lisa Plyler Chandler of Richfield, NC. Mrs. Chandler is also survived by grandchildren: Lauren Dermody (Robby) of Chapel Hill, NC, Marshall Chandler (Brandy) of Badin, NC, Brooke Chandler of Richfield, NC and Cameron Skidmore of Raleigh, NC. She is also survived by great-grandchildren: Charlotte, William, Emerson and Rhodes.
He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui
Lowe.
Mrs. Chandler is preceded in death by parents: Robert and Grace Baker, Husband: Ellerson Chandler, and son: Randell Chandler.
He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.
Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.
Mrs. Chandler was a former employee of Wiscasset Mills and former owner and operator of The Beauty Shop in Albemarle. She loved being with her family and loved the activities at Trinity Place. She also enjoyed spending holidays with her family and loved animals, especially her bird “Tinker” and dog “Chip”.
May 29, 1944 ~ May 16, 2023
Jacqueline "Jackie" Barbee Britt, 78, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in North Myrtle Beach.
Celebrate
He was a proud, simple, selfless, and hardworking man all of his life. He loved nurturing the land, animals such as cows and hogs, and planting huge vegetable gardens. On Darrell and Marlene’s mantel, you’ll not only find pictures of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also of their dogs.
Darrell’s greatest treasure and love was his wife, Marlene. She was his most precious gift from the Lord. He said what he meant and meant what he said. He was the salt of the earth, and now he is the stars in our sky. He will be dearly missed by many.
Jackie was born May 29, 1944 in North Carolina to the late Lane Deberry Barbee and the late Sally Rebecca Cranford Barbee.
Survivors include husband of 58 years, Merle W. Britt of the home; daughters, Monica (Michael) Huneycutt of Albemarle, NC and Suzie Ehmann of North Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren, Britt, Dalton (and wife, Sydney), Spencer, Emma, Zachery; and great-grandchildren, Carly and Gwendolyn.
She enjoyed flowers and had a large collection of baby dolls.
Jackie loved shopping and going out to eat - she especially loved sweets and chocolate.
James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.
February 18, 1965 ~ May 11, 2023
October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023
September 2, 1987 - May 13, 2023
Kimberly Ann Mullis passed away on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 at the age of 35.
Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.
Born September 2nd, 1987 in Mecklenburg County, Kimberly is survived by one son, Colton James Morgan of Albemarle and two daughters, Riley Elizabeth Kinley and Gracelyn Ann Kinley, both of Oakboro. Kimberly is also survived by her parents, Ricky and Dona Mullis; one sister, Kayla Holcomb of Albemarle and partner/Father of her children, Blake Kinley. Kimberly is pre-deceased by grandparents, Emma and Sherrill Mullis. Kimberly can lovingly be remembered by her obsessive cleaning abilities, and she enjoyed animals, fishing, playing basketball with her son and applying make-up with her girls.
He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and
John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.
Samuel Miller, age 58, departed his earthly life, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at his residence in Albemarle, North Carolina. Sam was born in Manhattan, New York, February 18, 1965, to the parentage of George and Deloris Richardson Miller. Gone from our home, but not from our hearts, Samuel will be remembered for his quiet and kind demeanor. May he rest in God’s Care. He was educated in the Manhattan City Schools. At the time of his unexpected passing, he was employed with Fiberon Industries, New London, North Carolina.
Samuel attended Spirit and Truth United Church of Worship, Albemarle. There he enjoyed many spirited church services, the friendship, and fellowship of the members. He enjoyed spending time with his family and especially his daughter, Diamond.
When John purchased his first Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!
Samuel was preceded in death by his father, George and his sister, Georgiana Miller. He is survived by his daughter, Diamond Miller, and son -in-law, Michael Batista; brother, George Miller; sisters: Victoria Miler and Denise Miller; a host of other relatives and friends.
At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors
November 26, 1953 ~ May 9, 2023
January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023
An enduring love, LaBonnie Brooks Knight, answered Our Father’s call and entered eternal rest, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, while a patient at Atrium Health-Stanly, Albemarle, North Carolina.
achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members
November 2, 1953 ~ May 19, 2023
Johnny Junior Huneycutt passed away at his home on May 19, 2023.
Johnny was born November 2, 1953 to the late Lonnie and Helen Huneycutt. He worked for Builders First Source for many years. Johnny enjoyed camping and taking rides on his Harley Davidson. He was also a hard worker that loved his family.
Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long fight in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away fighting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.
Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by the love of his life for 50 years, Mary Ann Huneycutt, sister Bonnie and brother Vicky Huneycutt. He is survived by his sons, Tim and Ashley Huneycutt and Mike and Heather Huneycutt, grandchildren: Jake, Sawyer, Chloe, Michael, Piper, and Stryker Huneycutt. He is also survived by his loving canine Buddy, whom he cared for deeply.
February 6, 1939 ~ May 19, 2023
Donald Elson Brooks, Sr., 84, of Albemarle, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at Bethany Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
She was the daughter, of Otis and Mae Jewell Freeman Brooks, who was born November 26, 1953, in Stanly County, North Carolina.
Bonnie has joined her parents, Otis and Mae Jewell, and her brother, William Brooks.
Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.
He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.
He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.
A life loved and celebrated will forever be remembered by her sons: Octavious Dion Brooks and Tramion “Trey” Knight; grandchildren: Trinity Knight and Makayla Brooks; siblings: Virginia Brooks, Barbara (Billy) McRae, Marie Clark, Lydia Thomas, Jimmy (Vanessa) Brooks, and Timothy (Mary) Brooks; stepchildren: Xaricus “Tom” Allen, Ebony Thomas, Darkisha “Dee Dee” McLendon, Yatoka Maske, Regina Gould, and Trina Gould; step grandson, A.J. Allen; special nieces and nephews: Cheryl, Rodd, Michael, Marcus, Spencer, Keondra, Trina, Ashley, Vonda, Corey, Markita, “Sweet P”, Derrick, Latisha, Glenn, Seccori, Sandy, Juan, Elaina, William Jr., Chell, Derek, Gary and Arloisha; aunt, Dora Copeland; good friend, Patsy Howell; a host of other relatives and countless friends.
He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.
April 23, 1963 ~ May 7, 2023
Kenneth Todd Kindell, fondly known as “Broozer”, was born April 23, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest of three sons born to James and Margaret Sims Kindell.
This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men.
We wish we could unwind the clock, or make it turn slow; we could have hugged him one more time, before he had to go. He has journeyed to another land, where every day is like Sunday, and the clouds have gone away.
Sunday, May 7, 2023, “Broozer” transitioned to eternal rest. His parents and his brothers: Ernie and Frederick Kindell, preceded him in death.
“Broozer’s” memory will live forever in the hearts of his nieces and nephews: Mylon Baldwin, Latoya Chambers, Destiny Davidson, Amadaus Kindell, and Holly Kindell; devoted sisterin-law, Julia Kindell; loving friend and her daughter, Miriam Madera, and Kristen Maye; special cousin, Senora “Midge” Boulware; other cousins, relatives, and numerous friends.
John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.
Donald was born February 6, 1939, in North Carolina to the late Dewell Clyde Brooks and the late Blanche Love Brooks.
Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the worked for Pediatrician Dr. William years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.
He was also preceded in death by siblings, Edgar James Brooks, John Morris Brooks, Aulida Trull. Survivors include wife, Janie Pence Brooks of Albemarle, NC; children, Donna Gale (Scott) Meynardie of Stanfield, NC, Donald Elson (Donna) Brooks, Jr. of Locust, NC; step-children, Rita Pethel of Stanfield, NC, Timothy (Robin) Eatman of Polkton, NC, Barrett (Jeanette) Eatman of Albemarle, NC, Melanie (Jaye) Richardson of Peachland, NC; grandchildren, Stacy Moss and Justin Eudy and numerous step-grandchildren; greatgrandchildren, Chase (Brittany) Simpson and Kaden Moss; and great-great-grandchildren, Salem, Hudson, and Tynslee.
She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, outfits for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley.
Donald loved working on cars and painting cars. He loved children and animals - so much that they called him "Dollar Don" at the church because he would always give the kids a dollar.
Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — About two-thirds of U.S. adults say they are highly concerned about how the national economy would be affected if the U.S. debt limit is not increased and the government defaults on its debts, according to a new poll, even as few say they have a solid understanding of the ongoing debt limit negotiations.
The poll shows about 6 in 10 say they want any increase in the debt limit to be coupled with agreed-upon terms for reducing the federal budget deficit. At the same time, Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden and congressional negotiators on both sides of the aisle are handling negotiations. Slightly more approve of Biden’s handling of the situation than of congressional Republicans.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted before Republican negotiators on Friday said they would “ press pause “ on talks as the two sides struggle to come to an agreement to avert a damaging default on U.S. government debt. It shows 27% say they approve of Biden and 26% say the same about congressional Democrats, while 22% approve of congressional Republicans. Close to half disapprove of
each.
Robert Hutchins, 66, says he somewhat approves of how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republicans in Congress are handling negotiations.
“At least he’s trying to do something,” the Republican from Milton, Delaware, said of McCarthy’s leadership over his conference.
“The Democrats want to spend more money and they don’t want
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — One of the remaining registered Democrats on a North Carolina Supreme Court whose new Republican majority recently overturned previous decisions on gerrymandering and voter identification announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year.
Associate Justice Mike Morgan’s election in 2016 to an eightyear term gave Democrats a majority on the court for the first time in nearly 20 years. The court returned to a 5-2 majority favoring registered Republicans in January after two GOP election victories.
Morgan announced his decision not to run in a tweet citing 34 years of judicial service, which includes serving as a Wake County trial judge and state administrative law judge.
Looking ahead, Morgan told The Associated Press he was now considering “other options that have been afforded” him.
“I feel as though as my public service speaks for itself, and I am in a position now to make an even greater difference in North Carolina in another capacity,” Morgan said in an interview.
Morgan didn’t provide details, but when asked whether that could include a run at anoth-
er elected position, he said “at this stage I am keeping all of my options open.”
He also couldn’t say whether he would serve the remainder of his current term through the end of next year. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would appoint someone to fill his seat should he leave early.
Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican, already announced months ago that he would run for Morgan’s seat — the only one currently up for election in 2024. The current election sequence means Democrats likely won’t have another opportunity to obtain a majority until at least 2028.
Shortly after taking the court majority in January, Republicans agreed to reconsider rulings made by the 4-3 Democratic majority that struck down legislative and congressional district maps as illegal gerrymanders and upheld a lower-court ruling that a 2018 photo voter ID law was unconstitutional from racial bias.
Just three weeks ago, the court’s new iteration overturned the redistricting decisions, determining that the state constitution leaves mapmaking to the General Assembly and lacks limits that prohibit partisan gerrymandering. And at the same time it said the voter ID law was wrongly voided
any limit to it.”
Hutchins said he doesn’t have “any confidence whatsoever” in Biden and doesn’t believe in abolishing the debt ceiling, as it serves as a constant reminder of the nation’s debt load, which currently stands at $31.4 trillion.
Otherwise, “you just think you have an unlimited credit card and you can spend whatever you want,” he said.
Ron Ellis, 61, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, said he hasn’t been paying a lot of attention to the latest debt limit debate because he’s thinks it will be resolved in time to save the economy from harm, as the White House and Congress have done in the past. But he expressed concern about the level of U.S. borrowing, calling it “astronomical” and “out of hand.”
“I’ve learned from the past that they always at the last minute come up with a plan,” said Ellis, a registered Democrat who is retired after owning a trucking company. “Basically, it’s just a show on their part and, you know, one side blames the other and generally they end up with a decision. Hopefully they’ll do it again.”
Overall, about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they are following negotiations over raising the debt limit extremely or very closely, and about 4 in 10 are following somewhat closely. Similarly, about 2 in 10 say they understand the situation very well and about 4 in 10 say they understand it somewhat well.
Still, a clear majority — 63% — say they think the negotiations should be coupled with terms to reduce the budget deficit. Nineteen percent say the debt limit should be raised without conditions and 16% say it should not be raised at all. Overall, the adults who say they understand the debate best are especially likely to
say the debt limit should be increased without conditions, with 37% saying so among that group.
A default would likely spell catastrophe for the U.S. economy, with spillover throughout the globe, and would prompt a probable recession.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that a national default would destroy jobs and businesses, and leave millions of families who rely on federal government payments to “likely go unpaid,” including Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families.
An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier this year also shows little consensus on cuts that would make a dent in the deficit: While most Americans said the government spends too much overall, majorities favored increased spending on popular and expensive programs including Medicare and Social Security.
Similar percentages of Republicans and Democrats say they are following and understanding negotiations, and concern about the economy if the U.S. defaults is widely bipartisan. But about a third of Democrats say the national debt limit should be increased without conditions, while just 6% of Republicans say the same.
Twenty-three percent of Republicans but just 7% of Democrats say the debt limit should not be increased under any circumstances.
and should be enforced.
Morgan and Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls delivered blistering dissenting opinions in these cases.
Morgan, who is Black, wrote in the voter ID dissenting opinion that the majority had “emboldened themselves to infuse partisan politics brazenly into the outcome of the present case” by rehearing the matter. He also wrote that trial judges had appropriately examined past racial discrimination in North Carolina while making their decision.
Morgan said Thursday that while he certainly wished “the atmosphere and the orientation of this current court” were different, “nonetheless I served the institution of the court with pride and with integrity.”
Current law requires justices to retire at the end of the month that they turn 72. That would have allowed Morgan, now 67, to serve close to three years of a second term had he been reelected in 2024. The governor fills vacancies for such retirements as well. The General Assembly is consid-
ering this year legislation that would extend the mandatory retirement age to 76 for appellate court judges.
Morgan grew up in New Bern and went to the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He worked in the state Department of Justice for 10 years before being appointed an administrative law judge in 1989. While on the state Supreme Court, Morgan has been known at times to break with Democratic colleagues and side with Republicans on criminal justice matters.
for Tails’ program
More than half of Randolph County students are reading below their grade level. To combat this problem, Juvenile Day Reporting Center has implemented a new program called “Tales for Tails,” which combines reading and interaction with animals through a weekly event where students visit animals at the County Animal Services Shelter and read aloud to them. “Animals don’t judge a child’s reading skills, which may encourage embarrassed or struggling readers to practice and gain confidence,” said Pamela Resch, Director of the Juvenile Day Reporting Center. Resch also claims that the program benefits the animals at the shelter, stating, “Reading to animals at a shelter can give them some much-needed oneon-one time with a companion in a calm, non-stressful setting. It can also help skittish dogs and cats develop skills that give them a better chance of being adopted.” The “Tales for Tails” program is free and open to all elementary students in Randolph County every Tuesday from 3:15 pm to 5 pm.
A man wanted as a suspect in a sex crime case in Randolph County was arrested in New York this month. According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, a report about predatory offenses against minors led to detectives obtaining charges against Sherwin McDonald Edwards for six counts of felony indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory sex offense with a child under 15 years of age.
Efforts to locate Edwards were initially unsuccessful until the office’s Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) obtained intel that Edwards had fled the state. Following discovering Edwards’ location, CAT detectives contacted NYC Warrant DivisionBrooklyn South to assist in his apprehension. On May 9, detectives and the US Marshals Service in New York arrested Edwards. He is currently being held in New York, where he has been denied bond and is awaiting an extradition hearing.
ASHEBORO — Last week, the SECU Foundation gifted $2 million to assist with the North Carolina Zoo’s new Asia habitat expansion, which is currently under construction. Members from the foundation presented the check at a private event held at the newly renovated baboon habitat.
“Funding from the foundation will enable the zoo to expand its capacity for education and outreach for both virtual and in-person visits through the SECU Visitor View Pavilion and Classroom in Asia, the centerpiece of the new 10-acre complex,” stated the NC Zoo Society and the SECU Foundation in a joint press release. “The Pavilion and Classroom will offer a formal venue for interactive learning and a glass observation wall overlooking an indoor primate habitat. It will also provide a closer look at Komodo dragons, gibbons, giant salamanders, king cobras, and other animal species.”
The zoo officially broke ground on its new Asia habitat in August 2022, making it the first new continent at the park since North America opened in 1994. Roughly $46
million in funding from the state budget was allocated to the projected. Combined with the approximately $28 million raised through donations by the NC Zoo Society’s
Board of Education recognizes CTE national qualifiers
Randolph Record
ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education met Monday, May 15, with multiple recognitions and presentations on the agenda.
The board started off the meeting by recognizing the national qualifiers among the different Career and Technical Student Organizations from the local schools.
“Each year, students in Career and Technical Student Organizations, or CTSOs, compete in local, regional, and state events to demonstrate skills that they have acquired through curriculum activities and individual efforts outside of the classroom,” said Public Information Officer Tim Moody.
“They compete against students from across our state with the hope of earning a chance to compete at the national level. Each CTSO has specific requirements for qualifying for national competitions based on factors such as the number of competitors in the event and the type of event, but regardless, it is an outstanding accomplishment to qualify for any national CTSO event.”
The national qualifiers include the Providence Grove High School FFA Hunter Safety Team, which finished second overall at the tournament to advance to the nation-
al competition for the first time in school history, the Wheatmore High School FFA Hunter Safety Team the team which finished third overall at the tournament to advance to the national competition, the Randleman High School FFA Chapter which finished first in the state out of 100 teams and will represent the North Carolina FFA Association at the National FFA Convention, and the Randleman High School HOSA which had members Parker Sterling, Marian Aguilar, Ava Dillard and Jennifer Mayorga qualify for the HOSA’s International Leadership Conference.
The board was presented with a proposal from the superintendent to discontinue The Virtual Academy at Randolph, stemming from a study RCS had conducted.
The study found that the school received a letter grade of “F,” did not meet school performance growth measures and was identified as a low-performing school by the state. The Virtual Academy also will have a local cost of $1163,355 to fund two positions necessary for the school’s operations once ESSER money runs out in 2024-25 and has seen a steady decline of enrollment, with only 54 students currently enrolled for the 2023-24 school year.
“Due to budget concerns, the expiration of ESSER funds on 9/30/24, the anticipated continued decline in enrollment at The Virtual Academy at Randolph, and the fact that closure will not cause significant inconvenience or hardship
“It’s never an easy conversation when you are dealing with students and staff, but it’s one that needs to be had.”
Superintendent Stephen Gainey
to current students, I recommend that The Virtual Academy at Randolph be closed no later than the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year,” said Superintendent Dr. Stephen Gainey. “It’s not an easy conversation. It’s never an easy conversation when you are dealing with students and staff, but it’s one that needs to be had.”
