North State Journal Vol. 9 Issue 42

N.C. Senate passes two state amendments, congressional term limits resolution

Raleigh

The North Carolina Senate has passed two amendments the state constitution as well as a joint resolution backing congressional term limits. The two constitutional amendments, if passed by the House, would be decided on by the voters in the November 2026 election.

The governor has no veto power over the amendment proposals. Senate Bill 920 contains an amendment to the state constitution capping the state income tax at 5%, and Senate Bill 921 would amend the state constitution by expanding the requirement of photo ID for all voters in the state. In addition to the two amendments, House Joint Resolution 151 was passed by the Senate and calls for a limited convention for proposing a constitutional amendment on congressional term limits and requests cooperation from other state legislatures to engage in the process.

House pushes back override of Helene relief bill veto

Raleigh The bill containing an additional $252 million in Hurricane Helene relief that was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper over provisions unrelated to recovery efforts has made it halfway through the veto override process. The Senate overrode the veto of Senate Bill 382 on Dec. 2 by a vote of 30-19. The House was expected to hold an override vote Wednesday after having moved the vote date twice prior. Cooper issued a statement on X calling the bill a “sham” and a “disgrace,” accusing Republicans of using the relief bill to “mask political power grabs.”

Feds increase

Helene recovery cost reimbursement rate

The standard rate of 75% has been bumped to 90%

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper announced that the federal government will cover 90% of recovery costs for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, an increase from the standard

75% reimbursement rate.

“A complete recovery in Western North Carolina will require an investment of billions of dollars and agreement by the Biden Harris Administration to cover more of the cost is a tremendous boost to our efforts,” Cooper said in a Dec. 7 press release. “We will continue working to get more funding into Western North

See RECOVERY, page A3

Lara Trump leaves RNC, eyes Senate

The Wilmington native and daughter-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump could be considered to represent Florida

By Juliet Linderman and Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

LARA TRUMP will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee as she considers a number of potential options with her father-in-law, President-elect Donald Trump, set to return to the White House.

Among those possibilities is replacing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump tapped as the next secretary of state. If Rubio is confirmed, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will choose who takes the seat through the remainder of Rubio’s term, which expires in 2026.

“It is something I would seriously consider,”

she told The Associated Press in an interview.

“If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.”

See TRUMP, page A3

Veteran acquitted in NYC subway chokehold death

Daniel Penny was charged in the 2023 death of Jordan Neely

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press

NEW YORK — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury cleared Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.

Penny, who had shown little expression during the trial, briefly smiled as the verdict was

read. Both applause and anger erupted in the courtroom, and Neely’s father and two supporters were ushered out after audibly reacting. Another person also left, wailing with tears.

“It really, really hurts,” Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, said outside the courthouse. “I had enough of this. The system is rigged.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the Democrat whose office brought the case, said prosecutors “followed the facts and the evidence from beginning to end” and respect the verdict.

Penny’s attorneys had said he was protecting himself and other subway passengers from a volatile, mentally ill man who was making alarming remarks and gestures.

See VERDICT, page A2

“I had enough of this. The system is rigged.”

Andre Zachery, Jordan Neely’s father

“I would 100% consider it.”

Lara Trump on whether she would be open to succeeding Sen. Marco Rubio

WILFREDO LEE / AP PHOTO

Lara Trump, pictured with husband Eric last month at an NFL game in Miami, said she would consider a U.S. Senate opening in Florida should Marco Rubio get confirmed for a position in the Trump administration.

the word | Joy to the world

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.”

Psalm 96: 11-12

As we approach the third Sunday of Advent, the pink- or rose-colored candle is lit, symbolizing joy. This joy — like peace from last week — is one of the elements of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The joy brought through the Spirit goes beyond the ephemeral happiness brought by the world. The joy of Christmas exceeds the happiness that comes with opening presents or even being a gift-giver and reminds us of the eternal hope found in Christ. This week’s focus on joy leads us to “Joy to the World,” a hymn that has become a cornerstone of Christmas celebrations and a profound declaration of the good news of Christ’s arrival.

“Joy to the World” was written by English hymn-writer Isaac Watts in 1719 and is among the mostpublished hymns in North America. The hymn arrived in America in 1729 when Benjamin Franklin republished Watts’s anthology, “The Psalms of David,” in 1729. It is often considered a Christmas carol, though it was originally composed as a paraphrase of Psalm 98, celebrating the reign of Christ rather than specifically commemorating His birth. The hymn exudes jubilance,

invitation for each person to prepare room in their hearts for Christ, while the latter stanzas reveal its theological depth. The line “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found” directly addresses the redemptive work of Jesus. This reference to Genesis 3:1719, where the curse of sin enters the world, reminds us Christ’s mission was to be our savior. His blessings extend to every corner of creation, breaking the power of sin and death, and restoring humanity’s relationship with God.

The final stanza declares the glories of Christ’s righteousness and the wonders of His love. This love is the ultimate source of joy, giving believers hope and assurance in the promise of eternal life.

calling all creation to join in praising the Lord.

The opening lines, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King,” set the tone for the hymn, emphasizing the universal scope of Christ’s reign. The familiar “and heaven and nature sing” recall Psalm 96:11-12: “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.”

The hymn’s imagery of Heaven and nature singing is a poetic expression of this biblical truth, portraying a world transformed by the presence of the Lord.

The hymn begins as a celebratory response to Christ’s coming and

Musically, the melody most associated with “Joy to the World” was adapted by American hymn-writer Lowell Mason in 1836 from imitations of the great Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. Mason’s arrangement helped solidify the hymn’s popularity and its association with the Christmas season. The triumphant and uplifting nature of the melody perfectly complements Watts’s text.

Though originally intended as a hymn celebrating Christ’s second coming, “Joy to the World” has become a beloved anthem for His first coming as well. Its message of hope, redemption and universal joy encapsulates the essence of Advent and Christmas, reminding us of the profound reasons we celebrate.

“Joy to the World” invites us to embrace the true and lasting joy found in Christ. This joy surpasses the temporary happiness of opening presents or participating in holiday festivities. It is a joy rooted in the knowledge of God’s unchanging love and the assurance of His promises.

Lobbying group Checkmate opens DC office

The case amplified many American fault lines, among them race, politics, crime, urban life, mental illness and homelessness. Neely was black, while Penny is white.

There were sometimes dueling demonstrations outside the courthouse, including Monday, when chants could be heard through the courtroom window ahead of the verdict. High-profile Republican politicians portrayed Penny as a hero, while prominent Democrats attended Neely’s funeral.

Penny, 26, served four years in the Marines and went on to study architecture.

Neely, 30, was a sometime subway performer with a tragic life story: His mother was killed and stuffed in a suitcase when he was a teenager.

As a younger man, Neely did Michael Jackson tributes — complete with moonwalks — on the city’s streets and subways.

But Neely also struggled with mental illness after losing his mother, whose boyfriend was convicted of murdering her.

He subsequently was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, was repeatedly hospitalized, and used the synthetic cannabinoid K2 and realized it negatively affected his thinking and behavior, according to medical records seen at the trial. The drug was

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Checkmate, a leading government relations and public affairs firm based in North Carolina, is expanding its federal practice by opening a new office in Washington, D.C. and adding key personnel.

The firm’s leadership team includes Managing Partner Ches McDowell, COO Nelson Freeman, Director of National Strategy Fritz Vaughan, Government Relations Director John Easterling and Chief of Staff Lauren Henderson.

Former U.S. Ambassador Jim Cain will join as a senior adviser, and Chris LaCivita Jr. will serve as public affairs director.

“I am very excited about the future of Checkmate with the firepower of Chris and Ambas -

sador Cain joining our team and formalizing our position in Washington, D.C.,” McDowell told North State Journal. McDowell was an adviser for Senate Leader Phil Berger (2009-11) and previously served on Kilpatrick Townsend’s government relations team in the firm’s Winston-Salem office. He was named one of NSJ’s top 10 lobbyists for 2024. McDowell’s sibling, Addison McDowell, is headed to Congress in January representing the state’s 6th Congressional District.

Cain was U.S. ambassador to Denmark under President George W. Bush and is a former president and COO of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes and their parent company, Gale Force Holdings.

C ain has held leadership roles in various civic and non-

profit organizations, including the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the American Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America. C ain also served as the Republican national committeeman for North Carolina and held significant roles in the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign.

L aCivita has worked as a marketing and advocacy specialist based in Washington, D.C., and will help lead Checkmate’s new public affairs offerings for federal and multistate clients.

Before joining Checkmate, LaCivita worked at Safari Club International, where he managed marketing and digital advocacy services and also founded “Sportsman’s Culture,” an outdoor marketing company with high-profile clients. He is the son of Chris Lacivita Sr., a longtime political strategist

in his system when he died.

Neely told a doctor in 2017 that being homeless, living in poverty and having to “dig through the garbage” for food made him feel so hopeless that he sometimes thought of killing himself, hospital records show.

About six years later, he boarded a subway under Manhattan on May 1, 2023, hurled his jacket onto the floor, and declared that he was hungry and thirsty and didn’t care if he died or went to jail, witnesses said. Some told 911 operators that he tried to attack people or indicated he’d harm riders, and several testified that they were afraid.

Neely was unarmed, with nothing but a muffin in his pock-

et, and didn’t touch any passengers. One said he made lunging movements that alarmed her enough that she shielded her 5-year-old from him.

Penny came up behind Neely, grabbed his neck, took him to the floor and “put him out,” as the veteran told police at the scene.

Passengers’ video showed that at one point during the roughly six-minute hold, Neely tapped an onlooker’s leg and gestured to him. Later, he briefly got an arm free. But he went still nearly a minute before Penny released him.

“He’s dying,” an unseen bystander said in one video. “Let him go!”

A witness who stepped in to hold down Neely’s arms testified that he told Penny to free the man, though Penny’s lawyers noted the witness’ story changed significantly over time. Penny told detectives shortly after the encounter that Neely threatened to kill people and the chokehold was an attempt to “de-escalate” the situation until police could arrive. The veteran said he held on as long as he did because Neely periodically squirmed. “I wasn’t trying to injure him. I’m just trying to keep him from hurting anyone else. He’s threatening people. That’s what we learn in the Marine Corps,” Penny told the detectives.

who served as a senior adviser and co-campaign manager to President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Lacivita Sr. also became the chief operating officer of the Republican National Committee in March 2024.

According to the Checkmate press release, the firm aims to become a full-service federal firm by 2025, leveraging its extensive experience and relationships in government, law and regulatory agencies. The firm serves more than 80 clients across various sectors, including financial services, health care, transportation and technology.

“I have spent many years working alongside Ches and the team at Checkmate,” Fred Whitfield, Charlotte Hornets’ president and vice chairman (retired) said. “They are the best in the business, great to work with, and do not quit until the job is done. They will build a powerhouse in Washington!”

However, one of Penny’s Marine Corps instructors testified that the veteran misused a chokehold technique he’d been taught.

Prosecutors said Penny reacted too forcefully to someone he perceived as a peril, not a person. Prosecutors also argued that any need to protect passengers quickly ebbed when the train doors opened at the next station, seconds after Penny took action.

Although Penny himself told police he’d used “a choke” or “a chokehold,” one of his lawyers, Steven Raiser, cast it as a Marine-taught chokehold “modified as a simple civilian restraint.” The defense lawyers contended that Penny didn’t consistently apply enough pressure to kill Neely.

Contradicting a city medical examiner’s finding, a pathologist hired by the defense said Neely died not from the chokehold but from the combined effects of K2, schizophrenia, his struggle and restraint, and a blood condition that can lead to fatal complications during exertion.

Penny did not testify, but several of his relatives, friends and fellow Marines did — describing him as an upstanding, patriotic and empathetic man.

The manslaughter charge would have required proving that Penny recklessly caused Neely’s death.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Nativity” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (circa 1665) is a Baroque painting in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

COURTESY IMAGE

Chris LaCivita Jr. will serve as public affairs director for Checkmate’s new Washington, D.C., office.

STEFAN JEREMIAH / AP PHOTO

Daniel Penny, center, arrives at criminal court Monday in New York.

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow

Rebels seized the capital, Damascus, over the weekend

The Associated Press DAMASCUS, Syria — Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule.

Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war.

The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region.

“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” President Joe Biden said, crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now,” but the U.S. would assess their actions.

Russia requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council to discuss Syria, according to Dmitry Polyansky, its deputy ambassador to the U.N., in a post on Telegram.

The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. A spokesman there didn’t immediately respond to questions. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria.

Earlier, Russia said Assad left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully.

TRUMP from page A1

Elected as RNC co-chair in March, Lara Trump — a Wilmington native who attended NC State — was a key player in the Republicans retaking the White House and control of the Senate while maintaining a narrow House majority. What she does next could shape Republican politics, given her elevated political profile and ties to the incoming president.

The idea of placing a Trump family member in the Senate has been lauded in some Republican circles. Among the people pushing for her to replace Rubio is Maye Musk, mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

“The Senate is an old man’s club. We desperately need a

RECOVERY from page A1

Carolina so we can rebuild our communities in stronger and more resilient ways.”

The expanded cost-sharing agreement will provide significant financial relief to North Carolina, covering public assistance, hazard mitigation and other needs assistance.

Public assistance funding will reimburse state and local governments, as well as certain private and nonprofit organizations, for expenses related to debris removal, emergency protective measures, infrastructure repairs and management costs.

Hazard mitigation funding will enable communities to implement strategies to reduce future disaster risks. This may include property elevation in flood-prone areas and voluntary property acquisitions for areas deemed unsuitable for rebuilding.

Other needs assistance will help individuals address disaster-related expenses, including medical care, dental services, funeral costs, personal property replacement, transportation and vehicle repairs.

The leader of Syria’s biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance. His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the U.N.

In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the Umayyad Mosque and described Assad’s fall as “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he said Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.”

The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in remote areas.

Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They urged people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state” and announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m.

smart, young, outspoken woman who will reveal their secrets,” she posted on X. Lara Trump is 42. Elon Musk, who was with Lara Trump on election night at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, responded to his mother’s post: “Lara Trump is genuinely great.”

Led by chairman Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, the RNC invested heavily in recruiting roughly 230,000 volunteers and an army of lawyers for what it called its “election integrity” effort four years after Donald Trump lost his reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden, citing unproven theories about voter fraud. Outside groups such as Turning Point Action and Musk’s America PAC took

An online video purported to show rebels freeing dozens of women at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed. At least one small child was seen among them.

“This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where he is,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.”

Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi appeared on state TV and sought to reassure religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites and all sects.”

“We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did,” he added.

Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air.

Soldiers and police fled their posts and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Families wandered the presidential palace, walking by damaged portraits of Assad. Other parts of

a greater responsibility for advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts.

While Whatley, who previously headed the North Carolina Republican Party, will remain RNC chairman, Lara Trump said she felt she had accomplished her goals in the cochair role.

“With that big win, I kind of feel like my time is up,” she said. “What I intended to do has been done.”

Lara Trump praised Musk’s new endeavor, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a nongovernmental task force headed by Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. They’ve been tapped to fire federal workers, cut programs and slash federal regu-

Syrians celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in the town of Bar Elias, Lebanon, near the border with Syria on Sunday.

the capital were empty and shops were closed.

“It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up,” said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.”

Rebels stood guard at the Justice Ministry, where Judge Khitam Haddad said he and colleagues were protecting documents. Outside, residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad.

The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage.

Syria’s historically pro-government newspaper al-Watan called it “a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements ordered from above.

A statement from the Alawite sect that formed the core of Assad’s base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.”

The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in

lations as part of Trump’s “Save America” agenda for his second term.

“I really don’t think we’ve seen movement like this in our federal government since our country’s founding in many ways,” she said. “And I think if they are successful in what they plan to do, I think it is going to be transformative to America in a great way.”

She said she expects a different presidency this time, beginning with the structure of the administration: While Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner served as White House advisers in his last administration, Lara Trump said she doesn’t expect any family members to take a position in the White House this time

from Helene,” said Ray. “The increased federal cost share provided will allow for state dollars to go further which will expedite many recovery and hazard mitigation projects as we go into 2025.”

The announcement comes amid the formation of a legislative Hurricane Helene recovery committee, concerns about the federal government’s slow response and additional federal funding requests.

On Dec. 6, Vice President-elect JD Vance toured portions of the impacted areas along with North Carolina Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.

Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe.

The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. The road to Damascus from the Lebanese border was littered with military uniforms and charred armored vehicles.

Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, which provided crucial support to Assad, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts.

The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its proxies, already weakened by conflict with Israel. Iran said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned.

Hossein Akbari, Iran’s ambassador to Syria, said it was “effectively impossible” to help the Syrian government after it admitted the insurgents’ military superiority. Speaking on Iranian state media from an undisclosed location, he said Syria’s government decided Saturday night to hand over power peacefully.

“When the army and the people could not resist, it was a good decision to let go to prevent bloodshed and destruction,” Akbari said, adding that some of his colleagues left Syria before sunrise.

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on state TV, said there were concerns about the “possibility of civil war, disintegration of Syria, total collapse and turning Syria into a shelter for terrorists.”

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali has said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office to a hotel.

around with her father-in-law.

“He really wants to get in there and do a good job for the four years, and that’s all he wants to serve,” she said. “Four years, and he’s out.”

Lara Trump also says she expects the Republican Party to be more unified than ever. When she became co-chair in May, the Trump campaign and the RNC merged, with staffers fired and positions restructured. She said the result could spell trouble for GOP lawmakers who do not agree with Trump’s agenda.

“The whole party has totally shifted and totally changed,” she said. “I think people are feeling a little more bold in coming out with their political views.”

“A complete recovery in Western North Carolina will require an investment of billions of dollars and agreement by the Biden Harris Administration to cover more of the cost is a tremendous boost to our efforts.”

Gov. Roy Cooper

North Carolin Emergency Management Director Will Ray emphasized that the increased federal cost share will allow state resources to stretch further, potentially accelerating recovery and mitiga-

tion projects through 2025.

“As we continue into the recovery phase of this disaster, there will be a significant cost to rebuilding western North Carolina communities and to assist survivors with recovering

“My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you,” Vance said. “Certainly when this administration changes hands in the next 45 days, we’re going to do everything that we can to help people rebuild, to get them back on their feet, to bring some commerce back to this area, but, most importantly, to allow people to live in their homes.” Survivors and volunteers in the area claim the Federal Emergen-

cy Management Agency (FEMA) has refused to allow certain housing in the impacted areas, citing flood plain regulations.

“If you don’t grant a waiver, you’re effectively telling people they’ve got to move hundreds of miles away and do it two weeks before Christmas,” said Vance. “It’s ridiculous. It’s atrocious. And we need a government that responds quickly to its citizens.” Vance called on the Biden administration and FEMA to temporarily waive flood plain rules for temporary housing, such as RVs and tiny homes.

HASSAN AMMAR / AP PHOTO

KATHY KMONICEK / AP PHOTO

Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, speaks with a firefighter as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), second right, looks on during a tour of the construction of dormitories at the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department that were previously destroyed by Hurricane Helene last Friday in Fairview.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The

government we need

All of these dramatic spending cuts have to be enacted just to avoid massively increasing our national debt way more than under current law.

THE WHOLE DEBATE over whether the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is needed can be summed up in three words: Yes, it does.

Ask yourself the following questions and then see if the answers below make sense to you as a layman citizen:

“If we were starting the USA all over again today, what would we want our government to do? More importantly, what would we NOT want our government to do?”

No one ever asks those questions. How will we know where we want to go unless someone can define the goal we want to achieve?

The answers will determine which programs are, by definition, not important and can be reduced or eliminated. (The private sector calls this “zero-based budgeting.” Small businessmen and entrepreneurs call it “survival”)

Keep the defense department? Yes, please. The most important part of our government. However, 10-20% of spending could be saved if DOGE can get Republicans to vote to discontinue defunct, redundant services that they, and many Democrats, have refused to do since World War II. More than $1.8 trillion in defense spending alone can be saved over the next decade by adopting the recommendations in the invaluable ― but seldom read ― CBO document “Options for Reducing the Deficit.”

Get a copy and read it over the holidays ― you will be one of only a handful of citizens, including members of Congress and senators, to have ever read the whole thing in history. Social Security should be separated from the unified budget and operated as a standalone retirement/pension fund entity. The “size” of the federal government would

automatically fall 21% in terms of outlays, but 29% of overall tax revenue in the form of Social Security payroll taxes would go with it as well.

At least then, improvements and reforms to Social Security can be made in the vacuum of debate about retirement security without being caught up in the Sturm und Drang of the rest of democratic politics.

Jonathan Felts discusses implementing a nationwide Social Security reform based on the federal Thrift Savings Plan, which could be offered as a way to transition Social Security to a more modern financial vehicle for everyone. Medicare and Medicaid make up the bulk of the rest of the budget except for the $1 trillion in interest paid on our enormous existing debt. Medicaid has already been transformed into a managed care system nationwide, which has provided better care to Medicaid patients at an overall lower cost than under the typical fee-for-service plans. Medicare should come under the managed care network umbrella as well in the next decade to avoid bankruptcy.

Every other program in the federal budget should be put on the president’s impoundment list in a power given to him by the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Act. There’s about $1 trillion in discretionary spending outside of defense, so there could be a series of 10 “reverse appropriations” bills (RABs), let’s call them, introduced at $100 billion apiece and then force Congress ― on a line-by-line budget function basis ― to vote on which rescissions to keep and which presidential recommendations to override.

Every Democrat will vote to cut defense programs recommended by CBO, so President Donald Trump and DOGE would

Finding simplicity and calmness amid the Christmas rush

I looked over at Mom and noticed how she seemed to be enjoying something neither one of us had had the time to do the past couple of years.

This time of the year is undoubtedly the busiest for many people.

In addition to the normal responsibilities we have, there is also the decorating, the shopping, the Christmas card mailing, the wrapping, the cooking and baking, the hosting of festivities (or the traveling to the host’s home), and everything in between.

But there is simplicity and calmness to be found in the midst of it, and I speak from experience when I say this.

Christmas 2022 and Christmas 2023 both were very challenging for my family. In the summer of 2022, we lost my dad after a long battle with kidney disease. A few months later, we found out Mom had colon cancer.

Over the holiday season that year, she had two surgeries and was also getting acquainted with the medical oncologist from who she would be receiving her chemotherapy treatments. Between that and some other unexpected things that happened toward the end of the year, we felt fortunate just to have our sanity intact.

Christmas 2023 was going to be different.

It was mom’s first post-chemo Christmas, and I wanted to make it extra special considering all she went through.

But I got sick with a nasty cold for the first two months of December 2023, and it put us behind on so much. Christmas was nice that year, but having to do everything in two

weeks rather than four (not to mention the battle to get over my cold) left me frazzled and exhausted.

This year has been different. I’ve wanted to dive into all the things as soon as possible and get things done ahead of time, like the shopping, getting the Christmas cards together, putting up decorations — all of it.

In fact, I had the decorations up a week earlier than normal this year because I was so eager to make this a good Christmas that we could enjoy for a while.

Strangely, though we’ve been moving full speed ahead with everything, I have found calmness and simplicity in it, perhaps because I’m trying to do better at appreciating the “little things” about Christmas more than I’ve been able to in the past two Christmases.

For instance, Mom and I spent a good half of the day Saturday getting addresses on our Christmas card lists verified, and cards written and ready to mail out.

It was time-consuming, but as we did it, we had Christmas music playing, a “fake” fireplace burning on YouTube, the tree and mantle lights on, and mugs of hot cocoa nearby.

As we sat in our recliners and worked on the cards, I looked over at Mom and noticed how she seemed to be enjoying something neither one of us had

only need a few Republicans to save about $1 trillion there. Cutting domestic programs will be much more difficult since, to be bluntly honest, a lot of Republicans don’t like to cut spending in any budget function. There would have to be all sorts of odd combinations of coalitions cobbled together on each of the 10 RABs to get any sort of a significant reduction of 10% in all of them.

But if they do, another $1 trillion in wasteful spending could be saved over the next decade.

Before anyone gets too excited, consider this: If all DOGE can accomplish are these spending reductions named above, they will just barely “pay for” the extension of the Trump tax cuts, which have to be voted upon by the end of 2025.

Think about that ― all of these dramatic spending cuts have to be enacted just to avoid massively increasing our national debt way more than under current law.

If Trump and the Republican-led Congress will cancel or reverse all the irresponsible spending by President Joe Biden on student loan forgiveness and green new deals, it will only be then that the level of $1.8 trillion annual deficits starts to move slowly down. Hopefully, by 2034, annual deficits will be “only” $500 billion per year instead of $2 trillion.

The challenge ahead for DOGE is enormous and daunting at the same time. It is time for Republicans to step up and act like Republicans again.

had the time to do the past couple of years. It felt good to get back into the swing of it, to pen notes to people who you may not have been able to connect with for most of the year but who you wanted to know were being well thought of at Christmastime.

No matter what you’re doing this holiday season, whether it’s standing in a long line to buy gifts, baking that third batch of cookies, or spending hours outside getting those exterior lights and inflatable Christmas characters just right, pause and take a breath for a moment and say a word of thanks. Remind yourself that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be appreciated and enjoyed. The love and care that is put into it, in addition to the thought behind it, is all that really matters when all is said and done.

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.

Thrift Savings Plans for all Americans

THROUGHOUT my almost 30-year career, I’ve had the opportunity to serve our government in several roles and capacities — from the White House to Afghanistan to my home state of North Carolina. My unique experiences across campaigns guide my work with clients today.

While I still enjoy the thrill of a political campaign — and look forward to the America First reforms to the current system championed by President-elect Donald Trump and his administration — I don’t think I’m alone when I say I look forward to retirement every day.

I’m fortunate my career has afforded me a stable retirement fund, thanks to having access to a generous retirement savings vehicle through my employers. Like most 20-somethings, I wasn’t thinking about retirement when I started my first job. I was tempted to skip contributing to a retirement account when my direct supervisor looked at me and told me I’d be a fool not to max it out.

Given that job was on Capitol Hill, this workplace retirement fund program was the highly successful Thrift Savings Plan offered to federal workers. The program paid big dividends for my financial security.

Since then, I’ve worked several other jobs, but I know firsthand that not everyone has this luxury.

My dad had a blue-collar job, and he came from the generation where it seemed like everyone had a pension. But when he lost that job, my folks had to scrape together their life savings to start a small, family-owned business.

They worked hard to make ends meet, and they embody the spirit of working-class Americans. They ran a successful business, but they did not have a retirement benefit program with that business.

Today, more than 50 million Americans, many of whom are working in small businesses like my parents, don’t have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. That’s millions of Americans who, despite working tirelessly to provide for themselves and their families, are vulnerable to economic decline and financial uncertainty later in life.

Even more troubling is that less than 1% of the $200 billion in annual tax benefits for retirement savings goes

COLUMN | WILLIAM J. WATKINS JR.

to the bottom 20% of income earners. For households nearing retirement age, the outlook is bleak, with only one in 10 low-income families having any savings at all.

This data is particularly alarming in North Carolina, where, as of 2023, 12.8% of the total population and 10.9% of North Carolinians 65 years or older live below the poverty line.

Luckily, there is a solution in Congress to address this alarming gap in our retirement system. A bipartisan group of senators, including North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, has introduced the Retirement Savings for Americans Act (RSAA).

The bill would create a retirement program modeled after the Thrift Savings Plan for any worker who does not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. As a former TSP beneficiary, I know the positive difference this sort of plan can make.

The legislation would also provide low- and moderateincome earners with a government match of up to 5% of their income. A worker earning $30,000 a year who contributes 5% of their income over 40 years with the government match could retire with up to $600,000 in savings.

You really see the impact of compounding interest when you’re 52 and have been saving for decades; it doesn’t take much to start at 22 to build a significant nest egg over the course of your career.

This bill has received bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Policymakers recognize how important it is to give workers a stake in our free market system, and avenues to both build wealth for retirement and to pass it on to the next generation.

The time for this bill is now. President-elect Trump, his incoming administration and our legislators must work together to protect the working class and the American Dream — which includes a stable, prosperous and welldeserved retirement.

Jonathan Felts is a Republican political consultant who served as senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Rep.-elect Addison McDowell (N.C.-6) and Rep.-elect Brad Knott (N.C.-13)

Approaching national bankruptcy and the wisdom of the Anti-Federalists

THE 2024 ELECTION is in the rearview mirror. Republicans, for the most part, rejoice at the change of leadership. Democrats, on the other hand, mourn as their functionaries pack bags and leave Washington, D.C. The former celebrate as if they have destroyed the ring of Sauron and returned peace to Middle Earth. The latter fear a big orange Orc plundering Gondor and the end of civilization.

Republicans and Democrats should pause from their celebration/lamentation to recognize a fundamental truth: Without structural changes to the Constitution of 1787, no change of personnel in the federal government can pull the American ox cart out of the ditch.

Where should we for look for solutions? The AntiFederalist opponents of the Constitution — written off by modern historians — predicted how sundry constitutional provisions would be abused. The Anti-Federalists were not mere complainers but suggested many amendments and alterations to address the problems they observed.

Unfortunately, the First Congress ignored their suggestions when crafting the batch of amendments we call the Bill of Rights. Americans serious about governmental reform should dust off the Anti-Federalist writings and study the thought of these forgotten Americans.

The U.S. national debt is $36 trillion. That’s almost $107,000 per citizen. In 2023, the federal government took in $4.4 trillion and spent $6.1 trillion. Such a trend is not sustainable. Interest payments on the national debt will soon be the largest federal expenditure — more than defense, Social Security or Medicare.

Anti-Federalists expressed concern about Congress’ power to borrow. A writer using the penname “Brutus” observed that “Congress may mortgage any or all revenues of the union, as a fund to loan money upon, and it is probable in this way, they may borrow of foreign nations, a principal sum, the interest of which will be equal to the annual revenues of the country.”

Brutus envisioned a substantial national debt unlikely ever to be retired.

Hence, he believed it was “unwise and improvident to vest in the general government, a power to borrow at discretion, without any limitation or restriction.” He suggested that the Constitution require a two-thirds congressional majority to permit borrowing. Although Brutus made this suggestion 237 years ago, it is still not too late to listen to him. Such a constitutional amendment would give fiscally responsible senators and representatives a club to beat back our profligate spending.

With our fiscal house in disarray, one might expect that representatives and senators are facing an angry public at the polls. Not so. In 2024, 98.5% of House incumbents won reelection and 90.9% of Senate incumbents prevailed. Incumbency is a tremendous advantage for a candidate.

Rotation in office was critical to our first federal constitution’s (the Articles of Confederation) efforts to limit congressional power. According to historian Gordon Wood, motivating factors for term limits under the Articles were fears of establishing an American ruling aristocracy and the belief that public service should be open to men

BE IN TOUCH

equally talented (or perhaps more so) as the old guard.

The Constitution of 1787 is silent on term limits, and this raised the ire of Anti-Federalists.

“ROTATION, that noble prerogative of liberty, is entirely excluded from the new system of government, and great men may and probably will be continued in office during their lives,” predicted “An Officer of the Late Continental Army.”

Similarly, Mercy Otis Warren, writing as a “Columbian Patriot,” abjured, “There is no provision for a rotation, nor any thing to prevent the perpetuity of office in the same hands for life; which by a little well-timed bribery, will probably be done, to the exclusion of men of the best abilities from their share in the offices of the government.”

Term limits might not be a panacea for the political ailments of the country, but the states should be allowed to impose them on members of their congressional delegations. If the experiment does not produce results, the states can return to the present system of possible perpetual reelection. We should at least give federal rotation in office a chance via a constitutional amendment.

Amateurs can do no worse than our professional ruling class has done.

A significant impediment to reform is that amendments to the Constitution are controlled by Congress. The AntiFederalists objected to congressional control over the amendment procedure. “An Old Whig” observed, “People once possessed of power are always loth to part with it; and we shall never find two-thirds of a Congress voting or proposing any thing which shall derogate from their own authority and importance, or agreeing to give back to the people any part of those privileges which they have once parted with.”

“The Federal Farmer” also expected Congress would “be exceedingly artful and adroit in preventing any measures” limiting national power. If such alterations could be obtained, he predicted they would come from “great exertions and severe struggles on the part of the common people.”

The Anti-Federalists would appreciate the following: “An amendment proposed by one or more of the several states shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof.” Such an amendment procedure would give the states and the people a fighting chance to defend themselves against a consolidated national government that continuously operates in an extra-constitutional manner.

Republicans can cheer the election of Donald Trump and Democrats can plan for 2028. But absent from addressing structural problems in our system, we face national bankruptcy gifted to us by a perpetual ruling class.

It is time to give the Anti-Federalists a fair hearing.

William J. Watkins Jr. is a research fellow at the Independent Institute and author of the book “Crossroads for Liberty: Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of America’s First Constitution.”

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

The producers aren’t giving up — they’re here to fix America

IN “ATLAS SHRUGGED,” Ayn Rand imagines a world where society’s most innovative thinkers — the “producers” — are worn down by government interference, crushed under regulations and ultimately driven to walk away.

These producers — figures like Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden and Ellis Wyatt — are not simply businessmen. They are visionaries and builders who dedicate years of tireless work to shaping industries that benefit all of society.

Rand illustrates the tremendous effort and sacrifice required to “produce” something from nothing. This is no clearer than when Ellis Wyatt, an oil magnate who revolutionized energy production, sets his fields ablaze rather than let his creation be misused by those who don’t understand its value.

For Rand, this exit from society is the logical solution to a world that stifles freedom, drive and creativity.

But while her characters retreat, today’s American producers are doing the opposite: They’re fighting to reform the system, not abandon it.

The incoming Trump administration has been likened to the popular superhero team The Avengers, but they are more comparable to the characters in Rand’s novel. These figures lack superhuman abilities but propel the world forward with their vision and determination. The difference is in how they approach the socalled “takers” of the world.

Perhaps “Atlas Shrugged” ends in resignation because Rand, though perceptive, wasn’t American. Her Russian background shaped her views on the dangers of government overreach, but she missed a crucial element of the American spirit: resilience.

America was built on the idea of rebirth and the refusal to surrender, an idea embodied in every wave of revolution, reform and reinvestment throughout our history. From the Revolution to the Civil Rights movement, Americans have refused to give up on a system, even when flawed.

Today, this uniquely American spirit is alive in individuals like Elon Musk, RFK Jr., and President-elect Donald Trump, who see the same problems with our government that Rand’s characters did — but instead of fleeing, they are committed to fixing them. Elon Musk, in particular, embodies a modern John Galt: an inventor and entrepreneur who has achieved the unimaginable across industries, from electric cars to space travel. But Musk’s vision fundamentally differs from Galt’s. In fact, Musk, Trump and others mirror our founding fathers, who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to create a government deriving its powers from the consent of the governed.

Today’s leaders are pledging their lives to save themselves and the country. Rand’s characters recognized the truths that drive society forward but chose not to preserve them. Modern-day leaders like Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. are taking the opposite approach: fighting to restore what’s been lost.

And while it’s easy to name today’s wellknown “producers,” every American who creates value for others deserves the title. It’s not just the Elon Musks or CEOs of large companies who drive us forward, but also small business owners, freelancers and employees who contribute their talents to the economy. Each of us is negatively affected by an overbloated and uncontrolled bureaucracy that too often stifles growth rather than supports it. An oppressive maze of regulations and compliance requirements takes its toll, and the cost is felt not only by economic titans but by society as a whole.

This is why the incoming administration’s focus on reform is so essential. Trump’s cabinet appointments signal a return to a pro-business, pro-innovation approach that aims to reduce government’s footprint, creating conditions that allow producers to thrive within society, not apart from it. These appointees understand what it takes to drive growth, create opportunity, and restore America to a place where entrepreneurs and everyday Americans no longer fear government interference holding them back.

In Rand’s novel, John Galt chooses to walk away rather than fight the system. But today’s real American producers have chosen a different path.

They aren’t leaving for a secluded utopia; they’re staying to battle for reform in the very institutions that threaten them. They’re doing this because there is no other choice. Either they fight to restore the foundations that build our nation, or they suffocate under the weight of the government.

As Trump has said: “We will not bend, we will not break, we will not yield. We will never give in, we will never give up, and we will never back down. We will never ever surrender because we are Americans.”

At the end of the day, “Atlas Shrugged” offers a vision of retreat. But America’s producers aren’t choosing to shrug. They’re choosing to save the country.

Aimee Mulligan is a political consultant and managing director of CardinalGPS, a fullservice political services firm.

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

EAST

FTC settles with security scanner company contracted with Guilford County Schools

Guilford County

The Federal Trade Commission has announced a proposed settlement with Evolv Technolog y regarding past marketing claims. Evolv, which formerly supplied securit y scanners to Guilford Count y Schools must now notif y certain K-12 school customers with contracts from April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, that they may opt to cance their agreements. The resolution said Evolv s barred from making false claims about its products’ abilit y to detect weapons or harmless personal items accurac y in detecting weapons and false alarm rates compared to traditiona l metal detectors and screening speed labor cost savings, testing results, and any other performance aspects including the use of A I or algorithms Evolv said t disagrees with the FTC’s allegations and admits no wrongdoing It said it chose to settle the matter to focus on its mission of enhancing public safety. The company said the FTC did not products focusing instead on past marketing language.

Multiple drive-by shootings alarm community Bertie County

is investigating a string of drive-by shootings reported in Merr y Hill over the past few days Deputies told local outlets that the incidents appear to have received information about people who could be responsible and they’re following up on leads Extra patrol deputies are in the area and urge people to stay vigilant and repor t any

Southern Pines man arrested for selling drugs from his barbershop Moore County A Souther n Pines felon is facing gun and felony drug charges Friday after police said he wa s selling drugs from a tow n barbershop Chavez Depaul Fox 43 of Souther n Pines was arrested after cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone were found during searches by police and the Moore

local boy with

a Souther n Pines Police Department news release. A “narcotic s investigation conducted by both agencies” led to the search warrants, police said Searches took place at Fox Cuts Barber Shop at 214 W. Morganton Road in Southern Pines and at a home at 1650 W. Massachusetts Ave n Souther n Pines, from the barbershop said Charles E. Campbell II, Souther n Pines deputy police chief. During the searches, 991. 5 grams (2.1 pounds) of marijuana, two dosage units of oxycodone and two guns, police said.

& WORLD

Notre Dame hosts first Mass since 2019 fire

President-elect

Donald Trump attended the French cathedral’s reopening

By Thomas Adamson and Sylvie Corbet

The Associated Press

PARIS — Notre Dame Cathedral, its air thick with the smell of incense, hosted its first Mass on Sunday since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcended religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience.

Beneath the glow of traditional chandeliers and modern spotlights, which illuminated its intricately carved stonework, the cathedral emerged reborn, its grandeur restored after five years of reconstruction.

For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city’s spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage’s most famous landmarks.

The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Lau-

Clergymen leave Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after Sunday’s mass, the first since the catastrophic 2019 fire.

South Korea imposes travel ban on president over martial law NATION

rent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar.

The liturgy was attended by 2,500 people, including French President Emmanuel Macron — enjoying a brief respite from France’s political tumult and economic troubles — clergy, dignitaries and a few lucky members of the general public who stood in long lines to enter. Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part, along with one priest from each of the 113 parishes in the Paris diocese, accompanied by worshippers from these communities.

Notre Dame’s journey from ruin to resurrection was defined by extraordinary craftsmanship, nearly $1 billion in global donations and a collective, unyielding determination to rebuild.

Later Sunday, the cathedral opened its doors to members of the public who secured reservations last week for the first fully public Mass. The Associated Press learned that tickets for this service were

claimed within 25 minutes, underscoring Notre Dame’s enduring appeal.

Public viewing areas along the Seine on Sunday morning drew hundreds of people who wished to witness the historic moment from afar, although their numbers were likely subdued by rainy and miserably cold weather conditions.

Retired engineer Claude Lancrenon, watching from a viewing area, expressed both awe and disappointment.

“There is so much security,” he said, gesturing toward the barriers. “Yesterday, that seemed appropriate. But today, I had hoped it would be more open so we could approach the cathedral. I still hope we’ll be able to get closer.”

Tight security — akin to that of the Paris Olympic Games — reflected the importance of the occasion, ensuring the safety of dignitaries and the public alike.

Nathalie Martino, a retired event organizer visiting Paris, recalled the anguish of watching the cathedral burn.

“I cried so much that day,” she said. “And now, here I am. I

had to come. It was something I needed to do.”

Sunday’s Masses follow Saturday evening’s ceremonies in which Ulrich symbolically reopened the cathedral’s massive wooden doors by striking them three times with a crosier crafted from charred beams salvaged from the fire. As the doors swung open, choirs filled the air with song and the cathedral’s great organ — silent since the fire — resounded with majestic melodies.

Inside, the restoration reveals a cathedral transformed with now-gleaming limestone walls cleaned of centuries of grime. The restored stainedglass windows project dazzling patterns of color across the nave.

“No one alive has seen the cathedral like this,” said the Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, Notre Dame’s rector. “It is more than restored — it is reborn.”

The consecration of the new altar was a pivotal moment in Notre Dame’s return to full liturgical life.

The altar houses relics of five saints tied to Paris, including St. Catherine Labouré and St. Charles de Foucauld, continuing a centuries-old tradition of embedding sacred artifacts at the heart of worship spaces. The consecration, involving holy water, chrism oil, incense and prayer, transforms the altar into a sacred centerpiece of the cathedral.

tained in the martial law case.

The Defense Ministry separately suspended three top military commanders last week over their alleged involvement in imposing martial law. They were among those facing the opposition-raised rebellion allegations.

Descendant demands Japanese reparations for 1942 invasion

Anchorage, Alaska

The great-granddaughter of the last Alaska Native chief of a remote island in the Bering Sea believes Japan should pay more restitution for what its soldiers did to the residents of Attu Island during World War II. Japan invaded the most westerly of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and took 41 residents as prisoners of war. During internment in Japan, 22 Attu residents died from starvation and other ailments, including Helana Pagano’s great-grandfather. Survivors were offered about $12,000 compensation at the time. But Pagano said Japan never compensated the families for the deaths of prisoners or the loss of land and damage to Attuan culture. Japanese officials say a 1951 treaty settled all compensation claims.

6 Guatemalans charged in death of 50 migrants

Austin, Texas

Six Guatemalans were arrested in Guatemala and Texas Monday on human smuggling charges linked to a 2021 semitrailer truck crash in Mexico that killed more than 50 migrants, authorities said. The truck had been packed with at least 160 migrants, many of them Guatemalans, when it crashed into a support for a pedestrian bridge in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of the southern state of Chiapas. The arrests were announced on the third anniversary of the accident.

China deploys ships, planes around Taiwan

Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration last week threw the nation into turmoil

By Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung

The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s Justice Ministry on Monday imposed an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol as authorities investigate allegations of rebellion and other charges in connection with his shortlived declaration of martial law last week.

Yoon’s martial law decree on Dec. 3, which brought special forces troops onto Seoul’s streets, plunged South Korea into political turmoil and caused worry among its key diplomatic partners and neighbors. On Saturday, Yoon avoided an opposition-led bid to impeach him, with most governing party lawmakers boycotting a parliamentary vote.

But opposition parties vowed to submit a new impeachment motion against him this week.

Bae Sang-up, a Justice Ministry official, told a parliamentary hearing that it banned Yoon from leaving the country following requests by police, prosecutors and an anti-corruption agency as they expand their investigations into the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s power grab.

LEE JIN-MAN / AP PHOTO

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans as they hold signs carrying the names of the ruling party’s lawmakers who didn’t vote at the impeachment motion last week.

On Monday, a senior National Police Agency officer told local reporters in a background briefing that police can also detain Yoon if conditions are met. The contents of the briefing were shared with The Associated Press. While a sitting South Korean president has immunity from prosecution while in office, that doesn’t extend to allegations of rebellion or treason. This means that Yoon can be questioned and detained by police over his martial law decree, but many observers doubt that police will forcefully detain him because of the potential for clashes with his presidential security service. They also say

the security service won’t likely permit searches of Yoon’s office, citing a law that prohibits searches on sites with state secrets without approval from those in charge of those areas.

The main opposition Democratic Party called Yoon’s martial law imposition “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or a coup.” It has filed complaints with police against at least nine people, including Yoon and his former defense minister, over the rebellion allegations.

South Korean prosecutors on Sunday detained former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who allegedly recommended that Yoon declare martial law. He became the first person de -

On Saturday, Yoon issued an apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration. He said that he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.”

Since taking office in 2022 for a single five-year term, Yoon, a conservative, has been on a near-constant collision course with his liberal rivals who control parliament. The liberals have introduced motions seeking to impeach some of his top officials and launched a fierce political offensive against Yoon over a spate of scandals involving him and his wife.

In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.”

Yoon’s martial law decree lasted only six hours because the National Assembly voted it down, forcing Yoon’s Cabinet to lift it before daybreak on Wednesday. Some members of Yoon’s governing People Power Party, or PPP, cast ballots against Yoon’s decree, but the party later decided to oppose his impeachment.

During a briefing on Monday, the Defense Ministry said that Yoon maintains control of the military, a power that the constitution explicitly reserves for the president.

Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it had detected a dozen Chinese naval ships and 47 military planes in the past 24 hours but no live-fire activity as in previous drills. Taiwan’s military has been bracing for possible exercises by China in response to a recent overseas trip by Taiwan’s president that included Hawaii and Guam, an American territory. Without any Chinese announcement, Taiwan officials are calling it training, said Taiwanese Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng, while noting that training can become drills, and drills can become war.

Morocco produces Africa’s first mpox tests

Tamesna, Morocco In a first for Africa, a Moroccan company is filling orders for mpox tests as an outbreak continues. Moroccan startup Moldiag began developing mpox tests after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global emergency in August. Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 59,000 mpox cases and 1,164 deaths in 20 countries this year. The WHO has also announced a plan to provide mpox tests, vaccines and treatments to the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest countries after facing criticism for moving too slowly on vaccines.

CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / AP PHOTO

catastrophe

questions about when normal

shelter-in-place or stay-at-home

majority of Americans “new normal.” end of this month.

China lied about the origin of the tried to tell the world there were only worldwide panic, economic collapse and being thrown out of work.

taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in added Federal Reserve backup liquidity to the the U.S. dollar were not the reserve to fund any of these emergency fear of rampant in ation and currency aberrant ways and decisions through Diplomacy has obviously not worked world of 21st century health, hygiene communist regimes never take the blame remorse, because that is not what They take advantage of every weakness pushing until they win or the event happens such as the Chernobyl believe that event, not the Star Wars to the dissolution of the Soviet Union Chernobyl. already talking about the possibility debt we owe them as one way to get they have caused the US. Don’t hold your “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected accountable in tangible nancial ways for expected to operate as responsible citizens of nation.

Cooper stated during don’t know yet” if the asked as to the vague ones like “we of this state who undetermined thousands of cases asked and then had questions about get asked, there is people to treat those can start getting back or are people who sick. levels become a bad society were supposed course, is my family. I’m worried I will. After the 2009 pandemic, all of this brings up prefer not to repeat. most everyone has

we begin to get back to normal

The 3 big questions

The comfort

How China will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”

ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this catastrophe one way or another.

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

WALTER E. WILLIAMS

They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept without question what the government tells us about when it’s safe to begin the process of returning back to normalcy.

Fixing college corruption

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, the more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about when they can get back to providing for their families, will demand answers.

AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with corruption. The nancial squeeze resulting from COVID-19 o ers opportunities for a bit of remediation. Let’s rst examine what might be the root of academic corruption, suggested by the title of a recent study, “Academic Grievance Studies and the Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was done by Areo, an opinion and analysis digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by John Milton in defense of free speech.

Sponsored by

business & economy

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

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a

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

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

Fortnite players

This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new normal.”

“tricked” into unwanted purchases starting to get refunds

Not one little bit.

Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say that something has gone drastically wrong in academia, especially within certain elds within the humanities. They call these elds “grievance studies,” where scholarship is not so much based upon nding truth but upon attending to social grievances. Grievance scholars bully students, administrators and other departments into adhering to their worldview. The worldview they promote is neither scienti c nor rigorous. Grievance studies consist of disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, gender studies, queer studies, sexuality and critical race studies.

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

NEW YORK — U.S.

consumers who were “tricked” into purchases they didn’t want from Fortnite maker Epic Games are now starting to receive refund checks, the Federal Trade Commission said this week.

Back in 2022, Epic agreed to pay a total of $520 million to settle complaints revolving around children’s privacy and payment methods on its popular Fortnite game. The FTC alleged the video game giant used deceptive online design tactics to trick Fortnite players, including children, into making unintended purchases “based on the press of a single button.”

In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, Lindsay and Boghossian started submitting bogus academic papers to academic journals in cultural, queer, race, gender, fat and sexuality studies to determine if they would pass peer review and be accepted for publication. Acceptance of dubious research that journal editors found sympathetic to their intersectional or postmodern leftist vision of the world would prove the problem of low academic standards.

the seriousness of the virus and the need uneasy with how people who simply ask when things can start getting back to circles with contempt. as a society simply must accept without tells us about when it’s safe to begin the normalcy. us, and we have the right to ask those stay-at-home orders are in place all over the them get in states, such as Michigan, feeling isolated and/or anxious about providing for their families, will demand levels should be as forthcoming as they and again, not vague answers, but answer statements believability. what we can to keep our families, safe. But we should also still continue because while reasonable stay-at-home they should also have an expiration date. and it is not normal. Not in any way, should remain vigilant and stay safe, at comfortable with this so-called “new

Consumers could be charged while doing something as simple as attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, for example, or by pressing a nearby button when trying to preview an item, the agency said. The FTC also accused Epic of blocking some users who disputed the charges from accessing the content they purchased.

Beyond a $275 million fine related to collecting personal information on players under the age of 13, the settlement included $245 million in customer refunds. Now, the first batch of those refunds are being sent out.

Several of the fake research papers were accepted for publication. The Fat Studies journal published a hoax paper that argued the term bodybuilding was exclusionary and should be replaced with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive politicized performance.” One reviewer said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article and believe it has an important contribution to make to the eld and this journal.”

written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

On Monday, the FTC announced it was sending over 629,00 payments to eligible customers who submitted claims. About half of those refunds are PayPal payments, which should be redeemed within 30 days, and the rest are checks, which should be cashed within 90 days.

The average refund is about $114, the FTC noted. This first round of payments amounts to a total of more than $72 million, according to the agency — leaving about $173 million left to be distributed.

Smithfield acquired Wallace-based Murphy Family Farms in 2000

“Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity Feminism as an Intersectional Reply to Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was accepted for publication by A lia, a feminist journal for social workers. The paper consisted in part of a rewritten passage from Mein Kampf. Two other hoax papers were published, including “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape paper eventually forced Boghossian, Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer had gured out what they were doing.

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

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

Impacted consumers can still apply for a refund online. People who are eligible for these payouts include Fortnite players who were charged in‑game currency for items they didn’t want or saw their account locked after complaining to a credit card company about wrongful charges between January 2017 and September 2022 — as well as parents whose child made charges on their credit cards without their knowledge from January 2018 through November 2018.

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month.

Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during a recent coronavirus press brie ng that “we just don’t know yet” if state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May.

We need transparency and honesty from our

There is 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 originated in Wuhan Province probably from the completely unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came out of a

Lenten and Easter seasons provide a message of

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

THIS WEEK, according to members and state and local governments, Americans the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak. muted — after all, trends can easily reverse have abided by recommendations and orders. to stay at home; they’ve practiced social they’ve donned masks.

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed to do, last I checked.

AFTER WITHSTANDING

a decline in hog prices which led to loss of revenue for parent company WH Group, Virginia-based Smithfield has significantly reduced its hand in the “hog farming” category to focus on packaged meat.

Some papers accepted for publication in academic journals advocated training men like dogs and punishing white male college students for historical slavery by asking them to sit in silence on the oor in chains during class and to be expected to learn from the discomfort. Other papers celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life choice and advocated treating privately conducted masturbation as a form of sexual violence against women. Typically, academic journal editors send submitted papers out to referees for review. In recommending acceptance for publication, many reviewers gave these papers glowing praise.

Last year, it had plans to terminate contracts with farm operations in Missouri, Utah, Arizona, California and the East Coast, including one North Carolina plant, along with Europe-

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often they appeared in our press over the years. He found huge increases in the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.”

All of this is being taught to college students, many of whom become primary and secondary school teachers who then indoctrinate our young people.

You can learn more about applying for a refund on the FTC’s website. The deadline for submitting a claim is Jan. 10, 2025. At the time the settlement was announced in December 2022, Epic said it accepted the agreement because it wanted “to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players.” The Cary‑based company added that it was already rolling out changes “to ensure our ecosystem meets the expectations of our players and regulators, which we hope will be a helpful guide for others in our industry.”

The unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%

By Paul Wiseman and Anne D’Innocenzio The Associated Press

I doubt whether the coronaviruscaused nancial crunch will give college and university administrators, who are a crossbreed between a parrot and jelly sh, the guts and backbone to restore academic respectability. Far too often, they get much of their political support from campus grievance people who are members of the faculty and diversity and multicultural administrative o ces.

The best hope lies with boards of trustees, though many serve as yes-men for the university president. I think that a good start would be to nd 1950s or 1960s catalogs. Look at the course o erings at a time when college graduates knew how to read, write and compute, and make them today’s curricula. Another helpful tool would be to give careful consideration to eliminating all classes/majors/minors containing the word “studies,” such as women, Asian, black or queer studies. I’d bet that by restoring the traditional academic mission to colleges, they would put a serious dent into the COVID-19 budget shortfall.

If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the justi cation for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like must do this out of an abundance of caution.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls.

Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000.

Last Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. Hourly wages rose 0.4% from October to November and 4% from a year earlier — both solid figures and slightly higher than forecasters had expected.

The November employment report provided the latest evi-

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

The result: a reduction in expected hospitalization According to the University of Washington Metrics and Evaluation model most oft Trump administration, the expected need peak outbreak was revised down by over ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the number

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

It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of

To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about

The cavalier manner virus, covered up its spread 3,341 related deaths has millions of Americans needlessly The crisis has cost the debt plus trillions more markets and nancial outlets. currency, we would not measures without immediate depreciation. China has to pay for their economic and nancial to bring China into the and fair trade. Totalitarian or express sincere regret totalitarian governments they nd in adversaries adversaries push back. That is, unless an exogenous meltdown in 1986. Some program of Reagan, led

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

First, what is the true coronavirus fatality important because it determines whether be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue more liberalized society that presumes wide

Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick.

If you are re ect on this God’s example this di cult con dent we In this same neighbors In Concord, money to buy health care

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

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed

, April 15,

My rst concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After su ering from the H1N1 virus (swine u) during the 2009 pandemic, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat. But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone

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

Hill, senio

Even more importantly, we have no clue actually have coronavirus. Some scientists of identi ed cases could be an order of magnitude number of people who have had coronavirus

It’s okay to ask questions about when we begin to get back to normal

The comfort and hope

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”

“THIS IS THE DAY the lord has made, in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during a recent coronavirus press brie ng that “we just don’t know yet” if the state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May.

fallen into place. I understand to take precautions, but questions about the data, normal are treated in some

I know that during this challenging time working from home or losing a job, it may be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. However, and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded have to be thankful and hopeful for, even pandemic.

If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the justi cation for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we must do this out of an abundance of caution.”

an operations. The pork titan is offloading 150,000 hogs to Wallace-based Murphy Family Ventures in an agreement that will reestablish the company’s independence as a producer.

independence

Smithfield acquired Murphy Family Farms in 2000 and merged it with Brown’s of Carolina Inc. as it worked to create a colossal livestock production business.

WH Group, a publicly traded company based in Hong Kong, acquired Smithfield in 2013 in a $4.7 billion deal that was known as the “largest Chinese takeover of a U.S. company,” drawing widespread criticism from lawmakers on Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural production.

It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases are reliable.

vide feed and transportation services. “It allows Smithfield to focus on our growth strategy, which is fueled by packaged meats, while ensuring a consistent supply of hogs,” he said.

Given the volatility of production, WH Group is trying to spin off Smithfield and list it publicly as its own company on the stock market.

For me, my faith is an important part making. As I celebrated Easter with my Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our Lord a iction, so that we may be able to comfort a iction, with the comfort which we ourselves God.”

To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about the data. State Republican leaders have, too.

Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick.

“The agreement will reestablish the Murphy family farming business as one of the largest independent pork producers in the United States,” said Ray Atkins, senior director external communications at Smithfield. Murphy will have the capacity for 3.2 million hogs annually for Smithfield, which will pro-

Lenten and Easter seasons provide a message of hope that we will once again enjoy sporting events, concerts, family gatherings, church services and many more after our own temporary sacri ces are over.

“There are important issues to be addressed between the U.S. and China,” Atkins said. “Ownership of U.S. agricultural land is not one of them.” Since the WH Group acquisition, “Smithfield’s economic and other contributions to the U.S. and the communities where our employees live, and work have increased substantially.”

They’re treated as though question what the government process of returning back No. The government questions. And the longer country, and the stricter the more people, sitting when they can get back answers. Leaders at the local and can be with those answers with details that give their

We should all continue ourselves, and our communities to ask questions about the measures are understandable, This is all new to Americans, shape, or form. So while the same time we shouldn’t normal.”

If you are celebrating the Easter season, re ect on this message and be comforted, God’s example and comfort all those in this di cult time. Through faith and by con dent we will emerge out of this pandemic In this same spirit, I continue to be inspired neighbors helping neighbors. In Concord, a high school senior named money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic health care workers out of his own home.

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed to do, last I checked.

Smithfield Foods was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936, and employs approximately 35,000 people in the U.S. and contracts with more than 1,900 American farmers.

My rst concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After su ering from the H1N1 virus (swine u) during the 2009 pandemic, I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up way too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat.

“In its letter to shareholders, WH Group stated that the proposed spin-off would give investors more visibility into Smithfield’s fair market value, enable Smithfield to independently access equity capital markets and provide the company with more flexibility in future merger and acquisition transactions,” Atkins said.

Not one little bit.

“Smithfield will remain in the hog farming business. “While this agreement reduces the volume of Smithfield hog production, we will still be the largest hog production company in the U.S,” Atkins said.

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

added 227K jobs in Nov., bouncing back from Oct. slowdown

dence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-23 hiring boom when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. The job market’s gradual slowdown is, in part, a result of the high interest rates the Federal Reserve engineered in its drive to tame inflation.

The Fed jacked up interest rates 11 times in 2022 and 2023. Defying predictions, the economy kept growing despite

much higher borrowing rates for consumers and businesses. But since early this year, the job market has been slowing. Thomas Simons, U.S. economist at Jefferies, wrote in a commentary that the recovery from October’s strikes and hurricanes likely boosted last month’s payrolls by 60,000, suggesting that the job market is strong enough to absorb most job seekers but not enough to raise worries about inflation.

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

The healthy gain of 227,000 payroll jobs in November was derived from a Labor Department survey of employers. A separate survey of households, which determines the unemployment rate, looked weaker: The ranks of the unemployed rose by 161,000. And the number of Americans who said they either had a job or were looking for one fell for a second straight month.

Economists also noted that the November job gains were narrow: Just three categories of employers — health care and social assistance; leisure and hospitality; and government — accounted for 70% of the added jobs. The 22,000 jobs that factories gained in November were boosted by the end of strikes at Boeing and elsewhere that restored many workers to their employers’ payrolls. Retailers, by contrast, shed 28,000 jobs.

“I don’t think we should be misled by the solid number of 227,000,’’ said Julia Pollak, chief economist at the employment firm ZipRecruiter.

Pollak noted that averaging the October and November job gains amounts to a modest 132,000 per month.

“This report offers very little evidence of a labor market rebound,’’ she said. Still, Americans as a whole have been enjoying unusual job security. This week, the government reported that layoffs

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

Virginia-based Smithfield will sell 150,000 hogs in a deal with Murphy Family Ventures in Wallace.

SEAN RAYFORD / AP PHOTO

According to the November employment report, the U.S. job market remains durable despite losing significant momentum.

Suspect in UnitedHealthcare’s CEO killing faces weapons, forgery, other charges

Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione

The Associated Press

ALTOONA, Pa. — Police arrested a suspect Monday in the brazen Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after a quick-thinking McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania alerted authorities to a customer who was found with a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush.

The chance sighting at the restaurant led to a dramatic break in a challenging but fast-moving investigation that had captivated the public in the five days since the shooting that shook the health insurance industry.

The suspect, identified by police as 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in last Wednesday’s shooting of Brian Thompson, as well as writings suggesting anger with corporate America, police said. He was charged with weapons, forgery and other charges.

Mangione was sitting at a table in the rear of the McDonald’s wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop. When an officer asked if he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake.”

In his backpack, police found a black, 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed black si-

Caribou graze in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Critics say President Joe Biden’s approval of an oil lease sale could endanger the area’s protected wildlife.

lencer, according to the documents. The pistol had a metal slide and plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel. He was taken into custody at about 9:15 a.m., Pennsylvania police said.

“He is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen, targeted murder of Brian Thompson,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Mangione had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. NYPD Chief of Detectives

Joseph Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and a last known address in Honolulu.

Mangione was arraigned and ordered held without bail during a brief court hearing in Pennsylvania. Asked if he needed a public defender, he asked if he could “answer that at a future date.” He eventually will be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, Kenny said.

Police found a three-page document with writings suggesting that Mangione had “ill will toward corporate Ameri-

ca,” Kenny said. The handwritten document “speaks to both his motivation and mindset,” Tisch said.

Mangione had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace.

“As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun that may have been made on a 3D printer, capable of firing a 9 mm round,” Kenny said.

Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, Tisch said. Officers found a suppressor, “both consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said.

NYPD detectives and staff from the Manhattan district attorney’s office traveled to Altoona to interview Mangione, Kenny said.

Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a hotel where UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, was holding its annual investor conference, police said.

UnitedHealth Group thanked law enforcement in a statement Monday. “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” a company spokesperson said.

The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching the executive from behind and opening fire, police said. He used a 9 mm pistol that police said resembled guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise.

Mangione attended an elite Baltimore prep school, graduating as valedictorian in 2016, according to the school’s website. He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a school spokesman said.

Investigators earlier suggested the gunman may have been a disgruntled employee or client of the insurer. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics.

On Friday, police said the killer had left the city soon after the shooting. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, investigators say the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle and emerged from the park without his backpack.

He then walked a couple of blocks and got into a taxi, arriving at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is near the northern tip of Manhattan and offers commuter service to New Jersey and bus routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington.

Biden to approve Alaska oil lease sale, keeping door open to drilling in Arctic refuge

Environmentalists have vowed to go to court to prevent the action

By Becky Bohrer The Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Biden administration has approved plans for a sale of oil and gas leases in Alaska that leaves open the door for drilling in a portion of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The sale will be held Jan. 9, less than two weeks before President Joe Biden leaves office. It will include a fraction of the land total that was available for bidding roughly four years ago in a sale held during the Trump administration.

President-elect Donald Trump pledged during his latest run for the White House to expand oil drilling in the U.S., and he’s pointed to the passage of a 2017 law that enabled Monday’s announcement as a highlight

when it comes to Alaska policy. The 2017 law mandated two lease sales by late 2024, but major oil companies sat out the first sale. The Biden administration reviewed the leasing program, and seven leases from the first sale ultimately were canceled.

Does this mean there will be drilling in the refuge?

It’s unclear. A lease sale is one step in a long process that can often become mired in litigation. There are ongoing lawsuits surrounding the first lease sale, and environmentalists have vowed to go to court to keep drilling out of the refuge.

There are other examples: The Biden administration’s approval of the large Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, west of the refuge, has yet to be settled in the courts, nearly two years after it got the green light to proceed.

The company behind Willow, ConocoPhillips Alaska, has been

continuing work on the project in the meantime.

Once any leases are issued for the refuge, potential exploration or development plans would still have to undergo environmental review, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has said.

What does a sale involve?

The law called for lease sales in the refuge’s coastal plain, a roughly 1.5-million-acre swath of the vast, wild refuge that borders the Beaufort Sea. The coastal plain accounts for a small part of the refuge, which boasts an array of landscapes and provides habitat for wildlife, including polar bears, caribou, musk ox and birds. Debate over whether to open the coastal plain to drilling has gone on for decades. Indigenous Gwich’in leaders consider the coastal plain sacred, and caribou the Gwich’in rely on calve there. Meanwhile, leaders of the Iñupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is with-

in the refuge, have supported drilling.

The Bureau of Land Management said the area that would be available for lease next month calls for the smallest footprint of potential surface disturbance and avoids key polar bear denning and caribou calving areas. It would involve 400,000 acres, the minimum required by the 2017 law, the agency said. That compares to about 1.1 million acres included in the first sale.

Bids in the first sale covered nearly 553,000, the agency said at the time. Two of the leases were later given up by the small companies that held them amid legal wrangling and uncertainty over the drilling program. Seven leases acquired by a state corporation were canceled by the Biden administration. Litigation surrounding the lease cancellation is pending.

What happens next?

Erik Grafe, an attorney with

Earthjustice involved in litigation surrounding the refuge, said his organization would go to court “as often as necessary” to protect the refuge from oil drilling.

Many environmentalists and climate scientists have pushed for a phase-out of fossil fuels to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

While the Bureau of Land Management has said the coastal plain could contain 4.25 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil, there is limited information about the amount and quality of oil there.

Drilling supporters, including some Alaska political leaders, have expressed frustration with the constraints set on the planned lease sale and said they hope for a change in approach under Trump.

Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, an advocacy group whose members include Alaska North Slope leaders, characterized the scope of the new lease sale as “a deliberate attempt by the Biden administration’s Interior Department to kneecap the potential of development” in the refuge.

He said it goes against the wishes of North Slope Iñupiat, particularly those in Kaktovik.

FBI VIA AP

A poster issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows the suspected shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. On Monday, 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested in connection with the shooting death.

AP PHOTO

Meta shareholders seek sanctions for deleted Cambridge Analytica emails

Former board members Sandberg and Zients were either “reckless or intentional”

By Randall Chase The Associated Press

WILMINGTON, Del. — Attorneys for Meta shareholders asked a Delaware judge Monday to sanction former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and fellow Facebook board member and current White House chief of staff Jeff Zients for deleting emails related to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, despite being told to preserve such records.

The plaintiff attorneys contend that Sandberg and Zients used personal email accounts to communicate about key issues relating to their 2018 shareholder lawsuit that alleged Facebook officers and directors violated both the law and their fiduciary duties in failing for years to protect the privacy of user data.

“Although Sandberg and Zients received a litigation hold requiring them to preserve documents from these accounts, they both knowingly and permanently destroyed electronically stored information from such sources,” attorneys said in a court filing.

The plaintiffs say the former board members were ei-

ther “reckless or intentional” in destroying documents, noting that Sandberg deleted communications to and from her Gmail account after only 30 days, even after being notified of the “litigation hold” to preserve documents. Zients never disabled an auto-delete function on his email account, even though he, too, received a litigation hold and consulted with lawyers, they said.

The plaintiffs argue that Sandberg and Zients should be prohibited from testifying about information they sent or received using their personal email accounts. They also say the burden of proof for any affirmative defense they present should be raised to a standard of “clear and convincing evidence” instead of the lower standard of a “preponderance” of the evidence.

Sandberg was deposed last week. Plaintiff attorney Max Huffman said Zients is “busy” and will be deposed in February “after there’s an effective transition in Washington.”

Defense attorney Berton Ashman described the email deletions as “unfortunate” but argued that the plaintiffs have not shown that they were prejudiced in any way.

“There’s no intent here to destroy relevant or responsive information,” Ashman told Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster,

adding that there is no “trove of missing emails.”

“There’s no grand scheme or suggestion of bad behavior,” he added.

Ashman said the vast majority of emails Sandberg and Zients sent or received using their personal accounts were also received by other individuals at Facebook. He suggested that any emails that may have been deleted have been made available to the plaintiffs from other sources at Facebook.

Huffman, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said Sandberg does not deserve the benefit of the doubt.

“She unilaterally controlled what was kept and what was destroyed,” he told the judge.

Laster, who is scheduled to preside over a nonjury trial in April, said he wanted to see a transcript of Sandberg’s deposition before ruling on the motion for sanctions.

Last year, the judge rejected a defense motion arguing that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the plaintiffs did not first demand that Facebook’s board take legal action before filing litigation themselves. He agreed with the plaintiffs that such a demand would have been futile because of doubts that a majority of the relevant Facebook board members, many with close personal and business ties to Mark Zuckerberg, would be willing to confront the CEO and

founder of the company over its privacy failures.

Laster noted that, in deciding on a motion to dismiss, he was required to accept the allegations in the complaint as true.

The complaint alleges that Facebook officials repeatedly and continually violated a 2012 consent order with the Federal Trade Commission under which Facebook agreed to stop collecting and sharing personal data on platform users and friends without their consent.

Facebook later sold user data to commercial partners in direct violation of the consent order and removed disclosures from privacy settings that were required under the consent order, the lawsuit alleges. The company’s conduct resulted in significant fines from regulators in Europe and culminated in the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. That case involved a British political consulting firm hired by Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign that paid a Facebook app developer for the personal information of tens of millions of Facebook users.

The fallout led to Facebook agreeing to pay an unprecedented $5 billion penalty to settle FTC charges that the company violated the 2012 consent order by deceiving users about their ability to protect their personal information.

Trudeau says Americans realizing Trump tariffs will make life more expensive

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of electricity imports are from Canada

By Rob Gillies

The Associated Press

TORONTO — Canadian

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive.”

Speaking at an event put on by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Trudeau also said dealing with Donald Trump on trade will be “a little more challenging” than the last time.

Trudeau said that’s because Trump’s team is coming in with a much clearer set of ideas of what they want to do right away than after his first election win.

The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs.

“Trump got elected on a commitment to make life better and more affordable for Americans, and I think people south of the border are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive,” Trudeau said.

Trump appeared in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where the president-elect said he can’t guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for Americans.

If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico

JOBS from page A9

fell to just 1.6 million in October, below the lowest levels in the two decades that preceded the pandemic. At the same time, the number of job openings rebounded from a 3½year low, a sign that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled.

The much higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses that resulted from the Fed’s rate hikes had been expected to tip the economy into

and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation.

Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods.

The Produce Distributors Association has said tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate.

Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat.

Trudeau said his government is still mulling over “the right ways” to respond, referencing when Canada put billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum.

Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political

a recession. Instead, the economy kept growing as households continued to spend and employers continued to hire. The economy grew at a 2.8% annual pace from July through September on healthy spending by consumers. Annual economic growth has topped a decent 2% in eight of the past nine quarters, and inflation has dropped from a 9.1% peak in June 2022 to 2.6% last month. Even so, Americans were deeply frustrated by still-high prices un-

rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports just $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most of it comes from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty.

“It was the fact that we put tariffs on bourbon and Harley-Davidsons and playing cards and Heinz ketchup and cherries and a number of other things that were very carefully targeted because they were politically impactful to the president’s party and colleagues,” Trudeau said Trudeau said the tariffs would be very damaging.

“One of the most important things for us to do is not freak out, not to panic,” Trudeau said.

“Knowing these would be absolutely devastating means we have to take them seriously, but it does mean we have to be thoughtful and strategic and not going around making our opponents arguments for him but making our arguments in a sig-

der the Biden administration.

While comparatively few Americans are losing jobs, those who do are finding it harder to land a new one: The average unemployed American last month had been out of work for 23.7 weeks, the longest such stretch in 2½ years.

The progress against inflation and the slowdown in hiring, which eases pressure on companies to raise wages and prices, led the Fed to cut its key rate in September and again last month. Another rate cut

Omnicom, Interpublic to form $30B marketing powerhouse

New York

Omnicom is buying Interpublic Group in a stock-for-stock deal that will create an advertising powerhouse with a combined annual revenue of almost $26 billion. The companies have had a hand in iconic marketing campaigns like “Got Milk” for the California Milk Processor Board, “Priceless” for Mastercard, “Because I’m Worth It” for L’Oreal and “Think Different” for Apple. The combined company will be worth more than $30 billion. Shares of Interpublic jumped more than 15% before the opening bell Monday, while Omnicom’s stock fell more than 2%.

Stellantis brings back CEO to run Ram brand

Detroit Troubled automaker Stellantis has decided that its Ram brand needs its own executive, so it is bringing back one who retired this year when CEO Carlos Tavares was still running the company. Tim Kuniskis, who served as the unofficial spokesman for the American muscle car, is taking over as CEO of Ram effective immediately, the company said Monday. The return of Kuniskis is part of several management moves by the struggling company designed to bolster its North American leadership. Sales of Ram pickups, the company’s top-selling product, have fallen almost 18% this year as Stellantis was caught with too many higher-priced vehicles when buyers were looking for more affordable automobiles. Kuniskis retired in May after nearly 32 years with Stellantis. Tavares was ousted Dec. 1.

nificant and united way.”

Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.

Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia.

On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with irregular migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time.

Trump has also claimed the U.S. is “subsidizing Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year.”

On America’s trade deficit, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, told the AP the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. is energy exports, and prices have been high.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well.

Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.

Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.

is expected to be announced when the Fed meets Dec. 17-18. Pollak of ZipRecruiter said she sees some reason for optimism about the job market. Wage gains have been exceeding inflation for two years, for example, thereby strengthening Americans’ buying power. And lower borrowing rates are likely to encourage spending and hiring in the future.

“There are all kinds of mounting tailwinds that should propel this labor market forward,” she said.

Chipotle raising prices after promising bigger portions

Newport Beach, Calif.

Chipotle is raising its U.S. prices to offset inflation and to compensate for a promise to increase portion sizes.

Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer confirmed the Mexican restaurant chain was implementing a 2% price increase nationally. She says it’s the company’s first such increase in more than a year. Chipotle revealed the price increase after an analyst report released earlier this week by investment bank Truist Securities noted a 2% price increase at approximately 20% of the chain’s 3,500 U.S. stores. Chipotle said in October that its food, beverage and packaging costs all increased in the third quarter.

Eli Lilly invests $3B in Wisconsin factory expansion

Indianapolis

Eli Lilly is spending another $3 billion to bulk up manufacturing as the drugmaker seeks to stoke production of some blockbuster drugs and future products. Lilly said it will expand a Kenosha County, Wisconsin, factory it bought early this year. The investment will help meet growing demand for injectable products like its diabetes and obesity drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Beginning Cash $2,619,507,749

Receipts $184,136,329 Disbursements $194,697,670

RILEY SMITH / THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a fireside chat Monday with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

cannonballing

A hands-free road trip adventure

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. —

It’s after midnight when I finally pull into the drive of The Portofino Hotel, stopping in front of a marker featuring two digital clocks: One displays the local time, and the other shows the time in Manhattan.

This is significant because it marks the end point of the amusingly-named Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash between New York and Los Angeles, an “unofficial” time trial running nearly 3,000 miles between the two largest cities in the country. And I was the latest competitor.

Conceived in the ’70s by Car and Driver editors Brock Yates and Steve Smith, the race was seen as a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the interstate highway system and protest against traffic laws. The traditional starting point is the Red Ball Garage on East 31st Street in Manhattan, finishing at The Portofino on the opposite coast.

There are no “official” records, as winning involves committing numerous traffic infractions, but the modern record was set almost 20 years ago at 31 hours, 4 minutes in a modified BMW M5, averaging 90 miles per hour and using a spotter plane for some higher-speed stretches.

The current Cannonball Run record is an astonishing 25 hours and 39 minutes, but I’m not trying to break it today. It was set during the early days

of the COVID-19 pandemic — when there was minimal traffic — and may never be beaten.

There are other records on the same route, too, including a 39:25 electric car-record that my friend Kyle Conner set a few months ago in a 2025 Porsche Taycan.

I made the journey in my 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance, not for time (I stopped at hotels along the way) but to set a new record for touching the steering wheel as little as possible.

My car is fitted with Tesla’s latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, an advanced driver assist system that handles nearly all driving tasks while the driver needs only to supervise. As a professional automotive reviewer, I needed to put FSD through its paces, and the Cannonball

Run seemed the perfect test.

Here’s where things get complicated: FSD is software, and it’s constantly being updated. I was running the latest version, released in November, that features a newly updated highway driving system. It can handle nearly all driving tasks, including red lights, stop signs and highways, but what trips it up is ... the humble parking lot.

As a result, I knew I would need to manually take over for the last couple of hundred feet around charging stations. Other than that limitation, I hoped that I wouldn’t need to touch the steering wheel at all. I was (mostly) right. I had three cameras running in the car at all times to capture the run, and I’m still reviewing the video. However, after more

than 40 hours of driving, I’d estimate that I touched the steering wheel for less than five minutes. Many drive segments required no manual driving at all.

It’s definitely not autonomous, and the driver is required to keep an eye on the road, which is verified by a camera inside the car that watches your eyes. Look down at a phone, your breakfast burrito or even the car’s giant touchscreen for more than a few seconds and the car will gently (and then more insistently) ask that you get your attention back to the windshield. If you look away for too long, eventually, the car will disengage and force you to take over.

For full disclosure, that happened once on my journey when I spent a bit too long poring over the navigation screen while examining my next sequence of charging stops. I pulled over immediately and reset the system, but it was my longest hands-on moment of the trip — and it was entirely my fault, not the car’s.

FSD certainly wasn’t perfect. While it did well going through toll booths when it had a car to follow, the system had trouble deciding which lane to go in when approaching a toll booth on its own, showing another navigation-related edge case where the system needs a little more guidance.

Among the concerning moments, FSD strongly dislikes passing tractor-trailer trucks on sharper curves and, on more than one occasion, slowed significantly while next to a truck in

the passing lane. It would have been better to continue on ahead as there was plenty of room to do so. There were also two incidents when the highway was narrowing from three lanes to two, with the far-left lane merging into the middle, when the car seemed completely oblivious of the impending merge and nearly merged into another car rather than moving over in a more orderly manner. That said, there were other merges where it worked perfectly, so I’m not 100% sure what the issue was. But these were mere foibles compared to the 3,000 miles of perfect control exhibited by Tesla’s astonishingly good Full Self-Driving software. It successfully navigated roundabouts, red lights, sunlight and darkness, rain and snow, and, trickiest of all, all the other cars on the road.

You can’t yet take a nap or watch a movie while it handles the driving, but we’re not far from that point. FSD takes a significant leap forward in the upcoming version 13 release, which has already gone out to a few outside reviewers. The update will allow cars to drive themselves directly to chargers and even park themselves in a spot. FSD will also be able to plan better, helping with stuff like those tricky highway merges.

Of course, since the main place I needed to take over was the last few hundred feet approaching a charger, once the car can do that itself, we’ll be awfully close to a cross-country drive without needing to touch the steering wheel at all.

I guess I’ll need to plan another Cannonball for next year.

PHOTOS BY JORDAN GOLSON / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

App, Charlotte hire coaches, B3

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA FOOTBALL

Murphy to transfer, skip bowl game

Durham Duke starting quarterback

Maalik Murphy will enter the transfer portal and leave the team prior to the Blue Devils’ Jan. 2 Gator Bowl game against Ole Miss. Murphy, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first season with the Blue Devils, has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Henry Belin IV and Grayson Loftis, who both started games as freshmen in 2023 before Murphy arrived in the transfer portal, are the most likely candidates to start the bowl game for Duke.

NCAA SOCCER

Wake Forest’s season ends in quarterfinals

Columbus, Ohio

Wake Forest’s men’s soccer team lost to Ohio State in the national quarterfinals, missing out on a trip to the this weekend’s College Cup — soccer’s version of the Final Four. Wake has reached the College Cup six times, most recently in 2019, and won the national title in 2007. The eighth-seeded Deacs lost to the No. 1 Buckeyes 3-0. Wake beat Maryland and Clemson to reach the quarterfinals and advanced farther than any of the other five N.C. teams in the field. UNC and Charlotte lost in the first round, Duke and Gardner-Webb in the second, and NC State in the third.

MLB Soto signs with Mets for record amount

Dallas According to multiple reports, star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract. Soto’s deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year contract with San Diego. Soto’s deal does not include deferred money.

Duke, UNC look to cap seasons with bowl wins

Blue Devils head to their first Gator Bowl, while the Tar Heels make a possible homecoming trip to New England

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

UNC AND DUKE are on very different trajectories as they head into college football’s postseason. Both teams earned bowl bids. However, while Duke will be trying to complete just the second 10-win season in program history, UNC enters bowl season with uncertainty surrounding the program. Here’s a look at where the two rivals in blue will be

spending their holiday season.

UNC Tar Heels (6-6, 3-5 ACC) vs. UConn (8-4) Wasabi Fenway Bowl Boston, Dec. 28, 11 a.m.

UNC opened the season with high hopes, but things went awry halfway through the opener, when starting quarterback Max Johnson was lost for the season with an injury. The Heels survived that road game at Minnesota and started 3-0 before they suffered a humiliating home loss to James Madison, surrendering 70 points.

Head coach Mack Brown said that’s when the school’s administration began shopping for its next coach, and the search overwhelmed the news about Carolina’s bowl bid over the weekend. The Heels are still coachless, although the rumors swirling around the program may make the bowl game in Boston a fitting location.

Even if the Heels close the deal with Bill Belichick, it’s See WINS , page B3

NC State, ECU to face off in bowl game

The Wolfpack and Pirates meet in the a bowl for the first time since 1992

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

FOR THE FIRST time since 1992, two in-state North Carolina FBS programs will be facing off against one another in a postseason bowl game as both the NC State Wolfpack and ECU Pirates have accepted invitations to play in the Go Bowling Military Bowl.

It was a bumpy road to bowl eligibility for both teams as NC State, which had much higher expectations heading into the season, barely managed to squeeze in thanks to a season-finale win over rival UNC, while East Carolina, which fired coach Mike Houston midseason following a 3-4 start, went on a 4-1 run under new coach Blake Harrell to qualify.

A big piece of the turnaround for the Pirates was the play of Michigan State transfer and sophomore quarterback Katin Houser, who came alive toward the end of the season with six straight games with more than 200 passing yards.

“We were sitting here 3-4, we had lost three out of our last four and the administration decided to make a change,”

said Harrell, who was named ECU’s permanent head coach following a 4-0 start as interim. “I took over on Oct. 20, and it was really at that point to just go send our seniors out the right way. It was about let’s finish off the season the right way and let’s not worry about December and what’s going to happen. Just focus in on each and every day, trying to win that day and make it the most important day.”

The Wolfpack dealt with adversity throughout the season,

most notably the career-ending head injury to starting quarterback Grayson McCall, but the young offense really started to mesh down the stretch and came up especially big against the Tar Heels to get the Wolfpack into the postseason.

While the rivalry has cooled off significantly in recent years, NC State and ECU have history dating back more than five decades.

Since their first game in 1970, the two schools have

faced off 32 times, most recently in 2022, with the Pack holding a 19-13 edge, but the Pirates won the only bowl game between the programs, a 37-34 win in the 1992 Peach Bowl.

“It’s a game that goes a long way back,” Doeren said. “We don’t get to play each other very often, and it’s been a while. I don’t know how many of our players, with the way rosters change, are going to remember the last time we played.

“We’re in the same state, but it’s kind of hard to call us rivals now because we don’t play each other every year, and to me, that’s what rivals do. But we’re in-state opponents and there’s a lot of crossover between our fans.”

But a historic and notable rivalry should result in a packed crowd in Annapolis, and Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium being situated just over 300 miles away from either programs’ home field, which sit just 83 miles apart down Highway 264, won’t hurt either.

This will be NC State’s 10th bowl appearance under Doeren (3-5) and fifth in a row, although the team hasn’t won a bowl game since 2017. It has never played in the Military Bowl before.

“I always look at the bowl

KARL B DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

East Carolina and NC State players react after a missed ECU field goal helps preserve a Wolfpack victory in 2022, the last time the two teams played. They will renew their rivalry at this season’s Military Bowl, the first postseason matchup between North Carolina teams since 1992.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart looks to pass against Wake Forest during the first half of their game in Winston‑Salem.

Duke head coach Manny Diaz celebrates after the Blue Devils stopped SMU from scoring at the goal line on fourth down. Diaz and Duke will try to finish off a successful season by picking up a 10th win at the Gator Bowl.

Micic steps up for injury-riddled Hornets

The

filled in

point guard

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — Just a month ago, Vasilije Micic’s future with the Charlotte Hornets appeared uncertain.

The Serbian point guard struggled with his ball handling and production throughout the Hornets’ preseason as he racked up four turnovers in each of his squad’s final three preseason games.

Making a minimal impact on the court, Micic appeared in just four of his team’s first 11 games of the 2024-25 season as Hornets head coach Charles Lee took him out of the team’s rotation, relying on LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann at the point guard position.

However, with Ball (calf) and Mann (back) now sidelined due to injuries, Micic has been given another chance to shine — an opportunity he has taken advantage of as his numbers steadily improve.

The 30-year-old has averaged 12.3 points, 7.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds over his last six games, uncluding 15 points, 9.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds across his last three outings.

“I stick by what I said in terms of how good of a basketball player he is,” Lee said of Micic during his cold start to this season. “He is continuing to work on his body and work on his game. On top of being a great basketball player, he’s

been a total professional right now. He continues to just bring the right attitude and mindset to our gym and to our team every game, talking to our players during timeouts about what he sees.”

On Sunday afternoon, the Hornets (7-17) snapped an eight-game losing skid as Brandon Miller hit two free throws in the final seconds to help Charlotte pull away from Indiana in a 113-109 road win. Miller and his 26 points were undoubtedly the highlight for Charlotte, but Micic was a

close second; the former twotime EuroLeague champion and MVP scored a season-high 18 points and commanded the floor with nine assists.

After the win, Micic was asked by a reporter what had changed in his game.

“Minutes,” he responded in a word, acknowledging his increased floor time as of late.

“I didn’t chase points, I just played. I feel like right away I shared the ball and found some open looks for my teammates, and then the game just came to me. It was one of those

Coaching carousel: Charlotte, Appalachian State make hires

The Tar Heels are making headlines with their high-profile search

The Associated Press

TWO OF NORTH Carolina’s FBS programs hired new coaches over the weekend, while another continues to raise eyebrows with its coaching search.

App gets NFL veteran coach

South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has been hired as head coach at Appalachian State and will receive a five-year contract, athletic director Doug Gillin announced Saturday.

The 44-year-old Loggains replaces Shawn Clark, who was fired Monday after the Mountaineers finished 5-6 for their first losing season since 2013.

Loggains was South Carolina’s offensive coordinator for two seasons and an assistant at Arkansas, his alma mater, for two seasons before that. He spent 16 years in the NFL as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Tennessee, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami and the New York Jets.

“He brings experience as a leader and play-caller at the highest levels of professional and college football,” Gillin said.

WINS from page B1

doubtful the legendary Patriots coach will make his Carolina debut in the bowl game. Instead, interim coach Freddie Kitchens is expected to lead the team, or at least the players still remaining. On the first day the transfer portal opened, UNC lost starting linebacker Amare Campbell and starting center Austin Blaske, with more departures expected. Meanwhile, UNC’s opponent, UConn, will be playing close to home after posting an 8-4 season under coach Jim Mora, himself an NFL vet. The Huskies lost to Duke, Wake and Syracuse, all by one score or less.

The Huskies posted their best record since 2010 and will have an offense nearly as explosive as

“He is a great recruiter and believes strongly in building relationships. He is aligned with our core values of academic integrity, competitive excellence, social responsibility and world-class experience. This is a great day for App State.”

“My family and I are thrilled to join the Mountaineer family and build on the rich championship tradition of App State Football,” Loggains said. “Thank you to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Norris, Doug Gillin, and all of App Nation for this incredible opportunity to lead such a storied program. We are eager to become part of the community, engage with the student-athletes and fans, and give our All for App State.”

UNC’s. Both teams average 32.3 points per game, and UConn’s defense has been strong against the run this season — which may complicate things for the Tar Heels if star UNC running back Omarion Hampton decides to sit out the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Duke Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 ACC), vs. Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC)

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Jan. 2, 7:30 PM

The Blue Devils will make their first trip to the Gator Bowl as they look to post their tenth win, something Duke has accomplished once—in 2013.

Duke has the second-longest current bowl winning streak in

Loggains’ offense at South Carolina featured LaNorris Sellers, one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. Sellers and Sanders led the Southeastern Conference’s third-ranked rushing offense.

Loggains spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as Arkansas’ tight ends coach, and he worked with Sam Darnold, Jay Cutler, Mitchell Trubisky, Brian Hoyer and Vince Young during his time in the NFL.

The Mountaineers, the preseason favorites in the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division, tied for fifth with a 3-5 record in league play. App State was 40-24 under Clark, but the Mountaineers

the nation, at five straight. Extending that win streak will be a tall task against an explosive Rebels offense that ranks No. 2 in the nation.

The Blue Devils have never played Ole Miss, although there are connections between the two schools, most notably David Cutcliffe, who coached both. Current Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz also has a near-miss history with the Rebels.

“It’s ironic,” he said. “When I was (defensive coordinator) at Penn State last year, we were going to play Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, but then I got a call that ruined all that.”

The call was the offer to coach the Blue Devils, and Diaz has brought an aggressive defense and big-play offense to Duke, re-

keep fighting and keep believing in the player next to you. I think today we just kept playing the right way and we got a win.”

Micic’s play over the past few weeks ranks as some of his best on-court output since coming to the United States in 2023.

In 30 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, he had averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in a limited role.

His debut NBA season picked up once he was packaged in a trade to the Hornets — along with Davis Bertans, Tre Mann, a 2024 second-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and cash considerations — in exchange for Gordon Hayward.

Across 30 regular season games for the Hornets last season, Micic averaged 10.8 points, 6.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds on 43.7% shooting from the field.

days where you feel a little bit better.”

Micic reflected on the Hornets’ series of close losses in the season’s first 24 games — six of the team’s losses during its eight-game losing streak were by six points or less.

“To be honest, I feel like we are the team that has lost the most games in the last minute,” he said. “We are always right there, and we always have the chance to win. Somebody has to win, and once you lose, you have to find that inner motivation and team chemistry to

have failed to reach a bowl game two of the past three seasons.

49ers look to MACtion for new coach

Charlotte announced the hiring of Ohio University’s Tim Albin to replace Biff Poggi as football coach on Sunday morning.

Albin was 32-19 in four seasons at Ohio. The Bobcats won the MAC Championship game Saturday, beating Miami of Ohio 38-3 to improve to 10-3. They will play Conference USA champion Jacksonville State in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 20.

Albin began his coaching career in 1989, immediately after his college playing career ended. The former wide receiver served on his alma mater’s staff at Northeastern State (Okla.) before becoming offensive coordinator at Northwestern Oklahoma State in 1994. He moved up to the head coaching spot in 1997 and went 25-8, winning an NAIA national championship and the NAIA coach of the year award in his third year. He then left for an assistant job at Nebraska before becoming offensive coordinator at North Dakota State in 2004. He next served in the same position at Ohio for 15 years before getting promoted to head coach in 2021.

“We had incredible interest in this position, which speaks to the remarkable opportunity ahead of Tim and the program he will build here in the Queen City,” said Charlotte athletic director Mike Hill. “From the outset, we sought an experienced collegiate coach with a proven track record of sustained success on the field and

sulting in a season that surprised many observers.

“Come for the great weather and the great setting. Stay for the tackles-for-loss,” Diaz joked on a conference call with the Mississippi media. Duke and Ole Miss were the two national leaders in that category during the regular season.

While the defense will grab the headlines, the equally compelling quarterback matchup will not come to pass. Duke’s Maalik Murphy, who threw for 2,932 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first season after transferring to Duke from Texas, is reportedly heading back into the transfer portal and will not participate in the Gator Bowl. Grayson Loftis or Henry Belin IV, who both started as freshmen last season,

There are still no clear timetables set for the return of Ball and Mann, who have averaged to combine for more than 45 points a game in their explosive starts to the 2024-25 season. That leaves the door open for Hornets guards Josh Green, DaQuan Jeffries, Isaiah Wong, KJ Simpson, Nick Smith Jr. and Seth Curry to increase their minutes and production.

For now, however, it appears Lee trusts Micic to take up the bulk of that work, as evidenced by his 30-plus minutes in five of the Hornets’ past six matchups.

“For me, every game in the NBA is like a final,” Micic said. “I want to do my best and try to prove that I’m capable of playing here. I don’t even know how it looks from the outside, but I just know I gave my best.”

in the recruitment and development of student-athletes. Tim’s professional accolades and resume check all those boxes, but his leadership, stewardship, and commitment to the holistic development of our football student-athletes set him apart.”

“I am beyond excited to begin this new journey at Charlotte and start the process of developing the 49ers into the championship-caliber program we all believe it can and should be,” Albin said. “I would like to thank Chancellor Sharon Gaber and Mike Hill for their trust and belief in our future together. I cannot wait to get started.”

Poggi was fired after going 6-16 in two seasons with the 49ers.

Heels closing in on hire

UNC has been busy conducting interviews for its own head coaching vacancy after the Tar Heels parted ways with Mack Brown.

The biggest name to surface in Carolina’s search was longtime NFL coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick, who interviewed twice for the job and reportedly impressed the school.

The 72-year-old Belichick has never coached at the college level, even as an assistant. Army head coach Jeff Monken, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, all of whom have reportedly been in contact with Carolina during the search, are other candidates to watch as the Tar Heels close in on their man.

Shawn Krest also contributed to this report.

will likely get the starting role for the game. That means they’ll oppose Ole Miss passer Jaxson Dart, who threw for 3.875 yards and 25 scores.

While the two teams have the same record, Ole Miss is battle-hardened by an SEC schedule. The Rebels won at South Carolina and Arkansas, while posting home wins over Oklahoma and College Football Playoff participant Georgia. Ole Miss also played at LSU and Florida this season. In their lone matchup against an ACC foe, the Rebels blew out Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, by a 40-6 margin. Duke had wins over bowl teams UConn, UNC, Virginia Tech and NC State and took College Football Playoff team SMU to overtime in a loss.

Serbian

has

for LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann

DARRON CUMMINGS / AP PHOTO

Charlotte Hornets’ Vasilije Micic (22) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers’ T.J. McConnell (9) during a recent game.

Dowell Loggains Tim Albin

BILL KOSTROUN / AP PHOTO

PAUL VERNON /AP PHOTO

NCHSAA discusses girls’ flag football at winter board meeting

The Board tables the idea of separate classifications for charter

schools

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

THE NORTH CAROLINA High School Athletic Association held its winter 2024 Board of Directors meeting Dec. 4-5, and although there weren’t many major changes approved, there were important discussions held on the landscape of high school athletics.

One of the biggest discussions regarded the potential sanctioning of girls’ flag football, which the board decided to table during the meeting. Durham, Johnston and Wake counties brought forth the proposal to sanction the sport under the reasoning that the participation numbers warranted approval. However, the proposal didn’t make it to a vote because the reported number of participating schools in North Carolina isn’t consistent across different sources. The Carolina Panthers, a key driver of support for the sport, reported 119 participating schools, and the proposal itself reported 116. A survey sent in recent weeks by the NCHSAA to its member schools asked about emerging sports (including flag football) and indicated only 52 schools participated in the sport from the 246 responses.

The NCHSAA bylaws require at least 25% of the member schools or at least half of the schools in a classification participate in a sanctioned sport in order to have a state championship. The number of schools offering teams in a sport must also meet the constitutional requirements for two years before a state championship is implemented. Per the NCHSAA’s survey, only 11.76% of the total membership and much less

than 50% of each classification participates in girls’ flag football (1.65% in 1A, 3.77% in 2A, 9.91% in 3A, 33.65% in 4A).

Despite the discrepancies in the reported participating schools, NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker said the organization has “no doubt” girls’ flag football will eventually have a sanctioned state championship. In fact, girls’ flag football teams in Durham, Johnston, New Hanover, Union and Wake counties held the first unofficial state playoff this season with the state championships concluding Saturday.

“We just want to make sure as we move forward that the data is the data and that it is correct data,” Tucker said. “I had a conversation and will continue to have some dialogue with the Panthers organization

just so that they understand we’re not opposed. We must follow our bylaws, and we need our school people to also give us the necessary data to be able to move forward.”

While in the process of transitioning its membership from four classes to eight classes beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the board also discussed a proposal to create separate classifications for charter and nonboarding parochial schools. Nash Central High School brought forth the proposal, citing concerns about schools without defined attendance zones having a talent advantage over schools with attendance zones. The discussion didn’t result in any action, though, with the board tabling the idea.

“We’ve been made aware

of some things and some concerns, and we are going to explore it,” NCHSAA President Stephen Gainey said in a press conference following the meeting. “But we owe it to the membership of this organization to focus on the first priority which is reclassification.”

Said Tucker, “We have yet to be able to pin anything on any of those schools that suggests that they have an advantage because they’re not following our rules.”

While those two major topics were put on hold, here’s a quick look at what the NCHSAA Board did act on in its most recent meeting session:

Sports

• In boys’ golf, four team members can now score as a team in regionals if they

Tar Heels win first national title in 12 years

The UNC women’s soccer team claimed its first championship without Anson Dorrance

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THE TAR HEELS have won more women’s soccer titles than all other college teams combined.

This year’s NCAA championship, however, may have been the unlikeliest in the program’s storied history.

UNC beat Wake Forest 1-0 on Monday, to win the 22nd NCAA Tournament in school history. A total of 43 women’s tournaments have been played, and the Tar Heels are the only team to participate in all of them. Up until this season, each of those appearances and titles had come under the guidance of the same man — head coach Anson Dorrance.

Dorrance had built a true dynasty in Chapel Hill, but it had fallen on leaner times as the sport grew across the nation. Despite playing in five of the last seven College Cups, which include the national semifinals and title game, UNC had been mired in the longest championship drought in program history — 12 seasons.

This offseason, the team endured a mass exodos that saw nine players transfer, 11 go pro and a total of 21 players leave the program. Plus, three expected incoming freshmen also opted to turn professional instead.

“We had a complete rebuild,”

said sophomore Olivia Thomas, one of the few Tar Heels that stuck around after last season.

“We had 12 people left. We called it the great migration.”