The board was also presented with the list of schools operating under the Community Eligibility Provision in order to receive free lunches and breakfasts for the 2023-24 school year.
“The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides an alternative to household applications for free and reduced-price meals for economically disadvantaged students in local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools,” said Executive Director of Operations Dale Brinkley. “Sites that elect this option agree to serve all students free lunches and breakfasts and claim the meals based on a percentage of Identified Students mul-
capital fundraising campaign, the zoo’s approximate total for the project is around $75 million dollars.
“North Carolina is most fortunate to have a world-class facility that is dedicated to protecting wildlife populations and their living habitats while educating the community about conserving the natural world,” said Bob Brinson, SECU Foundation board chair. “Education is one of the foundation’s core areas for giving, and we are pleased to support the Zoo’s expansion project to further enrich experiences for visitors of all ages.”
“The NC Zoo Society is honored to have been selected as an SECU Foundation grant recipient,” stated John Ruffin, NC Zoo Society board chair. “Partnerships like this will help us build the new Asia habitat expansion and continue our goal of securing a safe and enduring future for the zoo and its programs.”
The new Asia habitat is expected to open in 2026. For more information about the expansion, please visit https://www.nczoo.org/visit/asia.
tiplied by a USDA-defined multiplier factor, currently 1.6. Sites which have an Identified Student Percentage (ISP) of 40% or greater are eligible for this option.”
The schools include Archdale Elementary, Coleridge Elementary, Farmer Elementary, Franklinville Elementary, Grays Chapel Elementary, Hopewell Elementary, John Lawrence Elementary, Level Cross Elementary, Liberty Elementary, New Market Elementary, Ramseur Elementary, Randleman Elementary, Seagrove Elementary, Southmont Elementary, Tabernacle Elementary, Trindale Elementary, Trinity Elementary and Southeastern Randolph Middle. The Randolph County Schools Board of Education will next meet June 5.
Randolph Record
ASHEBORO — Energizer Holdings, Inc., best known for its icon Energizer batteries and Bunny, will add 144 new jobs in Randolph County, Governor Roy Cooper’s office announced on Monday. The company will invest $43 million for an equipment expansion for its battery production and packaging facilities in the City of Asheboro.
“We’re charged up to announce Energizer’s decision to increase its investment in our state,” said Cooper. “This is another important expansion for Randolph and surrounding counties, and it spotlights North Carolina as a place for world-renowned companies to grow and succeed.”
Energizer Holdings is the globally recognized manufacturer of Energizer, Rayovac and Eveready batteries and flashlights, along with well-known auto care products like Armor All and STP. The company has been in the Asheboro community for nearly 75 years, and they are investing to upgrade these sites to increase its production and packaging capacity.
“We’re incredibly excited about this expansion,” said Abe Prandini, Plant Manager of the Asheboro manufacturing plant. “Our decision to invest in our Asheboro facilities is a testament to the great workforce in the area, and we’re looking forward to calling Asheboro our home for many more years to come.”
New positions being created by the company include engineers, maintenance staff, opera-
“The City of Asheboro’s motto is ‘Exactly where you want to be.’ This expansion proves that to be the case, both in Asheboro and across this great state that continues to be listed as one of, if not the best, states for economic development and growth.”
Rep. Brian Biggs
tors, and supervisors. Although salaries vary by position, the company’s overall average annual wage is $54,169, which exceeds Randolph County’s average annual wage of $43,080. These new jobs will have the potential to create an annual payroll impact of more than $7.8 million for the community.
“Energizer has become synonymous with powering our lives,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Our manufacturing workforce, combined with our convenient location and transportation infrastructure, will continue to make North Carolina a top choice for global brands like Energizer.”
A performance-based grant of $450,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help with Energizer’s expansion in North Carolina. The One NC Fund pro-
vides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require matching participation from local government, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
“Energizer has been a great corporate citizen for our community,” N.C. Senator David W. Craven, Jr. said. “These new jobs are a welcome addition to Randolph County, and we look forward to supporting Energizer’s next phase of growth.”
“Energizer’s $43 million investment and 144 new jobs in Randolph County is great news for the county,” said N.C. Representative Brian Biggs. “The City of Asheboro’s motto is ‘Exactly where you want to be.’ This expansion proves that to be the case, both in Asheboro and across this great state that continues to be listed as one of, if not the best, states for economic development and growth.”
In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Randolph Community College, North Carolina Retail Merchants Association, Randolph County, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, City of Asheboro and Duke Energy.
Randolph Record
SEAGROVE — A dog that made it onto the playground area at Seagrove Elementary School last week created an uncomfortable situation.
Four students were bitten by the dog during recess.
A message from the school principal Jamie Armfield was issued to parents: “I am calling to inform you about a situation in which a dog came onto the playground on our school’s
CRIME LOG
♦ Briles, Brett Matthew (M, 21), Arrested on charge of Second Degree Trespass, on 5/17, at 390 Otis Rd.
♦ Hofheins, Jessica Lauren Myers (F, 36), Arrested on charge of Simple Possess Schedule II CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, on 5/17, at I-73/74 @ Ulah Troy Exit.
♦ Maness, Kelly James (F, 45), Arrested on charge of Possess Heroin, on 5/18, at 773 West Dixie Dr.
♦ Mendenhall, Sharon Williams (F, 47), Arrested on charge of Larceny of Motor Vehicle, Breakong and or Entering, Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle, Larceny after Break/Enter,
campus today during third and fourth-grade recess and bit four students. Staff members immediately removed all students from the playground and contacted Randolph County Animal Services and Seagrove Police. All students and staff members returned safely to the school building. The four students who were bitten by the dog were examined by the school nurse, and their parents were contacted.” Randolph County Animal
Services assisted in identifying and contacting the dog’s owner. That process wrapped up last Friday, a day after the biting incident at the school. The dog has been quarantined for 10 days. “At this time, the school system will be assessing the situation at Seagrove Elementary School to determine the next steps in relation to the playground,” said Dr. Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System.
on 5/17, at 10327 Randleman Rd.
♦ Todd, Destinee Ann Marie (F, 22), Arrested on charge of Simple Assault, on 5/17, at 7385 Turnpike Rd.
♦ Ruffin, Danny Roosevelt (M, 40), Arrested on charge of Sex Offender/Child Premises, on 5/16, at 9205 NC-22.
♦ Dawson, Joshua Don (M, 29), Arrested on charge of Communicating Threats, on 5/15, at 5441 Wagoner View Dr.
♦ Eaves, Eric Andrew (M, 36), Arrested on charge of Assault on a Female, on 5/15, at 188 Albert Martin Rd.
♦ Hill, Brandi Renee (F, 36), Arrested on charge of Simple Possess Schedule IV CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Cont Sub/Poss/Loc Confinement, on 5/15, at Randolph Co Jail.
♦ Nelson, Erick Eugene (M, 36), Arrested on charge of Resist/ Obstruct Public Officer, on 5/16, at 104 W Main St., Franklinville.
♦ Turner, Travis Monroe (M, 35), Arrested on charge of Communicating Threats, on 5/15, at Randolph Co Jail.
♦ Collins, Noah (M, 59), Arrested on charge of Domestic Criminal Trespass, on 5/12, at 4594 Allen Dr.
The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.
May 26
Rock’n The Park –1964 The Tribute 6pm – 10pm
Come out to Bicentennial Park in Asheboro for live music from 1964 The Tribute (Beatles Tribute Band)! Food trucks will also be on site! All you need to do is bring a lawn chair!
May 29
Zookeepers vs. Post 45 7pm
Come out to the historic McCrary Park and watch the Asheboro Zookeepers take on Randolph County American Legion Post 45!
May 30
Asheboro Farmers Market 7am – 1pm
Come out to the Asheboro Downtown Farmers Market, located at 134 S. Church Street. This event is free and open to the public!
‘Quiet Day’ at the Zoo 9am – 5pm
The North Carolina Zoo offers a sensory friendly experience every month for those seeking a quieter and less crowded experience at the park! They will turn off all loud music and messaging at all entrances. Sensory bags are free for check out from the Guest Services Office or at Kidzone!
May 31
World Tavern Poker at Carolina Tap House 7pm
Join America’s #1 Bar Poker League right in Asheboro at the Carolina Tap House! Entry is 100% free to the public and games take place every Wednesday night!
June 2
Music & Market –Ryan Perry Band 5pm – 10pm
Come out to Commerce Square Park in Randleman for live music by the Ryan Perry Band!
“There can be no security anywhere in the free world if there is no fiscal and economic stability within the United States.”President Ronald Reagan President Reagan understood the importance of getting America’s economy in order. Yet our crippling debt, now at over $30 trillion, continues to threaten our standing in the world and must be addressed.
border patrol agents, restarts border wall construction, and protects children from human trafficking. Once again, House Republicans have shown we have solutions to the challenges facing our nation while others choose to ignore them.
Extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
President Joe Biden refused to negotiate for more than 100 days to address the debt. Our country cannot afford to default on our debt due to Washington Democrats’ political games. Under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans have raised the debt limit in a responsible way. We are united in our desire to address the debt crisis and curb reckless spending for years to come. I am proud of our work to save America from defaulting and will stay focused on improving our economy for you and your family.
While Washington Democrats have procrastinated on the debt ceiling, they have also refused to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis at our Southern border. Yet it is clear—extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
Earlier this month, Title 42, a public health border security measure that has been used to keep nearly 3 million illegal migrants out of the U.S. since 2020, expired. In the days leading up to this, more than 10,000 migrants were encountered at the border, shattering records.
To address the crisis, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act—the strongest border security bill America has ever seen. It will keep our nation safe and our border secure.
It’s plain and simple—border security is national security. Our bill ends catch and release, fixes the asylum program, hires more
Last week, in celebration of National Police Week, House Republicans condemned ‘defunding the police’ and anti-police rhetoric and passed the POLICE Act of 2023 and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. We seek to give local law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.
In recent years, good police officers dedicated to keeping our communities safe have not always received the resources and respect they deserve. Assaults on police have gone up significantly, leading to the deadliest year in two decades for our law enforcement officers.
As we approach Memorial Day, we honor our brave service members who gave their lives in the defense of the freedoms we hold so dear. I am deeply grateful to be an American, and incredibly appreciative of those who risk their lives daily to defend our liberties. And I will never forget the sacrifices our military families make every day.
Our nation is the greatest on earth because of courageous service members, law enforcement officers, and their families. May God bless America, and the men and women in uniform who protect our community and keep this great nation free.
Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.
THE DURHAM REPORT confirmed that the FBI not only failed to corroborate the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton’s oppo-doc against former President Donald Trump, but it regularly ignored existing, sometimes dispositive, evidence to keep the investigation alive. Some officials were credulous. Others were devious. But no one “stole” our democracy — other than perhaps intelligence officials and the journalists who helped feed the collective hysteria over Russia.
my name to the list. Good initiative. Thanks for asking me to sign on,” Brennan replied.
That’s all it takes for the former CIA director, a man who was given immense unchecked power — a man who oversaw secret kill lists and was the driving force behind drone strikes on civilians (including an American citizen) — to sign a letter he knew would obstruct the workings of “democracy” and the free press.
Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate.
John Brennan, Hamas-loving authoritarian and partisan propagandist, almost surely knew it was a con from the start. Yet he spent four years on television sounding like a deranged subreddit commenter. Even after privately admitting he knew there was no collusion, Brennan kept lying and using his credentials to mislead the public.
From John Durham’s report:
“CIA Director John Brennan and Deputy Director David Cohen were interviewed by the Office and were asked about their knowledge of any actual evidence of members of the Trump campaign conspiring or colluding with Russian officials. When Brennan was provided with an overview of the origins of the Attorney General’s Review after Special Counsel Mueller finding a lack of evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities, Brennan offered that ‘they found no conspiracy.’”
As Durham points out, even after Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report, and after Brennan admitted no one found a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the former head of the CIA went on air with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, another all-star election “denier,” and claimed that he “suspected there was more” to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin than Mueller had let on.
Did I mention this was the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
Brennan must have been relying on that same gut instinct that led him to sign a letter asserting that the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop scoop, a journalistic effort with more corroboration than virtually anything connected to Trump’s alleged “collusion,” had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
The House Judiciary Committee recently uncovered an Oct. 19, 2020, email from CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was working with the Biden campaign to concoct “a talking point” to “push back on Trump” during the final presidential debates, asking Brennan to sign on to the “disinformation” letter. “Ok, Michael, add
This is a man who still has access to classified documents. You might remember all the hand-wringing over broken norms when Trump allegedly barred intelligence agencies from sharing classified information with Brennan. The New York Times even gave him a column to argue that Trump’s claims of “no collusion” were “why the president revoked my security clearance,” which, again, he almost certainly knew was a lie.
Of course, Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate. CIA officials broke into Senate computer files and viewed emails and drafts of a report on torture. All of it was illegal. Brennan covered up the agency’s actions (also illegal), blamed the Senate and pushed to fire at least one staffer who was tasked with investigating his agency.
All this happened when the tan-suited Obama was in charge, so most people probably missed it.
It wasn’t until the CIA’s inspector general confirmed this wrongdoing that Brennan began negotiating with the lily-livered senators about owning up to the spying. Even then, Brennan was lying. When asked about the CIA hacking into Senate computers at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Brennan responded by saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Nothing? “I mean, we wouldn’t do that,” he went on. “I mean, that’s just beyond the — you know, the scope of reason in terms of what we would do.” Brennan went on to say: “Let me assure you the CIA was in no way spying on (the committee) or the Senate.”
The Obama administration backed Brennan fully, and the Senate moved on. No one put him under oath and grilled him about the specifics. As with the FBI interference in the 2016 election, not one person was held accountable for domestic spying, much less fired.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books -- the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
Schembechler’s son resigns at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
A son of longtime Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler has resigned from his position with the Wolverines, with the school saying it was aware of his social media activity that may have caused “pain” in the community. Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler stepped down Saturday, just days after he had been hired as assistant director of recruiting on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. The Detroit News reported that Schembechler’s Twitter feed contained posts and likes of offensive material, including some that suggested slavery and Jim Crow were positives to strengthen black individuals and families. Schembechler played for his father, who coached Michigan from 1969-89.
USC AD Bohn resigns after 3½ years
Los Angeles
Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned. USC confirmed the 62-year-old Bohn’s resignation roughly 3½ years after he succeeded Lynn Swann in the high-profile job. The Trojans’ athletic department experienced a surge of success during Bohn’s tenure. The football team made a dramatic turnaround after the hiring of coach Lincoln Riley last year, while the men’s basketball team has made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Andy Enfield. Bohn mentioned “ongoing health challenges” in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times about his resignation.
TENNIS
Gaston’s unsportsmanlike conduct draws
$155K fine
London
A professional tennis player from France has been fined more than he’s collected in prize money so far in 2023 for pulling a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the court during a point in an attempt to get a doover. Hugo Gaston’s fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season drew a fine of about $155,000 from the ATP Tour. Gaston has made a little more than $120,000 in prize money this year. Gaston’s appeal of the punishment got it reduced by half to about $77,500, as long as he meets certain conditions, including no additional violations during a probationary period of a year.
WNBA Indiana loses
WNBA record-tying
20th straight game
New York
The New York Liberty beat Indiana 90-73, handing the Fever a 20th consecutive loss that matched the WNBA record for futility. The Fever equaled the Tulsa Shock, who lost 20 straight games in 2011. Indiana lost 18 consecutive games to close out last season before falling to the Connecticut Sun on Friday in their opener. Indiana plays at Atlanta next Sunday. The Fever went 5-31 last season and last won June 19, 2022.
The Associated Press PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Confidence was never an issue for Brooks Koepka until the injuries piled up, the doubts crept in and he began to wonder if he still belonged among golf’s elite.
Koepka answered every question at the PGA Championship with a performance that ranks among his best. His fifth major title was the sweetest of them all. No doubt about that, either.
“It feels damned good. Yeah, this one is definitely special,” Koepka said. “I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with everything that’s gone on, all the crazy stuff over the last few years.”
One knee injury kept him from the Masters, another from the
Presidents Cup in Australia. Two years ago, he tried to pop his knee back into place and shattered his knee cap. And then last summer, uncertain about his future, he decided to leave the PGA Tour for the guaranteed Saudi riches of LIV Golf, bringing a mixture of criticism and skepticism.
And there he was Sunday at Oak Hill, looking good as new, dominant as ever, against the best collection of golfers in the world on a punishing golf course.
Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland, and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory.
He held up his index finger as he posed next to the Wanamaker Trophy, but he may as well have held up all five.
With three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, he became the 20th player with five or more majors. He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and
The running back and actor fought for black rights but also faced allegations of violence against women
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena. Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist — and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women — has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of pro football’s first su-
perstars, Brown was a wrecking ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player.
Brown led the Browns to their last championship in 1964 before quitting football in his prime at age 30 to make movies. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
A powerful runner with speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television, and he remained an indomitable figure well after his playing days ended.
Brown was also a champion for black Americans and used his platform and voice to fight for equality.
In June 1967, Brown organized “The Cleveland Summit,” a meeting of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against serving in Vietnam.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a
Players with at least five major tournament victories after Brooks
Koepka claimed his fifth at last week’s PGA Championship
Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more times — and captured his first major in what felt like four years.
And to think that over the last few years, Koepka was so wounded he felt he couldn’t compete, a decision that might have led to him leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf in a shocking move last June after the U.S. Open.
Koepka left little doubt about
his place in the game with his two-shot win over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.
“To look back to where we were two years ago, I’m so happy right now,” Koepka said. “This is just the coolest thing.”
20The victory moves Koepka to No. 13 in the world and No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six automatically qualify, and it would be hard to fathom leaving Koepka off the American team. He can only earn points in the majors, and two more are still to come.
Koepka had to share the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.
He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year at Valhalla. It was the best finish by a club pro since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986 at Inverness. Block earned just short of $290,000.
Koepka, who finished at 9-under 271, received $3.15 million for his win.
“If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were black, Jim Brown was a God.”
LeBron James
program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
Off the field, Brown was a contentious, complicated figure. While he had a soft spot for those in need, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife
called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
Brown is survived by his wife and son, Aris; daughter, Morgan, son, Jim Jr.; daughter, Kimberly; son, Kevin; daughter, Shellee; and daughter, Kim. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ward.
Jim Brown, all-time NFL great and social activist, dead at 87AP PHOTO NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown passed away last Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.
Randolph Record
THERE WILL BE a Randolph County baseball team in the state finals. It won’t be Randleman.
Either Uwharrie Charter Academy or Eastern Randolph will be in the Class 1-A state championship series in the first weekend of June. Those teams will meet in a bestof-3 West Regional final this week.