UNC restocked its roster with transfers, then, on the eve of the season, the team suffered its greatest departure of all when Dorrance announced in mid-August that he was retiring. Damon Nahas, a UNC assistant since 2015, took over as interim head coach and has made his case that he’s deserving of the permanent gig.

“All the transfers came in,” Thomas said. “We meshed to-

NC STATE from page B1

games as life opportunities for these young men, and no better place than our nation’s capital to experience something that a lot of these guys probably haven’t gotten the tours and the things we’re going to be able to do, so looking forward to that,” Doeren said. For ECU, this is actually the third time they’ve been selected for the Military Bowl, although it was unable to play its most recent selection in 2020 against Boston College due to COVID. This will also be the first time

gether. It could have gone in any direction, but here we are.”

The Tar Heels are in the position they are in large part due to Thomas. She scored off a free kick in the 62nd minute of the title game for the only goal of the contest. It was her ninth goal of the season. Four of them came in the NCAA Tournament, including two in the College Cup.

The College Cup was an all-ACC affair, as UNC and Wake were joined by a third team from the state in Duke. Stanford, the ACC’s newest member, rounded out the women’s soccer Final Four.

qualified to regionals as individuals

• The NCHSAA will begin to track yellow and red cards in soccer through DragonFly, effective Spring 2025 season

• Capped the number of women’s wrestling regular season matches at 55, effective immediately

• In wrestling, the NCHSAA remove the five stoppages before disqualification during blood time, effective Jan. 1

Policy

• Approved requiring a minimum of three calendar days between football contests

• Amended the ejection policy so that student-athletes may remain in the team area for supervision after a disqualification or ejection, effective immediately

• Modified the master eligibility sheet to only list names of certified coaches, effective 2025-26 school year

Review and officiating

• Instated full game fee payment to officials when they arrive for a contest and it is delayed one hour past the original start time and the game is not played, effective for the Spring 2025 season

• Clarified language that any person under 18 or still in high school cannot be assigned to officiate NCHSAA contests, effective Jan. 1

• Moved official assignment duties to the NCHSAA Director of Officiating Services for all playoff rounds after round two for softball, baseball, lacrosse and volleyball, effective Jan. 1

Finance and Personnel

• Approved the 2024-25 operating budget

• Approved the 2023-24 audit

this season that the Pirates will face a Power 4 team.

“I know the guys are fired up to play another bowl game and be up there in D.C.,” Harrell said. “Obviously it was a great experience last time, just didn’t get to play in the bowl game. I think we have 12 players from

UNC’s Olivia Thomas (left) and Wake Forest’s Sierra Sythe battle for a ball during the first half of Monday’s NCAA Women’s College Cup title game. Thomas scored the game’s only goal as UNC took the crown.

— the first time the Blue Devils had ever swept the Heels in the regular season. Kate Faasse scored on a penalty kick to put the Heels on top. It was her 20th goal of the year, the most in the nation and most by a UNC player since 2008. The junior was, like Thomas, one of the holdover players from last year. Thomas added a goal later in the first half, and another returnee, Maddie Dahlien, added the final score in the second half.

The game closed the books on another coaching legend. Duke’s Robbie Church retired following the game, closing his career with 398 wins and turning the program over to assistant Kieran Hall. The Blue Devils were making their fifth appearance in the Cup and first since 2017.

The semifinal results set up the first NCAA title game between teams from the state since 1992, when the Tar Heels, coached by Dorrance and led by star player Mia Hamm, beat Duke 9-1.

Looking for their fourth national title, Stanford fell to the Demon Deacons in the first national semifinal. Emily Morris scored the game’s only goal in the 73rd minute to send Wake Forest to its first national title game.

Wake was making its first appearance in the College Cup and was one of the year’s surprise teams, competing for a title after finishing sixth in the ACC last year and getting left out of the NCAA Tournament. UNC, meanwhile, dispatched with top seed Duke, 3-0, avenging two regular-season losses

that roster that are still with us that were with us back then in 2021. The opportunity to play in a bowl game is all they’ve dreamed about and worked for for the past month and a half.” In a funny twist of fate, not only are the two teams ending their seasons against one an-

The story of the Cup, however, was the Tar Heels’ improbable run to the title. Thomas was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Goalkeeper Clare Gagne, an offseason grad transfer from Brown, was Most Outstanding Defensive Player, the first UNC goalie to earn that honor since 1997.

Freshmen Trinity Armstrong and Linda Ullmark were named to the All-Tournament team.

Nehas became the second coach in women’s soccer history to win a title in his first year at the helm, joining UCLA’s Margueritte Aozasa, who did it in 2022. He is also the fourth UNC coach to win a title in any sport in his first season.

other, but they will also start the next one facing off against each other too as the programs are slated to kick off their 2025 seasons on Aug. 30 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Military Bowl will kick off on Dec. 28 at 5:45 p.m. in Annapolis, Maryland.

COURTESY CAROLINA PANTHERS

The East Mecklenburg girls’ flag football team poses for a team photo while at Bank of America Stadium. The NCHSAA tabled the idea of sanctioning the sport at the high school level at its most recent meeting.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend, $600M globally

IMAX presentations of “Interstellar” were sold out through the weekend

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press

THE WALT DISNEY Co.’s animated film “Moana 2” remained at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it brought in another record haul.

The film added $52 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. That brings its domestic total to $300 million, surpassing the original, and its global tally to a staggering $600 million.

The amount set a record gross for a movie on the weekend following Thanksgiving weekend, unseating “Frozen II,” which earned $35.2 million in the same time frame in 2019. The numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Originally conceived as a Disney+ series, “Moana 2” has already broken into the top

five highest-grossing releases of the year. Its performance means Disney has three films in this year’s top five, including “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The studio also has another big movie on the way before the year ends: Barry Jenkins’ “Mufasa,” out Dec. 20.

The weekend also showcased several new releases, including A24’s horror comedy “Y2K” and the Jude Law crime thriller “The Order.” But nothing was ever going to present significant competition to the enticing Thanksgiving leftovers, “Moana 2,” “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.”

Second place at the box office was occupied by “Wicked,” which added $34.9 million, bringing its domestic total to $320.5 million in three weeks. Globally, the musical adaptation released by Universal is at $455.6 million. “Gladiator II” followed in third place with $12.5 million, while “Red One” came in fourth with $7 million.

“These holdovers are go -

ing to create the momentum that’s going to put an $8.5 billion-plus box office year on the horizon,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.

Pre-pandemic, $11 billion had become the annual norm for the movie business. Since then, the closest the industry has gotten to that number was last year, which cracked $9 billion. This year started off slow, and up to a few months ago, Dergarabedian said that even hitting $8 billion for the year was in doubt. But in the two weeks since Thanksgiving, the deficit from last year has narrowed by over 5%.

The newcomers struggled to make a significant impact. Even the 10th-anniversary rerelease of Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar,” which played in only 165 theaters, did better than “Y2K” ($2.1 million) and “The Order” ($878,000) combined. Paramount reported that the science fiction epic starring Matthew McConaughey and

Anne Hathaway brought in an estimated $4.4 million. IMAX also noted that all the 70mm IMAX presentations of “Interstellar” were sold out through the weekend.

“I was thrilled so many moviegoers took advantage of the original IMAX experience of ‘Interstellar’ this weekend,” Nolan said in a statement.

The biggest of the many newcomers was the Indian action pic “Pushpa: The Rule — Part 2,” which earned $4.9 million. Sony and Crunchyroll’s anime release, “Solo Leveling — ReAwakening,” made $2.4 million. Fathom also released pop duo For King + Country’s “A Drummer Boy Christmas” concert in theaters, where it made $2.1 million.

“It’s a really diverse marketplace,” Dergarabedian said. “There’s event cinema, international cinema, a re-release of a 10-year-old film. It’s easily one of the most eclectic and interesting lineups I’ve ever seen.”

Next weekend, theaters are

Stars come out at Kennedy Center for Coppola, Grateful Dead, Raitt, Sandoval

Sheryl Crow paid tribute to Raitt’s trailblazing career

By Ashraf Khalil The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Celebrities, cultural icons and a few surprise guests gathered for the annual Kennedy Center Honors celebration in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night.

This year’s recipients of the lifetime achievement award for artistic accomplishment are director Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt. In addition, the venerable Harlem theater The Apollo, which has launched generations of black artists, was also recognized.

The choice to honor The Apollo is an unusual one — the first time the Kennedy Center has chosen to honor a specific performance venue.

“The Apollo means so much to so many of us,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said while arriving on the red carpet. Moore pointed out iconic Apollo performances from Lauryn Hill and a young Michael Jackson as treasured memories of his youth.

The annual gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts features personalized tributes with performanc-

es and testimonials from fellow artists. Medallions were presented during the traditional Saturday night ceremony at the State Department. The tribute to The Apollo highlighted the sheer diversity of art forms showcased at the 90-year-old theater. Savion Glover did a spirited tap dance routine; husband and wife duo

The War and Treaty performed a medley of hits by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell; and comedian Dave Chappelle recounted

his terrifying first Apollo performance at age 15.

“Everybody started booing. It was like I was outside my body watching,” he said. Eventually, Chappelle was rushed off the stage by the theater’s infamous “Sandman,” but he credited the experience with helping him overcome his fear of bombing.

Music star Sheryl Crow paid tribute to Raitt’s trailblazing career as not just a singer or songwriter but as a widely respected

blues guitarist in a male-dominated field.

“I would not be doing what I’m doing if I had not seen her perform as a 17-year-old,” said Crow, who bought her first guitar shortly after seeing Raitt in concert. Raitt herself predicted an emotional evening.

“I’ve brought a massive box of Kleenex and my waterproof eyeliner,” she laughed.

Sandoval’s tribute featured multiple performances from an all-star band featuring New Orleans native Trombone Shorty and pianist Chucho Valdez from Sandoval’s original band, plus a flamenco dance performance by Timo Nunez. It also included a bit of light roast comedy from actor Andy Garcia.

“Arturo spoke very little English when he first came to America from Cuba all those years ago,” Garcia said. “But now his English ... is much worse.”

In the first of the night’s tributes, Emmylou Harris and Dave Matthews performed a cover of Raitt’s duet with the late John Prine, “Angel from Montgomery.”

The tribute performances are often kept secret from the recipients themselves, most notably in 2018 when Cyndi Lauper flat-out lied to her longtime friend Cher about being unable to attend. Lauper appeared on stage to perform Cher’s hit, “If I Could Turn Back Time.”

At a ceremony at the White House before attending the

in for another influx of bigger movies, with Sony’s comic book film “Kraven the Hunter” and the animated “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” opening in wide release. Awards contenders “Nickel Boys” and “September 5” will also open in a limited number of theaters. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “Moana 2,” $52 million

2. “Wicked,” $34.9 million

3. “Gladiator II,” $12.5 million

4. “Red One,” $7 million

5. “Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2,” $4.9 million

6. “Interstellar” re-release, $4.4 million

7. “Solo Leveling –ReAwakening,” $2.4 million

8. “Y2K,” $2.1 million

9. “For King + Country’s: A Drummer Boy Christmas,” $2.1 million

10. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” $1.5 million

awards event itself, President Joe Biden praised each honoree. He also had an audience member, actor Robert De Niro, stand before declaring, “If I get in trouble, I’m coming to you, pal.” De Niro grinned and nodded, and others in attendance, including the honorees, laughed at what appeared to be a reference to De Niro sometimes playing hard-nosed enforcers in movies like “The Godfather II.” But Biden actually meant he might seek the actor’s help for post-presidency career advice.

“Things are not looking good for February,” Biden joked. Then he conceded that he couldn’t sing or dance but suggested he might still find a way to help De Niro’s production company.

This could also be the last Kennedy Center Honors ceremony without political intrigue for a while.

During Donald Trump’s first four years in office, Kennedy Center officials were forced to walk a public tightrope between the tradition of the president attending the ceremony and the open antipathy toward Trump from multiple honorees. In 2017, recipient Norman Lear threatened to boycott his own ceremony if Trump attended. Trump, who takes office in January, skipped the ceremony for the entirety of his first term.

On the red carpet Sunday night, multiple Democratic political figures seemed to offer an olive branch.

“I hope he does come,” Moore said. “This is a wonderful celebration of genius in all its forms.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added, “I think he would really enjoy it.” The awards show will air on

CBS on Dec. 22.

MANUEL BALCE CENETA / AP PHOTO

Jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval and fellow honoree blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt arrive at the 47th Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.

DISNEY VIA AP

“Moana 2” set a record gross for a movie on the weekend following Thanksgiving weekend, unseating “Frozen II.”

Snubs, surprises in 2025 Golden Globe nominations

Pamela Anderson’s renaissance is in full swing

By Lindsey Bahr

The Associated Press

THE GOLDEN GLOBES

nominated more than 40 individual films Monday — and yet still managed to overlook quite a bit. That may just be the brutal truth of awards season: The field narrows and suddenly great performances and wonderful films are simply left in the dust.

Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises from the nominations.

Snub: Danielle Deadwyler

Danielle Deadwyler just can’t catch an awards season break. After being overlooked for “Till” by both the Globes and the Oscars, it seemed likely she’d be recognized for her turn in Malcolm Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson.” Oscar nominations are still over a month away, however, so perhaps this is the

spark needed to remind voters.

Surprise: “All We Imagine as Light”

It may be fun to needle the Golden Globes, but every once in a while, they get something very, very right — and this year, the proof is in the nominations for “All We Imagine as Light.” The Indian film from a small distributor is one of those gems that, more often than not, is mainly celebrated by critics’ groups. And yet here it was nominated not only alongside a truly great batch of films in the international category — which it won’t be at the Oscars because India controversially selected another film to represent the country — but also in directing, for Payal Kapadia.

Snub: Saoirse Ronan

For an actor who has received four Golden Globe nominations in her lifetime and one win (“Lady Bird”), it was a bit of a shocker that Saoirse Ronan did not receive any this year. She had two major performances in

notable films: as a recovering alcoholic in “The Outrun” and as a mother in wartime London in Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” (also entirely, bafflingly empty-handed).

Surprise: Sebastian Stan Sebastian Stan managed to get a supporting and lead nomination for two different roles. His lauded portrayal of a young Donald Trump in “The Apprentice” is not awards season kryptonite after all (Jeremy Strong was also nominated). Equally exciting is Stan’s recognition for “A Different Man,” and yet that also comes with a snub caveat: His breakout co-star Adam Pearson did not get the same.

Snub: Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Another major oversight is Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who delivered the performance of a lifetime in Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths” as Pansy, the very unpleasant but very quotable English woman with a chip on her shoulder. She has been getting recognition from prominent

critics’ groups — most recently from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association — so hopefully all is not lost for other nominations.

Snub: Lots of directors

Where do we even start with this one? Certainly, when only six are nominated, there are going to be some major exclusions, but the absences were glaring, including RaMell Ross (“Nickel Boys”), Denis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part Two”), Jon M. Chu (“Wicked”), Mohammad Rasoulof (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”) and Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”).

Snub: “Sing Sing”

One nomination for “Sing Sing,” for Colman Domingo, does not seem sufficient. Though it would have fit well in the best drama category, most glaring is the exclusion of Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin from supporting. The former inmate was a revelation in this film about incarcerated men who participate in a theater program.

Snub: June Squibb

The lead performance category for “musical or comedy” is, as always, all over the place. Unlike most years, there are actual musicals (Karla Sofía Gascón for “Emilia Pérez” and Cynthia

Goldberg plays baddie onstage in touring ‘Annie’ this holiday season

The actor is slipping into the terrifying role of Miss Hannigan

By Mark Kennedy

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Whoopi Goldberg is about to break two ironclad rules of show business — never work with animals or children.

The actor and TV host is slipping into the terrifying role of Miss Hannigan when the latest touring production of “Annie” lands in New York City for the holidays.

“I’m having the time of my life,” the EGOT-winning Goldberg said between rehearsals as she readies to tell the tale of a spunky young orphan with her dog Sandy set during the Depression.

Actor and TV host

Whoopie Goldberg will play Miss Hannigan in the touring production of “Annie.”

Erivo for “Wicked”). While the others might have comedic elements, mostly of the dark or satirical variety, there’s not really a straight comedy in the batch, which is unfortunate in a year when June Squibb delivered such a great comedic performance in “Thelma.”

Surprise: Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson’s renaissance is in full swing, with a nomination for “The Last Showgirl” that caught some off guard. She and Brazilian actor Fernanda Torres are up against the likes of heavy hitters like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Tilda Swinton and Kate Winslet.

Snub: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep has been nominated 34 times at the Golden Globes (including receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2017), and yet somehow, her delightful turn in “Only Murders in the Building” was not one of them this year.

Snub: Ryan Reynolds

The Globes love movie stars, especially the charismatic kinds who put on charm offensives at guild Q&As. Ryan Reynolds may not exactly be an Oscar contender for “Deadpool & Wolverine,” but he should have been a shoo-in for the Globes.

handle to anyone, they would laugh you off the stage because it’s not.’ It’s exactly what I can handle.”

Hannigan is a gin-swilling orphanage head who calls her charges “brats,” denies them hot mush and threatens “your days are numbered.” She has two great songs — “Easy Street” and “Little Girls.”

The musical contains musical gems like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life.” Martin Charnin’s lyrics, which earned him and songwriter Charles Strouse a Tony for best score in 1977, are playful and moving:

“You’re never fully dressed/without a smile” and “No one cares for you a smidge/when you’re in an orphanage.”

“I love the dark side of it,” said Thompson. “There’s a lot of joy and there’s a lot of rage and they are in conversation with each other. And it’s what makes it a great musical in my mind.”

“I thought, ‘Who can we cast in that iconic role that would be right artistically and right for a large venue and right for an audience?’ And it just felt like she was the right person,” said Carolyn Rossi Copeland, who is producing the new tour. Goldberg will help lead the show at The Theater at Madison Square Garden from Dec. 11 to Jan. 5. The tour has a deep connection to the first version of the hit show: It is being directed by Jenn Thompson, who at the age of 10 stepped into the role of Pepper in the original Broadway production.

journey. I have a lot of ghosts I got to exorcise and revisit and reclaim,” said Thompson, who for the new show has chipped away at the layers of productions and charted a course back to the original production.

“It had changed a lot over the years. It had gone through many revisions and alterations, and it wasn’t even a conscious mission when I started, but that’s

“It’s been a really beautiful

where we ended up — kind of back at the beginning.” Goldberg laughs when she says she signed on before realizing how much was going to be required of her. “I’m rusty. I’m old,” said the “The View” co-host.

“I got in the middle of it, and I thought, maybe this is more than I can handle. And then a little voice said, ‘Really? You know, if you said this is more than I can

The tour after the new year will head to Maryland, Alabama, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and Wisconsin.

The musical was born in the wake of the Vietnam War and the Nixon administration, and the creators have said they were seeking to offer some hope. “I think it is a story about survival and choosing the light when you are in the dark,” said Thompson.

ZOEY GROSSMAN / ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS VIA AP

Pamela Anderson received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in “The Last Showgirl.”

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP

App State’s ‘Elevator Queen’

No one could have guessed she’d lost everything in the storm

By Deanna Ballard For North State Journal

NEWLAND — When Appalachian State football resumed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in late October, no one was more excited to return to work than the “Elevator Queen,” Suzanne Baber. For the past three seasons, Baber has worked the elevator at Kidd Brewer Stadium where she is passionate about “lifting people up” in more ways than one.

The Mountaineers’ first home game back was about so much more than just football for the recently devastated area. The atmosphere was celebratory, a much-needed return to joy and normalcy in the wake of unimaginable loss. Boisterous fans filled the stadium, and Baber felt relief to be back in her element. She wore a brilliant smile and her newly customized black-andgold Mountaineer shoes.

No one could have guessed she’d lost everything in the storm — everything except the clothes on her back, her two cats and her favorite pair of shoes. An avid sports fan, Baber procured a job providing medical aid at App State sporting events in recent years. When the university launched an EMT program for students, her role shifted to everyone’s favorite “lift” operator at “The Rock.”

“That’s my elevator,” she stat-

ed, a fact no one dares challenge.

When the storm hit, Baber woke in the middle of the night to see water rising on her property near Newland. When she called the police, she was shocked to learn they’d evacuated her area several hours earlier. Somehow, she’d inexplicably been left behind in the mayhem. The water had risen to within inches of her bridge. The police urged her to leave immediately before she was trapped, so she packed her cats in a carrier and drove straight to the station.

After a friend offered her a bed for the weekend and the storm cleared, Baber tried to return home. She found it completely submerged, and everything she owned was underwater.

“I was in shock,” she tearfully remembered. “Sixty-two years’ worth of stuff, all gone.”

Family photographs, heirlooms passed down from her grandmother, a fully functioning boom box she’d received from a friend in 1999 with an 8-track player.

The donation center at Newland Presbyterian loaded her up with basic supplies. Baber spent almost every day for the next eight weeks sifting through the wreckage of her home and helping her neighbors do the same. But in true Baber form, she kept her sense of humor even while her heart broke with grief. Looking to create laughter amidst the loss, she held a mock memorial service for her beloved boom box on a video call with the friend who’d gifted it to her.

One day, her friend Hope was helping with clean-up and discovered a surprise treasure covered in mud — the sparkling

black-and-gold pair of shoes

Baber ordered specially for the football season with her name on the sides. Hope cleaned them up, replaced the ruined shoelaces and returned them to Baber good as new.

“It’s little things like that that don’t feel so little,” she said with a smile. The road to restoration for Baber and so many others in her situation will be long and arduous. Holding out hope that her home can be rebuilt, she is diligently working with organizations like FEMA and Samaritan’s Purse to set those plans in motion.

In the meantime, she and her cats, aptly named Grey Kitty and Brown Kitty, are living in a trailer provided by Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland. When she got the call to come back to work, she was elated. For Baber, going back to work at the job she loves was a much-needed distraction and important reminder that life continues on.

Returning to work and reconnecting with everyone at the stadium brought deep healing. Word of Baber’s tragedy had spread, and many came up to hug and check on her. She even ended up talking with one particularly large man in black-andgold-striped overalls, who had a posse of photographers around him. He was very interested in her story, so she shared about her loss. That man was former NFL player Jason Kelce, though she didn’t recognize him in Mountaineers gear.

Kelce’s identity was finally revealed when Baber innocently asked him, “Do you like football?” and the entourage around them snickered with laughter. He kindly handed her a stack of gift

cards, and they snapped a picture together. When she apologized for not recognizing him, he smiled and said he preferred it that way.

Through these challenging times, Baber holds strong to her faith in God and her love of people and animals. In the future, she plans to downsize rather than try to replace everything she lost. Catastrophes like Helene bring clarity to what is most important.

“If I rebuild, all I want is the basic things. What do we really need in life? If you’re alive, then you’re doing good,” she said with conviction.

It’s never easy to transition from being a giver to someone who needs help. Baber feels uncomfortable prioritizing her needs when so many others are also struggling. For this reason, she has only asked for help to rebuild her home. However, everything needs to be replaced. If you’d like to help Baber with gift cards to assist in replacing basic necessities and household appliances, consider sending a donation to 2034 Land Harbor, Newland, NC 28657.

As we enter the holiday season and reflect on all our blessings, big and small, Baber reminds us how work can provide dignity and motivation for the healing road ahead. Baber’s role as an elevator operator is unique, just like her. But no matter your job or vocation, it’s worthwhile and meaningful to fulfill and deliver quality service. Let’s take a cue from Baber — lace up our shoes, show up and give where we can. We never know how our seemingly routine actions could positively impact someone else — even, or especially, at the push of a button.

The past and future of Greensboro’s Carolina Theater

Since its grand opening nearly a century ago, the Carolina Theater has endured

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

GREENSBORO — Billed as “The Showplace of the Carolinas,” the Carolina Theater opened its doors on Halloween night, 1927. In cultured metropolitan cities around the country, theaters of opulent design were commonplace.

It was the Roaring ’20s — the era of “moving pictures” and a time when jazz music gained worldwide popularity. Like the elegant, grandiose venues and showhouses of New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., the Carolina Theater in downtown Greensboro was much of the same, with smartly dressed ushers guiding guests into the auditorium reminiscent of a Greek amphitheater.

In 1928, as vaudeville entertainment was in its twilight, the Carolina Theater became the first venue in the state to install Vitaphone speakers, which drew hordes of patrons dazzled by films synchronized with sound — or “talkies,” to use the vernacular of the day.

Since its grand opening nearly a century ago, the Carolina Theater has endured, surviving the Great Depression, a growing population moving away from a declining downtown and a destructive fire in 1981. Still, through community efforts from the United Arts Council, its board of directors and myriad donors devoted to having an artistic and cultural foundation in Greensboro, the “Showplace of the Carolinas” remains intact and has evolved while maintaining its luring aesthetic.

Throughout its near-centurion history, the theater’s stage has welcomed nationally touring musicians from Robert Earl Keen to Emmylou Harris and hosted productions of numerous plays and orchestral performances. Actors and drama enthusiasts from the community produce, direct and act in plays and musicals while inviting Greensboro’s youth to take part. Students of UNCG’s jazz program perform there regularly, and its themed film screenings featuring classics from Alfred Hitchcock’s finest and “The Naked Gun” to children’s movies and seasonal favorites (“Christmas Vacation” and “Home

Alone” are now playing) draw large crowds. The Carolina Theater, however, is a nonprofit. And while a major source of its revenue comes from renting out its spaces — including the 2013 addition of The Crown, which hosts concerts, cinema, plays and private events — the organization depends primarily on donors, sponsorships, board members and fundraisers to maintain growth and solvency.

“We have a goal this year of 75% of our revenue coming from programming and rentals,” said executive director Allie Arpajian. “That is a lower percentage than what it was before because we’re trying to really up our development.”

Arpajian was brought on as the theater’s new executive director earlier this year.

“My big thing right now is finding our niche,” she said. “I certainly want to lean into more

educational aspects, and best practices for theaters and historic nonprofit theaters, like ourselves, all point back to education and building the next audience space.” While the Carolina Theater presents concerts, films and performances of all kinds, Arpajian recognizes both hurdles and opportunities.

“I would love to see more educational opportunities,” she said. “So many people desperate-

“We want to get people off of the couch and bring them in for something that’s a little bit more engaging and communityfocused.”

Allie Arpajian, Carolina Theater executive director

ly want something for kids, like a summer camp or drama camp. … There’s a need for a pipeline to a younger demographic. We want to get people off of the couch and bring them in for something that’s a little bit more engaging and community-focused.”

In Greensboro, the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is the city’s main draw for Broadway productions and higher-end musical acts. Smaller music venues like the Flat Iron are unique for their ability to bring in regional indie bands.

The Carolina Theater, meanwhile, boasts not only the history, ornate décor and space, but it also serves as a centerpiece of art and culture in the gate city. Under Arpajian’s direction, its future looks as bright as it once did almost 100 years ago.

COURTESY SUZANNE BARBER

Suzanne Barber poses with former NFL player Jason Kelce.

COURTESY THE CAROLINA THEATER

The Carolina Theater’s main stage, pictured in 2024, hosts musicians, actors and more.

COURTESY LYNN DONOVAN Blues guitarist Eric Gales performs at the Carolina Theater in Greensboro for his 50th Birthday Bash in October.

The National bring burst of energy on live album of Italian performance, ‘Rome’

Eight of the band’s 10 studio albums are represented

By Dave Campbell The Associated Press

THE NATIONAL brings an abundance of energy for a brooding, middle-aged indie rock band, as evidenced on their new live album, “Rome.”

The 21-track, two-LP album — recorded in concert at the Parco della Musica auditorium in Italy’s capital in June — is a fan-friendly sing-along that strings together some of the best sounds of their 25-year career.

Eight of the band’s 10 studio albums are represented in “Rome,” releasing Friday from this Ohio-born and New York-based quintet fronted by the gravel-voiced Matt Berninger and fueled by two sets of brothers: Aaron and Bryce Dessner and Bryan and Scott Devendorf.

The opener, “Runaway,” is one

of a handful of deeper cuts, this one from the lyrically dreary yet melodically uplifting 2010 album “High Violet.” The drumming brilliance of Bryan Devendorf shines throughout another “High Violet” cut, “Bloodbuzz Ohio” and spreads into “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” the heart of their 2017 album, “Sleep Well Beast.”

The self-described “sad dads,” a self-deprecating nickname that shows up on some of their own merchandise, are rocking as hard as ever on this record.

Berninger, as he described during an interview last year with David Letterman, battled depression during the pandemic. “First Two Pages of Frankenstein,” one of two albums released last year in what became a revitalization for Berninger and his bandmates, has a significant presence on “Rome.”

An example: The angst in “Eucalyptus” over the impending breakup of a close relationship is palpable, but the genius

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland.

In the General Court Of Justice. Superior Court Division

Estate File # 24E002823-250.

The undersigned, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Mary Ann Bissette, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 205 Fairfield Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303, on or before February 28, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 28th day of November, 2024. Constance Bissette Greene Executor of the Estate of Mary Ann Bissette, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 11/28/2024,12/5/2024, 12/12/2024 and 12/19/2024 NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned, Catheryn Ann Baxley and Robert Durant Carver, having qualified as Co-Executor’s of the Estate of Dorothy L. Carver aka Dorothy Leggett Carver, Deceased , late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, herby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned in care of the undersigned’s Attorney at their address on or before March 6, 2025 or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the above- named Co-Executor’s.

This the 5th day of December, 2024. Catheryn Ann Baxley and Robert Durant Carver, CoExecutor’s Estate of Dorothy L. Carve aka Dorothy Leggett Carver Justin N. Plummer, Esq. Law Offices of Cheryl David 528 College rd. Greensboro, NC 27410 Telephone:(336)547-9999 Facsimile:(336)547-9477 December 5,12, 19 and 26, 2024.

NOTICE

Deborah Clayton has qualified as Administrator of the Estate of John David Clayton, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present their claims to the undersigned on or before 5th day of March, 2025, (which is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 5th day of December, 2024. Deborah Clayton, Administrator 137 Cloud Avenue Hamlet, North Carolina 28345 Estate of John David Clayton

Notice to Creditors ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Linda Joyce Farrior, deceased, of Cumberland County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before February 21, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. This is the 21st day of November 2024. ALicia Farrior, Executor 3809 Wildflower Road Hope Mills, NC, 28348

NOTICE

ESTATE OF IRIS WILLIAMS DARDEN Cumberland County, North Carolina Estate file # 24E002917-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Iris Williams Darden, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claims to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 12th day of December, 2024.

David Kenneth Darden, Jr., Executor 3983 Final Approach Drive Eastover, NC 28312 Of the Estate of Iris Williams Darden, Deceased

The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Bennie Ray Williams, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of February 2025 ( which is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned on this 21st day of November 2024. Jacqueline Louise Williams. Administrator/Executor. Of the Estate of Bennie Ray Williams, deceased 6483 Summerchase Dr. Fayetteville NC 28311

NOTICE

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE

SALE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

24-SP-221 UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that Deed of Trust by Gomrzarroyocastro LLC (“Borrower”), dated November 29, 2023 securing an indebtedness to GTR NV LLC in the original principal amount of $20,000.00 and recorded on November 30, 2023, in Book No. 11866, at Page 267 of the Cumberland County Public Registry (the “Deed of Trust”); and because of default in the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby and failure to carry out and perform the stipulations and agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at Cumberland County Courthouse, in Fayetteville North Carolina, on Monday December 23, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. those parcels of land, including all of Borrower’s right, title and interest now owned or hereafter acquired in and to the property, including all estates, rights, tenements, hereditaments, privileges, easements, and appurtenances of any kind benefitting the property, all means of access to and from the property, whether public or private and all water and mineral rights, situated, lying and being in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

Present Record Owner: Gomezarroyocastro LLC

The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The sale of the personal property is made in accordance with G.S. § 25-9-604 (a) and (b).

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. In the event that the Holder or its intended assignee is exempt from paying the same, the successful bidder shall be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, and any Land Transfer Tax. The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments. Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice Where the Real Property is Residential With Less Than 15 Rental Units: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a bona fide lease or tenancy may have additional rights

Dated: November 26, 2024

/s Cameron D. Scott Cameron D. Scott Attorney for Trustee 24 Hour Closing

NOTICE

In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #23

ESTATE OF JACQUELINE RUTH GRIMSLEY

CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24E001543-250

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jacqueline Ruth Grimsley, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 22nd day of February, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 13th day of November, 2024.

Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Jacqueline Ruth Grimsley

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm

Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311

Run dates: November 21, November 28, December 5 and December 12, 2024

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of Stephanie A. Boghosian, decedent, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to present them to the Administrator named below on or before February 28, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 21st day of November, 2024. Giles Clark Jones PO Box 8201 Greenville, NC 27835 Published on November 21st, 28th, December 5th and 12th, 2024.

Notice to Creditors

Estate of JOHN M. GURLEY

Cumberland County

Estate File No. 19E001744-250 All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against John M. Gurley deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims Mia Franklin, Administrator, at 7326 Hyannis Dr, Fayetteville NC 28304, on or before February 28th 2025 (which dates is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This 28th day of November, 2025.

Mia Franklin Administrator/Executor 7326 Hyannis Dr, Fayetteville NC 28304 Of the Estate of John Gurley, Deceased

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division

Estate File # 24E002789-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Richard Henry Hall a/ka Richard Henry Hall Sr., deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of February, 2025, (which is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make Immediate payment to the undersigned. This 12th day of November 2024. Debra Hall_______________________ Ad 420 Walstone Rd. Address Fayetteville, NC 28301 City, State, Zip Of the Estate of Richard Henry Hall, Deceased

of Berninger’s lyrics performed live lies in a mood-lightening list of household items — from bottled water to a ceiling fan. “What about the ornaments?” he sings. “What if I reinvented again? What about the moon drop light?”

Berninger’s baritone becomes scratchier by the song, as much a feature of a National performance as it is a bug. And for that reason, “Rome” is not the place to make a diehard fan out of a newbie listener. Berninger rarely holds back during a show, and 2023’s “Smoke Detector” is one of those songs that devolves into a cacophonic mess of top-of-thelungs screaming.

The encore features a liveshow staple, 2010’s “Terrible Love,” during which Berninger typically delights the crowd by trying to body surf as staff frantically try to feed him enough slack on the microphone cord to make the stunt work.

On the closer, “High Violet” cut “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks,” Berninger lets the crowd take the first verse. As the horns from Benjamin Lanz and Kyle Resnick — frequent tour guests from the band Beirut — punctuate the breaks, the feel-good melody that belies every anxiety-ridden verse resonates to the end.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF ELIZABETH MACRAE HALSEY CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24E001515-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Elizabeth MacRae Halsey, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 1st day of March, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested

NOTICE

4AD VIA AP

“Rome” by The National was recorded at the Parco della Musica auditorium in Rome.

day of December, 2024. James Douglas Nunnery 5125 Pondwood Drive Stedman, NC 28391 Published on December 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, 2024.

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DISIVISON CUMBERLAND COUNTY

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Lucille Campbell Williams, late of 3306 Teakwood Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348, Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 1159 Blankshire Road, Fayetteville, NC 28314, on or before the 14th day of February 2025. Or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 5th day of November 2024.

BARRY ANTHONY HILL Executor of the Estate of Lucille Campbell Williams 1159 Blankshire Road Fayetteville, NC 28314

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF WANDA PICKETT

CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24E001615-250 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Wanda Pickett, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 22nd day of February, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 15th day of November, 2024.

Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Wanda Pickett

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: November 21, November 28, December 5 and December 12, 2024

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001536-120

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Thomas B. Weeks and David E. Whitaker (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David E. Whitaker, Heirs of David E. Whitaker: Thomas B. Weeks, Martha Richardson, Sandra Bennington, Karen Ferrell, Linda Whitaker, Becky Richardson a/k/a Rebecca Richardson, Mike Whitaker a/k/a Justin Michael Whitaker, Ben Whitaker a/k/a Benjamin Keith Whitaker, Curry Whitaker) to Anderson Langford, Trustee(s), dated December 9, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 13898, at Page 0304 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF CLYDE SAMUELS

CUMBERLAND County

Estate File No. 24E1103

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Clyde Samuels, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 22nd day of February, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 18th day of November, 2024. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Clyde Samuels

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: November 21, November 24, December 5 and December 12, 2024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 24E1172-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Calvin Shipman, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before March 5, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 5th day of December, 2024. Calvin V. Shipman, Administrator CTA of the Estate of Calvin Shipman

NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR CTA

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF Felicia Rose Flanigan MOORE County Estate File No. 24 E 756

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Felicia Rose Flanigan, deceased, of Moore County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Joseph T. Tesoriero, Executor, at 10206 Caldwell Forest Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213, on or before the 13th day of March, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 4th day of December, 2024 Joseph T. Tesoriero Executor of the Estate of Felicia Rose Flanigan Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 12, December 19, December 26, 2024 and January 2, 2025

Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on December 16, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in No. One (1) Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in No. 1 Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, on the North side of Red Fox Drive, and being a part of Lot No. 61 of Foxwood Acres, a map of said subdivision being on file in the office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in Map Book 15, Page 42, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing iron pin the dividing line between Lots Nos. 60 and 61, said beginning point lying S. 75-13-22 E. 8.55 feet from an existing iron pin, the rear common corner of Lots Nos. 61 and 62, and runs thence with the dividing line between Lots Nos. 60 and 61, S. 75-13-22 E. 181.04 feet to an existing iron pin on the West side of Silver Fox Drive, a corner of Lots Nos. 60 and 61; thence with the West side of Silver Fox Drive, S. 06-25-58 E. 163.29 feet to a new iron pin; thence with the northwestern intersection of Silver Fox Drive with Red Fox Drive, as said intersection curves in a generally Southwesterly direction, at a radius of 20.00 feet, for an arc distance of

40.06 feet to a new iron pin; thence with the North side of Red Fox Drive, N. 7214-00 W. 191.88 feet to a new iron pin in the front line of Lot No. 61, a new corner thence a new line through Lot No. 61, N. 05-13-00 E. 173.84 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 0.80 acres, as surveyed by James T. West, RLS, of Harrisburg Surveying, July 31, 1996. BEING the same property as conveyed from Baxter Thomas Wright, III and wife, Carol Wright to David E. Whitaker, a single man, recorded on 09/23/2015 as Book 11598 and Page 0190 and Document Number 23296 in the County of Cabarrus, State of North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 874 Red Fox Lane, Concord, North Carolina.

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

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers,

NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against INA M. KING, deceased, of New Hanover

directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to

WAKE

Property Address: 5587 Lockridge Road, Fayetteville, NC 28311

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

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP000802-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Matthew David Leary (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Matthew David Leary) to Joel S. Jenkins, Jr., Trustee(s), dated September 28, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 11830, at Page 0194 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on December 16, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 30, in a subdivision known as Ascot, Section 3, Part 1, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 58, Page 45, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5587 Lockridge Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Parcel ID: 0530-65-1933

must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. 7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%)

of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22SP000547-910

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Robert Solomon George (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Robert Solomon George) to Harold Russell, Trustee(s), dated August 23, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 015417, at Page 01010 in Wake County Registry, North

been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office

of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 16, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wake Forest in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the Town of Wake Forest, Wake Forest Township, Wake County, North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 31, as shown on the map(s) entitled “Traditions Southwest, Phase 1Subdivision, Easement and R/W Final Plat” recorded in Book of Maps 2012, Pages 12071214, inclusive, Wake County Registry, to which map(s) reference is made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 364 Springtime Fields Lane, Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments,

Walt Pettit, Trustee(s), dated July 1, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 11454, at Page 1977 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 24SP001570-910

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JESSICA A. PARKER-HILL AND EDWARD HENRY HILL, JR. DATED NOVEMBER 29, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12858 AT PAGE 355 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

FILE NUMBER: 24SP000277-910

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by DENNIS R. SCHAFRAN AND JANICE SCHAFRAN payable to LONG BEACH MORTGAGE COMPANY, lender, to MOORE & ALPHIN, PLLC, Trustee, dated January 12, 2006, and recorded in Book 011783, Page 01841 of the Wake County Public Registry by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 019529, Page 02788, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Friday,

Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Leslie Ramsay and Michael Artis, in the original amount of $112,610.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for First Horizon Home Loans, a Division of First Tennessee Bank N.A., dated February 15, 2008 and recorded on February 15, 2008 in Book 012954, Page 01851 and modified by Loan Modification recorded on July 16, 2014 in Book 015721, Page 01971, Wake County Registry. Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 16, 2024 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 285, Brier Creek Country Club, Phase 5, as shown on a map thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2000, Page 1892, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 9112 Mission Hills Court, Raleigh, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer

County courthouse at 11:00AM on December 17, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Jessica A. Parker-Hill and Edward Henry Hill, Jr., dated November 29, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $121,505.00, and recorded in Book 12858 at Page 355 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 133 Gentle Rio Ct, Garner, NC 27529 Tax Parcel ID: 0334497 Present Record Owners: Edward Hill, Jr. and Jessica Parker-Hill The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are

and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A

Edward Hill, Jr. and Jessica Parker-Hill. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the

Decmeber 20, 2024 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0117863 ADDRESS: 4809 LEVEN LN., RALEIGH, NC 27616 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DAVID MCKEEHAN THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WAKE, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 011783, PAGE 01841 AS FOLLOWS: LYING AND BEING IN NEUSE TOWNSHIP, WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ALL OF LOT 9, LOOP ROAD SUBDIVISION, AS SHOWN ON A MAP RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1980, PAGE 938, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion,

directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Wake County, North Carolina, at 10:00AM on December 18, 2024, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: BEING all of Lot 81, Meadows of Northwind Subdivision, Section 2, as shown on plat of same recorded in Book of Maps 1995, Page 796, Wake County Register of Deeds. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 102 Northwinds North Drive, Wendell, NC 27591. Tax ID: 0218336 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional

part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds.

Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner of the property is C4H Home Buyer, LLC A WY Limited Liability Company.

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

§45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the

Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee P.O. Box 160 Jacksonville, NC 28541-0160 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 10:00 AM on December 18, 2024, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gretchen Robling, dated January 15, 2010 to secure the original principal amount of $128,872.00, and recorded in Book No. 13827, at Page 224 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 1523 Middle Ridge Drive, Willow Spring, NC 27592 Tax Parcel ID: 0239195

Gretchen Robling. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are

upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any resale. If

Fresh faces

Tim Albin, center, poses for a photo after being introduced as the fourth full-time head coach in Charlotte football history. Albin left Ohio to replace Biff Poggi, who was released last month after amassing a 6-15 record during his tenure.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bishop tapped by Trump for OMB post

Washington, D.C.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated outgoing Congressman Dan Bishop to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. Bishop lost the N.C. Attorney General race to Rep. Jeff Jackson last month.

Durham man charged with burning American flag pulled from flagpole

Washington, D.C.

Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in Washington, D.C., during protests in July. Michael Snow Jr., of Durham, is charged with destruction of federal property. The flag was pulled down at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station, by demonstrators calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

No more recounts in Supreme Court race, protests ahead

Raleigh A partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent in the state Supreme Court race.

Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734 -vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin asked for the partial hand recount, which wrapped up Tuesday and saw Riggs gaining votes. The state election board heard arguments Wednesday on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.

$2.00

Stanly school board names chair, vice chair for 2025

Five board members were sworn in to begin their four-year terms

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Education met on Dec. 3 for its annual reorganizational meeting where a new chairperson and vice chairperson were chosen for the 2025 calendar year. The meeting began with the swearing in of board members for new terms ending in December 2026. Following their unopposed races on Nov. 5, Meghan Almond (at-large) was officially added to the board, while Bill Sorenson (District 2), Glenda Gibson (District 3), Vicky Watson (District 4) and Carla

Poplin (District 5) each began another term.

Board Member Robin Whittaker will serve as the new board chair, while Board Member Dustin Lisk will serve as vice chair. Those positions were previously held by Poplin and Gibson, respectively.

Whittaker received a chair nomination from Gibson, and a 7-0 vote in favor of her nomination soon followed.

“I just want to thank the board for the opportunity to be able to serve as chair,” Whittaker said. “I’ve never served on the board as chair before, so it’s a new experience for me and I’m looking forward to it. I think we have an awesome board sitting here. We have really pushed this past year, especially in facilities, to get things done.”

She reflected on what she had learned in her two pre -

“I just want to thank the board for the opportunity to be able to serve as chair.”

Robin Whittaker, Board of Education chair

vious terms on the school board, citing her first term in the 1990s when the board had two female members for the first time.

“I’m looking forward to the year ahead,” Whittaker continued. “Our mission is clear — it’s that we are here to ensure that every student receives the highest quality education. We also need to make sure that they are in safe and up-to-date facilities, so I just

Stanly County Concert Association presents The Hall Sisters

The country pop quartet is scheduled to play on Dec. 14

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — For the third installment in the Stanly County Concert Association’s 2024-25 concert series, The Hall Sisters will be performing this weekend in Albemarle.

The country pop quartet’s concert is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center at 26032 Newt Road.

“The Hall Sisters over the last few years have established themselves as one of the premier acts in the country pop genre,” SCCA stated in a promotional advertisement. “Inspired by iconic groups of decades

past, The Hall Sisters combine their favorite elements of those legendary sounds to create a unique style of their own. ‘Synergy’ best defines these young women, as the combined output of their talents and musicality surpasses the sum of their individual parts.”

Based out of Garner, the family ensemble act is made up of four sisters: Jessica Hall (alto/ piano/mandolin/guitar), Natalie Hall (soprano/violin), Lydia Hall (alto/viola/guitar) and Valerie Hall (soprano/cello).

“The Hall Sisters over the last few years have established themselves as one of the premier acts in the country pop genre.”

Stanly County Concert Association on the group

encourage this board to keep pushing forward.”

After the chair election, Lisk received a vice chair nomination from Watson ahead of his unanimous vote.

“Thank you to the board for giving us a shot at leadership,’ Lisk said. “I think one of the good things about this board is we work really well together. Everybody gets a chance to serve. Everyone gets a chance to lead, and we’re all elected by the people of the county. We all try to come to a decision that helps move us forward.”

In October 2021, the Stanly County GOP’s executive committee nominated and appointed Lisk to fill a vacancy left by former Chairman Jeff Chance on the school board for a seat that was active until December 2022.

Lisk subsequently won his reelection bid against Almond to begin a full four-year term that runs through 2026.

The Stanly County Board of Education is scheduled to hold its next regular meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. inside the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

ule,” SCCA added. “This vocal and instrumental foursome of talented siblings blends stunning harmonies with exceptional instrumental skills to craft an entirely unique sound.”

Ticket prices for the concert are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Full-season tickets for the SCCA’s slate of concerts can still be purchased for $80 for adults and $25 for students. For season membership or single-ticket information, visit stanlyconcert.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Latin Swing Entertainment (March 22) and S.O.A.R Jazz Group (April 12) are the two remaining acts in this season’s concert series at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center.

The group’s upcoming show in Albemarle marks a return to Stanly County after playing on the Agri-Civic Center stage two years ago.

“With multiple CD releases and new material in the works, the ensemble has also maintained a robust touring sched-

The Hall Sisters have performed at The Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall, along with residencies at Dollywood and a Christmas tour through four countries in the Balkans in 2019. Together, they have released three full-length LPs of original tunes and country, Americana, and vocal jazz standards, as well as a Christmas-themed EP.

Established in 1947, SCCA hosted its first concert at Albemarle High School and later hosted shows at Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University). The Stanly County Agri-Civic Center became the home for the concert association in 1989 and has remained so ever since. Additional information on The Hall Sisters can be found at thehallsisters.com.

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North State Journal

(USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Jesse Deal, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

We stand corrected

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

CRIME LOG

Dec. 4

• Nicholas Adam Lawler, 41, was arrested for assault on a female.

Dec. 5

• Harry Michael Fahy, 28, was arrested for killing an animal by starvation, first-degree trespassing, and abandonment of an animal.

• Larry Wayne Earnhardt, 44, was arrested for possession of firearm by felon, felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, carrying concealed weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Daiquan Ikea Christian, 34, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver Schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear, and civil order for arrest for child support.

Dec. 9

• Chad Austin Hughes, 26, was arrested for felony larceny.

Dec. 10

• Patrick Mabry, 31, was arrested for possession of firearm by felon. THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Trump picks Iraq War vet from NC as Army secretary

Daniel P. Driscoll is an Army Ranger who deployed to Iraq

By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has selected a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as his secretary of the Army.

Daniel P. Driscoll, from North Carolina, had been serving as a senior advisor to Vice President-elect JD Vance, whom he met when both were attending Yale Law School. He ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.

“Dan will be a fearless and relentless fighter for America’s Soldiers and the America First agenda,” Trump said on his social media platform.

If confirmed, Driscoll, 38, would take the helm of a military branch that has been struggling to overcome recruiting shortfallsthrough a sweeping overhaul of its programs and staffing. The Army is also

undertaking a widespread effort to revamp and modernize its weapons systems. Since his graduation from Yale in 2014 and his tour in the Army, Driscoll has worked at several investment banking

and consulting firms in North Carolina.

According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010. He completed Army Ranger school, earning a Ranger tab, but it was not immediately clear when that occurred.

Completing the course allows a soldier to wear the tab but does not mean that he served as a Ranger in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, which is part of the Army’s special operations command and requires significantly more training.

He left the military service at the rank of first lieutenant. He also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Driscoll’s military awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the the combat action badge, which are meritoriously earned.

His other awards are often given due to completion of service during a military campaign and include National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his

His America PAC could fund GOP primary challengers

By Thomas

Beaumont, Juliet Linderman and Martha Mendoza

The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — A week after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a significant role in primaries.”

The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees.

“How else? There is no other way,” Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost conservative voices, including his own.

And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Republicans who don’t go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators and how we vote and how we’re spending the American people’s money,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

Trump’s second term comes with the specter of the world’s richest man serving as his political enforcer. Within Trump’s team, there is a feeling that Musk not only supports Trump’s agenda and Cabinet appointments but is intent on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republicans who may be less devout.

One Trump adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal political dynamics, noted Musk had come to enjoy his role on the campaign and that he clearly had the resources to stay involved.

Elon Musk, carrying his son X Æ A-Xii, leaves a meeting with members of congress to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency last week in Washington,

The adviser and others noted that Musk’s role is still taking shape. And Musk, once a supporter of President Barack Obama before moving to the right in recent years, is famously mercurial.

“I think he was really important for this election. Purchasing Twitter, truly making it a free speech platform, I think, was integral to this election, to the win that Donald Trump had,” said departing Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law. “But I don’t know that ultimately he wants to be in politics. I think he considers himself to be someone on the outside.”

During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed roughly $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed at reaching Trump voters online and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept. He also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran ads arguing Trump would not sign a national abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the justices who over-

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators … and how we’re spending the American people’s money.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)

turned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.

Musk’s donation to RBG PAC — a name that invokes the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of abortion rights — wasn’t revealed until post-election campaign filings were made public last Thursday.

Musk has said he hopes to keep America PAC funded and operating. Beyond that, he has used his X megaphone to suggest he is at least open to challenging less exuberant Trump supporters in Congress.

Another key Trump cam-

paign ally has been more aggressive online. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose group Turning Point Action also worked to turn out voters for Trump, named Republican senators he wants to target.

“This is not a joke, everybody. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched,” Kirk said on his podcast, singling out Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina as potential targets. All four Republican senators’ seats are up in 2026.

For now, Musk has been enjoying the glow of his latest conquest, joining Trump for high-level meetings and galas at the soon-to-be president’s Mar-a-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. The incoming administration is seeded with Musk allies, including venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks serving as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar” and Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Musk’s SpaceX, named to lead NASA.

Musk could help reinforce Trump’s agenda immediately, some GOP strategists said, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans. Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.

“Instead of using his influence to twist GOP arms when you have majorities in both houses, he could start going after Democrats who vote against Trump’s agenda in states where the election was a referendum for Trump,” said Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Otherwise, if you pressure Republicans with a primary, you can end up with a Republican who can’t win, and then a Democrat in that seat.”

KEVIN WOLF / AP PHOTO

President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate North Carolina’s David P. Driscoll as secretary of the Army.

JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP PHOTO

D.C.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Yes nukes!

It’s as if Jane Fonda was running our energy policy.

ONE THING HOLLYWOOD is very good at is scaring the bejesus out of Americans — even when they’re merely spreading false fears.

A famous movie in 1979 called “The China Syndrome” chronicled a nuclear power accident that could kill tens of thousands of Americans with radiation poisoning. The title came from a spooky fairy-tale scenario in which the nuclear material would melt the Earth right through to its core and then all the way down to China. Despite causing few deaths, the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania that year further panicked Americans about the safety of nuclear plants.

The damage to the industry was done and nearly fatal. For nearly four decades, the nuclear industry failed to permit any more new nuclear plants. That was yesterday. The time is right for a nuclear renaissance. The incoming administration, from President-elect Donald J. Trump on down, is pro-American energy independence. Nuclear power has to be part of the equation.

We need to get back to building new plants so we have the electric power capacity for the next generation of artificial intelligence and other uses that will tax the grid beyond what it can provide. AI will use three to four times as much energy as the internet, so demand is going to spike, and we will be at risk of brownouts.

Jack Spencer — an energy policy expert at the Heritage Foundation — has just published a fabulous policy manifesto, “Nuclear Revolution: Powering the Next Generation,” on how we unleash (we love that word) a nuclear power renaissance in America.

The great space breakout

This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S appointment of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was a wonderful moment for those of us who believe in space. I began reading about space in 1957. I was in eighth grade when “Missiles and Rockets” was a lively magazine and exciting things were happening.

Four years later, like most Americans, I was thrilled by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the Moon, and I still remember the night we first landed there on July 20, 1969.

Then everything seemed to slow down. We pulled back from longdistance projects and focused on the near-Earth International Space Station and space shuttle programs.

In my second term in Congress, I tried to jump-start a more dynamic, risk-taking and aggressive venture into space. On July 28, 1981, I introduced HR 4286 to establish a national space and aeronautics policy.

The 15-page bill had a comprehensive plan for a more dynamic American pursuit of space. In a manner that anticipated Elon Musk a generation later, sections 401 to 403 cited the founding fathers and especially the Northwest Ordnance of 1787. I proposed extending constitutional protections to everyone living in American facilities in space. Further, I proposed that when a space community reached 20,000 inhabitants, Congress would authorize it to establish selfgovernment. When colonies reached the same population as the smallest U.S. state, their citizens could apply for statehood.

This seeming fantasy began to become possible when Musk invented the reusable rocket at SpaceX. This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%. Musk is now creating the Starship. Its 39 Raptor engines make it the most powerful spaceship ever built.

With Starship’s ability to lift 100 passengers or 150 tons into orbit, the entire world of space activities will be revolutionized.

Multiple Starships could launch every day. Then the revolution will accelerate dramatically.

Other entrepreneurial companies are also developing a series of capabilities in different aspects of space. Axion Space is developing the first commercial international space station. Blue Origins is developing a broad space tourism capability.

In this dynamic environment led by successful entrepreneurs, the nomination of Jared Isaacman is a perfect step toward a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and useful government space program.

As the leader of NASA, Isaacman will change the slow, cautious, bureaucratic culture that has grown up since Apollo into a dynamic, risk-taking, entrepreneurial system. NASA will accelerate rather than hinder the growth of a whole new generation of diverse American space activities. These include occupying the Moon and colonizing

Spencer shows conclusively that “obstructive regulations at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and antinuclear scare tactics from the left are what has inhibited this industry for decades.”

It’s as if Jane Fonda (remember her in “The China Syndrome”?) was running our energy policy.

Today we get a little less than 20% of our electric power from decades-old nuclear plants that are now being retired. If we don’t build new ones, we will lose ground on our energy production at the very time we need much more capacity.

The federal government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on wind and solar subsidies — but these are still niche energy sources that are not scalable to meet our $25 trillion industrial economy’s needs. Former Vice President Al Gore and the climate change environmental groups should be all in on nuclear as a clean energy source with very minimal greenhouse gases.

If we double our nuclear power capacity over the next decade or so and allow more natural gas and oil drilling here at home, we can regain our energy-dominant position. OPEC would be a toothless tiger, and the Russian war machine could be defunded.

Small reactors that can serve towns of 50,000 to 100,000 people can minimize risks of major plant accidents that could put Americans in danger.

It’s all so logical. It puts America first.

We don’t need Fonda dictating our energy policy any longer.

Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He was also an economic adviser to the Trump campaign.

Mars — as well as developing space tourism and manufacturing in weightless environments.

Author Walter Isaacson wrote about Isaacman in his biography of Musk. The author explained that Isaacman had dropped out of high school to ultimately start what became a $200 billion-per-year payment system company. He then became a pilot and set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet. He became so skilled, he started a company that trained military pilots.

“Instead, for SpaceX’s first civilian flight, he chose a low-key tech entrepreneur and jet pilot named Jared Isaacman, who displayed the quiet humility of a square-jawed adventurer who had proven himself in so many fields that he didn’t need to be brash. … Isaacman bought from SpaceX the right to command a three-day flight named inspiration4 that would become history’s first private orbital mission. His purpose was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and he invited a 29-year-old bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, to join the crew, along with two other civilians.” Isaacman wanted to go to a higher orbit than the International Space Station. Even after he was told that higher orbits held dangerous space debris that could destroy his spacecraft, he said he accepted the risk.

As Isaacson wrote:

“Later, when I asked why he had not opted for the lower altitude, Isaacman said, ‘If we’re going to go to the moon again, and we’re going to go to Mars, we’ve got to get a little outside our comfort zone.’” Isaacman was so thrilled that he offered $500 million for three future flights, which would aim at going to an even higher orbit and doing a spacewalk in a new suit designed by SpaceX. He also asked for the right to be the first private customer when it was ready.

The Isaacman-Musk team fits perfectly into the visionary path Trump outlined in his first term.

On Dec. 11, 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called on the federal space program to cooperate with the private sector to return humans to the moon and explore Mars and other areas in our solar system.

As the president said at the time, “The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

Trump, Musk and Isaacman are three visionary pioneers who will collectively make America the leader of the golden age of space.

Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Ethnic armed group claims capture of a strategic Myanmar town

The Arakan Army controls the border with Bangladesh

The Associated Press

BANGKOK — One of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myanmar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 168-mile-long border with Bangladesh.

The capture by the Arakan Army makes the group’s control of the northern part of Rakhine state complete and marks another advance in its bid for selfrule there.

Rakhine has become a focal point for Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undisclosed location late Monday that his group had seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.

Outpost commander Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun was captured while attempting to flee the battle, Khaing Thukha said.

The situation in Maungdaw could not be independent-

ly confirmed, with access to the internet and mobile phone services in the area mostly cut off.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately comment.

Maungdaw, 250 miles southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has been the target of an Arakan Army offensive since June.

The group captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two other towns on the border with

Bangladesh, earlier this year.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has gained control of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 townships, along with one in neighboring Chin state.

Ann, a town in Rakhine that hosts the strategically important military headquarters overseeing the western part of the country, appears to be on the verge of falling entirely to the Arakan Army.

The group posted on the

Telegram messaging app late Friday that it had taken more than 30 military outposts, except the army’s western command, which controls Rakhine and the southern part of neighboring Chin state, as well as the country’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Recent fighting in Rakhine has raised fears of a revival of organized violence against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, similar to that

which drove at least 740,000 members of their community in 2017 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety.

The Arakan Army, which is the military wing of the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they are the majority and seek autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, denies the allegations, though witnesses have described the group’s actions to the AP and other media.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including members of the Rakhine minority, as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The border between Myanmar and Bangladesh extends from land to the Naf River and offshore in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arakan Army said Sunday it had ordered the suspension of transport across the Naf River because police and local Muslims affiliated with the army were attempting to escape by boat to Bangladesh.

The rebel group has been accused of major human rights violations, particularly involving its capture of the town of Buthidaung in mid-May, when it was accused of forcing an estimated 200,000 residents, largely Rohingyas, to leave and then setting fire to most of the buildings. It was accused of attacking Rohingya civilians fleeing fighting in Maungdaw in August.

The Arakan Army is also part of an armed ethnic alliance that launched an offensive in northeastern Myanmar last year and gained strategic territory along the border with China.

Philippine villages evacuate after volcanic eruption

Mount Kanlaon is in the volatile Ring of Fire

By Jim Gomez

The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines — About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than 120 miles across seawaters west of the volcano,

obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said by telephone.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singapore were canceled and two local flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon, which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental where nearly 47,000 people have to be evacuated out of a (3.7-mile danger zone, the Office of Civil Defense said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have temporarily transferred to the homes

of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large numbers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early Tuesday to the affected region.

“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos told reporters.

Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may require more people to be evacuated from areas affected by Monday’s eruption.

Disaster-response contingents were rapidly establishing evacuation centers and seeking supplies of face masks, food

and hygiene packs ahead of the Christmas season, traditionally a peak time for holiday travel and family celebrations in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Authorities also shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in the most vulnerable areas.

The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the nearly four-minute eruption of Kanlaon volcano on Monday afternoon had caused a pyroclastic density current — a super hot stream of gas, ash, debris and rocks that can incinerate anything in its path.

“It’s a one-time but major eruption,” Bacolcol told the AP, adding that volcanologists were assessing if Monday’s eruption spewed old volcanic debris and rocks clogged in and near the summit crater or was caused by rising magma from underneath.

Few volcanic earthquakes were detected ahead of Mon-

day’s explosion, Bacolcol said.

The alert level around Kanlaon was placed on Monday to the third-highest of a five-step warning system, indicating that “magmatic eruption” may have begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions.

The nearly 8,000-foot volcano, one of the country’s 24 most-active volcanoes, last erupted in June, sending hundreds of villagers to emergency shelters.

In 1996, three hikers were killed near the peak and several others later rescued when Kanlaon erupted without warning, officials said.

Located in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms a year and is among the countries most prone to natural disasters.

MIN KYI THEIN / AP PHOTO

Myanmar border guards stand to provide security near the fence at a no-man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY VIA AP

An explosive volcanic eruption occurred Monday at the summit vent of Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines.

STANLY SPORTS

Stanly high school athletics set for realignment

The county’s high schools will each enter a new classification

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — Next fall, Stanly County’s high schools will see reclassification chang es that will result in a major realignment of their athletic teams.

At the Stanly County Board of Education meeting Dec. 3, Carla Murray, the director of student services and athletics for Stanly County Schools, gave a presentation to the school board detailing the realign ment handed down from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association based on NCHSAA Bylaw VI adopted back in May 2023.

While a realignment ev ery four years is standard pro cedure, this next one for the 2025‑26 academic year will have an extra wrinkle: The number of classifications for high school sports teams in the state will be expanded from four to eight based on the school’s av erage daily membership.

“Due to the increase in the number of member schools in North Carolina High School

Athletic Association, they have done a reclassification of the schools so that no class would have more than 64 schools per classification,” Murray said. “They all fall in the middle of the classification, so there’s no risk of moving anytime soon, but they will do this reclassifi cation every four years.”

Currently a 2A school, West Stanly (914 students) will be the 12th largest school in the 4A classification, while North Stanly (651 students) will jump from 2A to the become the 41st biggest school in the 3A classification.

Elsewhere, a trio of current 1A schools — Albemarle (528 students, 16th), South Stanly (501 students, 26th), and Gray Stone Day (405 students, 49th) — will each move up to the 2A classification.

These five schools are al ready accustomed to partici pating in athletic conferences with split classifications, with West Stanly playing in the 2A/3A Rocky River Confer ence and the other four schools playing in the 1A/2A Yadkin Valley Conference.

For postseason matches, each school branches off from their conference into their re spective playoff bracket based on classification.

“You should be seeing stuff coming out soon because they’re going to have to go ahead and make these conferences so that they could go ahead and start scheduling games for next year.”

Jarrod Dennis, Stanly County Schools superintendent

“You should be seeing stuff coming out soon because they’re going to have to go ahead and make these con ferences so that they could go ahead and start schedul ing games for next year,” said Stanly County Schools Su perintendent Dr. Jarrod Den nis. “Next fall is going to come fast, and they have to find what their championship ven ues are going to be. It’s go ing to increase the number of venues they need available for championships.”

Dennis also noted that Stan ly’s schools will continue to play each other in nonconfer ence matchup settings even if they are placed in separate conferences.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jaxon Valler

South Stanly, boys’ basketball

Jaxon Valler is a senior for the South Stanly boys’ basketball team. He has also played golf and tennis for the Rowdy Rebel Bulls.

South Stanly beat crosstown rival West Stanly last week to cap a 1-1 week.

Valler scored 14 points in a loss to Piedmont, knocking down four 3-pointers. He also added five rebounds, an assist and two steals. In the win over West Stanly, he turned in a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, along with an assist.

Valler is third on the Rowdy Rebel Bulls in scoring and second in rebounding.

Tiafoe returns to Charlotte’s arena to watch

Cavs vs. Hornets

Tiafoe hit souvenir tennis balls into the stands during the game and visited the Cavaliers’ locker room after they beat the Hornets 116 102.

By Richard Walker

Associated Press

the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

“I’m a big NBA fan, and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,” Tiafoe said after picking up signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Garland said he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.

“We just hit it off, and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told

him to come to the game today,” Garland said. “It’s pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.”

Garland said he got a signed tennis ball from Friday’s exhibition.

“Yeah it’s pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,” Garland said. “I got a signed tennis ball and I think that’s a pretty good trade‑off.”