Two-time defending Class 2-A state champion Randleman was bounced in Friday night’s fourth round by Eden Morehead.
Here’s a recap of how it has shaken out:
Class 1-A
The only two Class 1-A teams in the Piedmont Athletic Conference are the only survivors in the classification in the West Region. Games 1 and, if necessary, Game 3 will be at UCA.
Second-seeded UCA needed eight innings to top third-seeded Draughn 5-4 in Friday night’s fourth round. Carter Brown’s twoout single drove in Grat Dalton with the winning run.
Logun Wilkins was the winning pitcher in relief by logging two innings. The Eagles (18-10) have played every state-playoff game at home.
No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph won its fourth consecutive road game, upending Union Academy 13-6 on Friday night.
UCA shared second place in the PAC. Eastern Randolph (8-17) was last in the league.
UCA defeated Eastern Randolph 3-0 (on April 11) and 4-3 (on April 13) in the regular season.
In Tuesday’s third round, Eastern Randolph slipped past No. 13 seed Highland Tech 3-1, while UCA toppled No. 10 seed North Stokes 11-4. For UCA, Dalton had three hits and scored two runs. Brett Smith pitched 5 1/3 innings for the victory.
Class 2-A
Second-seeded Randleman’s run came to a halt with a 5-0 loss to visiting Eden Morehead on Friday night.
Randleman had won 13 consecutive games in the state playoffs dating to a Game 2 loss in the 2021 championship series, a result that was avenged later that same day in a decisive Game 3 against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central.
The Tigers (23-5) had outscored
their previous three opponents in this year’s state playoffs by a combined 37-8 tally.
In being eliminated, Randleman managed just two hits – a Hunter Atkins double and a Braxton Walker single. Anderson Nance struck out 10 batters without issuing a walk for Eden Morehead (23-5), which had its first margin of more than two runs in any of its state-playoff games. It was only the third time that Randleman gave up as many as five runs in a game this season. Austin Lemons was charged with all five runs, though only two were earned, in six innings. Randleman topped visiting East Davidson 7-3 in Tuesday night’s third round to push its winning streak to seven games.
Randolph Record
ALL IN ONE NIGHT, the dreams of state championships for three Randolph County softball teams were dashed.
They all had reached the West Regional semifinals, but then Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy went down Friday night.
Class 2-A
At Asheboro, West Wilkes knocked off host Southwestern Randolph 2-1 in 10 innings.
Leah Greene’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for third-seeded West Wilkes was the difference.
Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph (22-2) scored first when Madison Varner drove in a third-inning run. West Wilkes (22-0) pulled even in the next inning on pitcher Lily Profit’s home run.
From the circle, Profit delivered a three-hitter. Macie Crutchfield pitched a complete game with 17 strikeouts for Southwestern Randolph.
The Cougars’ only other loss this year came to Hickory Ridge, which has advanced to the Class 4-A West Regional finals.
Class 1-A
Fourth-seeded Eastern Ran-
dolph came up short in a 3-1 loss at top-seeded South Stokes.
Lanie McDaniel had three hits for Eastern Randolph (18-6). She scored the only run on Ayanna Mears’ single in the second inning.
Wildcats pitcher Addie Flinchum struck out 10 batters, but issued six walks and allowed five hits.
Eastern Randolph was in its first road game of this postseason.
Ringley has been a reliable player for the Warriors, who are trying to complete another undefeated season. She’s a defender and midfielder.
A senior, Ringley rates high on the team in steals. Through the Warriors’ first 21 games, she had tallied four goals and seven assists.
Some of her best work might come on the defensive end in the rare times Wheatmore has been challenged. The Warriors gave up only eight goals during the regular season.
Randolph Record
PINEHURST — Eastern Randolph senior Connor Carter was the runner-up again in the Class 1-A state tournament for boys’ golf. Carter shot rounds of 70 and 77 for 3-over-par 147 last week at Pinehurst No. 6. He was behind only Mitchell’s Connor Warren, the defending champion who checked in at 11-under 133 with rounds of 65 and 68. Carter had a four-shot edge on third-place finisher Reid Smith of South Stanly.
Beane’s leap of 5 feet, 4 inches was 2 inches shy of the winning mark from D’Anna Cotton of team champion Burlington Cummings.
Beane also was eighth in the triple jump (35-3½).
Coley Shiflet of Southwestern Randolph ended up sixth in the 800 meters (2:28.10). Iniyah Mitchell of Randleman took sixth in the shot put (34-3)
On the boys’ side, Chase Farlow of Randleman placed fifth in the high jump at 6-2. Trinity’s Dylan Hodges was seventh in the high jump (6-0).
South Stokes improved to 24-1.
** Uwharrie Charter Academy lost 12-2 at No. 11 seed Union Academy.
Logan Zephir had two hits, and Emory Johnson and Molly Bulla drove in runs for the 15th-seeded Eagles (15-4), who had allowed only one run across their first three playoff games combined. Union Academy moved on with a 22-4 record.
Randolph Record
TRINITY — Wheatmore’s girls’ soccer team has been on the fast track in Class 2-A state playoffs.
Looking to repeat as state champions, the Warriors entered this week with a 21-0 record after two convincing victories to begin the postseason last week.
Wheatmore’s first-round 9-0 shelling of No. 31 seed Shelby included six goals from Ellie Garrison. Summer Bowman had two goals, and Mikalah Walls notched the other. Natalie Bowman provided four assists.
In the second round, the Warriors flattened No. 15 seed Forbush 7-0, with Garrison and Summer Bowman each racking up three goals. Kaitlyn Vazquez had the other goal. Also in Class 2-A, No. 17 seed Providence Grove suffered a 1-0 overtime loss to No. 17 seed Black Mountain Owen in the first round.
The Patriots finished with a 12-8-2 record.
No. 28 seed Randleman (7-9-1) lost 3-1 at fifth-seeded East Gaston, while No. 29 seed Southwestern Randolph (9-10-1) was bounced 8-0 by fourth-seeded Henderson-
ville.
** In Class 1-A, Uwharrie Charter Academy fell 5-2 at second-seeded Christ the King in the second round. No. 18 seed UCA (8-11-2) began the tournament by defeating No. 15 seed Gray Stone Day School 3-0, with Kendall Jarrell scoring twice and Ivy Redding scoring once. Goalkeeper Abbie Gudino was tracked for 13 saves.
** In Class 3-A, 16th-seeded North Henderson handled 17th-seeded Asheboro 3-0. The Blue Comments ended with a 9-74 record.
In Class 2-A at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore tied for 30th at 16-over 160 (83, 77). Randleman’s Justin Jackson ended up 77th at 194 (103, 91) Class 3-A at Foxfire Resort & Golf Club’s Red Course in Jackson Springs, David Elliott of Asheboro tied for 57th at 24-over 168 (82, 86).
Track and field
At Greensboro, Randleman’s Gracie Beane was second in the girls’ high jump in Class 2-A to highlight results for Randolph County entrants in state meets at North Carolina A&T.
Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood captured sixth place in the 3,200 (10:11.30).
** In Class 3-A on Friday, Asheboro’s girls’ 400 relay of Audrey Patterson, Sion Murrain, Ey’Mya Cheek and Jalaya Showers was seventh in 50.88. Lance Everhart scored on the boys’ side by tying for eighth place in the high jump (6-0). He was 11th in the pole vault (12-0).
** In Class 1-A on Friday, Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly placed fifth in the 1,600 (5:33.54). She was ninth in the 800 (2:33.12).
Teammate Mirianna Corea was seventh in the shot put (325½).
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The general election campaign for Kentucky governor got off to a feisty start as Democrats worked to link the freshly minted Republican nominee to heavily criticized pardons by the vanquished predecessor of Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is trying to win a second term in GOP territory.
Republicans united behind attacks of their own, declaring at a Friday rally that Beshear has overstated his role in achievements they say stemmed from actions taken by the GOP-led Legislature.
“The governor has a press conference to take credit for the sun rising,” said Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers. “And I’m sure tonight he’ll probably have a press conference taking credit for the sun setting.”
While Republicans, led by their gubernatorial nominee, Daniel Cameron, ridiculed the governor’s record, Beshear stayed mostly above the fray. Beshear touted the state’s record-setting pace of economic development projects and said he intended to deliver more as he trekked across Kentucky on a bus tour.
“We can be the generations that change everything for Kentucky,” Beshear told more than 200 supporters who chanted “Andy, Andy”
at an afternoon rally in Owensboro in western Kentucky. “We can turn our brain drain into a brain gain.” If there was any doubt about national interest in the race, which could offer something of a preview of voter sentiment ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign, that was put to rest with a blistering ad launched on statewide television against Cameron by a group tied to the Democratic Governors Association.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the association’s chair, has vowed to spend heavily in Kentucky on Beshear’s behalf, “maybe even at a historic pace to make sure he gets reelected.”
The association-backed ad accuses the Kentucky attorney general, who won the GOP nomination for governor in last Tuesday’s primary, of shirking his duties by failing to hold former Gov. Matt Bevin accountable for issuing hundreds
of pardons and commutations in his final days in office.
It claims Cameron “passed the buck” by failing to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the last-minute pardons of violent criminals and others by Bevin before he left office following his electoral loss to Beshear in 2019.
Cameron joined other Republican nominees for statewide offices Friday at the rally at state GOP headquarters, where he ripped into the governor’s decision to allow the early release of some nonviolent inmates during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the people released ended up committing new crimes, Cameron said. They were mostly nonviolent drug and property crime offenders who were released to help ease the spread of the virus in prison populations, according to the governor.
Cameron called himself the “lawand-order candidate” and derisively labeled his Democratic opponent as the “catch-and-release candidate.”
Cameron’s barb reflected contrasting tones between the campaigns, the governor responded.
“While I’m out there talking about the future, trying to bring us together, move us not right nor left but forward, all you hear from my opponents are name calling, attempts to create division,” Beshear told reporters at his Owensboro ral-
ly.
The Democratic attack ad is the first volley in what’ sure to be a bitterly fought campaign. It previews a strategy of linking Cameron to Bevin, whose pugnacious style was rejected by many Kentuckians in favor of Beshear four years ago.
“Instead of passing the buck again, Daniel Cameron must finally answer for why he sided with Bevin and his cronies instead of Kentuckians by refusing to get to the bottom of this dangerous scandal,” Sam Newton, spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a news release Friday.
Cameron was just weeks into his tenure as attorney general when he asked the FBI to investigate the flurry of Bevin pardons. The pardons included clemency for a convicted killer whose family held a fundraiser for Bevin and a convicted sex offender whose mother was married to a millionaire road contractor. Bevin’s actions drew bipartisan repudiations.
Cameron responded that the Democratic attack ad was “completely absurd.” He said his decision to turn the investigation over to the FBI drew broad support at the time. Cameron also signaled that Beshear’s record will be ripe for attacks.
“It’s a record that does not reflect the values of the men, women and children of all 120 counties” in Kentucky, Cameron said.
Cameron, Kentucky’s first major-party black nominee for governor, claimed a convincing victory in a 12-candidate field. Beshear easily beat two under-the-radar challengers in his own primary.
The Associated Press
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents will remain behind bars while he awaits trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy said releasing 21-yearold Jack Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice. The judge cited Teixeira’s “fascination with guns,” disturbing online statements and admonitions by Teixeira’s military superiors about his handling of sensitive information before his arrest.
The ruling comes after prosecutors revealed that Teixeira had a history of violent rhetoric, and was caught by fellow military members months before his arrest taking notes on classified information or viewing intelligence not related to his job.
Teixeira is accused of sharing classified military documents on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The stunning breach exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.
The judge said the case represented “a profound breach of the defendant’s word that he would protect information related to the security of the United States.”
“Who did he put at risk? I mean, you could make a list as long as a phone book,” Hennessy said, including military personnel, medical workers overseas and Ukrainian citizens.
The judge indicated that he found persuasive prosecutors’ arguments that U.S. adversaries who might be interested in mining Teixeira for information could facilitate his escape.
“Foreign countries know that this defendant was disloyal to the United States,” the judge said. “It doesn’t seem implausible at all that a foreign government would make an overture to this defendant to get information.”
Teixeira appeared to show no emotion as he was lead out of the courtroom in handcuffs and orange jail clothes. He smiled at his father sitting in the front as he walked into the hearing in Worcester, Massachusetts, federal court.
In a statement after the hearing, Teixeira’s family said it was disappointed with the outcome but “we realize there is a long road ahead of us all, and Jack’s wellbeing and safety is our priority right now. As
a family, we are as committed as ever and remain steadfast and determined in our complete support of Jack as we continue to wade through this process.”
The high-profile case is being prosecuted by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office, whose leader — U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins — resigned on Friday after two federal watchdog agencies found she committed a slew of ethical and legal violations.
Teixeira has been behind bars since his April 13 arrest on charges, under the Espionage Act, of unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors had urged the judge to keep Teixeira jailed, in part because of his arsenal of weapons and history of online statements, including one social media post from last November saying that, if he had his way, he would like to kill a “ton of people” because it would be “culling the weak minded.”
Prosecutors have detailed a troubling history going back to high school, where Teixeira was suspended in 2018 when a classmate overheard him discussing Molotov cocktails and other weapons as well as racial threats. His initial application for a firearms identification
card that same year was denied due to police concerns over those remarks.
He regularly made statements about violence and murder on social media, and also used his government computer to research past mass shootings and standoffs with federal agents, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said he also kept his gun locker within reach of his bed and in it were handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AKstyle high-capacity weapon and a gas mask.
Teixeira’s father told the judge that he removed all the guns from his home and would ensure that his son followed his pretrial conditions if he were released. Teixeira’s lawyer argued that despite the statements highlighted by prosecutors he was
not a danger to the community or a flight risk.
Prosecutors revealed in court papers filed this week that Teixeira’s superiors had raised concerns in the months before his arrest about his mishandling of classified information.
He was twice admonished by superiors in September and October, and was again observed in February viewing information “that was not related to his primary duty and was related to the intelligence field,” according to internal Air National Guard memos filed in court.
The revelations have raised questions about why Teixeira continued to have access to military secrets after what prosecutors described as “concerning actions” related to his handling of classified information.
Guardsman Jack Teixeira, Pentagon leak suspect, to remain jailed as he awaits trial
March 3, 1944 — May 19, 2023
On the morning of May 19th, 2023, Brantley Leon Davis, 79, peacefully entered his eternal home surrounded by his family. On March 3rd, 1944, Brant was born the son of Richard and Vida Powers Davis and was a lifelong resident of Randolph County. He was raised on a dairy farm and always loved animals and being outside. He was a 1962 graduate of Randleman High School and continued his education at Guilford College. In 1964, Brant married the love of his life, Trudy, and together they raised three daughters creating a wonderful life together. Brant loved his family, and his greatest joy was being a PawPaw. He enjoyed vacationing and attending sports events to see his grandchildren play.
He worked for 45 years as an insurance agent for Penn National Insurance, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, and lastly, he was self-employed with Davis Insurance. Brant was a faithful member of Cedar Square Friends Meeting where he was actively involved, serving as an elder and various committees throughout the church. He enjoyed serving his community through PTA and Civitans. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Michael Davis and Randy Davis. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Trudy Dawson Davis, his daughters, Pam Loftis (David) of Randleman, Wendy Evans (Dennis) of Greensboro, Kara Sykes (Thomas) of Summerfield; his grandchildren, Josh Loftis, Jessie Berry (Josh), Dominic, Alex and Eli Evans, Weston, Hadley and Sadie Sykes; his great grandchild, Eslee Pratt; his brothers, Ron Davis (Cathy) of Greensboro, Greg Davis (Cathy) of Randleman; Sisters-in-law, Carolyn Davis and Janice Davis along with many nieces and nephews.
July 21, 1961 — May 18, 2023
Mark Dillard Hodges, 61, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at his home.
Mark was born on July 21, 1961, to Joseph and Dawn McNeil Hodges. He was a graduate of Randleman High School, class of 1979. Mark proudly served our country in the United States Navy. He was a gigantic fan of professional wrestling, watching it religiously and even attending live events with his grandson Elijah.
Mark is survived by his loving son, Joseph L. Hodges of Sophia, along with two grandsons, Gregory Hodges of Boone and Elijah Hodges of Sophia. He is survived by his sister, Lucinda Hodges of Darlington, SC, 3 nieces, 5 great nephews and 4 great nieces. He is also survived by his long-time friend and naval brother, Wayne Sasser of Hayesville, and his adoring friend and sister-in-law, Brenda Collins of Thomasville, along with several other family members in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
In addition to his parents, Mark was preceded in death by his spouse of 21 years, Patricia Collins, and his beloved dog, Precious.
March 7, 1923 — May 17, 2023
Swannie Ester Spivey Yow, age 100, of Randleman passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at her home.
Swannie was born on March 7, 1923 to Ida Jane Davis and Peter Spivey. She spent time working for Burlington Industries and was a housewife, where she loved to cook for everyone. Swannie loved being around and with her family, along with gardening. Along with spending time in her flower garden, Swannie was an avid quilter.
In addition to her parents, Swannie was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Howard Yow, 6 brothers and sisters, and son-inlaw, Philip Maness.
She is survived by her daughters, Alice Yow Wilkerson (Ben) of Asheboro and Joyce Maness of Randleman; grandchildren, Eric Wilkerson (Patricia) of Greensboro, Amy Wilkerson Snider (Todd) of Asheboro, Samantha Maness of Randleman, great-grandchildren, Caleb Wilkerson (Jada) of Kernersville, and Kelsey Snider; and great-great grandchild, Lucas Wilkerson. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews along with special family members Patricia Gilmore and Billy Wooten. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to caregivers: Felicia, Jackie, Sydney, Candance and Temple.
June 4, 1992 — May 15, 2023
Samantha Paige Ireland
Nance, age 30, of Asheboro passed away unexpectedly, due to natural causes, on May 15, 2023.
Samantha was born in New Bern, NC on June 4, 1992. She was a graduate of Barton College in Wilson, NC where she received a Bachelor's Degree of Science and was working on getting her Master's Degree from Liberty University, with plans to become a Clinical Licensed Social Worker, specializing in School Based Child and Adolescent Therapy. Samantha was currently employed with Asheboro Counseling and Wellness, and was a member of Farmer Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her mother, Daphne Ireland, paternal grandparents, Buster and Faye Ireland, maternal grandmother, Rose Fornes, and canine companion, Molly. Samantha was a strongwilled, determined lady, had an infectious smile and laugh, and loved helping others. She loved her family and animals, especially dogs and bunnies. She enjoyed playing video and board games. Samantha will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband, Dylan Nance and Jerzey Nance, whom they were rearing as their daughter; father, Jeffrey Ireland of New Bern; maternal grandfather, Willie Fornes of New Bern; her faithful canine companion, Scoobie; uncles, Chris Ireland (Elizabeth) and Michael Ireland (Doris); aunt, Jeannette Smith (Marcus); and cousins, Kara Ireland and Jordan Powell.
September 24, 1961 — May 14, 2023
Christopher Michael Mansfield, 61, passed away on May 14, 2023 at Randolph Health. He was born on September 24, 1961 to Glenn Joseph Mansfield, Sr. and Nettie Lee Jones in Greensboro, NC. Mr. Mansfield is survived by his wife, Ashley Mansfield, his son, Joshua Wayne Mansfield: brothers, Glenn Mansfield (Beth) of Greensboro, Gabe Mansfield of Greensboro: sisters, Carla Rogers of Greensboro, Carmen Muncey of Greensboro, and Bonita Mansfield.
He was closest to his big brother Glenn, who took time to spend time with him, not long ago. Glenn treated him and Josh to their first monster truck show, and just as recently as two weeks ago they were discussing taking Josh on his first fishing trip. Chris loved life and he loved his family. Tears running down his face he would cry out to God and say I don't want to die and leave my family, but he knew that he couldn't stop it. God had other plans, "God whispered in his ear, it's time for you to come home to me" your pain filled days shall be no more, as you join all my other angels now.
December 19, 1940 — May 19, 2023
Dickie Morris Bass, 82, passed away May 19, 2023 at Randolph Health. He was born on December 19, 1940 to Sidney B. Bass and Trudy Mae Tuten.
Mr. Bass spent 50 years in the tree removal service with Davey Tree. He is survived by his sons, Morris Bass (Tonia) of Sophia, Jason Bass: sisters, Judy Blanton of Shady Grove, FL, Helen Farnell of Perry, FL: and one grandchild, John Bass of Tallahassee, FL.
February 13, 1963 ~ May 8, 2023
Kimberly Lynn Buckner Smith, age 60 of Asheboro, passed away Monday, May 8, 2023 at Randolph Hospital after a short illness.
A native of Guilford County, Kimberly was born February 13, 1963 to Joe and Margaret Coleman Buckner. She worked as a home health assistant and loved taking care of others, old or young.
She is survived by her husband Wade, of Asheboro, daughter Timberly Wood of Randleman, son Timothy Wood of Seagrove, parents Joe and Margaret Buckner of Asheboro and sister Katherine Buckner of Asheboro. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by calling (800) 478-5833.
May 28, 1963 ~ May 10, 2023
Wanda Kay Lucas, age 59 of Asheboro, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at her home.
A native of Montgomery County, Wanda was born May 28, 1963 to the late Ariel Latham and Jane Latham Baker. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter April Latham, brothers, Ricky and Randy Latham and her nephew, Jessie Hutchins. Wanda was a very kind, sweet and out-going woman. She enjoyed spending time with her family and they will miss her loving words and demeanor.
Wanda leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband Steve Lucas, brothers Steve Latham, Michael Latham and wife Cynthia, sister Sharon Hutchins and husband Charlie, sisters-in law Gertrude Marshall, Nancy Voncannon, Dorothy Collins, Shirley Luck and husband Bobby, Lisa Hurley, brothers-in law Darrell Lucas and wife Clara Mae, Earl Lucas, Paul Lucas and Don Lucas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Carissa Latham, Makayla Latham, Aylisa Callicutt and 19 nieces and nephews.
June 6, 1958 ~ May 14, 2023
Mr. David Bruce Biggs, age 64 of Asheboro, passed away May 14, 2023 at the Randolph Hospice House.
A native of Randolph County, David was born June 6, 1958 to the late Alonzo and Edna Neal Biggs. A jack-of-all-trades, he worked in the furniture industry and enjoyed fishing and watching NASCAR racing with friends. He was married to Jan (Miller) Biggs in 1983 and was of the Southern Baptist faith.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Jan, son
Bobby “BJ” Biggs, daughter
Susan Biggs, step daughter
Jennifer Biggs, brother Thomas
“Tommy” Biggs, sister Charlotte Joan Myers and her husband Billy, 7 grandchildren, 2 stepgrandchildren, a niece and nephew and several great nieces and nephews.
September 11, 1942 ~ May 15, 2023
Lester “Les” Wayne Brown, age 80 of Randleman, passed away Sunday, May 15, 2023 at his home.
A native of Randolph County, he was born September 11, 1942 to the late George Lester Brown and Johnsie Heath Brown. He was a graduate of Randleman High School and Winston-Salem Barber School. He owned and operated his barber shop where he cut hair for over 63 years. He was a former Mason, Shriner and Civitan member and also served on the board of the Randleman Housing Authority for many years. In his spare time, Les enjoyed playing golf, woodworking and watching and going to NASCAR races. He was a Born-again Christian and a respected leader as well as a father.
In addition to his parents, Les was preceded in death by an infant son, Mark Wayne Brown, wife Carol, and grandson Cory Bryant Brown. He leaves to cherish his memory, daughters, Melisa “Lisa” Brown Long and her husband Darrell, Rosanne Norton Brown and her husband Jason, Donielle Norton Brown and husband Jason, sister Ann Brown Beane and her husband Lyndon, grandchildren Matthew Long, Seth Brown, Jordan Brown, Charity Norton and Cameron Lewis, niece Julie Beane Lanier and nephew, Dale Beane.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — About two-thirds of U.S. adults say they are highly concerned about how the national economy would be affected if the U.S. debt limit is not increased and the government defaults on its debts, according to a new poll, even as few say they have a solid understanding of the ongoing debt limit negotiations.
The poll shows about 6 in 10 say they want any increase in the debt limit to be coupled with agreed-upon terms for reducing the federal budget deficit. At the same time, Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden and congressional negotiators on both sides of the aisle are handling negotiations. Slightly more approve of Biden’s handling of the situation than of congressional Republicans.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted before Republican negotiators on Friday said they would “ press pause “ on talks as the two sides struggle to come to an agreement to avert a damaging default on U.S. government debt. It shows 27% say they approve of Biden and 26% say the same about congressional Democrats, while 22% approve of congressional Republicans. Close to half disapprove of
each.
Robert Hutchins, 66, says he somewhat approves of how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republicans in Congress are handling negotiations.
“At least he’s trying to do something,” the Republican from Milton, Delaware, said of McCarthy’s leadership over his conference.
“The Democrats want to spend more money and they don’t want
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — One of the remaining registered Democrats on a North Carolina Supreme Court whose new Republican majority recently overturned previous decisions on gerrymandering and voter identification announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year.
Associate Justice Mike Morgan’s election in 2016 to an eightyear term gave Democrats a majority on the court for the first time in nearly 20 years. The court returned to a 5-2 majority favoring registered Republicans in January after two GOP election victories.
Morgan announced his decision not to run in a tweet citing 34 years of judicial service, which includes serving as a Wake County trial judge and state administrative law judge.
Looking ahead, Morgan told The Associated Press he was now considering “other options that have been afforded” him.
“I feel as though as my public service speaks for itself, and I am in a position now to make an even greater difference in North Carolina in another capacity,” Morgan said in an interview.
Morgan didn’t provide details, but when asked whether that could include a run at anoth-
er elected position, he said “at this stage I am keeping all of my options open.”
He also couldn’t say whether he would serve the remainder of his current term through the end of next year. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would appoint someone to fill his seat should he leave early.
Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican, already announced months ago that he would run for Morgan’s seat — the only one currently up for election in 2024. The current election sequence means Democrats likely won’t have another opportunity to obtain a majority until at least 2028.
Shortly after taking the court majority in January, Republicans agreed to reconsider rulings made by the 4-3 Democratic majority that struck down legislative and congressional district maps as illegal gerrymanders and upheld a lower-court ruling that a 2018 photo voter ID law was unconstitutional from racial bias.
Just three weeks ago, the court’s new iteration overturned the redistricting decisions, determining that the state constitution leaves mapmaking to the General Assembly and lacks limits that prohibit partisan gerrymandering. And at the same time it said the voter ID law was wrongly voided
any limit to it.” Hutchins said he doesn’t have “any confidence whatsoever” in Biden and doesn’t believe in abolishing the debt ceiling, as it serves as a constant reminder of the nation’s debt load, which currently stands at $31.4 trillion. Otherwise, “you just think you have an unlimited credit card and you can spend whatever you want,” he said.
Ron Ellis, 61, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, said he hasn’t been paying a lot of attention to the latest debt limit debate because he’s thinks it will be resolved in time to save the economy from harm, as the White House and Congress have done in the past. But he expressed concern about the level of U.S. borrowing, calling it “astronomical” and “out of hand.”
“I’ve learned from the past that they always at the last minute come up with a plan,” said Ellis, a registered Democrat who is retired after owning a trucking company. “Basically, it’s just a show on their part and, you know, one side blames the other and generally they end up with a decision. Hopefully they’ll do it again.”
Overall, about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they are following negotiations over raising the debt limit extremely or very closely, and about 4 in 10 are following somewhat closely. Similarly, about 2 in 10 say they understand the situation very well and about 4 in 10 say they understand it somewhat well.
Still, a clear majority — 63% — say they think the negotiations should be coupled with terms to reduce the budget deficit. Nineteen percent say the debt limit should be raised without conditions and 16% say it should not be raised at all. Overall, the adults who say they understand the debate best are especially likely to
say the debt limit should be increased without conditions, with 37% saying so among that group.
A default would likely spell catastrophe for the U.S. economy, with spillover throughout the globe, and would prompt a probable recession.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that a national default would destroy jobs and businesses, and leave millions of families who rely on federal government payments to “likely go unpaid,” including Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families.
An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier this year also shows little consensus on cuts that would make a dent in the deficit: While most Americans said the government spends too much overall, majorities favored increased spending on popular and expensive programs including Medicare and Social Security.
Similar percentages of Republicans and Democrats say they are following and understanding negotiations, and concern about the economy if the U.S. defaults is widely bipartisan. But about a third of Democrats say the national debt limit should be increased without conditions, while just 6% of Republicans say the same. Twenty-three percent of Republicans but just 7% of Democrats say the debt limit should not be increased under any circumstances.
and should be enforced.
Morgan and Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls delivered blistering dissenting opinions in these cases.
Morgan, who is Black, wrote in the voter ID dissenting opinion that the majority had “emboldened themselves to infuse partisan politics brazenly into the outcome of the present case” by rehearing the matter. He also wrote that trial judges had appropriately examined past racial discrimination in North Carolina while making their decision.
Morgan said Thursday that while he certainly wished “the atmosphere and the orientation of this current court” were different, “nonetheless I served the institution of the court with pride and with integrity.”
Current law requires justices to retire at the end of the month that they turn 72. That would have allowed Morgan, now 67, to serve close to three years of a second term had he been reelected in 2024. The governor fills vacancies for such retirements as well. The General Assembly is consid-
ering this year legislation that would extend the mandatory retirement age to 76 for appellate court judges.
Morgan grew up in New Bern and went to the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He worked in the state Department of Justice for 10 years before being appointed an administrative law judge in 1989. While on the state Supreme Court, Morgan has been known at times to break with Democratic colleagues and side with Republicans on criminal justice matters.
East Hoke defeated Sandy Grove 3-0 during the SEC Middle school boys soccer Championship at East Hoke Middle school in Raeford on May 18, 2023.
East Hoke’s Giovanni Patterson heads the ball against Shady Grove during the SEC Middle school boys soccer Championship at East Hoke Middle school.
East Hoke’s Andres Gomez Sosa looks up field for the open pass against Sandy
Hoke man faces kidnapping and assault charges
A Hoke County man was arrested this month after several reports of domestic violence led to the execution of a search warrant. According to Fayetteville Police, Ryan Michael Stephens had several warrants out for his arrest and eventually turned himself in. Following his arrest, Fayetteville’s Domestic Violence, Aggravated Assault, and Robbery Units, along with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office Special Detectives, conducted a search of Stephen’s home, seizing several electronic items, narcotics, and cash. Stephens is currently facing two counts of second-degree kidnapping, extortion, disclosure of adult images, common law robbery, felony possession of stolen goods, assault on a female, false imprisonment, communicating threats, interfering with 911 communications, and misdemeanor stalking. Charges regarding the narcotics and cash at his Raeford home were filed in Hoke County. Stephens was given a $60,000 secured bond. Anyone with information pertaining to the domestic violence investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Frashure at (91) 303-8967. If you have information regarding the narcotics investigation, please contact the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 875-5111.
North State Journal
RAEFORD — In 2011, Hoke County celebrated 100 years with the Hoke Centennial Celebration and Carnival at East Hoke Middle School. The event was a huge success, inspiring the local community to make it an annual event. In 2020, the event was canceled due to the virus. In 2021 and 2022, Hoke Fest was expanded to 10 days of carnival rides, games, food, vendors and fun. The event will continue this expanded schedule for 2023 as Michael’s Amusements returns to provide the midway.
Michael’s Amusements is a third-generation family amusement company based out of Fayetteville, NC, and was founded in 1992. They specialize in quality family entertainment and rides that are safe and clean. All of their staff are professionally trained in the operation of their rides and
safety procedures. All rides go through their own personal safety inspections, as well as state and local inspections, to ensure everyone is safe and has a memorable experience. While this event is for the whole community, it does, however, also serve as a fundraiser for East Hoke Middle School and some of the athletic teams at Hoke County High School. There is no charge to attend Hoke Fest. There will be a $5 charge for parking on school grounds. This effort will help maximize parking space in an orderly and smooth fashion while also continuing to raise money for the aforementioned causes. Handicap spots will be available, and there will also be a designated drop-off area. Hoke Fest will be sponsored by Pepsi-Born in the Carolinas, Lumbee River EMC, Fit4Life Raeford, Exit Realty Preferred Raeford and
Math Foundations Tutoring. In addition to carnival features from previous events, this year’s Hoke Fest will also offer an entrainment stage with live music from Past Perfect Band, Ring Wars Wrestling, CMA Martial Arts, Helicopter Rides, a mechanical bull, pony rides, a petty zoo, and axe throwing. For more information on Hoke Fest 2023, please visit the Hoke Fest 2023 Facebook page.
North State Journal
RAEFORD — The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is reminding customers of changes announced in February to appointment scheduling, walk-in availability, and office hours in order to improve service at its 115 driver’s license offices across the state.
In early May, all customer ser-
vices statewide will be provided on
a walk-in basis after noon. Appointments will only be available in the mornings through the 11 a.m. hour and can be booked at skiptheline. ncdot.gov.
“We’re making adjustments to increase walk-in availability because that’s what we’ve heard our customers want,” said NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, “and given that about 25% of appointments are no-shows, we will be better able to
maximize efficiencies by shifting to more walk-in availability.”
Even with this change, walk-in customers may still have the opportunity for morning-hour service if there is time between scheduled appointments or if a customer does not appear for a scheduled appointment.
Hoke County’s DMV office is located at 3140 U.S. 401 Business in Raeford.
If you have any further questions, please contact Hal Nunn at (910) 964-0990 or nunnboys@yahoo.com.
“There can be no security anywhere in the free world if there is no fiscal and economic stability within the United States.”President Ronald Reagan
President Reagan understood the importance of getting America’s economy in order. Yet our crippling debt, now at over $30 trillion, continues to threaten our standing in the world and must be addressed.
border patrol agents, restarts border wall construction, and protects children from human trafficking. Once again, House Republicans have shown we have solutions to the challenges facing our nation while others choose to ignore them.
Extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
President Joe Biden refused to negotiate for more than 100 days to address the debt. Our country cannot afford to default on our debt due to Washington Democrats’ political games. Under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans have raised the debt limit in a responsible way. We are united in our desire to address the debt crisis and curb reckless spending for years to come. I am proud of our work to save America from defaulting and will stay focused on improving our economy for you and your family.
While Washington Democrats have procrastinated on the debt ceiling, they have also refused to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis at our Southern border. Yet it is clear—extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
Earlier this month, Title 42, a public health border security measure that has been used to keep nearly 3 million illegal migrants out of the U.S. since 2020, expired. In the days leading up to this, more than 10,000 migrants were encountered at the border, shattering records.
To address the crisis, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act—the strongest border security bill America has ever seen. It will keep our nation safe and our border secure.
It’s plain and simple—border security is national security. Our bill ends catch and release, fixes the asylum program, hires more
Last week, in celebration of National Police Week, House Republicans condemned ‘defunding the police’ and anti-police rhetoric and passed the POLICE Act of 2023 and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. We seek to give local law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.
In recent years, good police officers dedicated to keeping our communities safe have not always received the resources and respect they deserve. Assaults on police have gone up significantly, leading to the deadliest year in two decades for our law enforcement officers.
As we approach Memorial Day, we honor our brave service members who gave their lives in the defense of the freedoms we hold so dear. I am deeply grateful to be an American, and incredibly appreciative of those who risk their lives daily to defend our liberties. And I will never forget the sacrifices our military families make every day.
Our nation is the greatest on earth because of courageous service members, law enforcement officers, and their families. May God bless America, and the men and women in uniform who protect our community and keep this great nation free.
Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.
THE DURHAM REPORT confirmed that the FBI not only failed to corroborate the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton’s oppo-doc against former President Donald Trump, but it regularly ignored existing, sometimes dispositive, evidence to keep the investigation alive. Some officials were credulous. Others were devious. But no one “stole” our democracy — other than perhaps intelligence officials and the journalists who helped feed the collective hysteria over Russia.
my name to the list. Good initiative. Thanks for asking me to sign on,” Brennan replied.
That’s all it takes for the former CIA director, a man who was given immense unchecked power — a man who oversaw secret kill lists and was the driving force behind drone strikes on civilians (including an American citizen) — to sign a letter he knew would obstruct the workings of “democracy” and the free press.
Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate.
John Brennan, Hamas-loving authoritarian and partisan propagandist, almost surely knew it was a con from the start. Yet he spent four years on television sounding like a deranged subreddit commenter. Even after privately admitting he knew there was no collusion, Brennan kept lying and using his credentials to mislead the public.
From John Durham’s report:
“CIA Director John Brennan and Deputy Director David Cohen were interviewed by the Office and were asked about their knowledge of any actual evidence of members of the Trump campaign conspiring or colluding with Russian officials. When Brennan was provided with an overview of the origins of the Attorney General’s Review after Special Counsel Mueller finding a lack of evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities, Brennan offered that ‘they found no conspiracy.’”