Tiafoe, who is from Hyatts ville, Maryland, said he grew up a Wizards fans and that former Washington guard John Wall, a Raleigh native, is his favor

ite player. Former Wizards star Bradley Beal was in the stands in Flushing Meadows to support his friend when Tiafoe reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.

“I’m still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,” the 26 year old Tiafoe said. “I love going to games when I can.” Hornets coach Charles Lee was thrilled that Tiafoe, current ly ranked No. 18 in men’s singles, came to see his team’s practice on Friday.

“I think it’s good for our play ers,” Lee said. “It’s great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.

“Having him at practice yes terday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he’s been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.”

Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Mill er when he edged Alcaraz, the four time Grand Slam cham pion from Spain, 5 7, 6 1, 11 9 on Friday. Earlier, 2017 U.S. Open women’s singles champi on Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madi son Keys. The tennis drew 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game that drew 18,832. Among those in attendance Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridg es, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cav aliers players Garland, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.

The Hornets introduced Ti afoe in the first quarter Saturday.

“It’s been an amazing experi ence here in Charlotte,” Tiafoe told the crowd.

The tennis star’s basketball appearance came a day after he played Alcaraz in exhibition

The

CHARLOTTE — Frances Ti afoe wore a Charlotte Hornets jer sey when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition tennis match. A day later, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets play

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Tennis star Frances Tiafoe hits tennis balls into the crowd during a timeout of an NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Parker, Allen elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame

Dallas Dave Parker and Dick Allen have been elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame by the classic era committee. Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21.

F1 RACING

Hamilton leaves Mercedes after 6 titles, 246 F1 races

Abu Dhabi Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes with one last overtake and a heartfelt message to the team where he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” he told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio. Hamilton is moving to Ferrari for 2025 after 12 years at Mercedes, where he won all but one of his seven drivers’ titles. It was the most successful partnership between a team and driver in F1 history.

NHL Blackhawks fire coach Richardson in 3rd season after league-worst start

Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise’s rebuilding project. Chicago had dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL worst 8 16 2 on the season. It was outscored 41 27 while going 3 9 1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team’s top minor league affiliate in Rockford.

SKIING

Vonn encouraged by competitive preparedness in ski racing return at age 40

Copper Mountain, Colo.

Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she’s reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower level super G races is that she’s right there after nearly six years away from ski racing. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga.

Face facts: Statues of stars like Wade, Ronaldo don’t always deliver

Sculptors offer advice on how to honor athletes with realistic depictions

By Ken Maguire The Associated Press

LONDON — In Miami, ob servers say the Dwyane Wade sculpture looks more like actor Laurence Fishburne than the former basketball star. The in famous Cristiano Ronaldo bust in 2017 gave the chiseled soc cer star a chubby face and goofy smile.

It wasn’t always this way. In classical times, sculptors “had absolutely no interest in depict ing people accurately,” explained Lucy Branch, a London based sculptural conservator.

“There’s this idea now, in this era, that commemorative sculp ture should be like portraiture — it should look exactly like the person they are commemorat ing. But actually that’s a really new idea in sculpture.”

To avoid pitfalls, here are some tips from sculptors:

Do your research

London based sculptor Hyw el Pratley studied countless im ages of Queen Elizabeth II to create a memorial statue in the East Midlands town of Oakham.

“A good portrait sculpture is evidence of 1,000 decisions af ter 10,000 observations,” Prat ley said.

In addition, Yorkshire coun ty sculptor Steve Winterburn recommends getting close with

a subject’s family and friends to help find characteristics.

“You don’t want it looking like a Madame Tussauds,” said Winterburn, who created a stat ue of five Rugby League greats at Wembley Stadium. “It still needs a bit of art in it, a bit of soul. That’s what makes art re ally sing.”

Smile at your peril

The Ronaldo bust depicted the Portugal star smiling crook edly. In Miami, Wade’s mouth is open in the statue representing the moment the player famous ly jumped onto a courtside table and yelled, “This is my house.”

It’s probably best avoided.

“It’s really difficult to do teeth looking good in sculpture,” Prat ley said.

Get the profile right

Start “by understanding the profile” before moving on to de termine widths from the front view, Pratley said.

“Get the profile right and you will have won half the battle be cause then you can have some thing at least that you can trust,” he said.

“There’s so many to under stand. It’s not two dimensions, it’s three. There’s an exponential opportunity for everything to go wrong. If you’ve got the profile, then you can go forward with more confidence.”

The eyes have it?

Winterburn tries to make

the eyes “come alive” in his work.

“The eye is the soul of the person that carries it,” he said.

“If you look at a lot of pub lic work, I’m not being funny, they’re dead. There’s nothing in them, they’re just feature less, soulless. With a painting, if in doubt, fade it out. With sculpture, there is nowhere to hide.”

For Pratley, especially when he is working with a live mod el, “I’m often struck by how the absolute essence of somebody is somewhere between the nos trils and the mouth. The flick er of muscles and the subtle movement of muscles around the mouth is so much you — it’s so much that person.”

Vote on it

In the UK, local councils — like a city council in the U.S. — might propose a project, fund it and select the sculptor, some times with little input from the public and limited vetting of artists.

Branch says there’s a better way: Vote on it.

“It is a really good balance and check for whether people on the committees have chosen the right sculptor or the right com position for that person who is being commemorated,” Branch said. “(The public) may not nec essarily be highly educated about sculpture, but they always tend to know whether the artist has hit the nail on the head.”

NC State opens conference play with overtime win

The Wolfpack snapped a three-game losing streak

By Ryan Henkel Stanly County Journal

THE NC STATE Wolfpack men’s basketball team (6 3, 1 0 ACC) shook off a tough three game skid with an 84‑74 overtime win over the Flori da State Seminoles (7 3, 0 1 ACC), their first game of ACC play this season.

The Wolfpack turned in a big second half and OT perfor mance by senior guard Dontrez Styles to lead them to the win. Nineteen of Styles’ 21 points — a season high — came after the first half, and he was a big clutch factor for the Wolfpack.

“I thought Dontrez Styles was tremendous in the second half,” said NC State coach Kev in Keatts. “He made play after play.”

It was also a big game for se nior guard Marcus Hill, who has started to find his scoring touch after a tough go in San Diego. Hill had just nine points across the two games at the Rady Children’s Invitational but has now had back to back games in double digits.

needed to get back into it. Following that foul out, the Wolfpack couldn’t quite hang on to its slim lead, but they took off to start overtime and never looked back.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win for the Wolf pack was their committed ef fort to rebounding against the second tallest lineup in NCAA DI basketball.

“It means a lot,” Keatts said. “It means we’re growing.” On top of being the Wolf pack’s first ACC win, it also ended a three game slide for NC State.

“Both of those guys (Styles and Hill) in San Diego, they were 3 for 12, and both of those guys the last two games have been really good for us,” Keatts said.

NC State led for a major ity of the game, but the court started to tilt midway through the second half as Florida State’s Malique Ewin started to heat up.

The Seminoles took a six point lead, their biggest lead of the game, with 3:44 to go in the second half. After that basket, Keatts called a timeout

In 33 minutes against the Seminoles, Hill had a sea son high and team high 23 points on 7 for 12 shooting from the field.

and got his group refocused.

“I wanted us to stay sol id,” Keatts said. “I thought we had done some bonehead ed stuff, and we switched out and we didn’t read and we didn’t switch to the inside and we gave up some easy baskets. The great thing about when you gotta a new bunch is they are a new bunch, so it’s like you can learn a lot of things.”

The Wolfpack responded with two strong runs to once again along with Ewin, who ended the game with 24 points and nine rebounds, picking up his fifth foul of the game, and that was just what NC State

“For us, it meant a little bit more,” Keatts said. “We had dropped three games against three really good teams, we were at home and obviously it was the first ACC game early in December. I thought our guys came out, responded and an swered the bell.

“This team needed an ear ly win together. We hadn’t had one, this particular group, and we needed a nice win togeth er and we got one. We needed a win where we made some mis takes, but we came back that way we could grow. I think this is the best thing that could have happened to us. We’ve had more adversity than we’ve had success, and winning this game will really help us.”

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN / AP PHOTO

Former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade looks at a bronze statue in his image during its unveiling ceremony outside the arena in October.

DENIS POROY / AP PHOTO

NC State guard Dontrez Styles shoots during a game against BYU in late November in San Diego.

Brenda Kay Smith Thomas

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

Dwight Farmer

Jean Morgan Mauldin

June 30, 1938 – Dec. 5, 2024

July 12, 1947 – Dec. 7, 2024

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

Brenda Kay Smith Thomas, 77, was born July 12, 1947, to parents Irwin and Dorothy Doby Smith. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 7, 2024. She was a native of Rowan County but spent much of her life in Stanly County married to her husband, Ronnie Thomas, of 59 years. They married in the summer after she graduated from West Stanly High School in 1965.

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.

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

Mrs. Jean Morgan Mauldin, 86, of Albemarle, NC, passed away on December 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

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.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 2 p.m. at West Albemarle Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Adam Hatley. Burial will follow in Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. prior to the service hour.

Kenneth Ray Huneycutt

James Roseboro

Oct. 29, 1939 – Dec. 3, 2024

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

Gary Gene Kinley

Johnny Harold Gill

John B. Kluttz

July 26, 1945 – Dec. 2, 2024

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

Oct.9, 1942 – Dec. 1, 2024

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.

A dedicated member of Big Lick Baptist Church, she served faithfully as a deacon’s wife, member of WMU, children’s Sunday school teacher, and volunteer in numerous children’s ministries. Brenda retired from Philip Morris in Concord, NC after 20 years where she started as the 12th person employed at that location. Beyond a beloved wife, mother, grandmother/ great-grandmother, and cousin, Brenda was known and loved for her warm smile, encouragement to others, and love for animals.

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.

Mrs. Mauldin was born June 30, 1938, to the late James P. and Ozelle Eudy Morgan. She was employed by Morton’s Tax Service for 25 years.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

She was a member of West Albemarle Baptist Church where she served in various capacities through the years. She was a member of the Adult Choir for 50 years. She was also a member of the Praise Quartet for 25 years.

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.

Gary Gene Kinley, 79, of Stanfield passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024, at Bethany Woods Nursing Facility in Albemarle. There will be no formal services.

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.

Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

Brenda is survived by her husband and best friend, Ronnie Thomas, son Wayne Thomas (Alyssa), grandchildren Raegan Huneycutt (Daniel), Masden Thomas (fiancée Chloe Graham), great grandson Declan Huneycutt, and cousin who was more like a sister to her, Dolly Tucker.

The memorial service will be Tuesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at Big Lick Baptist officiated by Rev. Jeff Springer. The family will receive friends in the left wing (awning) beginning at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Samaritan’s Purse hurricane relief.

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.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death in 2004 by her loving husband of 48 years, Jerry Dean Mauldin, and by a sister, Gladworth Frick. She is survived by her three children, Tim Mauldin (Anne) of Albemarle, NC; Kathy Roseborough (Kin) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and Lynn Sheppard (Evans) of Lilesville, NC.

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.

She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Justin Ford of Los Angeles, CA; Rachel Burns (Jason) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Leslie Long (Brian) of New London, NC; Meredith Warren (Paul) of Greenville, SC; Jesse Sheppard (Amber) of Lilesville, NC; Hunter Sheppard of Lilesville, NC; and Taler Miranda (Fabio)of Albemarle, NC; and 13 great-grandchildren, Haden, Maddie, Tucker, Rhett, Jaxson, Lyla, Levi, Bailey, Sawyer, Lainey, Tate, Viviana, and Giuliana; and one brother, Jimmie P. Morgan of Albemarle, NC.

Carroll Junior Pickler

March 30, 1940 – Dec. 2, 2024

Carroll Junior Pickler, 84, of Albemarle peacefully passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m., December 8, 2024, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle. Carroll was born March 30,

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

1940, in Stanly County to the late Houston and Mary Lee Pickler. He is lovingly survived by his wife Jeanette Pickler of 67 years. Those also left to cherish his memory are his daughter Lisa P. Crosby and her husband Chester of Albemarle, NC., granddaughter, Shellie Ridenhour and her husband Willie, greatgrandchildren, Merrick and Kaedin Ridenhour, and brothersin-law Jim Frick and Larry Thompson. Carroll is preceded in death by siblings, Francelee Rummage (Jim), Jewell Chagaris (Pete), Howard Pickler (Toby), Ramell Frick and Betty Sue Thompson. Carroll retired from Oakwood Homes after 35 years of service. He loved his flowers, fishing, car racing and had a passion for restoring old cars. Carroll was a great husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Pickler family.

Kenneth Ray Huneycutt, 85, of Albemarle passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be at 11 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Chapel in Albemarle, officiated by Pastor Stoney Benfield. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. There will be a private urn burial at a later date. Kenneth was born on October 29, 1939, in Stanly County to the late Raymond and Bertha Mae Huneycutt. He is lovingly survived by his children, Greg Huneycutt and his wife Misty of Albemarle, NC, Randy Huneycutt of New London, NC and Kristi Resh and her husband Karl of Ramseur, NC. Those also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren, Benjamin Resh (Raegan), Kate Lubsen (Connor), Grace Huneycutt and Jacob Huneycutt, and greatgrandchildren Mercy Resh and Easton Resh.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Stoker Huneycutt of 60 years, who passed in 2020.

He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.

Kenneth graduated in 1958 from Albemarle High School and was a graduate of Wingate University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Kenneth retired from Alcoa after 31 years of service. He was a proud veteran of the US Air Force, serving from July 1960 to February 1964. He was a weapons mechanic, having served in the US, Korea and Japan, where he earned the good conduct medal. Kenneth was a member of Yadkin Falls Masonic Lodge # 637 having served over 50 years. Kenneth was an avid outdoorsman, who loved fishing and hunting, more especially hunting ducks, quail and pheasants. He was a godly man, who loved serving the Lord and sharing the gospel message. He was an active member of Prospect Baptist Church.

Darrick

Baldwin

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International (www.gideon.org) or Tillery Compassionate Care (960 N 1st St, Albemarle, NC 28001).

Gary was born July 26, 1945, in Cabarrus County to the late Marvin Kinley and Dora Eudy Tucker. He is survived by his children, son, Todd Kinley and his wife Teresa of Marshville, NC, daughters, Tamra Hatley and her husband Ricky of Stanfield, NC, Tina Hinson and her husband Anthony of Midland, NC and Trisha Goins and her Husband Matt of Mooresville, NC. Those also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren, Talor Smith (Jason), Anna Mullis, Houston Hinson (Amanda), Trenton Goins, Molly Lisk (Travis), Dillon Hinson, Samantha Akers (Brad) and Wyatt Kinley, great-grandchildren, Ella, Elloree, Reed, Novalie, and Juniper, and brothers, Ronald Kinley (Marion) and Tony Kinley.

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!

Gary was preceded in death by his stepfather James Tucker, sister, Patty Barbee and brother Steven Kinley.

Gary retired with Wayne Dalton as an industrial door installer. He was an avid hunter and loved the outdoors. In his younger days, he loved playing industrial softball. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him! Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Kinley family.

At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.

John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.

Johnny Harold Gill, 82 of Badin, passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Graveside service is at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Friday, December 6, 2024, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle.

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

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.

Johnny was born October 9, 1942, in Stanly County to the late David and Evelyn Gill. He is survived by his sons, Johnny David Gill of Badin, NC, James Harold Gill and his wife Lydia of Albemarle, NC, and Paul Darrell Gill and his wife Anne of Saint Louis, Missouri. Those also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren, Matthew Gill, Madison Puckett (Jacob), Joshua Gill, Gabriel Gill, Samantha Gill, Lauren Gill, Joseph Gill, and Luke Gill, great-granddaughter, Holland, sister, Margaret Dennin of LaPlata, MD and her children Billy and Stephen Dennin.

Johnny Lived most of his life in Badin, where he worked for Alcoa. He was married to Barbara Elaine Gill for 57 years prior to her passing in 2018. Throughout his life, Johnny was passionate about the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, these hobbies he shared with his older sons and enjoyed for many years. He was an avid Appalachian State football fan, and he loved visiting the NC mountains. He also especially enjoyed spending time with his toes in the sand at the beach. He had a great sense of humor with a quick wit, a big smile and an even bigger laugh. He loved spending time with his sons, cherishing every phone call and visit. Above all, he was especially delighted in seeing his grandchildren and greatgranddaughter and hearing about their adventures and accomplishments. He was proud of them all.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.

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.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Huneycutt family.

He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.

He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.

He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of 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.

Doris was a gentle and sweet 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.

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.

Johnny had many friends and enjoyed trolling around Badin when he was able to chat with them over the years. The sight of his red jeep rolling through Badin is a memory we will all hold on to. Johnny also had many hobbies, and he was all consumed when something interested him. He enjoyed woodworking, often building small furniture and trinkets in his younger days. He and Elaine both enjoyed their salt-water fish tank and collecting a variety of items like gnome sculptures, Tiffany-style turtle lamps and clocks. He was a true master of many skills and could fix just about anything around the house.

Though he often pretended to dislike many pets Elaine brought home over the years, he secretly cherished them all, with his red poodle, Ruby, holding a special place in his heart. Ruby, along with the rest of his family and friends will miss him dearly.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Gill family.

Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

Doris Jones Coleman

STATE & NATION

Trump’s Cabinet picks set off political chain reaction

Two special elections will be held in January for a pair of congressional seats in Florida

By Kate Payne

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The field of candidates has been set for two special elections in Flor ida to replace members of Con gress nominated for positions in President elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Two doz en candidates have filed to run for the seats of outgoing Re publican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, though Trump has already weighed in on his pre ferred successors.

Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers for his new Cabinet is setting off a political chain re action that’s opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond. Multiple sitting elected officials have filed to run for the congressional seats, in cluding Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, triggering other vacancies and electoral opportunities.

Both GOP congressmen easi

ly won reelection to their respec tive seats in November, Gaetz in a northwest Florida district known for its sugar sand beach es and military installations, and Waltz in a stretch of the

Soros’ foundation says it remains focused on human rights

Open Society Foundations has reorganized in recent years

By Thalia Beaty The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foun dations wants those in the hu man rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday.

The foundations, found ed by billionaire investor George Soros and now led by one of his sons, Alex So ros, have historically been one of the largest funders of hu man rights groups. But since 2021, they closed some of their programs and reduced their staff part of a major internal reorganization.

In the process, many grant ees and others in the human rights movement have waited anxiously to see where the chips would fall.

“A reimagination has tak en place under the leadership of the new board chair at Open Society Foundations,” Nowro jee said, referring to Alex Soros.

“One of the reasons that we wanted to really reiterate in a large way, with balloons, et cet era, that we are still commit ted to human rights is because of this fear that’s permeated with the changes that some how Open Society Foundations is no longer going to be working on rights or equity or justice,” she said in advance of Human Rights Day, which the United Nations observes on Dec. 10.

Nowrojee offered few new details about OSF’s specific funding priorities, though ear lier this year, the foundations committed $400 million to ward green jobs and economic development.

Another new program focus es on protecting environmen tal defenders that will work in a few countries, like Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and end after five years, said Sharan Srinvias, a director of programs at OSF.

“We did a survey of what oth er donors are supporting and, in general, we saw that this is where the gap is,” he said of people who come under attack for defending land, water or other resources. “Especially bi lateral donors find it much eas ier to support global organiza tions, who in turn are able to

state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach.

The special elections to re place them aren’t expected to change Republicans’ slim ma jority in the House but could

trigger another shuffle among the state’s political hopefuls eyeing a run for governor in 2026 as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ sec ond term winds down.

Patronis is among those who Republican insiders say are con sidering a bid for governor, and a term in Congress could help boost his profile. Trump recent ly voiced his support for Patro nis in the race to replace Gae tz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, though that didn’t dis suade the 15 other candidates who qualified to run, even in a district where Trump is over whelmingly popular.

“Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorse ment,” Trump posted on his so cial networking site Truth So cial. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!”

Other candidates in the race include Republican State Rep. Joel Rudman, a physician who launched his political career by criticizing mask mandates during the COVID 19 pandem ic. The sole Democrat in the race is Gay Valimont, an activ ist for the gun control advoca cy group Moms Demand Action who unsuccessfully challenged Gaetz in November.

In the race for Waltz’s seat in Congressional District 6, Re publican State Rep. Randy Fine won Trump’s endorsement. Fine is a self described “conservative firebrand” who was investigated for allegations related to post ing the phone number online of a school board member, which

led to a wave of harassment and threats against her. No charges were filed against him.

Eight other candidates have jumped in the race for the seat, including three Democrats and a candidate unaffiliated with a party — Randall Terry, an an ti abortion activist who ran as the Constitution Party’s presi dential nominee last month.

Gaetz had been tapped to be Trump’s attorney general before stepping aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex traf ficking investigation. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allega tions. Though no longer under consideration, Gaetz had al ready resigned from his north west Florida seat, a move that effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Trump named Waltz to be his national security advis er, though the three term con gressman and retired Army Na tional Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary as the pres ident elect considered possi ble replacements in the face of growing questions about former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation.

Ballots for both special elec tions will begin going out to military and overseas voters on Dec. 14. The primary is sched uled for Jan. 28, and the gener al election will be held April 1.

support prominent rights de fenders in capital cities who are well known.”

One benefit of the limit ed time horizon, Srinvias said, is his team will mostly make grants of three or five years — longer than OSF’s typical grants — and offer grantees more flexibility. It will also have some funds to respond to emer gencies for human rights de fenders all over the world.

In 2020, OSF was the larg est global human rights funder, giving out the most money over all and making the largest num ber of grants. That’s according to the Human Rights Funders Network, a membership orga nization of grantmakers that tracks philanthropic funding

for human rights groups.

“When major funders adjust their priorities, it can have a rip ple effect. Their decisions can dramatically impact the human rights movements they once supported, especially in regions where they’ve been a long time champion,” HRFN wrote in its most recent Advancing Human Rights report from September.

To add to the atmosphere of uncertainty, another ma jor human rights funder, Well spring Philanthropic Fund, an nounced earlier this year that it would end its work by 2028.

OSF’s board aims to employ 600 people around the world, Nowrojee said, which is down from a reported 800 in 2021.

Some of the changes OSF

made in the last three years in clude winding down its global public health program and sig nificantly diminishing its pro grams in the European Union. It spun off its area of work fo cused on Roma communities into a new organization and is sued final grants to many of its partners.

“You never want philanthro py to just be doing the same thing. You want philanthro py to be getting out of stuff,” Nowrojee said. “And so there’s large areas of work where huge achievements were made, which we have retreated from, not because we don’t think that there’s value in them, but the movements themselves have strengthened.”

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, pictured in 2022, is a candidate to succeed Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressonal District.

FRANCOIS MORI / AP PHOTO

George Soros handed the reins of Open Society Foundations to his son Alex in 2023.

End of the road

East Forsyth senior wide receiver Corey Blair takes a moment to mourn the end of his high school football career near the end of the Eagles’ 37-21 loss to Weddington in the state 4A quarterfinals.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bishop tapped by Trump for OMB post

Washington, D.C.

President elect Donald Trump has nominated outgoing Congressman Dan Bishop to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. Bishop lost the N.C. Attorney General race to Rep. Jeff Jackson last month.

Durham man charged with burning American flag pulled from flagpole

Washington, D.C. Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in Washington, D.C., during protests in July. Michael Snow Jr., of Durham, is charged with destruction of federal property. The flag was pulled down at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station, by demonstrators calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

No more recounts in Supreme Court race, protests ahead

Raleigh A partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent in the state Supreme Court race.

Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734‑vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin asked for the partial hand recount, which wrapped up Tuesday and saw Riggs gaining votes. The state election board heard arguments Wednesday on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.

$2.00

Forsyth commissioners OK 2 zoning requests, 3 budget amendments

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

WINSTON SALEM — The Forsyth County Board of Com missioners met for their second to last meeting of the year, with an agenda full of general busi ness items.

The board first held two pub lic hearings with the first be ing a rezoning request for 13.9 acres of property located at the southwest intersection of Ru ral Hall Germanton Road and McGee Road from Agricultur al (AG) to Limited Industrial — Special Use (LI S) primarily for the purpose of outdoor storage of materials.

The second hearing was a special use request from Wake Forest University Health Sci ences for 6.72 acres of property located at Welfare Road to allow

for the uses of an academic and biomedical research facility as well as utilities within the Insti tutional & Public — Special Use (IP S) district.

“The request represents an internally oriented expansion of a previously established high tech medical research center,” said Planning Director Chris Murphy.

Murphy also stated that con cerns over potential traffic in creases were raised by the pub lic, and while Wake Forest University doesn’t anticipate any increased impact due to the expected number of employees working at the location to re main the same, NCDOT stated that they will monitor the loca tion for any potential future im provement needs.

Following the hearings, the board approved the requests.

The board then approved three budget amendments:

• An amendment to the 2016 Schools Capital Projects Ordinance to appropriate $700,000 to fund design documents for the New Ashley Elementary School and enable the project to be put out for bids.

• An amendment to the 2022 WSFCS Capital Maintenance 2/3rds Bonds Capital Projects Ordinance to appropriate $1.735 million for various school maintenance projects.

• An amendment to appropriate approximately $250,000 in additional funding for Public Health for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. The additional funds will

be used to enhance Public Health’s ability to provide supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care for low income people during critical periods of growth and development.

The board also approved five contractual matters:

• A three-year, $227,000 contract with Presidio Networked Solutions for a refresh of data protection hardware, software licenses, subscriptions and maintenance.

• A $215,500 contract with Contract Business Solutions for the purchase and installation of furniture at

See BOARD, page A2

She was mayor pro tempore on Greensboro’s current city council

The Associated Press

GREENSBORO — A long time Greensboro council mem ber who also was the first black mayor of North Carolina’s third largest city has died.

Yvonne Johnson, who was the mayor pro tempore on the current city council, died last Wednesday at age 82, Mayor Nancy Vaughan announced in a statement.

“Our city lost one of its cham pions,” Vaughan said. A cause of death wasn’t provided, but Vaughan had said last Tuesday that Johnson was absent from the council meeting that evening because of illness, the News & Record of Greensboro reported.

Johnson spent nearly 30 years on the council — first from 1993 to 2009, of which the last two years she served as mayor following a 2007 election victo ry. She lost her mayoral reelec tion bid in 2009 but returned to the council in 2011, serving un til her death.

Johnson “was a dedicated public servant and friend who led Greensboro with courage, passion and a sense of justice,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday on X, adding he was “grateful for her good work and the pos itive changes she helped make.” Johnson was long involved in civil rights. She recalled in a 2023 interview with a pub lication of the North Carolina League of Municipalities about taking part in the 1963 March on Washington and in the sit‑in movement while a student at Bennett College in Greensboro.

“I grew up here and I expe rienced segregation,” Johnson told Southern City Magazine.

“I always felt it was wrong, but I never really had that spark,

that motivation to get out there and do something that might make a difference. The spir it at Bennett spurred me. Once I was on the bandwagon, I was there.”

Johnson served as the leader of One Step Further, a nonprofit providing food assistance, me diation and other services, from its founding in 1982 until earli er this year, a previous news re lease from the nonprofit said.

“Our family is immense ly proud of her service and she was and still is a role model for her four kids and seven grand kids,” Lisa Johnson Tonkins, Johnson’s daughter and the cur rent Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court, was quoted as saying in Vaughan’s statement. “Her mantra was that service is the rent you pay for your time on Earth. Mom’s rent has been paid up.”

THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN / TWIN CITY HERALD

COURTESY PHOTO Councilwoman Yvonne Johnson died last week at age 82.

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Trump picks Iraq War vet from NC as Army secretary

Daniel P. Driscoll is an Army Ranger who deployed to Iraq

By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has se lected a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as his sec retary of the Army.

Daniel P. Driscoll, from North Carolina, had been serving as a senior advisor to Vice Presi dent elect JD Vance, whom he met when both were attending Yale Law School. He ran unsuc cessfully in the Republican pri mary for a North Carolina con gressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowd ed field of candidates.

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BOARD from page A1

the Highland Avenue Center Project (Health and Human Services Building).

• A $115,000 contract with A3 Communications for the installation of an access control system for the Highland Avenue Center Project.

• An approximately $100,000 contract with Batteries of N.C. for the purchase and installation of equipment necessary to upfit 15 2024 Ford Interceptor police pursuit vehicles.

• A $115,000 contract with Teledyne API for the purchase of air pollution monitoring equipment.

During discussions for one of the contracts, commission er Malishai Woodbury offered a suggestion for the board to con sider changing its approach to which bids it chooses to accept for RFQs.

“I definitely understand the premise of going with the low est bidder on face value so that we are good stewards of the tax paying citizens, but I do want us to also kind of assess if that strat egy prevents us from consider ing, reasonably, MWOB or HUB businesses,” Woodbury said.

“If the reason that we can’t use those businesses is because they generally don’t have the lowest bid, then I would ask the com missioners to consider some type of strategy that doesn’t prevent them from being considered. I don’t know what that would per sonally look like, but I think we need to look into it.”

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet Dec. 19.

“Dan will be a fearless and relentless fighter for America’s Soldiers and the America First agenda,” Trump said on his so cial media platform.

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

and consulting firms in North Carolina.

According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor offi cer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010. He completed Army Ranger school, earning a Ranger tab, but it was not immediately clear when that occurred.

Completing the course al lows a soldier to wear the tab but does not mean that he served as a Ranger in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, which is part of the Army’s spe cial operations command and requires significantly more training.

He left the military service at the rank of first lieutenant. He also graduated from the Uni versity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Driscoll’s military awards in clude the Army Commendation Medal and the the combat ac tion badge, which are meritori ously earned.

If confirmed, Driscoll, 38, would take the helm of a mil itary branch that has been struggling to overcome recruit ing shortfallsthrough a sweep ing overhaul of its programs and staffing. The Army is also

undertaking a widespread ef fort to revamp and modernize its weapons systems. Since his graduation from Yale in 2014 and his tour in the Army, Driscoll has worked at several investment banking

His other awards are often given due to completion of ser vice during a military campaign and include National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Ser vice Medal, Army Service Rib bon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his

His America PAC could fund GOP primary challengers

By Thomas Beaumont, Juliet Linderman and Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — A week after President elect Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a signif icant role in primaries.”

The following week, the bil lionaire responded to a report that he might fund challeng ers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees.

“How else? There is no other way,” Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost conservative voices, including his own.

And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and en trepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Repub licans who don’t go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators and how we vote and how we’re spending the American people’s money,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R Ga.).

Trump’s second term comes with the specter of the world’s richest man serving as his political enforcer. Within Trump’s team, there is a feel ing that Musk not only sup ports Trump’s agenda and Cab inet appointments but is intent on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republi cans who may be less devout.

One Trump adviser, speak ing on condition of anonymity to discuss internal political dy namics, noted Musk had come to enjoy his role on the cam paign and that he clearly had the resources to stay involved.

JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP PHOTO

Elon Musk, carrying his son X Æ A-Xii, leaves a meeting with members of congress to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency last week in Washington, D.C.

The adviser and others not ed that Musk’s role is still tak ing shape. And Musk, once a supporter of President Barack Obama before moving to the right in recent years, is famous ly mercurial.

“I think he was really im portant for this election. Pur chasing Twitter, truly mak ing it a free speech platform, I think, was integral to this election, to the win that Don ald Trump had,” said depart ing Republican National Com mittee co chair Lara Trump, the president elect’s daugh ter in law. “But I don’t know that ultimately he wants to be in politics. I think he considers himself to be someone on the outside.”

During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed roughly $200 million to Amer ica PAC, a super PAC aimed at reaching Trump voters on line and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept. He also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran ads argu ing Trump would not sign a na tional abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the justices who over

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators … and how we’re spending the American people’s money.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)

turned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.

Musk’s donation to RBG PAC — a name that invokes the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of abor tion rights — wasn’t revealed until post election campaign filings were made public last Thursday.

Musk has said he hopes to keep America PAC funded and operating. Beyond that, he has used his X megaphone to sug gest he is at least open to chal lenging less exuberant Trump supporters in Congress.

Another key Trump cam

paign ally has been more ag gressive online. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose group Turning Point Action also worked to turn out voters for Trump, named Republican senators he wants to target.

“This is not a joke, every body. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched,” Kirk said on his podcast, singling out Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Til lis of North Carolina as poten tial targets. All four Republican senators’ seats are up in 2026.

For now, Musk has been en joying the glow of his latest conquest, joining Trump for high level meetings and galas at the soon to be president’s Mar a Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. The in coming administration is seed ed with Musk allies, including venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks serving as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar” and Jar ed Isaacman, a tech billionaire who bought a series of space flights from Musk’s SpaceX, named to lead NASA.

Musk could help reinforce Trump’s agenda immediately, some GOP strategists said, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans. Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.

“Instead of using his influ ence to twist GOP arms when you have majorities in both houses, he could start going af ter Democrats who vote against Trump’s agenda in states where the election was a referendum for Trump,” said Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Sen atorial Committee. “Other wise, if you pressure Republi cans with a primary, you can end up with a Republican who can’t win, and then a Democrat in that seat.”