As Durham points out, even after Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report, and after Brennan admitted no one found a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the former head of the CIA went on air with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, another all-star election “denier,” and claimed that he “suspected there was more” to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin than Mueller had let on.
Did I mention this was the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
Brennan must have been relying on that same gut instinct that led him to sign a letter asserting that the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop scoop, a journalistic effort with more corroboration than virtually anything connected to Trump’s alleged “collusion,” had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
The House Judiciary Committee recently uncovered an Oct. 19, 2020, email from CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was working with the Biden campaign to concoct “a talking point” to “push back on Trump” during the final presidential debates, asking Brennan to sign on to the “disinformation” letter. “Ok, Michael, add
This is a man who still has access to classified documents. You might remember all the hand-wringing over broken norms when Trump allegedly barred intelligence agencies from sharing classified information with Brennan. The New York Times even gave him a column to argue that Trump’s claims of “no collusion” were “why the president revoked my security clearance,” which, again, he almost certainly knew was a lie.
Of course, Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate. CIA officials broke into Senate computer files and viewed emails and drafts of a report on torture. All of it was illegal. Brennan covered up the agency’s actions (also illegal), blamed the Senate and pushed to fire at least one staffer who was tasked with investigating his agency.
All this happened when the tan-suited Obama was in charge, so most people probably missed it.
It wasn’t until the CIA’s inspector general confirmed this wrongdoing that Brennan began negotiating with the lily-livered senators about owning up to the spying. Even then, Brennan was lying. When asked about the CIA hacking into Senate computers at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Brennan responded by saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Nothing? “I mean, we wouldn’t do that,” he went on. “I mean, that’s just beyond the — you know, the scope of reason in terms of what we would do.” Brennan went on to say: “Let me assure you the CIA was in no way spying on (the committee) or the Senate.”
The Obama administration backed Brennan fully, and the Senate moved on. No one put him under oath and grilled him about the specifics. As with the FBI interference in the 2016 election, not one person was held accountable for domestic spying, much less fired.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books -- the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
Schembechler’s son resigns at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
A son of longtime Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler has resigned from his position with the Wolverines, with the school saying it was aware of his social media activity that may have caused “pain” in the community. Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler stepped down Saturday, just days after he had been hired as assistant director of recruiting on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. The Detroit News reported that Schembechler’s Twitter feed contained posts and likes of offensive material, including some that suggested slavery and Jim Crow were positives to strengthen black individuals and families. Schembechler played for his father, who coached Michigan from 1969-89.
USC AD Bohn resigns after 3½ years
Los Angeles
Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned. USC confirmed the 62-year-old Bohn’s resignation roughly 3½ years after he succeeded Lynn Swann in the high-profile job. The Trojans’ athletic department experienced a surge of success during Bohn’s tenure. The football team made a dramatic turnaround after the hiring of coach Lincoln Riley last year, while the men’s basketball team has made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Andy Enfield. Bohn mentioned “ongoing health challenges” in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times about his resignation.
TENNIS
Gaston’s unsportsmanlike conduct draws
$155K fine
London
A professional tennis player from France has been fined more than he’s collected in prize money so far in 2023 for pulling a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the court during a point in an attempt to get a doover. Hugo Gaston’s fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season drew a fine of about $155,000 from the ATP Tour. Gaston has made a little more than $120,000 in prize money this year. Gaston’s appeal of the punishment got it reduced by half to about $77,500, as long as he meets certain conditions, including no additional violations during a probationary period of a year.
WNBA
Indiana loses
WNBA record-tying
20th straight game
New York
The New York Liberty beat Indiana 90-73, handing the Fever a 20th consecutive loss that matched the WNBA record for futility. The Fever equaled the Tulsa Shock, who lost 20 straight games in 2011. Indiana lost 18 consecutive games to close out last season before falling to the Connecticut Sun on Friday in their opener. Indiana plays at Atlanta next Sunday. The Fever went 5-31 last season and last won June 19, 2022.
The Associated Press PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Confidence was never an issue for Brooks Koepka until the injuries piled up, the doubts crept in and he began to wonder if he still belonged among golf’s elite.
Koepka answered every question at the PGA Championship with a performance that ranks among his best. His fifth major title was the sweetest of them all. No doubt about that, either.
“It feels damned good. Yeah, this one is definitely special,” Koepka said. “I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with everything that’s gone on, all the crazy stuff over the last few years.”
One knee injury kept him from the Masters, another from the
Presidents Cup in Australia. Two years ago, he tried to pop his knee back into place and shattered his knee cap. And then last summer, uncertain about his future, he decided to leave the PGA Tour for the guaranteed Saudi riches of LIV Golf, bringing a mixture of criticism and skepticism.
And there he was Sunday at Oak Hill, looking good as new, dominant as ever, against the best collection of golfers in the world on a punishing golf course.
Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland, and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory.
He held up his index finger as he posed next to the Wanamaker Trophy, but he may as well have held up all five.
With three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, he became the 20th player with five or more majors. He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and
The running back and actor fought for black rights but also faced allegations
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena. Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist — and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women — has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of pro football’s first superstars, Brown was a wrecking
ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player. Brown led the Browns to their last championship in 1964 before quitting football in his prime at age 30 to make movies. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.” A powerful runner with speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television, and he remained an indomitable figure well after his playing days ended.
Brown was also a champion for black Americans and used his platform and voice to fight for equality.
In June 1967, Brown organized “The Cleveland Summit,” a meeting of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against serving in Vietnam. In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
Players with at least five major tournament victories after Brooks Koepka claimed his fifth at last week’s PGA Championship
Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more times — and captured his first major in what felt like four years.
And to think that over the last few years, Koepka was so wounded he felt he couldn’t compete, a decision that might have led to him leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf in a shocking move last June after the U.S. Open. Koepka left little doubt about
his place in the game with his two-shot win over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.
“To look back to where we were two years ago, I’m so happy right now,” Koepka said. “This is just the coolest thing.”
The victory moves Koepka to No. 13 in the world and No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six automatically qualify, and it would be hard to fathom leaving Koepka off the American team. He can only earn points in the majors, and two more are still to come.
Koepka had to share the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.
He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year at Valhalla. It was the best finish by a club pro since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986 at Inverness. Block earned just short of $290,000.
Koepka, who finished at 9-under 271, received $3.15 million for his win.
“If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were black, Jim Brown was a God.”
James
Off the field, Brown was a contentious, complicated figure. While he had a soft spot for those in need, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife called 911, saying Brown had
smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
Brown is survived by his wife and son, Aris; daughter, Morgan, son, Jim Jr.; daughter, Kimberly; son, Kevin; daughter, Shellee; and daughter, Kim. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ward.
Jim Brown, all-time NFL great and social activist, dead at 87AP PHOTO NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown passed away last Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.
The former Syracuse star also won an NCAA title and three Olympic gold medals
The Associated Press CARMELO ANTHONY, the star forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement on Monday.
Anthony, who was not in the NBA this season, retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history.
Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal scored more than Anthony — who finishes his career with 28,289 points.
“Now the time has come for me to say good-bye ... to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony said in a videotaped message announcing his decision — one he called “bittersweet.”
Anthony’s legacy has long been secure: He ends his playing days after being selected as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a past scoring champion and a six-time All-NBA selection.
And while he never got to the NBA Finals — he only played in the conference finals once, with Denver against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 — Anthony also knew what it was like to be a champion.
He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2003 Final Four when he led Syracuse to the national championship, and he helped USA Basketball win Olympic gold three times — at Beijing in 2008, at London in 2012 and at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Anthony has played in 31 games in four appearances at the Olympics, the most of any U.S. men’s player ever. Anthony’s 37 points against Nigeria in the 2012 games is a USA Basketball men’s record at an Olympics, as are his 10 3-pointers from that game and his 13-for-
13 effort from the foul line against Argentina in 2008.
“Carmelo Anthony is one of the NBA’s all-time great players and ambassadors,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We congratulate him on a remarkable 19-year
career and look forward to seeing him in the Hall of Fame.”
Anthony will remain part of international basketball for at least a few more months; Anthony is one of the ambassadors to the Basketball World Cup, FIBA’s biggest
event, which will be held this summer in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall by Denver in 2003, part of the star-studded class that included James at No. 1, Hall of Famer Chris Bosh at No. 4, and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade — he gets officially enshrined this summer — at No. 5.
Anthony will join them at the Hall of Fame before long. He averaged 22.5 points in his 19 seasons, spending the bulk of those years with Denver and the New York Knicks. Anthony has long raved about his time with the Knicks, and what it was like playing at Madison Square Garden, especially as a kid who was born in Brooklyn.
“The Garden,” Anthony said in 2014. “They call it The Mecca for a reason.”
Anthony also played for Portland, Oklahoma City, Houston and ended his career with the Lakers last season. He went unsigned this year, and now his retirement is official.
The disgraced trainer returned to the Winner’s Circle as Mage’s Triple Crown bid ended
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — Bob Baffert choked back tears and his voice cracked while he tried to juggle the conflicting feelings of seeing one of his horses win the Preakness Stakes hours after another was euthanized on the same track.
“This business is twists and turns, ups and downs,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “To win this — losing that horse today really hurt. ... It’s been a very emotional day.”
National Treasure won the Preakness on Saturday in Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension, ending Kentucky Derby champion Mage’s Triple Crown bid in the race Baffert has now captured more than any other trainer. But the joy was tempered by the agony of another 3-year-old colt, Havnameltdown, injuring his left front leg in an un-
dercard race and being put down.
“When he got hurt, it’s just the most sickening feeling a trainer can have,” Baffert said. “It put a damper on the afternoon.”
It also put the sport squarely back in a familiar spot, two weeks after seven horses died in a 10-day span at Churchill Downs leading up to the Derby.
National Treasure did not run in the Derby at Churchill Downs, where Baffert has been barred the past two years because of a suspension stemming from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s failed drug test that led to a
disqualification in that race. Medina Spirit was Baffert’s most recent Preakness horse, finishing third.
The 5-2 second choice Saturday, National Treasure came through, delivering Baffert a record-breaking eighth victory in the Preakness and his 17th in a Triple Crown race, also the most among trainers. National Treasure held off hard-charging Blazing Sevens down the stretch to win the 1 3/16-mile, $1.65 million race by a head in 1:55.12.
“He fought the whole way,” said jockey John Velazquez, who won the Preakness for the first time
in his 13th try. “He put up a really good fight. ... That’s what champions do.”
National Treasure paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. Blazing Sevens paid $5 to place and $2.80 to show.
Mage finished third after going off as the 7-5 favorite, paying $2.40 to show. Despite the smallest Preakness field since 1986, horses at the lead went much slower than in the Derby, which did not benefit Mage’s running style of closing late and passing tired rivals down the stretch.
“Slow, very slow,” Mage’s trainer, Gustavo Delgado Sr., said.
Mage’s defeat means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fifth consecutive year since Baffert’s Justify in 2018.
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The general election campaign for Kentucky governor got off to a feisty start as Democrats worked to link the freshly minted Republican nominee to heavily criticized pardons by the vanquished predecessor of Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is trying to win a second term in GOP territory.
Republicans united behind attacks of their own, declaring at a Friday rally that Beshear has overstated his role in achievements they say stemmed from actions taken by the GOP-led Legislature.
“The governor has a press conference to take credit for the sun rising,” said Republican state Senate President Robert Stivers. “And I’m sure tonight he’ll probably have a press conference taking credit for the sun setting.”
While Republicans, led by their gubernatorial nominee, Daniel Cameron, ridiculed the governor’s record, Beshear stayed mostly above the fray. Beshear touted the state’s record-setting pace of economic development projects and said he intended to deliver more as he trekked across Kentucky on a bus tour.
“We can be the generations that change everything for Kentucky,” Beshear told more than 200 supporters who chanted “Andy, Andy” at an afternoon rally in Owensboro
in western Kentucky. “We can turn our brain drain into a brain gain.”
If there was any doubt about national interest in the race, which could offer something of a preview of voter sentiment ahead of the 2024 presidential campaign, that was put to rest with a blistering ad launched on statewide television against Cameron by a group tied to the Democratic Governors Association.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the association’s chair, has vowed to spend heavily in Kentucky on Beshear’s behalf, “maybe even at a historic pace to make sure he gets reelected.”
The association-backed ad accuses the Kentucky attorney general, who won the GOP nomination for governor in last Tuesday’s primary, of shirking his duties by failing to hold former Gov. Matt
Bevin accountable for issuing hundreds of pardons and commutations in his final days in office.
It claims Cameron “passed the buck” by failing to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the last-minute pardons of violent criminals and others by Bevin before he left office following his electoral loss to Beshear in 2019.
Cameron joined other Republican nominees for statewide offices Friday at the rally at state GOP headquarters, where he ripped into the governor’s decision to allow the early release of some nonviolent inmates during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the people released ended up committing new crimes, Cameron said. They were mostly nonviolent drug and property crime offenders who were released to help ease the spread of the virus in prison populations, according to the governor. Cameron called himself the “law-and-order candidate” and derisively labeled his Democratic opponent as the “catch-and-release candidate.”
Cameron’s barb reflected contrasting tones between the campaigns, the governor responded.
“While I’m out there talking about the future, trying to bring us together, move us not right nor left but forward, all you hear from my opponents are name calling, attempts to create division,” Beshear
told reporters at his Owensboro rally.
The Democratic attack ad is the first volley in what’ sure to be a bitterly fought campaign. It previews a strategy of linking Cameron to Bevin, whose pugnacious style was rejected by many Kentuckians in favor of Beshear four years ago.
“Instead of passing the buck again, Daniel Cameron must finally answer for why he sided with Bevin and his cronies instead of Kentuckians by refusing to get to the bottom of this dangerous scandal,” Sam Newton, spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a news release Friday.
Cameron was just weeks into his tenure as attorney general when he asked the FBI to investigate the flurry of Bevin pardons. The pardons included clemency for a convicted killer whose family held a fundraiser for Bevin and a convicted sex offender whose mother was married to a millionaire road contractor. Bevin’s actions drew bipartisan repudiations.
Cameron responded that the Democratic attack ad was “completely absurd.” He said his decision to turn the investigation over to the FBI drew broad support at the time. Cameron also signaled that Beshear’s record will be ripe for attacks.
“It’s a record that does not reflect the values of the men, women and children of all 120 counties” in Kentucky, Cameron said.
Cameron, Kentucky’s first major-party black nominee for governor, claimed a convincing victory in a 12-candidate field. Beshear easily beat two under-the-radar challengers in his own primary.
The Associated Press
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents will remain behind bars while he awaits trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy said releasing 21-yearold Jack Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice.
The judge cited Teixeira’s “fascination with guns,” disturbing online statements and admonitions by Teixeira’s military superiors about his handling of sensitive information before his arrest.
The ruling comes after prosecutors revealed that Teixeira had a history of violent rhetoric, and was caught by fellow military members months before his arrest taking notes on classified information or viewing intelligence not related to his job.
Teixeira is accused of sharing classified military documents on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The stunning breach exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments on Russia’s war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.
The judge said the case repre -
sented “a profound breach of the defendant’s word that he would protect information related to the security of the United States.”
“Who did he put at risk? I mean, you could make a list as long as a phone book,” Hennessy said, including military personnel, medical workers overseas and Ukrainian citizens.
The judge indicated that he found persuasive prosecutors’ arguments that U.S. adversaries who might be interested in mining Teixeira for information could facilitate his escape.
“Foreign countries know that this defendant was disloyal to the United States,” the judge said. “It doesn’t seem implausible at all that a foreign government would make an overture to this defendant to get information.”
Teixeira appeared to show no emotion as he was lead out of the courtroom in handcuffs and orange jail clothes. He smiled at his father sitting in the front as he walked into the hearing in Worcester, Massachusetts, federal court. In a statement after the hearing, Teixeira’s family said it was disappointed with the outcome but “we realize there is a long road ahead of us all, and Jack’s wellbeing and safety is our priority right now. As a family, we are as committed as ever and remain steadfast and determined
in our complete support of Jack as we continue to wade through this process.”
The high-profile case is being prosecuted by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office, whose leader — U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins — resigned on Friday after two federal watchdog agencies found she committed a slew of ethical and legal violations.
Teixeira has been behind bars since his April 13 arrest on charges, under the Espionage Act, of unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors had urged the judge to keep Teixeira jailed, in part because of his arsenal of weapons and history of online statements, including one social media post from last November saying that, if he had his way, he would like to kill a “ton of people” because it would be “culling the weak minded.” Prosecutors have detailed a troubling history going back to high school, where Teixeira was suspended in 2018 when a classmate overheard him discussing Molotov cocktails and other weapons as well as racial threats. His initial application for a firearms identification card that same year was denied due to police concerns over those remarks.
He regularly made statements
about violence and murder on social media, and also used his government computer to research past mass shootings and standoffs with federal agents, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said he also kept his gun locker within reach of his bed and in it were handguns, bolt-action rifles, shotguns, an AK-style high-capacity weapon and a gas mask.
Teixeira’s father told the judge that he removed all the guns from his home and would ensure that his son followed his pretrial conditions if he were released.
Teixeira’s lawyer argued that despite the statements highlighted by prosecutors he was not a danger to the community or a flight risk.
Prosecutors revealed in court papers filed this week that Teixeira’s superiors had raised concerns in the months before his arrest about his mishandling of classified information.
He was twice admonished by superiors in September and October, and was again observed in February viewing information “that was not related to his primary duty and was related to the intelligence field,” according t o internal Air National Guard memos filed in court.
The revelations have raised questions about why Teixeira continued to have access to military secrets after what prosecutors described as “concerning actions” related to his handling of classified information.
Guardsman Jack Teixeira, Pentagon leak suspect, to remain jailed as he awaits trial
October 22, 1946 ~ May 15, 2023
Beverly Diane Bass James, of Holden Beach and formerly of Raeford died in Open Arms Retirement Center in Raeford on May 15, 2023.
Diane was born on October 22, 1946, in Wilmington, NC to the late Luther Francis Bass, Jr. and Theo McDowell Bass.
Diane was always interested in exploring life with all its joys and possibilities. She had a wide range of interests that included gardening, community volunteering, reading biographies, playing board games, crafting, dining out in her favorite restaurants, and always trying new ones, browsing through thrift shops, antiquing, visiting graves of long-lost ancestors, and always leaving a new flower arrangement behind, and most of all, traveling throughout the United States to vacation destinations with historical landmarks and other significant points of interest. During their retirement, Diane and Bill traveled to thirty-plus states and islands and enjoyed Hawaii and Alaska so much that they took extended trips to both of these states twice.