KEVIN WOLF / AP PHOTO

President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate North Carolina’s David P. Driscoll as secretary of the Army.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Random ramblings

Students may have more common sense than those running the place.

ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN said, “We know they are lying. They know they are lying. They know that we know they are lying. We know that they know we know they are lying. And still they continue to lie.” This fits our mainstream media perfectly.

An associate professor at George Mason University has said that marriage is akin to “white supremacy.” She claims marriage advantages “white nuclear families.” Is there any wonder why our young people are so confused after going to college?

A Virginia teacher just won a lawsuit and was awarded $575,000 by the West Point School District. He was fired for refusing to use students’ preferred pronouns. Many other such cases are being challenged in courts around the country.

A professor at the University of Kansas was filmed saying to his class that men who refused to vote for Kamala Harris should be lined up and shot. Why are people like this even in a classroom?

A food pantry in Minneapolis is stirring up controversy. They have initiated a new policy and are refusing to serve whites. Their services will now only be offered to “black and indigenous” people. Sounds like another lawsuit.

FEMA has been criticized recently for failing to serve victims with Trump signs in their yards. They have also misapplied funds toward illegal immigrants instead of

hurricane victims. Now a whistleblower has come forward and claims that FEMA is more focused on diversity, equity and inclusion instead of saving lives and responding to disasters.

Two students have filed a free speech lawsuit against George Mason University. The students were disciplined for objecting to tampons in the men’s restrooms. Students may have more common sense than those running the place.

According to a new report, students in Ireland find it “much more difficult to come out as an Evangelical Christian than it is to come out as LGBT,” according to the BBC. No studies from the U.S., but I am betting results would be the same.

President Joe Biden just will not give up on his student loan forgiveness initiative. After being told repeatedly by the courts it is unconstitutional, he keeps trying another door. Now he is not only trying to forgive current debts, but he also wants to extend it to future borrowers. Now what fool would not borrow money, whether needed or not, if they knew it would be forgiven? This is another attempt to initiate a new government program before he goes out the door.

Colorado keeps getting hit with some hard lessons. After losing the case of Jack Phillips, the cake baker who refused to make a cake for a same sex couple, they have done it again. This time, they have been ordered to pay $1.5

The great space breakout

This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S appointment of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was a wonderful moment for those of us who believe in space. I began reading about space in 1957. I was in eighth grade when “Missiles and Rockets” was a lively magazine and exciting things were happening.

Four years later, like most Americans, I was thrilled by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the Moon, and I still remember the night we first landed there on July 20, 1969.

Then everything seemed to slow down. We pulled back from long distance projects and focused on the near Earth International Space Station and space shuttle programs.

In my second term in Congress, I tried to jump start a more dynamic, risk taking and aggressive venture into space. On July 28, 1981, I introduced HR 4286 to establish a national space and aeronautics policy. The 15 page bill had a comprehensive plan for a more dynamic American pursuit of space. In a manner that anticipated Elon Musk a generation later, sections 401 to 403 cited the founding fathers and especially the Northwest Ordnance of 1787. I proposed extending constitutional protections to everyone living in American facilities in space. Further, I proposed that when a space community reached 20,000 inhabitants, Congress would authorize it to establish self government. When colonies reached the same population as the smallest U.S. state, their citizens could apply for statehood.

This seeming fantasy began to become possible when Musk invented the reusable rocket at SpaceX. This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%. Musk is now creating the Starship. Its 39 Raptor engines make it the most powerful spaceship ever built. With Starship’s ability to lift 100 passengers or 150 tons into orbit, the entire world of space activities will be revolutionized.

Multiple Starships could launch every day. Then the revolution will accelerate dramatically.

Other entrepreneurial companies are also developing a series of capabilities in different aspects of space. Axion Space is developing the first commercial international space station. Blue Origins is developing a broad space tourism capability. In this dynamic environment led by successful entrepreneurs, the nomination of Jared Isaacman is a perfect step toward a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and useful government space program.

As the leader of NASA, Isaacman will change the slow, cautious, bureaucratic culture that has grown up since Apollo into a dynamic, risk taking, entrepreneurial system. NASA will accelerate rather than hinder the growth of a whole new generation of diverse American space activities. These include occupying the Moon and colonizing Mars — as well as

million to the web designer who refused to design a website for a same sex union. Our First Amendment is the cornerstone of our republic.

The Pentagon failed its seventh audit. They cannot account for the $824 billion budget. Now that is a serious problem. And some folks wonder why others are excited about President Donald Trump and his attempt to clean up this mess.

The State Department held taxpayer f unded “cry sessions” after the Trump win. This is a perfect example of waste and partisan dysfunction within our government. Nobody could make this stuff up.

The Texas State Board of Education has approved a new curriculum that will introduce Bible ba sed teachings in elementary schools. The curriculum is optional for schools to adopt. It will be interesting to see how many will adopt this new program.

Jaguar has come out with an ad that is absolutely disgusting. I have not yet figured out who on Earth came out with such a crazy ad. Companies should have learned how damaging ads can be after the Bud Light fiasco.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec has represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the North Carolina Senate since 2014. She lives in Kernersville.

developing space tourism and manufacturing in weightless environments.

Author Walter Isaacson wrote about Isaacman in his biography of Musk. The author explained that Isaacman had dropped out of high school to ultimately start what became a $200 billion per year payment system company. He then became a pilot and set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet. He became so skilled, he started a company that trained military pilots.

“Instead, for SpaceX’s first civilian flight, he chose a low key tech entrepreneur and jet pilot named Jared Isaacman, who displayed the quiet humility of a square jawed adventurer who had proven himself in so many fields that he didn’t need to be brash. … Isaacman bought from SpaceX the right to command a three day flight named inspiration4 that would become history’s first private orbital mission. His purpose was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and he invited a 29 year old bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, to join the crew, along with two other civilians.”

Isaacman wanted to go to a higher orbit than the International Space Station. Even after he was told that higher orbits held dangerous space debris that could destroy his spacecraft, he said he accepted the risk.

As Isaacson wrote:

“Later, when I asked why he had not opted for the lower altitude, Isaacman said, ‘If we’re going to go to the moon again, and we’re going to go to Mars, we’ve got to get a little outside our comfort zone.’”

Isaacman was so thrilled that he offered $500 million for three future flights, which would aim at going to an even higher orbit and doing a spacewalk in a new suit designed by SpaceX. He also asked for the right to be the first private customer when it was ready.

The Isaacman Musk team fits perfectly into the visionary path Trump outlined in his first term.

On Dec. 11, 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called on the federal space program to cooperate with the private sector to return humans to the moon and explore Mars and other areas in our solar system.

As the president said at the time, “The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

Trump, Musk and Isaacman are three visionary pioneers who will collectively make America the leader of the golden age of space.

Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House.

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | SEN. JOYCE KRAWIEC

Ethnic armed group claims capture of a strategic Myanmar town

The Arakan Army controls the border with Bangladesh

The Associated Press

BANGKOK — One of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myan mar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full con trol of the 168 mile long border with Bangladesh.

The capture by the Arakan Army makes the group’s control of the northern part of Rakhine state complete and marks an other advance in its bid for self r ule there.

Rakhine has become a fo cal point for Myanmar’s nation wide civil war, in which pro de mocracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took pow er in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Khaing Thukha, a spokes person for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undis closed location late Monday that his group had seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.

Outpost commander Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun was captured while attempting to flee the battle, Khaing Thukha said.

The situation in Maung daw could not be independent

ly confirmed, with access to the internet and mobile phone ser vices in the area mostly cut off.

Myanmar’s military gov ernment did not immediately comment.

Maungdaw, 250 miles southwest of Mandalay, Myan mar’s second l argest city, has been the target of an Arakan Army offensive since June.

The group captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two oth er towns on the border with

Bangladesh, earlier this year.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has gained con trol of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 town ships, along with one in neigh boring Chin state.

Ann, a town in Rakhine that hosts the strategically import ant military headquarters over seeing the western part of the country, appears to be on the verge of falling entirely to the Arakan Army.

The group posted on the

Telegram messaging app late Friday that it had taken more than 30 military outposts, ex cept the army’s western com mand, which controls Rakhine and the southern part of neigh boring Chin state, as well as the country’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Recent fighting in Rakh ine has raised fears of a reviv al of organized violence against members of the Muslim Ro hingya minority, similar to that

which drove at least 740,000 members of their community in 2017 to flee to neighboring Ban gladesh for safety.

The Arakan Army, which is the military wing of the Bud dhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they are the majority and seek auton omy from Myanmar’s central government, denies the allega tions, though witnesses have described the group’s actions to the AP and other media.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including members of the Rakhine minority, as hav ing illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The border between Myan mar and Bangladesh extends from land to the Naf River and offshore in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arakan Army said Sun day it had ordered the suspen sion of transport across the Naf River because police and lo cal Muslims affiliated with the army were attempting to escape by boat to Bangladesh.

The rebel group has been ac cused of major human rights violations, particularly involv ing its capture of the town of Buthidaung in mid May, when it was accused of forcing an es timated 200,000 residents, largely Rohingyas, to leave and then setting fire to most of the buildings. It was accused of at tacking Rohingya civilians flee ing fighting in Maungdaw in August.

The Arakan Army is also part of an armed ethnic alliance that launched an offensive in north eastern Myanmar last year and gained strategic territory along the border with China.

Philippine villages evacuate after volcanic eruption

Mount Kanlaon is in the volatile Ring of Fire

By Jim Gomez

The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines —

About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philip pine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and su perhot streams of gas and de bris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros is land did not cause any imme diate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indi cating further and more explo sive eruptions may occur.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique prov ince, more than 120 miles across seawaters west of the volcano,

obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief vol canologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said by telephone.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singa pore were canceled and two lo cal flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, accord ing to the Civil Aviation Author ity of the Philippines.

The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon, which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Cas tellana town in Negros Occi dental where nearly 47,000 peo ple have to be evacuated out of a (3.7 mile danger zone, the Office of Civil Defense said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have tempo rarily transferred to the homes

of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimu tan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large num bers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early Tuesday to the affect ed region.

“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuat ed outside the 6 k ilometer dan ger zone,” Marcos told reporters.

Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may re quire more people to be evacuat ed from areas affected by Mon day’s eruption.

Disaster response contin gents were rapidly establishing evacuation centers and seek ing supplies of face masks, food

and hygiene packs ahead of the Christmas season, traditional ly a peak time for holiday trav el and family celebrations in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Authorities also shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in the most vulnerable areas.

The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismolo gy said the nearly four minute eruption of Kanlaon volcano on Monday afternoon had caused a pyroclastic density current — a super hot stream of gas, ash, de bris and rocks that can inciner ate anything in its path.

“It’s a one time but major eruption,” Bacolcol told the AP, adding that volcanologists were assessing if Monday’s eruption spewed old volcanic debris and rocks clogged in and near the summit crater or was caused by rising magma from underneath.

Few volcanic earthquakes were detected ahead of Mon

day’s explosion, Bacolcol said.

The alert level around Kan laon was placed on Monday to the third highest of a five step warning system, indicating that “magmatic eruption” may have begun and may progress to fur ther explosive eruptions.

The nearly 8,000 foot vol cano, one of the country’s 24 most active volcanoes, last erupted in June, sending hun dreds of villagers to emergency shelters.

In 1996, three hikers were killed near the peak and several others later rescued when Kan laon erupted without warning, officials said.

Located in the so called Pa cific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and vol canic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 ty phoons and storms a year and is among the countries most prone to natural disasters.

MIN KYI THEIN / AP PHOTO

Myanmar border guards stand to provide security near the fence at a no-man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY VIA AP

An explosive volcanic eruption occurred Monday at the summit vent of Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines.

Forsyth SPORTS

New leadership executives introduced as Andretti

Global moves on without Andretti

Two NASCAR executives are set to replace Michael Andretti

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

TWO LONGTIME NASCAR executives were introduced at Andretti Global on Wednesday as part of the restructuring now that Michael Andretti has stepped aside,

Doug Duchardt, who has served multiple roles with race teams and with General Motors, was named chief performance officer of motorsports at TWG Group, which now oversees all of the former Andretti properties.

Jill Gregory, a former NASCAR vice president and marketing officer who also ran Sonoma Raceway, was named chief operating officer of a subsidiary of TWG and president of Andretti Global.

The two were introduced at the Andretti race shop in Indiana in a morning team meeting, people present told the AP. They asked for anonymity because TWG does not plan to formally announce its leadership team until next week.

TWG Group is the investment company founded by Mark Walter, who as CEO of Guggenheim Partners is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea, and Dan Towriss, who became involved in motorsports initially as a sponsor for Andretti and took an ownership role in Andretti Global in 2022.

Towriss is now the majority owner of the Andretti race teams and the CEO of TWG Global’s motorsports arm. The branch in charge of motorsports will have its own name, to be revealed in next week’s official announcement of the restructuring of the executive team.

Duchardt spent 2024 as team president of NASCAR’s Spire Motorsports, the racing series

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jaylin Murry

where he worked most of his career. Before Spire, he spent nearly six years with Chip Ganassi Racing, first as chief operating officer of all of Ganassi’s programs, including the IndyCar team. When Ganassi left NASCAR, Duchardt spent two years with Ganassi’s IndyCar and sports car team before moving to Spire.

He also spent 12 years in an executive role at Hendrick Motorsports, including a four-year period as executive vice president and general manager. Duchardt started his career with General Motors, which will be the TWG partner on the Cadillac F1 team set to launch in 2026.

In his role, he will oversee all of TWG’s motorsports properties. TWG is now also partners with Spire — Towriss bought a share of the NASCAR team — as well as sports car team Wayne Taylor Racing. The WTR partnership was formed when Andretti was still in charge of his namesake organization.

Spire Motorsports majority owner Jeff Dickerson still runs the NASCAR team, but Duchardt’s role will be split by Bill Anthony, Spire’s executive vice president, and Todd Mackin, president of Spire Holdings.

Gregory will have a dual role with the racing subsidiary of TWG focused on Andretti Global, which covers the IndyCar, the IndyNxt program and Formula E team. She will replace current Andretti Global president J-F Thormann, who has been with Michael Andretti for more than four decades but will transition into a new role as head of driver development.

Gregory was executive vice president and chief marketing and content officer at NASCAR, and the managing executive of the company’s Charlotte-based operations. She led marketing, media, communications, broadcasting and diversity and inclusion functions for NASCAR.

She left in 2021 to take over as executive vice president and general manager at Sonoma Raceway. Gregory grew up in Modesto.

Before joining NASCAR, Gregory was the senior vice president of motorsports marketing for Bank of America, and previously was director of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series marketing program for Sprint Nextel.

She has spent 2024 as a consultant, working directly with Andretti Global.

East Forsyth, football

Jaylin Murry is a senior for the East Forsyth football team. He has also played basketball for the Eagles. East Forsyth suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Weddington in the NCHSAA 4A state quarterfinals. Despite coming up short of a state title, Murry did his part for the Eagles. In the Weddington game, he caught eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. He also had a pass breakup on defense.

For the season, Murry was third on the team in both receiving and rushing yards, and he was second in total touchdowns scored. He also tied for the team lead in interceptions on defense.

Tiafoe returns to Charlotte’s arena to watch Cavs vs. Hornets

Tiafoe hit souvenir tennis balls into the stands during the game and visited the Cavaliers’ locker room after they beat the Hornets 116-102.

By Richard Walker The Associated Press

in an exhibition tennis match.

A day later, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

“I’m a big NBA fan, and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,” Tiafoe said after picking up signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Garland said he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.

“We just hit it off, and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told

him to come to the game today,” Garland said. “It’s pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.”

Garland said he got a signed tennis ball from Friday’s exhibition.

“Yeah it’s pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,” Garland said. “I got a signed tennis ball and I think that’s a pretty good trade-off.”

Tiafoe, who is from Hyattsville, Maryland, said he grew up a Wizards fans and that former Washington guard John Wall, a Raleigh native, is his favor-

ite player. Former Wizards star Bradley Beal was in the stands in Flushing Meadows to support his friend when Tiafoe reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.

“I’m still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,” the 26-year-old Tiafoe said. “I love going to games when I can.” Hornets coach Charles Lee was thrilled that Tiafoe, currently ranked No. 18 in men’s singles, came to see his team’s practice on Friday.

“I think it’s good for our players,” Lee said. “It’s great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.

“Having him at practice yesterday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he’s been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.”

Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Miller when he edged Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, 5-7, 6-1, 11-9 on Friday. Earlier, 2017 U.S. Open women’s singles champion Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madison Keys. The tennis drew 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game that drew 18,832. Among those in attendance Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cavaliers players Garland, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.

The Hornets introduced Tiafoe in the first quarter Saturday.

“It’s been an amazing experience here in Charlotte,” Tiafoe told the crowd.

JENNA FRYER / AP PHOTO

Michael Andretti attends a news conference for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race last year. The racing legend is no longer in charge of the organization bearing his family name.

The tennis star’s basketball appearance came a day after he played Alcaraz in exhibition

CHARLOTTE — Frances Tiafoe wore a Charlotte Hornets jersey when he beat Carlos Alcaraz

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Tennis star Frances Tiafoe hits tennis balls into the crowd during a timeout of an NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Parker, Allen elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame

Dallas Dave Parker and Dick Allen have been elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame by the classic era committee. Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21.

F1 RACING

Hamilton leaves Mercedes after 6 titles, 246 F1 races

Abu Dhabi Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes with one last overtake and a heartfelt message to the team where he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” he told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio. Hamilton is moving to Ferrari for 2025 after 12 years at Mercedes, where he won all but one of his seven drivers’ titles. It was the most successful partnership between a team and driver in F1 history.

NHL Blackhawks fire coach Richardson in 3rd season after league-worst start

Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise’s rebuilding project. Chicago had dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL-worst 8-16-2 on the season. It was outscored 41-27 while going 3-9-1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team’s top minor league affiliate in Rockford.

SKIING

Vonn encouraged by competitive preparedness in ski racing return at age 40 Copper Mountain, Colo. Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she’s reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower-level super-G races is that she’s right there after nearly six years away from ski racing. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Frost returning to coach UCF two years after unsuccessful run at Nebraska Orlando, Fla. Scott Frost is heading back to UCF to take over the program he coached to its greatest season. UCF gave Frost his first head coaching job in 2016 and the next season the Knights went 13-0 with a Peach Bowl win over Auburn and No. 6 final ranking. He accepted Nebraska’s offer to return to his alma mater and lead the team he quarterbacked to a 1997 co -national championship. He was fired three games into the 2022 season, leaving with a 16-31 record. He has been working on the Los Angeles Rams staff this season.

Face facts: Statues of stars like Wade, Ronaldo don’t always deliver

wel Pratley studied countless images of Queen Elizabeth II to create a memorial statue in the East Midlands town of Oakham.

By Ken Maguire The Associated Press

LONDON — In Miami, observers say the Dwyane Wade sculpture looks more like actor Laurence Fishburne than the former basketball star. The infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust in 2017 gave the chiseled soccer star a chubby face and goofy smile. It wasn’t always this way. In classical times, sculptors “had absolutely no interest in depicting people accurately,” explained Lucy Branch, a London-based sculptural conservator.

“There’s this idea now, in this era, that commemorative sculpture should be like portraiture — it should look exactly like the person they are commemorating. But actually that’s a really new idea in sculpture.”

To avoid pitfalls, here are some tips from sculptors:

Do your research

London-based sculptor Hy-

“A good portrait sculpture is evidence of 1,000 decisions after 10,000 observations,” Pratley said.

In addition, Yorkshire county sculptor Steve Winterburn recommends getting close with a subject’s family and friends to help find characteristics.

“You don’t want it looking like a Madame Tussauds,” said Winterburn, who created a statue of five Rugby League greats at Wembley Stadium. “It still needs a bit of art in it, a bit of soul. That’s what makes art really sing.”

Smile at your peril

The Ronaldo bust depicted the Portugal star smiling crookedly. In Miami, Wade’s mouth is open in the statue representing the moment the player famously jumped onto a courtside table and yelled, “This is my house.”

It’s probably best avoided.

“It’s really difficult to do

teeth looking good in sculpture,” Pratley said.

Get the profile right

Start “by understanding the profile” before moving on to determine widths from the front view, Pratley said.

“Get the profile right and you will have won half the battle because then you can have something at least that you can trust,” he said.

“There’s so many to understand. It’s not two dimensions, it’s three. There’s an exponential opportunity for everything to go wrong. If you’ve got the profile, then you can go forward with more confidence.”

The eyes have it?

Winterburn tries to make the eyes “come alive” in his work.

“The eye is the soul of the person that carries it,” he said. “If you look at a lot of public work, I’m not being funny, they’re dead. There’s nothing in them, they’re just featureless, soulless. With a painting, if in doubt, fade it out. With sculp-

ture, there is nowhere to hide.”

For Pratley, especially when he is working with a live model, “I’m often struck by how the absolute essence of somebody is somewhere between the nostrils and the mouth. The flicker of muscles and the subtle movement of muscles around the mouth is so much you — it’s so much that person.”

Vote on it

In the UK, local councils — like a city council in the U.S. — might propose a project, fund it and select the sculptor, sometimes with little input from the public and limited vetting of artists.

Branch says there’s a better way: Vote on it.

“It is a really good balance and check for whether people on the committees have chosen the right sculptor or the right composition for that person who is being commemorated,” Branch said. “(The public) may not necessarily be highly educated about sculpture, but they always tend to know whether the artist has hit the nail on the head.”

NC State opens conference play with overtime win

The Wolfpack snapped a three-game losing streak

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

THE NC STATE Wolfpack

men’s basketball team (6-3, 1-0 ACC) shook off a tough three-game skid with an 84 -74 overtime win over the Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 0-1 ACC), their first game of ACC play this season.

The Wolfpack turned in a big second half and OT performance by senior guard Dontrez Styles to lead them to the win.

Nineteen of Styles’ 21 points — a season high — came after the first half, and he was a big clutch factor for the Wolfpack.

“I thought Dontrez Styles was tremendous in the second half,” said NC State coach Kevin Keatts. “He made play after play.”

It was also a big game for senior guard Marcus Hill, who has started to find his scoring touch after a tough go in San Diego. Hill had just nine points across the two games at the Rady Children’s Invitational but has now had back-to-back games in double digits.

In 33 minutes against the Seminoles, Hill had a season-high and team-high 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field.

“Both of those guys (Styles and Hill) in San Diego, they were 3-for-12, and both of those guys the last two games have been really good for us,” Keatts said.

NC State led for a majority of the game, but the court started to tilt midway through the second half as Florida State’s Malique Ewin started to heat up.

Diego.

“I wanted us to stay solid. I thought we had done some boneheaded stuff.”

Kevin Keatts

The Seminoles took a sixpoint lead, their biggest lead of the game, with 3:44 to go in the second half. After that basket, Keatts called a timeout and got his group refocused.

“I wanted us to stay solid,” Keatts said. “I thought we had done some boneheaded stuff, and we switched out and we didn’t read and we didn’t switch to the inside and we gave up some easy baskets. The great thing about when

you gotta a new bunch is they are a new bunch, so it’s like you can learn a lot of things.”

The Wolfpack responded with two strong runs to once again along with Ewin, who ended the game with 24 points and nine rebounds, picking up his fifth foul of the game, and that was just what NC State needed to get back into it.

Following that foul out, the Wolfpack couldn’t quite hang on to its slim lead, but they took off to start overtime and never looked back.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win for the Wolfpack was their committed effort to rebounding against the second tallest lineup in NCAA DI basketball.

“It means a lot,” Keatts said. “It means we’re growing.” On top of being the Wolf-

pack’s first ACC win, it also ended a three-game slide for NC State.

“For us, it meant a little bit more,” Keatts said. “We had dropped three games against three really good teams, we were at home and obviously it was the first ACC game early in December. I thought our guys came out, responded and answered the bell.

“This team needed an early win together. We hadn’t had one, this particular group, and we needed a nice win together and we got one. We needed a win where we made some mistakes, but we came back that way we could grow. I think this is the best thing that could have happened to us. We’ve had more adversity than we’ve had success, and winning this game will really help us.”

DENIS POROY / AP PHOTO

State guard Dontrez Styles shoots during a game against BYU in late November in San

Sculptors offer advice on how to honor athletes with realistic depictions

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN / AP PHOTO

Former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade looks at a bronze statue in his image during its unveiling ceremony outside the arena in October.

the stream

The Stream: Paris, Nicole reunite; Romano, Kudrow team up; Snoop Dogg drops 20th album

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Paramount+ on Thursday

By The Associated Press

ANGELINA JOLIE portraying opera singer Maria Callas in the movie “Maria” and a Jamie Foxx Netflix comedy special are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time: Snoop Dogg teams up with Dr. Dre on an album, Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in the documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late,” and Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie reunite for “Paris & Nicole: The Encore.”

MOVIES TO STREAM

If you didn’t make it to the theater to see “Joker: Folie à Deux” (and according to the lackluster box office, most didn’t), it’s streaming on Max on Friday. Todd Phillips’ musical sequel to the Oscar-winning “Joker” has Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the mentally ill Arthur Fleck, imprisoned and awaiting trial for his crimes, and adds Lady Gaga as an obsessive fan.

Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” streaming on Disney+ on Friday. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never-before-seen footage and new interviews and reflections from John as he prepares for his final North American concert at Dodger Stadium. Angelina Jolie portrays opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” now streaming on Netflix. The movie plays out during the final week of her life, flashing back over her difficult childhood, her grand career and her tumultuous affairs. As I wrote in my review, “This is a biopic as opera — an emotional journey fitting of the great diva, full of flair, beauty, betrayal, revelations and sorrow.” Jolie even trained to sing for the role, and her voice, they’ve said, is woven into the audio. If you liked “Spencer” and “Jackie,” “Maria” is a no-brainer.

The Blake Lively-led adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” landed Monday on Netflix. Lively stars as Lily Bloom in the romantic drama, which became a minor sensation at the box office, opposite Justin Baldoni, who also directs, and Brandon Sklenar.

A community grapples with the discovery of unmarked graves on the grounds of a Cath-

olic Church-run Indian residential school in Canada in “Sugarcane,” an emotional and revelatory documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The investigation exposes the harrowing abuses inflicted on Indigenous children at these segregated boarding schools. It is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

MUSIC TO STREAM

What else could Snoop Dogg do for his 20th album but team up for a project produced entirely by Dr. Dre. Out Friday, “Missionary” is described as the sequel to Snoop’s 1993 debut “Doggystyle” — the only other full-length collaboration between the two giants of hip-hop — a NSFW meeting of minds featuring guest verses from Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, BJ the Chicago Kid, Jhené Aiko and more. How did Elton John become Elton John? What did those early days look like? And how does he reflect on that time, now? A new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” available to

stream on Disney+ starting Friday, attempts to peek behind the curtain and explore exactly that. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Paramount+ on Thursday. Little is known about it just yet, but previously announced performers include Coldplay, Jelly Roll, Seventeen, Teddy Swims and Tyla.

SHOWS TO STREAM

It’s been 20 years since Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie first showed us what’s hot on “The Simple Life.” The two revive their schtick with “Paris & Nicole: The Encore,” a threepart series where they recreate memorable moments from the past and return to work at a Sonic fast-food location. It debuts Thursday on Peacock. Jamie Foxx is ready to address his 2023 undisclosed medical condition and joke about it, too. The Oscar winner has a new comedy special called “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...” is waiting for you on Netflix. The streamer is

promoting the event as “the story we’ve been waiting for.” In a trailer, the multihyphenate performer walks on stage and declares, ‘I’m back!” The special was filmed in October. A new “Dexter” prequel details just how the serial killer discovered his “dark passenger.” The show stars Patrick Gibson as the young Dexter and Christian Slater as his father, Harry, who teaches his son to follow a code of ethics when it comes to murder. “It was simple. Kill the bad guys who escape justice,” we hear Michael C. Hall say in the trailer. Hall, who played Dexter in the original series, returns to narrate the character’s inner voice. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey also appear. “Original Sin” is just one example in an expanding “Dexter” universe. “Original Sin” premieres Sunday on Showtime and streams on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Two sitcom favorites, Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow, team up for a dark comedy in “No Good Deed,” also coming to Netflix. Premiering Thursday, the pair play Paul and Lydia, a married couple at odds

over whether to sell their LA home, which has some tragic family history. The listing draws a range of eclectic prospective buyers played by Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, O-T Fagbenle, Teyonah Parris and more.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” has inspired dozens of video games, from Tomb Raider to Uncharted to Spelunky, but it’s been a while since Indiana Jones himself has taken center stage. The hiatus ends with Bethesda Softworks’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in which the intrepid archaeologist once again puts on his fedora and sets off in search of a stolen cat mummy. The quest bounces from the Vatican to the pyramids of Egypt to the temples of Thailand, mixing exploration, puzzle-solving and flashy action set pieces. Developer MachineGames is best known for its Wolfenstein series — experience that will no doubt come in handy when it’s time to punch some Nazis. Crack that

and PC.

“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...,” “Dexter: Original Sin” and “Paris & Nicole: The Encore” are landing on a screen near you this week.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

A new documentary looks behind the scenes in “Elton John: Never Too Late,” coming to Disney+ on Friday.

STATE & NATION

Trump’s Cabinet picks set off political chain reaction

Two special elections will be held in January for a pair of congressional seats in Florida

By Kate Payne

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The field of candidates has been set for two special elections in Florida to replace members of Congress nominated for positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Two dozen candidates have filed to run for the seats of outgoing Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, though Trump has already weighed in on his preferred successors.

Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers for his new Cabinet is setting off a political chain reaction that’s opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond. Multiple sitting elected officials have filed to run for the congressional seats, including Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, triggering other vacancies and electoral opportunities.

Both GOP congressmen easi-

ly won reelection to their respective seats in November, Gaetz in a northwest Florida district known for its sugar-sand beaches and military installations, and Waltz in a stretch of the

Soros’ foundation says it remains focused on human rights

Open Society Foundations has reorganized in recent years

By Thalia Beaty The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foundations wants those in the human rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday.

The foundations, founded by billionaire investor George Soros and now led by one of his sons, Alex Soros, have historically been one of the largest funders of human rights groups. But since 2021, they closed some of their programs and reduced their staff part of a major internal reorganization.

In the process, many grantees and others in the human rights movement have waited anxiously to see where the chips would fall.

“A reimagination has taken place under the leadership of the new board chair at Open Society Foundations,” Nowrojee said, referring to Alex Soros.

“One of the reasons that we wanted to really reiterate in a large way, with balloons, et cetera, that we are still committed to human rights is because of this fear that’s permeated with the changes that somehow Open Society Foundations is no longer going to be working on rights or equity or justice,” she said in advance of Human Rights Day, which the United Nations observes on Dec. 10.

Nowrojee offered few new details about OSF’s specific funding priorities, though earlier this year, the foundations committed $400 million toward green jobs and economic development.

Another new program focuses on protecting environmental defenders that will work in a few countries, like Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and end after five years, said Sharan Srinvias, a director of programs at OSF.

“We did a survey of what other donors are supporting and, in general, we saw that this is where the gap is,” he said of people who come under attack for defending land, water or other resources. “Especially bilateral donors find it much easier to support global organizations, who in turn are able to

state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach.

The special elections to replace them aren’t expected to change Republicans’ slim majority in the House but could

trigger another shuffle among the state’s political hopefuls eyeing a run for governor in 2026 as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second term winds down. Patronis is among those who Republican insiders say are considering a bid for governor, and a term in Congress could help boost his profile. Trump recently voiced his support for Patronis in the race to replace Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, though that didn’t dissuade the 15 other candidates who qualified to run, even in a district where Trump is overwhelmingly popular.

“Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump posted on his social networking site Truth Social. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Other candidates in the race include Republican State Rep. Joel Rudman, a physician who launched his political career by criticizing mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sole Democrat in the race is Gay Valimont, an activist for the gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action who unsuccessfully challenged Gaetz in November.

In the race for Waltz’s seat in Congressional District 6, Republican State Rep. Randy Fine won Trump’s endorsement. Fine is a self-described “conservative firebrand” who was investigated for allegations related to posting the phone number online of a school board member, which

led to a wave of harassment and threats against her. No charges were filed against him.

Eight other candidates have jumped in the race for the seat, including three Democrats and a candidate unaffiliated with a party — Randall Terry, an anti-abortion activist who ran as the Constitution Party’s presidential nominee last month.

Gaetz had been tapped to be Trump’s attorney general before stepping aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations. Though no longer under consideration, Gaetz had already resigned from his northwest Florida seat, a move that effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Trump named Waltz to be his national security adviser, though the three-term congressman and retired Army National Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation.

Ballots for both special elections will begin going out to military and overseas voters on Dec. 14. The primary is scheduled for Jan. 28, and the general election will be held April 1.

support prominent rights defenders in capital cities who are well known.”