Now, as we mourn her loss, those of us who loved Diane will remember always how much she enjoyed life, and we will remember always, too, how bravely she faced death with such an amazing display of courage, grace, dignity, and acceptance.
Also, Diane’s family is keenly aware that she leaves behind many longtime and newly-found friends who, without being named, know who they are. She, therefore, wanted each one of you to know how much you enriched her life and how very much you were loved and treasured!
Also, before her death, Diane requested that her obituary reflect her deep appreciation for the many acts of kindness, love, and support she received from the following staff at Open Arms Retirement Center: Beverly, Carolyn, Holly, Janice, Joshua, Kim, Lillie, Melissa, Michelle, Samantha, Shonocko, Soso, and Will. Diane herself said, “The staff here are wonderfully warm and nurturing and strive to make my time here as comfortable and pleasant as possible.”
Diane’s family echoes her own words of praise and offers its own appreciation to these staff members for every act of kindness they extended to her. May God bless all of you abundantly in His own special way!
Diane is survived by her husband Bill R. James, her brother Tony E. Bass and his wife Rosa of Raeford, two very special nieces, Brantley Elizabeth Bass of Raleigh and Melissa Aiken Partain of Anderson, SC, and two wonderfully loving and supportive neighbors, Doug and Judy Todd of Holden Beach.
May 23, 1956 ~ May 16, 2023
Mrs. Pamela Smith age, 66 went home to be with her heavenly father on May 16, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Mable McGill. She leaves to cherish her loving memories her husband, Wadell Smith; children: Lashonda Huey, Shata Gillis; sister, Patricia Galberth; brothers: Richard McGill Jr., Joseph Bethea; aunt, Mary Whitted, three grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Pamela will be immensely missed.
May 31, 1959 ~ May 9, 2023
Ms. Carolyn McGeachy Stephens age, 63 went home to be with her heavenly father on May 9, 2023. She leaves to cherish her loving memories her children: Deon and (Dr. Charmaine) Glass, Drkshan Glass; mother, Jessie McGeachy; sisters: Barbara Campbell, Bridget Jones, Gwendolyn McMillian; brother, Neil McGeachy; seven grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. Carolyn will be greatly missed.
February 21, 1980 ~ May 11, 2023
Riquita Denise Wagner, known by many as Kita, passed away at her home in the early morning of May 11, 2023.
Kita was born on February 21, 1980, to her mother, Sylvia, and father, RL Carpenter, in North Little Rock, AR and raised by her mother and stepfather, Clayton Davis, as they moved around the world; experiencing a zest for life and cultural curiosity alongside her brother, Derek, and sister, Mikayla. She graduated in Japan from Misawa Air Base’s Edgren High School in 1998 before joining the Air Force a few years later. On May 22, 2002, she married the love of her life, Daniel Wagner. Her education culminated in 2021, as she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
As the oldest of the three, Kita was the first to try new things, seek out adventures, and brave dangerous situations. She was never afraid to test the limits set before her. She was a rebel. But through those actions, she also became a compassionate caregiver. Not only did she help guide her younger siblings, but she also helped others throughout her life, and was a great lover of animals.
Kita was always there for others. Whether it was crafting soaps, or canning food, or showing love to friends and family going through difficult situations, you could count on her for support. She was a deep listener when you needed to talk through issues, an excellent brainstormer for when you couldn’t solve a problem, and always had the best cat videos ready when you just needed a break from it all.
Kita could bring a smile to any room and used that as a sword and shield in the face of adversity.
Her most impressive trait was her strength. Kita was an Air Force veteran and faced all the difficulties that being active-duty entails. After her service, she continued supporting her country as a military spouse while Daniel still wore the uniform. Through every deployment, PCS, and challenge, she earned the prestigious Molly Pitcher Award bestowed to those that voluntarily contributed significant improvements to her military community.
Kita was a treasure, and her presence will be sorely missed. There is not a person who knew her who has not felt this loss.
She is survived by her loving husband Daniel, her parents and siblings, and a host of loving friends and family. Her final resting place will be at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — About two-thirds of U.S. adults say they are highly concerned about how the national economy would be affected if the U.S. debt limit is not increased and the government defaults on its debts, according to a new poll, even as few say they have a solid understanding of the ongoing debt limit negotiations.
The poll shows about 6 in 10 say they want any increase in the debt limit to be coupled with agreed-upon terms for reducing the federal budget deficit. At the same time, Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden and congressional negotiators on both sides of the aisle are handling negotiations. Slightly more approve of Biden’s handling of the situation than of congressional Republicans.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted before Republican negotiators on Friday said they would “ press pause “ on talks as the two sides struggle to come to an agreement to avert a damaging default on U.S. government debt. It shows 27% say they approve of Biden and 26% say the same about congressional Democrats, while 22% approve of congressional Republicans. Close to half disapprove of
each.
Robert Hutchins, 66, says he somewhat approves of how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republicans in Congress are handling negotiations.
“At least he’s trying to do something,” the Republican from Milton, Delaware, said of McCarthy’s leadership over his conference.
“The Democrats want to spend more money and they don’t want
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — One of the remaining registered Democrats on a North Carolina Supreme Court whose new Republican majority recently overturned previous decisions on gerrymandering and voter identification announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year.
Associate Justice Mike Morgan’s election in 2016 to an eightyear term gave Democrats a majority on the court for the first time in nearly 20 years. The court returned to a 5-2 majority favoring registered Republicans in January after two GOP election victories.
Morgan announced his decision not to run in a tweet citing 34 years of judicial service, which includes serving as a Wake County trial judge and state administrative law judge.
Looking ahead, Morgan told The Associated Press he was now considering “other options that have been afforded” him.
“I feel as though as my public service speaks for itself, and I am in a position now to make an even greater difference in North Carolina in another capacity,” Morgan said in an interview.
Morgan didn’t provide details, but when asked whether that could include a run at anoth-
er elected position, he said “at this stage I am keeping all of my options open.”
He also couldn’t say whether he would serve the remainder of his current term through the end of next year. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would appoint someone to fill his seat should he leave early.
Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican, already announced months ago that he would run for Morgan’s seat — the only one currently up for election in 2024. The current election sequence means Democrats likely won’t have another opportunity to obtain a majority until at least 2028.
Shortly after taking the court majority in January, Republicans agreed to reconsider rulings made by the 4-3 Democratic majority that struck down legislative and congressional district maps as illegal gerrymanders and upheld a lower-court ruling that a 2018 photo voter ID law was unconstitutional from racial bias.
Just three weeks ago, the court’s new iteration overturned the redistricting decisions, determining that the state constitution leaves mapmaking to the General Assembly and lacks limits that prohibit partisan gerrymandering. And at the same time it said the voter ID law was wrongly voided
any limit to it.”
Hutchins said he doesn’t have “any confidence whatsoever” in Biden and doesn’t believe in abolishing the debt ceiling, as it serves as a constant reminder of the nation’s debt load, which currently stands at $31.4 trillion. Otherwise, “you just think you have an unlimited credit card and you can spend whatever you want,” he said.
Ron Ellis, 61, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, said he hasn’t been paying a lot of attention to the latest debt limit debate because he’s thinks it will be resolved in time to save the economy from harm, as the White House and Congress have done in the past. But he expressed concern about the level of U.S. borrowing, calling it “astronomical” and “out of hand.”
“I’ve learned from the past that they always at the last minute come up with a plan,” said Ellis, a registered Democrat who is retired after owning a trucking company. “Basically, it’s just a show on their part and, you know, one side blames the other and generally they end up with a decision. Hopefully they’ll do it again.”
Overall, about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they are following negotiations over raising the debt limit extremely or very closely, and about 4 in 10 are following somewhat closely. Similarly, about 2 in 10 say they understand the situation very well and about 4 in 10 say they understand it somewhat well.
Still, a clear majority — 63% — say they think the negotiations should be coupled with terms to reduce the budget deficit. Nineteen percent say the debt limit should be raised without conditions and 16% say it should not be raised at all. Overall, the adults who say they understand the debate best are especially likely to
say the debt limit should be increased without conditions, with 37% saying so among that group.
A default would likely spell catastrophe for the U.S. economy, with spillover throughout the globe, and would prompt a probable recession.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that a national default would destroy jobs and businesses, and leave millions of families who rely on federal government payments to “likely go unpaid,” including Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families.
An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier this year also shows little consensus on cuts that would make a dent in the deficit: While most Americans said the government spends too much overall, majorities favored increased spending on popular and expensive programs including Medicare and Social Security.
Similar percentages of Republicans and Democrats say they are following and understanding negotiations, and concern about the economy if the U.S. defaults is widely bipartisan. But about a third of Democrats say the national debt limit should be increased without conditions, while just 6% of Republicans say the same.
Twenty-three percent of Republicans but just 7% of Democrats say the debt limit should not be increased under any circumstances.
and should be enforced.
Morgan and Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls delivered blistering dissenting opinions in these cases.
Morgan, who is Black, wrote in the voter ID dissenting opinion that the majority had “emboldened themselves to infuse partisan politics brazenly into the outcome of the present case” by rehearing the matter. He also wrote that trial judges had appropriately examined past racial discrimination in North Carolina while making their decision.
Morgan said Thursday that while he certainly wished “the atmosphere and the orientation of this current court” were different, “nonetheless I served the institution of the court with pride and with integrity.”
Current law requires justices to retire at the end of the month that they turn 72. That would have allowed Morgan, now 67, to serve close to three years of a second term had he been reelected in 2024. The governor fills vacancies for such retirements as well. The General Assembly is consid-
ering this year legislation that would extend the mandatory retirement age to 76 for appellate court judges.
Morgan grew up in New Bern and went to the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He worked in the state Department of Justice for 10 years before being appointed an administrative law judge in 1989. While on the state Supreme Court, Morgan has been known at times to break with Democratic colleagues and side with Republicans on criminal justice matters.
of EMS cadets while presenting a resolution for EMS Week during the Thursday,
County board recognizes EMS workers
Forsyth County
The Forsyth County Board released a statement in honor of EMS week:
“Every day, Forsyth County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers put the needs of their communities above their own as they respond to crises, treat injuries, and save lives. May 21-27, 2023 is the 49th annual National EMS Week.
In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation›s communities. This year›s theme is EMS Week: “Where Emergency Care Begins.”
W ith compassion, determination, and skill, EMS providers embody the best of our County — from 911 dispatchers, and emergency medical technicians/ paramedics to nurses, law enforcement officers and firefighters. The unwavering commitment of EMS providers to public service often comes at the cost of their own physical well-being, mental health and precious time with loved ones.
During Emergency Medical Services Week, we share our appreciation for the selfless EMS professionals who provide lifesaving services every day and risk their lives each time they answer the call of service. We also honor the EMS providers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty to protect their fellow citizens. Our County owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to these heroes and their loved ones.
The Forsyth County Board of Commissions recognized our EMS personnel by Resolution on May 18. Everyone in our area should observe this week to honor our brave EMS workers and to pay tribute to the EMS providers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education met Tuesday, May 9 with multiple budgetary items on the agenda.
The board first approved a Smart Bus Safety Pilot Program supported through state funding.
“We were awarded funds through the State Fiscal Recovery Fund to be able to support a new technology in our transportation department,” said Chief Operations Officer Lauren Richards. “We were awarded just under $1.5 million to support communications and technology.”
According to Richards, 21 counties are part of the pilot and any vendor that the counties were looking to contract with had to meet specific Senate Bill requirements and state TIMS routing software equivalents.
According to Richards, the op-
had a simplified transition based on the systems that we were currently using,” Richards said. “We want to make sure we are using the software and making efficient runs. We know we have a bus driver shortage, so we really need to be able to work in systems that we’re comfortable with and that can produce good data.”
NSJ
tions for the Smart Bus support included routing software, gps with real-time location, tablets, student ridership tracking, parent app enhancements and internet connectivity to support students while riding.
As such, WSFCS decided to go with Edulog Technologies, which is a consolidated, one stop platform that can be used to track multiple aspects of transportation data including routing, GPS tracking and a parent portal.
“We felt Edulog provided opportunities to be customizable in our routing, provided good data, and
North State Journal
WINSTON-SALEM — The city of Winston-Salem held a public unveiling of a local historic marker commemorating Boston Cottages lasts Saturday, May 20 at 3 p.m. at 1350 Thurmond St. near the entrance to Paisley Magnet School. The Boston Cottage Co. subdivision was developed just outside the city limits by white investors in the late 19th century and offered modest homes for sale and rent to mostly African Americans, many of whom worked in downtown tobacco factories.
Speakers at the unveiling included Mayor Allen Joines; May-
The City of Winston-Salem held a public unveiling of the local historic landmark this past Saturday.
or Pro Tempore Denise D. Adams; Edwin Bouldin, Historic Resources Commission; Sandra Stinson of the Boston Thurmond Community Engagement Roundtable; Pastor Fomba Karva of Saints Home United Methodist Church; Patricia Caldwell, president of the Boston Thurmond Community Engagement Roundtable; Regina Hall, executive director of Bos-
Other areas about Edulog that stood out to staff was the ability to make real time run changes for bus driver substitutes, school boundary planning and mapping importation, and virtually real time GPS ping rates working alongside an app for parents.
The contract will begin on May 15, 2023 to begin development and training in order to do a soft launch during summer school and the plan is to launch full services at the start of the 2023-24 school year.
The board also approved the 2023-24 local budget request to be presented to the Forsyth County Commissioners.
“At this point of time in the year, we want to move forward to the County Commission so we can
ton Thurmond United; and David West, of the Boston Thurmond Community Engagement Roundtable. The Saints Home Methodist Church Choir performed.
The text of the marker reads:
“In 1893, Boston Cottage Co. sold the first lots here, just north of the Winston city limits and west of Old Town Road. Builders constructed small rental houses for African Americans, many of whom worked in tobacco factories. Except for 40 sold lots, Adolphus H. Eller purchased the entire Boston Cottage Co. plat in 1900. He sold lots individually throughout the following decades.
Trustees of Boston Cottage M.E. Church, later Saints Home M.E. Church, bought a lot on Thurmond Street in 1900. The County Board of Education bought two lots for Boston Cottage School in 1901. The neighborhood was replatted and lots sold as North Cherry St. Development beginning in 1924.”
present what our needs are from a local fund standpoint,” said Chief Financial Officer Tommy Krantz. “This budget was developed based off of where we stand today with the best information from talking to the people in the state government. It’s a very fluid still document in that we do not know what exactly the state will adopt. This budget, I think, is fair, but the actual amount may be slightly higher or could be slightly lower than what we’re projecting today.”
The budget accounts for a 5% increase in salaries, a change from 24.5% to 25.25% per dollar for retirement, and a minor increase to FICA, worker’s compensation, and health insurance amounting to a total salary and benefits request of $9.225 million.
“That doesn’t account for any new positions,” Krantz said. “Based on the existing base of employees, this is what a 5% increase would be and there is some rounding that we do to give us some cushion depending on how things move up or down.”
See BOE, page 2
8 5 2017752016 $1.00
“This budget, I think, is fair, but the actual amount may be slightly higher or lower than what we’re projecting today”
Chief Financial Officer Tommy Krantz
♦ Johnny Elmer Ball, 88, of Forsyth County, died May 19, 2023.
♦ Marty Ray Belton, 51, of Forsyth County, died May 18, 2023.
♦ Joyce Ann Bishop, 75, of Lexington, died May 17, 2023.
♦ Barbara “Bobbie” Jean Ransome George, 76, of Winston-Salem, died May 22, 2023.
♦ Stanley “Stan” Ray Grandy, 67, of Kernersville, died May 18, 2023.
♦ Shirley Randleman Hughes, 86, of WinstonSalem, died May 18, 2023.
♦ Henry Monroe Jones, Jr., 86, of Forsyth County, died May 17, 2023.
♦ Alice Arlene Mullins McPeak, 84, died May 21, 2023.
♦ Mary Lou Reavis Miller, 100, of Yadkinville, died May 20, 2023.
♦ Elynor Fishel Rights, 91, of Winston-Salem, died May 19, 2023.
♦ Ronald Keith Robertson, 67, of Winston-Salem, died May 19, 2023.
♦ Bishop Stephone Devon Samuels, of WinstonSalem, died May 17, 2023.
♦ Linda Jo Crawley Ward, 73, of Winston-Salem, died May 20, 2023.
THE DURHAM REPORT confirmed that the FBI not only failed to corroborate the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton’s oppodoc against former President Donald Trump, but it regularly ignored existing, sometimes dispositive, evidence to keep the investigation alive. Some officials were credulous. Others were devious. But no one “stole” our democracy — other than perhaps intelligence officials and the journalists who helped feed the collective hysteria over Russia.
Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate.
John Brennan, Hamas-loving authoritarian and partisan propagandist, almost surely knew it was a con from the start. Yet he spent four years on television sounding like a deranged subreddit commenter. Even after privately admitting he knew there was no collusion, Brennan kept lying and using his credentials to mislead the public.
From John Durham’s report:
“CIA Director John Brennan and Deputy Director David Cohen were interviewed by the Office and were asked about their knowledge of any actual evidence of members of the Trump campaign conspiring or colluding with Russian officials. When Brennan was provided with an overview of the origins of the Attorney General’s Review after Special Counsel Mueller finding a lack of evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities, Brennan offered that ‘they found no conspiracy.’”
As Durham points out, even after Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report, and after Brennan admitted no one found a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the former head of the CIA went on air with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, another all-star election “denier,” and claimed that he “suspected there was more” to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin than Mueller had let on.
Did I mention this was the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
Brennan must have been relying on that same gut instinct that led him to sign a letter asserting that the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop scoop, a journalistic effort with more corroboration than virtually anything connected to Trump’s alleged “collusion,” had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
The House Judiciary Committee recently uncovered an Oct. 19, 2020, email from CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was working with the Biden campaign to concoct “a talking point” to “push back on Trump” during the final presidential debates, asking Brennan to sign on to the “disinformation” letter. “Ok, Michael, add my name to the list.
♦ Aiken, Mekhi Wilton (M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Alter, Destruct, Remove Serial Number Firearm; Poss Firearm (M) and 2) Ccw
Good initiative. Thanks for asking me to sign on,” Brennan replied.
That’s all it takes for the former CIA director, a man who was given immense unchecked power — a man who oversaw secret kill lists and was the driving force behind drone strikes on civilians (including an American citizen) — to sign a letter he knew would obstruct the workings of “democracy” and the free press.
This is a man who still has access to classified documents. You might remember all the hand-wringing over broken norms when Trump allegedly barred intelligence agencies from sharing classified information with Brennan. The New York Times even gave him a column to argue that Trump’s claims of “no collusion” were “why the president revoked my security clearance,” which, again, he almost certainly knew was a lie.
Of course, Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate. CIA officials broke into Senate computer files and viewed emails and drafts of a report on torture. All of it was illegal. Brennan covered up the agency’s actions (also illegal), blamed the Senate and pushed to fire at least one staffer who was tasked with investigating his agency.
All this happened when the tan-suited Obama was in charge, so most people probably missed it.
It wasn’t until the CIA’s inspector general confirmed this wrongdoing that Brennan began negotiating with the lilylivered senators about owning up to the spying. Even then, Brennan was lying. When asked about the CIA hacking into Senate computers at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Brennan responded by saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Nothing? “I mean, we wouldn’t do that,” he went on. “I mean, that’s just beyond the — you know, the scope of reason in terms of what we would do.” Brennan went on to say: “Let me assure you the CIA was in no way spying on (the committee) or the Senate.”
The Obama administration backed Brennan fully, and the Senate moved on. No one put him under oath and grilled him about the specifics. As with the FBI interference in the 2016 election, not one person was held accountable for domestic spying, much less fired.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books -- the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
♦ Campbell, Raymond Christopher (M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Change Address - Sex Offender Registration (F) and 2) Sex Offender Violation (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/19/2023 19:30.
♦ CARTER, COLTON SEBASTIAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 2001 NORTHPOINT DR on 5/21/2023
♦ GREEN, CEDRIC AUSTIN was arrested on a charge of GAMBLING at 100 HANES MALL BV on
♦
16:29.
♦ BALDWIN, DASHA NICOLE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 2933 N GLENN AV on 5/21/2023 ♦ Barr, Cresean Bernard (B /M/21) Arrest on chrg of Possess Weapon Of Mass Destruction (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/17/2023 19:35.
♦ Barr, Cresean Bernard (B /M/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-misd Poss (M),
2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Alter, Destroy, Or Steal Evidence Of Criminal Conduct (F), 4) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), 5) Aggressive Driving (M), 6) Speeding - Posted (M), 7) Brake Lights/ break Reflectors Color Rear Of Motor Vehicle (M), and 8) Stop Light Violation - Flashing Red (N), at 6205 Ramada Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 5/17/2023 14:48.
♦ BELL, JONATHAN LOUIS was arrested on a charge of DRUG TRAFFICKING at1400 JONESTOWN RD on 5/20/2023
♦ Berrow, George Douglas (M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Weap-poss By Felon (F) and 2) Fugitive Arrest (magistrate`s Order) (F), at 300 Woodbriar Path, Rural Hall, NC, on 5/19/2023 08:27.
♦ Boyd, Benjamin Lucan (M/44) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (M), at 200 N. Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/19/2023 16:04.
♦ Calhoun, Justin Isaiah (M/22) Arrest on chrg of 1) B&e-vehicle (F), 2) Larceny/ misdemeanor (M), 3) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), and 4) Tampering With Vehicle (M), at Marty Ln/king Charles Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 5/22/2023 06:00.
BOE from page 1
The total local request from the county will be for $16.35 million. The board then approved a Safe Storage resolution, the design contract for the West Forsyth High School Roof, a contact with Kagan
♦ Clayton, Kryssy Michelle (W /F/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/larc-felony (F) and 2) Larceny After B&e (F), at 6012 Cain Forest Dr, Walkertown, NC, on 5/17/2023 13:22.
♦ Collins, Michael Reed (W /M/31) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi, M (M), at 4929 Oak Branch Ln/ben Ln, Walkertown, NC, on 5/17/2023 17:13.
♦ COMER, JOHNAE LADALE was arrested on a charge of PROBATION VIOLATION at 1500 PLEASANT ST on 5/21/2023
♦ DARDEN, NEVOUGHN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1299 N TRADE ST/W NORTHWEST BV on 5/21/2023
♦ FLOYD, HAYLIE SHAY was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 1879 EBERT RD/CHATEAU RIDGE DR on 5/20/2023
♦ FROST, DAVIN LEKEITH was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 998 SUNNYNOLL DR/REYNOLDA RD on 5/21/2023 ♦
for Professional Development, the purchase of an additional anatomage table, and approval of the Brunson Elementary School continued environmental services with S&ME, and approval of the Philo Hill CMT/SI/Geotechnical services with Terracon.
SHERMER was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 730 FERRELL CT on 5/20/2023
♦ Kozlowski, Benjamin Adrian (M/47) Arrest on chrg of Vio. Protective Order By Courts Another State/ Indian Tribe (M), at 200 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/18/2023 17:43.
♦ Lagunasrufino, Francisco Javier (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assaultpoint Gun (M), 2) Assault - In Presence Of A Minor (affray, Deadly Weapon, Et (M), 3) Assault - In Presence Of A Minor (affray, Deadly Weapon, Et (M), 4) Assault On Female (M), 5) Child Abuse (M), 6) Child Abuse (M), and 7) Communicate Threats (M), at 306 Ashley Crossing, Winston Salem, NC, on 5/17/2023 12:15.
♦ LIVINGSTON, CANDACE JSARA was arrested on a charge of SIMPLE ASSAULT at 2933 N GLENN AV on 5/22/2023
♦ Martin, Lawrence Mckinley (M/63) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Heroin (F), 2)
Probation Violation (M), and 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 3000 Waughtown St, Winston-salem, NC, on 5/20/2023 18:06.
♦ Medley, Hope Brianna (F/22) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault-simple (M),
2) Breaking/enter-misd (M), and
3) Vand-real Property (M), at 4052 Bonne Venture Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 5/18/2023 06:51.
Finally, the board also approved a $37,010,000 Facilities Capital Funding Request that will cover approximately 86 projects.
“This is a tranche of funding and it’s a living document and we recognize that there is an inordinate amount of need that covers
probably upwards of $400-500 million and so this is just a starting point,” said board member Sabrina Coone. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that for the community.”
The
will next meet
Schembechler’s son resigns at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
A son of longtime Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler has resigned from his position with the Wolverines, with the school saying it was aware of his social media activity that may have caused “pain” in the community. Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler stepped down Saturday, just days after he had been hired as assistant director of recruiting on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. The Detroit News reported that Schembechler’s Twitter feed contained posts and likes of offensive material, including some that suggested slavery and Jim Crow were positives to strengthen black individuals and families. Schembechler played for his father, who coached Michigan from 1969-89.
USC AD Bohn resigns
after 3½ years
Los Angeles Southern California athletic director Mike Bohn has resigned. USC confirmed the 62-year-old Bohn’s resignation roughly 3½ years after he succeeded Lynn Swann in the high-profile job. The Trojans’ athletic department experienced a surge of success during Bohn’s tenure. The football team made a dramatic turnaround after the hiring of coach Lincoln Riley last year, while the men’s basketball team has made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Andy Enfield. Bohn mentioned “ongoing health challenges” in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times about his resignation.
TENNIS
Gaston’s unsportsmanlike conduct draws
$155K fine
London
A professional tennis player from France has been fined more than he’s collected in prize money so far in 2023 for pulling a ball out of his pocket and throwing it on the court during a point in an attempt to get a doover. Hugo Gaston’s fourth unsportsmanlike conduct violation this season drew a fine of about $155,000 from the ATP Tour. Gaston has made a little more than $120,000 in prize money this year. Gaston’s appeal of the punishment got it reduced by half to about $77,500, as long as he meets certain conditions, including no additional violations during a probationary period of a year.
WNBA Indiana loses
WNBA record-tying
20th straight game
New York
The New York Liberty beat Indiana 90-73, handing the Fever a 20th consecutive loss that matched the WNBA record for futility. The Fever equaled the Tulsa Shock, who lost 20 straight games in 2011. Indiana lost 18 consecutive games to close out last season before falling to the Connecticut Sun on Friday in their opener. Indiana plays at Atlanta next Sunday. The Fever went 5-31 last season and last won June 19, 2022.
The Associated Press PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Confidence was never an issue for Brooks Koepka until the injuries piled up, the doubts crept in and he began to wonder if he still belonged among golf’s elite.
Koepka answered every question at the PGA Championship with a performance that ranks among his best. His fifth major title was the sweetest of them all. No doubt about that, either.
“It feels damned good. Yeah, this one is definitely special,” Koepka said. “I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with everything that’s gone on, all the crazy stuff over the last few years.”
One knee injury kept him from the Masters, another from the
Presidents Cup in Australia. Two years ago, he tried to pop his knee back into place and shattered his knee cap. And then last summer, uncertain about his future, he decided to leave the PGA Tour for the guaranteed Saudi riches of LIV Golf, bringing a mixture of criticism and skepticism.
And there he was Sunday at Oak Hill, looking good as new, dominant as ever, against the best collection of golfers in the world on a punishing golf course.
Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland, and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory. He held up his index finger as he posed next to the Wanamaker Trophy, but he may as well have held up all five.
With three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, he became the 20th player with five or more majors. He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and
The running back and actor fought for black rights but also faced allegations of violence against women
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena. Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist — and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women — has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of pro football’s first su-
perstars, Brown was a wrecking ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player.
Brown led the Browns to their last championship in 1964 before quitting football in his prime at age 30 to make movies. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
A powerful runner with speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television, and he remained an indomitable figure well after his playing days ended.
Brown was also a champion for black Americans and used his platform and voice to fight for equality.
In June 1967, Brown organized “The Cleveland Summit,” a meeting of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against serving in Vietnam.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a
Players with at least five major tournament victories after Brooks Koepka claimed his fifth at last week’s PGA Championship
Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more times — and captured his first major in what felt like four years.
And to think that over the last few years, Koepka was so wounded he felt he couldn’t compete, a decision that might have led to him leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf in a shocking move last June after the U.S. Open.
Koepka left little doubt about
his place in the game with his two-shot win over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.
“To look back to where we were two years ago, I’m so happy right now,” Koepka said. “This is just the coolest thing.”
20The victory moves Koepka to No. 13 in the world and No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six automatically qualify, and it would be hard to fathom leaving Koepka off the American team. He can only earn points in the majors, and two more are still to come.
Koepka had to share the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.
He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year at Valhalla. It was the best finish by a club pro since Lonnie Nielsen tied for 11th in 1986 at Inverness. Block earned just short of $290,000.
Koepka, who finished at 9-under 271, received $3.15 million for his win.
“If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were black, Jim Brown was a God.”
LeBron James
program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
Off the field, Brown was a contentious, complicated figure.
While he had a soft spot for those in need, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife
called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
Brown is survived by his wife and son, Aris; daughter, Morgan, son, Jim Jr.; daughter, Kimberly; son, Kevin; daughter, Shellee; and daughter, Kim. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ward.
Jim Brown, all-time NFL great and social activist, dead at 87AP PHOTO NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown passed away last Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 87.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — About two-thirds of U.S. adults say they are highly concerned about how the national economy would be affected if the U.S. debt limit is not increased and the government defaults on its debts, according to a new poll, even as few say they have a solid understanding of the ongoing debt limit negotiations.
The poll shows about 6 in 10 say they want any increase in the debt limit to be coupled with agreed-upon terms for reducing the federal budget deficit. At the same time, Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden and congressional negotiators on both sides of the aisle are handling negotiations. Slightly more approve of Biden’s handling of the situation than of congressional Republicans.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted before Republican negotiators on Friday said they would “ press pause “ on talks as the two sides struggle to come to an agreement to avert a damaging default on U.S. government debt. It shows 27% say they approve of Biden and 26% say the same about congressional Democrats, while 22% approve of congressional Republicans. Close to half disapprove of
each.
Robert Hutchins, 66, says he somewhat approves of how House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republicans in Congress are handling negotiations.
“At least he’s trying to do something,” the Republican from Milton, Delaware, said of McCarthy’s leadership over his conference.
“The Democrats want to spend more money and they don’t want
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — One of the remaining registered Democrats on a North Carolina Supreme Court whose new Republican majority recently overturned previous decisions on gerrymandering and voter identification announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year.
Associate Justice Mike Morgan’s election in 2016 to an eightyear term gave Democrats a majority on the court for the first time in nearly 20 years. The court returned to a 5-2 majority favoring registered Republicans in January after two GOP election victories.
Morgan announced his decision not to run in a tweet citing 34 years of judicial service, which includes serving as a Wake County trial judge and state administrative law judge.
Looking ahead, Morgan told The Associated Press he was now considering “other options that have been afforded” him.
“I feel as though as my public service speaks for itself, and I am in a position now to make an even greater difference in North Carolina in another capacity,” Morgan said in an interview.
Morgan didn’t provide details, but when asked whether that could include a run at anoth-
er elected position, he said “at this stage I am keeping all of my options open.”
He also couldn’t say whether he would serve the remainder of his current term through the end of next year. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would appoint someone to fill his seat should he leave early.
Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican, already announced months ago that he would run for Morgan’s seat — the only one currently up for election in 2024. The current election sequence means Democrats likely won’t have another opportunity to obtain a majority until at least 2028.
Shortly after taking the court majority in January, Republicans agreed to reconsider rulings made by the 4-3 Democratic majority that struck down legislative and congressional district maps as illegal gerrymanders and upheld a lower-court ruling that a 2018 photo voter ID law was unconstitutional from racial bias.
Just three weeks ago, the court’s new iteration overturned the redistricting decisions, determining that the state constitution leaves mapmaking to the General Assembly and lacks limits that prohibit partisan gerrymandering. And at the same time it said the voter ID law was wrongly voided
any limit to it.” Hutchins said he doesn’t have “any confidence whatsoever” in Biden and doesn’t believe in abolishing the debt ceiling, as it serves as a constant reminder of the nation’s debt load, which currently stands at $31.4 trillion. Otherwise, “you just think you have an unlimited credit card and you can spend whatever you want,” he said.
Ron Ellis, 61, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, said he hasn’t been paying a lot of attention to the latest debt limit debate because he’s thinks it will be resolved in time to save the economy from harm, as the White House and Congress have done in the past. But he expressed concern about the level of U.S. borrowing, calling it “astronomical” and “out of hand.”
“I’ve learned from the past that they always at the last minute come up with a plan,” said Ellis, a registered Democrat who is retired after owning a trucking company. “Basically, it’s just a show on their part and, you know, one side blames the other and generally they end up with a decision. Hopefully they’ll do it again.”
Overall, about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say they are following negotiations over raising the debt limit extremely or very closely, and about 4 in 10 are following somewhat closely. Similarly, about 2 in 10 say they understand the situation very well and about 4 in 10 say they understand it somewhat well.
Still, a clear majority — 63% — say they think the negotiations should be coupled with terms to reduce the budget deficit. Nineteen percent say the debt limit should be raised without conditions and 16% say it should not be raised at all. Overall, the adults who say they understand the debate best are especially likely to
say the debt limit should be increased without conditions, with 37% saying so among that group.
A default would likely spell catastrophe for the U.S. economy, with spillover throughout the globe, and would prompt a probable recession.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that a national default would destroy jobs and businesses, and leave millions of families who rely on federal government payments to “likely go unpaid,” including Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families.
An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier this year also shows little consensus on cuts that would make a dent in the deficit: While most Americans said the government spends too much overall, majorities favored increased spending on popular and expensive programs including Medicare and Social Security.
Similar percentages of Republicans and Democrats say they are following and understanding negotiations, and concern about the economy if the U.S. defaults is widely bipartisan. But about a third of Democrats say the national debt limit should be increased without conditions, while just 6% of Republicans say the same. Twenty-three percent of Republicans but just 7% of Democrats say the debt limit should not be increased under any circumstances.
and should be enforced.
Morgan and Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls delivered blistering dissenting opinions in these cases.
Morgan, who is Black, wrote in the voter ID dissenting opinion that the majority had “emboldened themselves to infuse partisan politics brazenly into the outcome of the present case” by rehearing the matter. He also wrote that trial judges had appropriately examined past racial discrimination in North Carolina while making their decision.
Morgan said Thursday that while he certainly wished “the atmosphere and the orientation of this current court” were different, “nonetheless I served the institution of the court with pride and with integrity.”
Current law requires justices to retire at the end of the month that they turn 72. That would have allowed Morgan, now 67, to serve close to three years of a second term had he been reelected in 2024. The governor fills vacancies for such retirements as well. The General Assembly is consid-
ering this year legislation that would extend the mandatory retirement age to 76 for appellate court judges.
Morgan grew up in New Bern and went to the North Carolina Central University School of Law. He worked in the state Department of Justice for 10 years before being appointed an administrative law judge in 1989. While on the state Supreme Court, Morgan has been known at times to break with Democratic colleagues and side with Republicans on criminal justice matters.
In an effort to help control the mosquito population in Moore County, the Moore County Health Department will host a mosquito dunk distribution event at the Moore County Agricultural Center, located at 707 Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage, on May 31 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The dunks will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Residents will be provided with two six-count packages of dunks per household to use individually on their property. Along with their supply of dunks, residents will also receive educational materials regarding personal protective measures against mosquitos and other biting insects, free of charge. Mosquito dunks are products designed to attack mosquitos in their developmental stages, more specifically in the larvae stage, and are very effective at killing them in a short amount of time. A mosquito dunk works by being inserted into an area of standing water, where it floats on the surface and slowly releases a special bacterium, which kills mosquito larvae before they can complete their lifecycle. This bacterium kills mosquito larvae of all known mosquito species but is safe for humans and animals, including birds, frogs, and fish. The dunks then offer longterm protection and kill larvae for up to 30 days.
For additional mosquito control tips and further information on safe mosquito replant use, please visit the Moore County Health Department website at www. moorecountync.gov/health.
Union Pines track
Union Pines Caleb Milton runs in the 110m hurdles during the Track and Field State Championship at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, on May 19, 2023.
SOUTHERN PINES — The Southern Pines Town Council met Tuesday, May 9, with two public hearings on the agenda.
The first hearing was for the proposed 157-acre Whitehall Master Plan at Reservoir Park.
“We had three goals with one plan,” said Parks and Recreation Director Cindi King. “The three goals were resource preservation, passive recreation and publicly accessible.”
According to King, for resource preservation, the town will focus on the preservation of the longleaf pine stands and red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, the capitalization of infrastructure at Reservoir and Elizabeth Rounds, the restoration of the pond to attract waterfowl, the
maintenance of the pecan grove, and the utilization of a trail system to provide a burn trail to allow for controlled burns which are necessary for the longleaf pines natural cycles.
For passive recreation, the town is looking to have 5+ miles of trails, open fields for free play, a picnic area and shelters, a wildflower meadow, and they will provide opportunities for environmental education.
Lastly, for public accessibility, the town will utilize the parking lots at Reservoir Park and Pee Dee Rd., an ADA-accessible, 2-mile perimeter trail will be created, the barn and carriage house will be renovated for programming and public use, there will be connectivity to other parks and trails in Reservoir Park, there will be an opportunity for a community garden, and there will be access for emergency vehicles.
“The previous landowners, before they sold it to the town, they put about 40% of the 157 acres in a con-
servation easement which is held by the Three Rivers Land Trust,” said Assistant Town Manager Jessica Roth. “That’s really important because that conservation easement it transfers with any landowner, none of us are able to do anything to take that easement off, and it permanently protects those 66 acres so that they will not be disturbed, although it does allow us to open up those areas for public use with some trails and things like that. However, the most critical habitats are within this easement, and that includes the red-cockaded woodpecker habitats and the longleaf pine stands.”
Following the hearing, the council approved the Whitehall Master Plan.
The second hearing was for the proposed FY 23-24 budget.
“This is a unique budget year which happens every four years here in Moore County because Moore County ran around and did a re-valuation of properties last year,”
PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, May 9, with a public hearing and a several ordinances on the agenda.
The council held a public hearing for a resolution adopting the Village Place and Pinehurst South Small Area Plans and Form-Based Guidance Plans.
“We’ve been working on these projects for quite some time, as everybody’s aware,” said Village Manager Jeff Sanborn. “There have really been three products that have been under development, and some are further along than others. But we started with the small area plans for both of these two small areas, and then we started working on a form-based guidance plan, and the third is the implementation language that would be incorporated into our development ordinance. That piece of the puzzle is still being worked on by the planning and zoning board and is pretty close to being finished.”
The two small area plans have previously already been approved by the council, and so the purpose of the hearing was to hear comments on those plans and the overall guid-
ance plan.
The Form-Based Guidance Plan will act as a sort of development ordinance and will include a regulating plan for building type and heights, lot dimensions, street design, landscape design, architectural design and sign design.
Following the hearing, the council approved the resolution adopting the Village Place and Pinehurst South Small Area Plans and FormBased Guidance Plans.
The council then approved an ordinance amending the FY23 budget for library and archives building capital improvements.
“In the FY23 budget ordinance, $1 million was appropriated for initial building improvements for the library and archives,” said Financial Services Director Dana Van Nostrand. “Based on the needs assessment and the other work that has begun for the library, none of that money has been spent yet, and any of the work that was intended to be done in terms of improvements with that $1 million will be part of the work that is going to be done under the Library Expansion Capital Project Fund. Since it won’t be expended within the FY23 appropriation, we want to still utilize that $1 million towards the library by transferring it to the Library Expansion Capital Project Fund.”
Finally, the council passed a resolution supporting the NCDOT’s plan to install stoplights at the in-
tersections of Highway 15-501 and Spring Lake Drive and Highway 15501 and Spring Lake Road.
“These two stoplights are intended to enhance safety,” said Assistant Village Manager for Operations Jeff Batton. “First off, they will be synced to allow traffic to free flow through there as best they can. There is a similar pair of lights like this further north on 15-501 around Highway 73. They’ll also have the lane sensors embedded at the stop bars, as you’ve seen at most other stoplights so that traffic lights will get tripped for changeover when cars are approaching Spring Lake Road and Drive. I know during rush hour, both of these two can be pretty challenging getting in and out.”
The new light poles will be wooden, with crosswires holding up the lights, which the council usually tries to upfit to match the aesthetic of the rest of the Village. However, due to potential changes coming on Highway 15-501, the council elected to keep the DOT’s choice.
“Traditionally, we’ve taken the opportunity whenever a stoplight was going to be installed in the Village to upgrade and enhance those to the metal poles and cross arms,” Batton said. “The reason we are not recommending we do that at this point in time with these two intersections is because this is intended, in the grand scheme of the timeline, to be a temporary situation. In the next five to seven years, DOT will be
said Town Manager Reagan Parsons. “Last year, when I stood at this podium, the average home value in Southern Pines was $324,146. Our tax base increased 46% from the 2023 re-valuations, which factors out to $473,253.
“If we kept a $0.40 tax rate and did not adjust for revenue neutral and if the average property went up that 46%, you’d be looking at an additional $596 in taxes this year. That, of course, is not how we do this. We actually look at a period of four years, take an average growth rate and factor it out and arrive at a revenue-neutral tax rate. That revenue-neutral tax rate is 28.15 pennies which we round up to 29 pennies.”
The goals of the preliminary budget are a 5% pay adjustment for all employees, an increase in starting pay and internal equity adjustments for police, a 25% reserve for fund balance, and a focus on a variety of projects, including annual street resurfacing, police vehicle replacements, sidewalk projects, reservoir park dam, yard debris services, additional firefighters, Whitehall design and land management, playground renovations, skate park cost-sharing, and new staff positions.
See SOUTHERN PINES, page 2
widening 15-501, and these intersections will be potentially reconfigured or redesigned. They may not need stoplights at all, or they may be realigned so one single stoplight is what is needed. You’ll also have four lanes instead of two, so whatever is going in now will ultimately be removed, even if it remains in a two-stoplight configuration.”
The Village of Pinehurst Council will next
CABRERA, MATTHEW ALEJANDRO, 30, H, M, 5/17/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Schedule I CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, $6,000 Secured
In terms of impacts on residents, the budget proposes a property tax rate drop of 11 cents, a waste fee increase of $0.25 to $17.00, and a $2.93 increase per month for average water and sewer customers using 5,000 gallons.
“It was really important to not raise taxes,” said council member Bill Pate. “So to stay at that $0.29 rate so that most citizens did not see a major increase in taxes was super important.”
The council will hold another public hearing on June 13, where the budget will be adopted.
The council also approved an architectural compliance permit for the Creston Commons planned development for modifications to eight existing multi-family buildings and one existing clubhouse.
“This is for the replacement of the siding; that was the only issue,” said Planning Director BJ Grieve. “It was going from vinyl siding to Hardie plank siding. We looked at the entire project, and it’s a rehabilitation of all the structures.”
Finally, the council approved an architectural compliance permit for the Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. distillery development in order to construct a 4,800-square-foot building to store whiskey barrels.
The Southern Pines Town Council will next meet June 13.
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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:
May 25
Friends of the Library Meeting 6pm
The Friends of the Aberdeen Library holds a meeting every fourth Thursday of the month at the Aberdeen Fire Department. New members are welcome to support the efforts!
Trivia Thursday at the Brewery 6pm
Come out for Trivia at the Southern Pines Brewery! Enjoy fun and prizes each Thursday. Southern Pines Brewing Company is located at 565 Air Tool Dr., Southern Pines, NC.
May 26
Carthage Farmers Market 2pm – 6pm
Come out and support your local farmers at the brand-new farmers market in Carthage! The market features fresh produce, meats, eggs, and handmade goods! The market will be set up on S. Ray Street in the parking lot across from the post office.
“There can be no security anywhere in the free world if there is no fiscal and economic stability within the United States.”President Ronald Reagan
President Reagan understood the importance of getting America’s economy in order. Yet our crippling debt, now at over $30 trillion, continues to threaten our standing in the world and must be addressed.
border patrol agents, restarts border wall construction, and protects children from human trafficking. Once again, House Republicans have shown we have solutions to the challenges facing our nation while others choose to ignore them.
Extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
President Joe Biden refused to negotiate for more than 100 days to address the debt. Our country cannot afford to default on our debt due to Washington Democrats’ political games. Under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans have raised the debt limit in a responsible way. We are united in our desire to address the debt crisis and curb reckless spending for years to come. I am proud of our work to save America from defaulting and will stay focused on improving our economy for you and your family.
While Washington Democrats have procrastinated on the debt ceiling, they have also refused to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis at our Southern border. Yet it is clear—extreme Democrats’ support of radical open border policies have resulted in the worst border crisis in American history.
Earlier this month, Title 42, a public health border security measure that has been used to keep nearly 3 million illegal migrants out of the U.S. since 2020, expired. In the days leading up to this, more than 10,000 migrants were encountered at the border, shattering records.
To address the crisis, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act—the strongest border security bill America has ever seen. It will keep our nation safe and our border secure.
It’s plain and simple—border security is national security. Our bill ends catch and release, fixes the asylum program, hires more
Last week, in celebration of National Police Week, House Republicans condemned ‘defunding the police’ and anti-police rhetoric and passed the POLICE Act of 2023 and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. We seek to give local law enforcement the resources and support they need to get the job done.
In recent years, good police officers dedicated to keeping our communities safe have not always received the resources and respect they deserve. Assaults on police have gone up significantly, leading to the deadliest year in two decades for our law enforcement officers.
As we approach Memorial Day, we honor our brave service members who gave their lives in the defense of the freedoms we hold so dear. I am deeply grateful to be an American, and incredibly appreciative of those who risk their lives daily to defend our liberties. And I will never forget the sacrifices our military families make every day.
Our nation is the greatest on earth because of courageous service members, law enforcement officers, and their families. May God bless America, and the men and women in uniform who protect our community and keep this great nation free.
Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.
THE DURHAM REPORT confirmed that the FBI not only failed to corroborate the Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton’s oppo-doc against former President Donald Trump, but it regularly ignored existing, sometimes dispositive, evidence to keep the investigation alive. Some officials were credulous. Others were devious. But no one “stole” our democracy — other than perhaps intelligence officials and the journalists who helped feed the collective hysteria over Russia.
my name to the list. Good initiative. Thanks for asking me to sign on,” Brennan replied.
That’s all it takes for the former CIA director, a man who was given immense unchecked power — a man who oversaw secret kill lists and was the driving force behind drone strikes on civilians (including an American citizen) — to sign a letter he knew would obstruct the workings of “democracy” and the free press.
Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate.
John Brennan, Hamas-loving authoritarian and partisan propagandist, almost surely knew it was a con from the start. Yet he spent four years on television sounding like a deranged subreddit commenter. Even after privately admitting he knew there was no collusion, Brennan kept lying and using his credentials to mislead the public.
From John Durham’s report:
“CIA Director John Brennan and Deputy Director David Cohen were interviewed by the Office and were asked about their knowledge of any actual evidence of members of the Trump campaign conspiring or colluding with Russian officials. When Brennan was provided with an overview of the origins of the Attorney General’s Review after Special Counsel Mueller finding a lack of evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian authorities, Brennan offered that ‘they found no conspiracy.’”
As Durham points out, even after Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report, and after Brennan admitted no one found a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, the former head of the CIA went on air with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, another all-star election “denier,” and claimed that he “suspected there was more” to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian President Vladimir Putin than Mueller had let on.
Did I mention this was the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency?
Brennan must have been relying on that same gut instinct that led him to sign a letter asserting that the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop scoop, a journalistic effort with more corroboration than virtually anything connected to Trump’s alleged “collusion,” had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
The House Judiciary Committee recently uncovered an Oct. 19, 2020, email from CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who was working with the Biden campaign to concoct “a talking point” to “push back on Trump” during the final presidential debates, asking Brennan to sign on to the “disinformation” letter. “Ok, Michael, add
This is a man who still has access to classified documents. You might remember all the hand-wringing over broken norms when Trump allegedly barred intelligence agencies from sharing classified information with Brennan. The New York Times even gave him a column to argue that Trump’s claims of “no collusion” were “why the president revoked my security clearance,” which, again, he almost certainly knew was a lie.
Of course, Brennan should have been denied access to any classified material and driven into exile after he was caught overseeing an operation of illegal spying on staffers in the Senate. CIA officials broke into Senate computer files and viewed emails and drafts of a report on torture. All of it was illegal. Brennan covered up the agency’s actions (also illegal), blamed the Senate and pushed to fire at least one staffer who was tasked with investigating his agency.
All this happened when the tan-suited Obama was in charge, so most people probably missed it.
It wasn’t until the CIA’s inspector general confirmed this wrongdoing that Brennan began negotiating with the lily-livered senators about owning up to the spying. Even then, Brennan was lying. When asked about the CIA hacking into Senate computers at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, Brennan responded by saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Nothing? “I mean, we wouldn’t do that,” he went on. “I mean, that’s just beyond the — you know, the scope of reason in terms of what we would do.” Brennan went on to say: “Let me assure you the CIA was in no way spying on (the committee) or the Senate.”
The Obama administration backed Brennan fully, and the Senate moved on. No one put him under oath and grilled him about the specifics. As with the FBI interference in the 2016 election, not one person was held accountable for domestic spying, much less fired.
David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books -- the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”
May 7, 1935 - May 18, 2023
Nora Sellars Garris, 88, of West End, NC passed away Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Pinehurst Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Pinehurst, NC.
She was born May 7, 1935 in Cumberland County, NC to the late Samuel and Bessie Poole Sellars.
Nora was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to many. She worked for many years at Stanley Furniture in West End. She had a green thumb and enjoyed growing flowers in her garden. She was an excellent cook. She loved gospel music, with her favorite song being Amazing Grace.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons; Leon L. Ransom (Paula) and Winford Ransom; grandsons, Leon L. Ransom II (Marie) and Joey Ransom; great-grandchildren Dakota Ransom, Savannah Ransom and Brianna Pavon; brother Hubert Sellars (Carolyn) and sister, Maxine Blackburn.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by eight siblings.
December 20, 1932 - May 14, 2023
Charles “Tommie” Garner, 90, of Vass, NC passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at FirstHeatlh Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.
Tommie was born December 20, 1932 in Robbins, NC to the late Pearlie and Rosa Bullington Garner. He proudly served is country in the US Army. He married Betty McIntosh in 1956 and they were happily married until her passing in 2011. He worked as a Long Distance Truck Driver for 55 years. He thoroughly enjoyed his job and won several awards for his safe driving skills; one of which was an award for driving more than three million miles without an accident. He also enjoyed construction work and operating heavy equipment. His past-times included playing the piano, riding motorcycles and spending every day with his two Pomeranians, Luddy & Leo. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend of many who will be dearly missed.
Left to cherish his memory is his daughter, Pamela Whitesell; granddaughter, Britt Whitesell Biles (Lacey); two greatgrandsons Talbot and Hough Biles; as well as other extended family.
In addition to his parents; wife Betty; he was also preceded in death by two sisters, Zenobia Richardson and Rachel Richardson.
August 6, 1929 - May 15, 2023
Sally Doris Reid Bagdan, 93, of Seven Lakes, was called to eternal rest on Monday, May 15, 2023.
Sally was born August 6, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ to the late Walter and Elvira Radano Reid.
Sally is survived by her niece, Elizabeth Reid-Almeida and nephew, Michael Almeida, both of Flemington, NJ, and many loving cousins and other relatives.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Edward Bagdan and her brother Walter Anthony Reid.
She married Edward Bagdan in 1952 and they enjoyed traveling. On their 5th anniversary they traveled to Europe, Italy, France, Germany and Russia. They lived in Roselle and Warren, NJ, and moved to NC in July of 1986.
December 6, 1969 - May 13, 2023
Christina Elise Miller was born in Queens, NY on December 06, 1969. As she grew up she spent the school year in New York with her mother and her vacations with her grandparents in Morganton, North Carolina. This created in her a love for people of all different cultures and walks of life. During her visits to North Carolina she would listen to her grandmother’s Bible study and eventually started studying on her own. She symbolized her dedication to Jehovah God in baptism on Jan 14, 1990, at the age of 20.
Crisci had a mechanical brain; she loved figuring out how things worked. As a single mother she worked hard to earn her degree in biomedical engineering and then moved her family to the Southern Pines area to work at Moore Regional Hospital.
In 2003 Crisci’s life took a happy but unexpected turn. She met Andrew Miller at the hospital where they worked. On February 28, 2004 they got married; not even a last minute snow storm could take away from their joy.
Despite a 6 year battle with leukemia she and Andrew stayed busy in many facets of volunteer work through their local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses; it was what brought her joy and strength.
Crisci is survived by her devoted husband Andrew, her daughters Carolanne and Meagan, son-in-law Gustavo, mother-in-law Graciela Leal, brother- and sister-in-law Robert and Kerry Miller, and her cousins Linda and Jim Whitener. She was preceded in death by her mother Brenda Baxter and her grandparents Paul and Agnes Johnson.
May 5, 1927 - May 14, 2023
William H. White, 96, of Pinehurst, passed away at FirstHealth Hospice House on Sunday, May 14, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in Freeport, NY on May 5, 1927. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Austine White and his two sons William White (Elizabeth) of Freeport NY and Geoffrey White (Lisa) of Clearwater Beach FL, grandchildren Brian White, Lauren White (Ryan), Jennifer Juers (Connor). He was predeceased by his brother Robert White. He graduated from Freeport High School in 1945, and served in the Army Air Corp before attending Colgate University where he graduated in 1950. He owned an insurance agency before becoming Mayor of Freeport, NY in 1973 where he served for 12 years. He is an honorary Captain of Truck Co. #1 of the Freeport Fire Department.
Over his lifetime he was a civic leader, an Eagle scout and spent summers as a lifeguard at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island, NY. He was also an avid sailor and fisherman. In 1989 he and Austine retired to Pinehurst, NC where he enjoyed golf and serving his community as a Hospice Volunteer well into his 90s.
August 17, 1929 - May 17, 2023
Richard Melvin Johnson, 93 of West End passed on Wednesday, May, 17 2023 at Dahlia Gardens Center for Nursing and Rehab in Aberdeen.
Mr. Johnson was born Aug 17, 1929 in Orange County to the late Levert Rudd Johnson and Selina (Sykes) Johnson.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of over 65years, Iris Josephine Thornton; two sons, Richard Ronald Johnson and wife Linda of Albemarle and Eddie Richard Johnson and fiancé Vicky of West End; two daughters, Elaine Woodruff and husband Dale of West End, and Robin Harrill and husband Dallas of West End; fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Moore and her husband Richard; a daughter-in-law, Brenda Johnson; and several brothers and sisters.
October 27, 1940 - May 14, 2023
Joan Taylor Duggan, 82, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2023, at Sandy Ridge Memory Care following an extended period of dementia. Joan was born to Fred E. and Winifred M. Taylor in Washington DC.
Joan is survived by her husband of 22 years, Gregory Duggan and his family, her son David Bromwell, her sister Nancy Evans, and 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, sons Les Bromwell Jr. and Robert Bromwell, granddaughter Allison Bromwell and sisters Barbara Platt and Linda Goldstein.
Joan will forever be remembered for her kindness, compassion, and unconditional love of family and friends. She lived life to the fullest while pursuing her passions of interior decorating, painting, gardening, cooking, and golf.