One benefit of the limited time horizon, Srinvias said, is his team will mostly make grants of three or five years — longer than OSF’s typical grants — and offer grantees more flexibility. It will also have some funds to respond to emergencies for human rights defenders all over the world.

In 2020, OSF was the largest global human rights funder, giving out the most money overall and making the largest number of grants. That’s according to the Human Rights Funders Network, a membership organization of grantmakers that tracks philanthropic fund-

ing for human rights groups.

“When major funders adjust their priorities, it can have a ripple effect. Their decisions can dramatically impact the human rights movements they once supported, especially in regions where they’ve been a long-time champion,” HRFN wrote in its most recent Advancing Human Rights report from September.

To add to the atmosphere of uncertainty, another major human rights funder, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, announced earlier this year that it would end its work by 2028.

OSF’s board aims to employ 600 people around the world, Nowrojee said, which is down from a reported 800 in 2021.

Some of the changes OSF

made in the last three years include winding down its global public health program and significantly diminishing its programs in the European Union. It spun off its area of work focused on Roma communities into a new organization and issued final grants to many of its partners.

“You never want philanthropy to just be doing the same thing. You want philanthropy to be getting out of stuff,” Nowrojee said. “And so there’s large areas of work where huge achievements were made, which we have retreated from, not because we don’t think that there’s value in them, but the movements themselves have strengthened.”

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, pictured in 2022, is a candidate to succeed Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressonal District.

FRANCOIS MORI / AP PHOTO

George Soros handed the reins of Open Society Foundations to his son Alex in 2023.

Randolph record

Grab a truck of cheer

A festively decorated garbage truck lit up the Asheboro Christmas Parade in downtown on Friday.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bishop tapped by Trump for OMB post

Washington, D.C.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated outgoing Congressman Dan Bishop to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. Bishop lost the N.C. Attorney General race to Rep. Jeff Jackson last month.

Durham man charged with burning American flag pulled from flagpole

Washington, D.C.

Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in Washington, D.C., during protests in July. Michael Snow Jr., of Durham, is charged with destruction of federal property. The flag was pulled down at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station, by demonstrators calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

No more recounts in Supreme Court race, protests ahead

Raleigh A partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent in the state Supreme Court race.

Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734 -vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin asked for the partial hand recount, which wrapped up Tuesday and saw Riggs gaining votes. The state election board heard arguments Wednesday on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.

Commissioners welcome new member, reelect Frye as chairman

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners swore in the two winners of the November election and elected the officers for the upcoming year

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners held the first official meeting of the newly elected board.

At its Dec. 2 meeting, the board swore in new commissioner Lester Rivenbark, who replaced Maxton McDowell as the District 5 representative, and reelected

commissioner Kenny Kidd.

Darrell Frye was also reelected as chairman of the board and Kidd was elected as vice chairman.

“I thank all of you for your support,” Frye said. “I look across this room tonight, and I see many faces that have been here and have been in the processes of county government, supporting the citizens of this county for many years. It’s been a wonderful honor to serve the people of this county and to see the progress that our county has made. I look forward to working with this board as we go forward.”

“It’s been a wonderful honor to serve the people of this county and to see the progress that our county has made.”

Chairman Darrell Frye

Chief Gary McGee. “Many of these departments have been saving, and those that are applicable have been applying for state funds to have matching grants to purchase these radios.”

The five departments include Climax, Level Cross, New Hope, Julian and Seagrove.

The motion passed 3-2 with Commissioners David Allen and Hope Haywood voting against the loan due to the 0% interest.

“We have five departments participating and those five departments are requesting a loan up to five years to assist in purchasing these final radio needs,” said Climax Fire

The board then approved a five-year, $500,000, 0% interest loan for five of the county’s volunteer fire departments in order to assist with the final purchases of radio and radio equipment for various county fire departments in order to meet FCC requirements.

Liberty cabinet plant to close in 2025

The facility has been in operation since 1986, recently employing 200 people

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

LIBERTY — The UltraCraft Cabinetry plant, a division of Norcraft Companies, in Liberty is closing in 2025, with layoffs scheduled to begin in May.

There are 200 people employed at the facility at 6163 Old 421 Road.

“It’s definitely a sad thing,” said Amanda Price, executive director of the Liberty Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve been around a while and a good Chamber member.”

Layoffs are to commence in the spring and be completed by

September, based on a notice to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

The site has operated under UltraCraft Cabinetry, a subsidiary of Norcraft Companies. Cabinets have been built at the location since 1986.

Parent company MasterBrand Cabinets, which is based in Ohio, is closing the Liberty and Statesville plants in North Carolina. There’s also a plant in Kinston, where operations will continue in an expanded format.

“This was not only an announcement related to the Statesville facility, but this also relates to one of our legacy facilities at Liberty.” Farand Pawlak, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications for Norcraft Companies, said.

The Statesville plant, Dura Supreme Cabinetry, will cease operations next month with 74 employees to be laid off.

The Liberty plant covers 213,000 square feet. Price said the plant was among the top half-dozen employers in Liberty despite what might have been some downsizing through the years.

“They’ve been good to us,” Price said. “They are involved in our community, kind of a staple of the community.”

MasterBrand Cabinets purchase Norcraft Companies (along with its brands Mid Continent, UltraCraft, Starmark and Fieldstone) in 2015. The production in North Carolina will funnel to the Kinston site, where the plant has enough room to accommodate an increase in operations.

“My concern is that in my mind, this sets a bad precedent for nonprofits to come and ask for 0% interest loans whenever they need funds,” Allen said. “I’m certainly not

See BOARD, page A2

The Kinston location began a significant expansion project in 2021, the company said. The plan for that location included adding 450 jobs across a five-year period. There were reports that MasterBrand invested about $14 million in the Kinston expansion.

Company officials said employees have options to apply to other MasterBrand Cabinets locations. The company said there have been “provisions to make the transition to other employment as smooth as possible for affected employees.” If they’re hired, they will receive relocation assistance.

$2.00

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

THADD SANDERS FOR RANDOLPH RECORD

Neal

Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS

David

Health department renovations reach completion

An open house is set for Dec. 18 for the community to visit the facility in Asheboro

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The largest facility renovations for the Randolph County Public Health Department since 1981 have taken place. The 18-month project has reached completion. There will be an open house next week at the Ira McDowell Center. The renovations include re-

designed consultation rooms, updated lobby, improved offices and a new dental suite managed by Kintegra Family Dentistry. The initiative reflects the department’s commitment to fostering a nurturing environment for clients and staff alike all while ensuring patient confidentiality, according to a release from the county.

“Our goal is to not only modernize our space but also to create a more accessible and user-friendly experience for everyone who walks through our doors,” said Tara Aker, director of the Randolph County Public Health Department.

“This renovation represents an investment in the health of our community and underscores our dedication to providing quality services to residents of Randolph County.”

There are upgraded technical aspects of the project that should streamline the clinic’s work and better collect feedback from clients.

The open house, which is open to the public, will be held from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday at 2222-B South Fayetteville St. in Asheboro. A program will begin at 1 p.m.

The Randolph County Public Health Department is in its 97th year. Programs offered include care coordination for children, care management for high-risk pregnancy, child care nurse consultant, dental service, family planning and immunizations, emergency preparedness, environmental health, vital records, and WIC (Women, Infant and Children) nutrition services.

the

was

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

THURSDAY DEC 12

FRIDAY DEC 13

SATURDAY DEC 14

SUNDAY DEC 15

Dec. 3

• Hannah I. Adams, 30, of Franklinville, was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) for multiple counts of misdemeanor child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

• Tammy W. Adams, 58, of Franklinville, was arrested by RCSO for multiple counts of misdemeanor child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Dec. 4

• Cameron K. Graves, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by the Asheboro Police Department (APD) for driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, and possession of open container.

Dec. 5

• Brian M. Collins, 33, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for multiple counts of seconddegree sexual exploitation of a minor.

BOARD from page A1

against the fire service. Y’all are worthy to get the funds, but I’m concerned that we’re setting a bad precedent with a 0% interest loan.”

The board accepted a two -ye ar, $17,000 North Carolina Department of Agriculture Farmland Protection Grant that will help fund a consultant to prepare an up -

• Brittney N. Brockman, 34, of High Point, was arrested by RCSO for felony possession of controlled substances and other drug charges.

• Jeffrey L. Clay, 64, of Liberty, was arrested by the Liberty Police Department for breaking and entering, larceny, and other charges.

• Jeffery L. Corum, 34, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for felony drug possession and possession of firearm by felon.

• Tracey C. Corum, 55, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for drug possession charges.

• Christopher W. Tate, 50, of Sophia, was arrested by RCSO for methamphetamine possession and drug paraphernalia.

Dec. 7

• Trenna D. Brooks, 40, of Ramseur, was arrested by NC Highway Patrol for driving while impaired, driving while

dated version of the Randolph County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. The last plan was approved in 2011.

license revoked, and other traffic violations.

• Shelly D. Coltrane, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for drug charges.

• Madison J. Isham, 27, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for felony possession of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances on jail premises.

• Chad S. Morrison, 36, of Pleasant Garden, was arrested by APD for felony drug possession and drug paraphernalia.

Dec. 8

• Jeffrey W. Owens, 43, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for breaking and entering, larceny, and resisting a public officer.

• Tesha L. Tracy, 39, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for methamphetamine possession, drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic violations.

ber of farms in the county dropped 10% and the number of total farmland acres dropped by 11%.”

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

Dec. 13

Christmas on Sunset 6-9 p.m.

Christmas in Downtown Asheboro will come alive for an old-fashioned Christmas. Christmas on Sunset Highlights: ~Musicians and carolers ~Live entertainment in the Sunset Theatre ~Live nativity scene at First Baptist Church ~The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Elves, Santa & Mrs. Claus ~Wagon and Carriages rides through Bicentennial Park and more!

Downtown Asheboro on Sunset Avenue.

Dec. 13-14

Windsong Pottery

Holiday Open House

We will have lots of new pottery coming out each weekend for your gifts for Christmas. You might even find those special pieces for you. Come out and enjoy your ride to Farmer, just 18 miles from the town of Seagrove in Randolph County.

6109 Brantley Gordon Road

Denton

Dec. 14

Seagrove Potters

Holiday Open House

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the Seagrove Potters this season for their Annual Holiday Open House. You’re invited to celebrate the holiday season on a self-guided pottery tour. Starting on Dec. 7 through Dec. 21 weekends, the pottery shops of Seagrove have special events planned on Saturdays, some on Sundays. Free and open to the public!

Christmas with the Kringles

MONDAY DEC 16

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

“Within the county, there were 1,238 farms that covered over 131,000 acres of land within the county,” said Cooperative Extension’s Adam Lawing. “If you look back at the 2017 census data compared to the 20222, the num-

The board also awarded a bid for the construction of a 390-foot VIPER communications tower in Randleman to K-Co Enterprises at a cost of approximately $540,000.

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet Jan. 6.

Noon to 2:30 p.m.

It’ll be a holly, jolly season at the Orchard as we celebrate our Christmas with the Kringles on weekends this November and December! Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a fun-filled day with holiday cheer, baby cow visits, cookie decorating, hayrides and more! Learn more, book your spot and let the festivities begin. Reservations are required in advance: Millstone Creek Orchards — Christmas with the Kringles

506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur

COURTESY PHOTO

Improving

appearance

part of the emphasis regarding renovations for the Randolph County Health Department.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

It’s time to rein in big bureaucracy

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

FOLLOWING THE MUCH-NEEDED time with the ones we love during the Thanksgiving holiday, House Republicans returned to work for the American people last week and focused on how we can rein in unelected bureaucrats and bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington. The federal government should be working for you, not against you.

Unfortunately, it has only gotten too bloated, too inefficient and taken too much of your money. From reckless government spending to burdensome regulations and unnecessary red tape, big bureaucracy has crippled Main Street, skyrocketed inflation and spiraled our country into a historic debt crisis.

America’s small businesses are too often saddled with unnecessary, one-size-fitsall regulations by the heavy hand of the government. These rules cost business owners trillions each year to stay compliant, and they don’t have the resources to keep pace with the ever-growing burdens.

Federal agencies seem to ignore the reality and the harmful economic impact that these new regulations cause, which only further discourages small business growth, job creation and American innovation.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I will always work to ensure they can thrive and grow without the government getting in the way.

I was proud to join my colleagues last week in passing the Prove It Act, a common-sense, bipartisan solution to ensure business owners have a voice in the regulatory process. This legislation will protect Main Street from unelected bureaucrats’ overregulation that hinders so many folks from achieving the American dream of starting and owning a business. Out-of-control, taxpayer-funded government spending and bureaucratic overreach have led to higher costs and unsustainable national debt. You, your family and our economy have paid the price for far too long.

The great space breakout

This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S appointment of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was a wonderful moment for those of us who believe in space.

I began reading about space in 1957. I was in eighth grade when “Missiles and Rockets” was a lively magazine and exciting things were happening.

Four years later, like most Americans, I was thrilled by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the Moon, and I still remember the night we first landed there on July 20, 1969.

Then everything seemed to slow down. We pulled back from long-distance projects and focused on the near-Earth International Space Station and space shuttle programs.

In my second term in Congress, I tried to jump-start a more dynamic, risk-taking and aggressive venture into space. On July 28, 1981, I introduced HR 4286 to establish a national space and aeronautics policy.

The 15-page bill had a comprehensive plan for a more dynamic American pursuit of space. In a manner that anticipated Elon Musk a generation later, sections 401 to 403 cited the founding fathers and especially the Northwest Ordnance of 1787. I proposed extending constitutional protections to everyone living in American facilities in space. Further, I proposed that when a space community reached 20,000 inhabitants, Congress would authorize it to establish self-government. When colonies reached the same population as the smallest U.S. state, their citizens could apply for statehood.

This seeming fantasy began to become possible when Musk invented the reusable rocket at SpaceX. This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%. Musk is now creating the Starship. Its 39 Raptor engines make it the most powerful spaceship ever built. With Starship’s ability to lift 100 passengers or 150 tons into orbit, the entire world of space activities will be revolutionized. Multiple Starships could launch every day. Then the revolution will accelerate dramatically.

Other entrepreneurial companies are also developing a series of capabilities in different aspects of space. Axion Space is developing the first commercial international space station. Blue Origins is developing a broad space tourism capability. In this dynamic environment led by successful entrepreneurs, the nomination of Jared Isaacman is a perfect step toward a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and useful government space program. As the leader of NASA, Isaacman will change the slow, cautious, bureaucratic culture that has grown up since Apollo into a dynamic, risk-taking, entrepreneurial system. NASA will accelerate rather than hinder the growth of a whole new generation of diverse American space activities. These include occupying the Moon and colonizing Mars — as well as developing space tourism and manufacturing in weightless environments.

With the creation of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Republicans in Congress have a great opportunity to identify ways we can expose inefficiencies, cut wasteful spending, slash unnecessary regulations and reduce bloated bureaucracy.

My House Republican colleagues and I met with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump appointed to lead DOGE. Working together with Trump and Senate Republicans, we will get our fiscal house in order, save your taxpayer dollars and make the government more efficient for you.

Folks like you are fed up with businessas-usual and voted for real reform in how Washington operates. Rest assured, as your congressman, I will fight tirelessly to deliver the change you deserve.

Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in Congress.

Author Walter Isaacson wrote about Isaacman in his biography of Musk. The author explained that Isaacman had dropped out of high school to ultimately start what became a $200 billion-per-year payment system company. He then became a pilot and set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet. He became so skilled, he started a company that trained military pilots.

“Instead, for SpaceX’s first civilian flight, he chose a low-key tech entrepreneur and jet pilot named Jared Isaacman, who displayed the quiet humility of a square-jawed adventurer who had proven himself in so many fields that he didn’t need to be brash. … Isaacman bought from SpaceX the right to command a three-day flight named inspiration4 that would become history’s first private orbital mission. His purpose was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and he invited a 29-year-old bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, to join the crew, along with two other civilians.”

Isaacman wanted to go to a higher orbit than the International Space Station. Even after he was told that higher orbits held dangerous space debris that could destroy his spacecraft, he said he accepted the risk.

As Isaacson wrote:

“Later, when I asked why he had not opted for the lower altitude, Isaacman said, ‘If we’re going to go to the moon again, and we’re going to go to Mars, we’ve got to get a little outside our comfort zone.’”

Isaacman was so thrilled that he offered $500 million for three future flights, which would aim at going to an even higher orbit and doing a spacewalk in a new suit designed by SpaceX. He also asked for the right to be the first private customer when it was ready.

The Isaacman-Musk team fits perfectly into the visionary path Trump outlined in his first term.

On Dec. 11, 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called on the federal space program to cooperate with the private sector to return humans to the moon and explore Mars and other areas in our solar system.

As the president said at the time, “The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

Trump, Musk and Isaacman are three visionary pioneers who will collectively make America the leader of the golden age of space.

Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Ethnic armed group claims capture of a strategic Myanmar town

The Arakan Army controls the border with Bangladesh

The Associated Press

BANGKOK — One of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myanmar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 168-mile-long border with Bangladesh.

The capture by the Arakan Army makes the group’s control of the northern part of Rakhine state complete and marks another advance in its bid for selfrule there.

Rakhine has become a focal point for Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undisclosed location late Monday that his group had seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.

Outpost commander Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun was captured while attempting to flee the battle, Khaing Thukha said.

The situation in Maungdaw could not be independent-

border guards stand to provide security near the fence at a no-man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

ly confirmed, with access to the internet and mobile phone services in the area mostly cut off.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately comment.

Maungdaw, 250 miles southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has been the target of an Arakan Army offensive since June.

The group captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two other towns on the border with

Bangladesh, earlier this year.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has gained control of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 townships, along with one in neighboring Chin state.

Ann, a town in Rakhine that hosts the strategically important military headquarters overseeing the western part of the country, appears to be on the verge of falling entirely to the Arakan Army. The group posted on the

Telegram messaging app late Friday that it had taken more than 30 military outposts, except the army’s western command, which controls Rakhine and the southern part of neighboring Chin state, as well as the country’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Recent fighting in Rakhine has raised fears of a revival of organized violence against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, similar to that

which drove at least 740,000 members of their community in 2017 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety.

The Arakan Army, which is the military wing of the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they are the majority and seek autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, denies the allegations, though witnesses have described the group’s actions to the AP and other media.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including members of the Rakhine minority, as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The border between Myanmar and Bangladesh extends from land to the Naf River and offshore in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arakan Army said Sunday it had ordered the suspension of transport across the Naf River because police and local Muslims affiliated with the army were attempting to escape by boat to Bangladesh.

The rebel group has been accused of major human rights violations, particularly involving its capture of the town of Buthidaung in mid-May, when it was accused of forcing an estimated 200,000 residents, largely Rohingyas, to leave and then setting fire to most of the buildings. It was accused of attacking Rohingya civilians fleeing fighting in Maungdaw in August.

The Arakan Army is also part of an armed ethnic alliance that launched an offensive in northeastern Myanmar last year and gained strategic territory along the border with China.

Philippine villages evacuate after volcanic eruption

Mount Kanlaon is in the volatile Ring of Fire

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines —

About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than 120 miles across seawaters west of the volcano,

obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said by telephone.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singapore were canceled and two local flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon, which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental where nearly 47,000 people have to be evacuated out of a (3.7-mile danger zone, the Office of Civil Defense said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have temporarily transferred to the homes

of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large numbers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early Tuesday to the affected region.

“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos told reporters.

Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may require more people to be evacuated from areas affected by Monday’s eruption.

Disaster-response contingents were rapidly establishing evacuation centers and seeking supplies of face masks, food

and hygiene packs ahead of the Christmas season, traditionally a peak time for holiday travel and family celebrations in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Authorities also shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in the most vulnerable areas.

The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the nearly four-minute eruption of Kanlaon volcano on Monday afternoon had caused a pyroclastic density current — a super hot stream of gas, ash, debris and rocks that can incinerate anything in its path.

“It’s a one-time but major eruption,” Bacolcol told the AP, adding that volcanologists were assessing if Monday’s eruption spewed old volcanic debris and rocks clogged in and near the summit crater or was caused by rising magma from underneath.

Few volcanic earthquakes were detected ahead of Mon-

day’s explosion, Bacolcol said. The alert level around Kanlaon was placed on Monday to the third-highest of a five-step warning system, indicating that “magmatic eruption” may have begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions.

The nearly 8,000-foot volcano, one of the country’s 24 most-active volcanoes, last erupted in June, sending hundreds of villagers to emergency shelters.

In 1996, three hikers were killed near the peak and several others later rescued when Kanlaon erupted without warning, officials said.

Located in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms a year and is among the countries most prone to natural disasters.

Myanmar

Bonnie Louise Hoover Barfield

Aug. 3, 1944 – Dec. 8, 2024

Bonnie Louise Hoover Barfield, 80, of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024, at High Point Medical Center, High Point, NC.

Funeral Service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, December 13, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at God Outreach Ministries Cemetery.

Bonnie Barfield was born in Randolph Co., NC, on August 3, 1944, the daughter of the late Wade Hoover and Ina Routh Hoover. She worked at Scoop’s restaurant, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. She devoted her life to her children and her family. Bonnie was a very outgoing and sociable person.

In addition to her parents, Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Barfield Sr.; brother, Tommy Hoover and sister, Cathy Robbins.

Surviving are her daughter, Teresa Tate (Ezio Filippini); son, Michael Brady of Asheboro; stepdaughter, Bonnie Mae Barfield; stepsons, Johnny Ray Barfield Jr., Matthew Barfield (Michelle); sister, Judy Hamilton (Greg) of Asheboro; brothers, Tex Hoover (Nancy) of Randleman, Rick Hoover (Becky Cranford) of Asheboro, David Hoover (Rhonda) of Asheboro; grandchild, Ashley Davis; greatgrandchildren, Abbie Davis, Maddie Davis, Payton Davis, Jack Davis, Isaiah Davis; and great-great grandchild, Asher Creel.

The family will receive friends from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home.

Peter Pat Freeman

Feb. 19, 1950 – Dec. 4, 2024

Peter Pat Freeman, age 74, of Troy, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Bethany Woods Nursing Home in Albemarle, NC. Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 412 Bell St., Troy, NC, with Pastor Daniel Luther and Pastor Allen Murray officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 until 1:50 p.m. prior to the service.

Mr. Freeman was born February 19, 1950, in Montgomery County, NC to the late Willie Freeman and Mary Christine Townsend Freeman. Pat was a good man and husband. He enjoyed doing yard work. He was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and on the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He previously worked for Mid-State Tile, the Water Department in Mt. Gilead, and later was a truck driver for Diggers Specialties Inc. in Randleman.

Mr. Freeman is survived by his wife of 30 years, Arlene Hill Freeman of the home; son: Gerald Freeman; six grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, and his faithful canine companion, Bunny. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters: Helen Margaret Freeman Winters and Peggy Freeman; and one brother: Micky Freeman. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church, 412 Bell St., Troy, NC 27371. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome. com.

Phillip Lynn May

May 2, 1947 – Dec. 6, 2024

Phil May went home to be with his Lord and Savior, unexpectedly, on Friday, December 6, 2024, at High Point Regional Hospital.

Phillip Lynn May was born on May 2, 1947, to Mimie Drake May and Wade May. After college Phil served our country in the United States Army in the 101 First Airborne Division during the Vietnam War, from 1967 to 1969. After his time in the military, he went on to become a firefighter in Greensboro, NC. Phil retired from Station 7 as Captain after 24 years of service. His fellow firefighters were a second family, and he will be missed dearly by them. Phil was a member of Level Cross Baptist Church. In his free time, he enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and fishing.

Phil has a multitude of other friends who will mourn his loss, he was a very social individual and loved by many.

Phil is survived by his wife, Rebecca May, of the home. He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Albright of Greensboro, and grandchildren, Tori Webb (Dakota) of Liberty, and Dillon Albright of Greensboro. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Stefanie Skinner (Seth) of Pleasant Garden and their three children. Phil is survived by two sisters, Margaret Wade of Greensboro and Phyllis Crosby (Paul), also of Greensboro. He is additionally survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters. No services are planned at this time.

Robert Hurley

May 19, 1943 – Dec. 3, 2024

Robert Eugene Hurley Sr., age 81, of Sylva, NC passed away on December 3, 2024, at Skyland Care Center in Sylva.

Mr. Hurley was born in Tazewell, VA, on May 19, 1943 to Lee and Reba Hurley. Robert served his country in the U.S. Army. Robert received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia Charlottesville. He was a machinist-tool and dye maker by trade. He loved working with his hands, shooting guns, and being an entrepreneur, owning his own company. Robert loved the Lord and was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. His favorite song was “Amazing Grace” and favorite Bible verse was John 14:6. Robert loved his family and the proudest moments in his life were his children. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Anna Darlene Hurley. He is survived by his children, Zandie Taylor (Dwain) of Roanoke, VA, Tabitha Hurley (Joey Landrum) of Archdale, and Robert Eugene Hurley Jr. of Sylva, and grandchildren, Shane Taylor and Anna Pearl Landrum.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, 401 West Holly Hill Road in Thomasville with Rev. Rodney Hedrick officiating.

Elbia Luther

June 28, 1934 – Dec. 5, 2024

Elbia Allene Hurley Luther, 90, of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away Thursday, December 5, 2024, at her home.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mark Hall officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Friends Meeting Cemetery.

Mrs. Luther was born in Randolph Co., NC, on June 28, 1934, the daughter of the late Earlie Carson Hurley and Vernie Williams Hurley. She retired from Randolph Hospital and before that, she worked at Southmont Elementary School. Mrs. Luther formerly attended Hopewell Friends Meeting.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Luther was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Cecil William Luther; daughter, Wanda Coltrane; triplets, Mary, Martha and Rebecca; and grandson, Steven “Buffy” Lamb.

Surviving are her daughters, Naomi Chriscoe, Delores Richardson, Gwen Cox and Lynn Garner, all of Asheboro; sons, Sammy Luther (Joyce), Edward Luther (Linda), Jerry Luther (Tina), John Luther (Tina), Paul Luther, all of Asheboro; sisters-in-law, Doris Hurley, Avalee Hurley, both of Seagrove; 17 grandchildren, 22 greatgrandchildren; and six greatgreat-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Konda Shaw

Feb. 15, 1962 – Dec. 3, 2024

Konda Faye Shaw, age 62, of Asheboro died Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Randolph Hospital.

Konda was born in Randolph County on February 15, 1962 to William and Ramona Shaw. She loved plants, bluegrass music and collecting arrowheads. Konda was a Candy Crush master and enjoyed watching Panther’s football.

Konda is survived by her son, Tyler Morgan and wife Hannah; grandchildren, Whitley, Emersyn, and Boone; brother, Kelly Shaw and wife Joyce and her kitty cat Buck.

The family will receive friends Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 1 - 2:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro and other times at the home of her son, 4069 Dunbar Bridge Road in Asheboro. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery with Pastor Ransom Love officiating.

Granville Dean Thornton

July 7, 1945 – December 5, 2024

Granville Dean Thornton, 79, of Randleman passed away at home on Thursday, December 5, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born July 7, 1945, in Sparta, NC to Bass Thornton and Myrtle Evans Thornton.

Dean was a devoted and caring husband and father. He was married to his beloved, Margaret Rabon Thornton, for 57 years. Dean loved to tinker with watches, finding the best deals at yard sales, and spending time in the mountains. Dean is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Bowland (Charles) of Grantville; grandchildren, Heather Bowland, Bobby Thornton (Tricia) of Randleman, Christopher Thornton of South Carolina; great-grandchildren, Aiden Bowland, Dalton Thornton, Lily Thornton and Jasper Thornton. In addition to his parents, Dean is preceded in death by his loving wife, Margaret Rabon Thornton; son, Bobby Thornton; granddaughter, Amanda Thornton; brother, Coy Wayne Thornton; and sisters, Paulene Wagoner and Sally. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Pugh Funeral Home in the Eddie Pugh Memorial Chapel, 600 S. Main St. Randleman, NC. The family will receive friends following the service.

Charles “Buck” Lemuel Clifton

July 30, 1932 – Dec. 4, 2024

Charles “Buck” Lemuel Clifton, 92, of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at his home.

Funeral Service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Andy Garner officiating. Burial will follow at Randolph Memorial Park. Military honors will be provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

Buck was born in Randolph Co., NC, on July 30, 1932, the son of the late Lemuel Clifton and Callie Young Clifton. He served in the US Army and fought in the Korean War. He loved coon hunting, riding horses, gardening and fishing. He enjoyed square dancing on Saturday nights.

In addition to his parents, Buck was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Irene Clifton; sisters, Ruth Luther, Geraldine Dix, Betty Jean; brothers, Tommy Clifton, Jack Clifton; granddaughter-in-law, Megan Clifton; and granddaughter, Melissa Walker.

Surviving are his daughters, Debbie Lamb (Richard) of Shallotte, Candy Clifton of Asheboro, Teresa Clifton of Asheboro, Pam Needham (Jason) of Seagrove; sons Brad Clifton of Hillsville, Keith Clifton of Asheboro; brother, Kenneth Clifton of Florida; 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; and his dog, Rowdy.

The family will receive friends from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the special caregivers and Gentiva Hospice for all of their exceptional care for our loving daddy.

Lorenzo Fuentes

Children Hospital in Winston Salem, NC.

Visitation for Lorenzo Cruz Fuentes will be held Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro from 1-2:00 p.m. A private burial will follow. Pugh Funeral Home Asheboro is assisting the Fuentes family.

March 4, 1949 – Dec. 2, 2024

George Chapman Parson, 75, of Pleasant Garden met his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 2, 2024 at Hospice of Randolph surrounded by family. He was born March 4, 1949 in Louisa, KY to Drew Parson and Maxie Alva Chapman Parson.

George was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was born and raised in Kentucky where he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his three-year stint, he served one year in Vietnam and was presented the Purple Heart twice. George met Wilma and shared their life for over 52 years. He loved gardening, working in his yard, and canning/freezing the fruits and vegetables of his labor. George adored his family and was often found spending time with his grandchildren. George is survived by his wife, Wilma Jean Parson of the home; daughter, Regena Johnson (Kevin) of Franklinville; grandchildren, Lydia Johnson and Isaac Johnson; brothers, Bill Parson (Helen) of Asheboro, Gary Parson (Linda) of Shinnston, WV, Jerome Parson (Jerri) of Gray Court, SC, Johnny Parson (Janice) of Stokesdale; sister, Rose Mary Lucas of Randleman, Sharon Treat of Stokesdale. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by four siblings: Nancy Harshe, Jimmy Parson, Phillip Parson, Kenneth Parson.

The family will receive friends Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. at South Elm St. Baptist Church, 4212 South Elm-Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 24706. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m.

Donations in George’s honor may be sent to DAV: Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH, 45250 Pugh Funeral Home in Randleman is serving the Parson family.

George Chapman Parson

STATE & NATION

Trump’s Cabinet picks set off political chain reaction

Two special elections will be held in January for a pair of congressional seats in Florida

By Kate Payne

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The field of candidates has been set for two special elections in Florida to replace members of Congress nominated for positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Two dozen candidates have filed to run for the seats of outgoing Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, though Trump has already weighed in on his preferred successors.

Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers for his new Cabinet is setting off a political chain reaction that’s opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond. Multiple sitting elected officials have filed to run for the congressional seats, including Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, triggering other vacancies and electoral opportunities.

Both GOP congressmen easi-

ly won reelection to their respec-

tive seats in November, Gaetz in a northwest Florida district known for its sugar-sand beaches and military installations, and Waltz in a stretch of the

Soros’ foundation says it remains focused on human rights

Open Society Foundations has reorganized in recent years

By Thalia Beaty

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foundations wants those in the human rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday.

The foundations, founded by billionaire investor George Soros and now led by one of his sons, Alex Soros, have historically been one of the largest funders of human rights groups. But since 2021, they closed some of their programs and reduced their staff part of a major internal reorganization.

In the process, many grantees and others in the human rights movement have waited anxiously to see where the chips would fall.

“A reimagination has taken place under the leadership of the new board chair at Open Society Foundations,” Nowrojee said, referring to Alex Soros.

“One of the reasons that we wanted to really reiterate in a large way, with balloons, et cetera, that we are still committed to human rights is because of this fear that’s permeated with the changes that somehow Open Society Foundations is no longer going to be working on rights or equity or justice,” she said in advance of Human Rights Day, which the United Nations observes on Dec. 10.

Nowrojee offered few new details about OSF’s specific funding priorities, though earlier this year, the foundations committed $400 million toward green jobs and economic development.

Another new program focuses on protecting environmental defenders that will work in a few countries, like Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and end after five years, said Sharan Srinvias, a director of programs at OSF.

“We did a survey of what other donors are supporting and, in general, we saw that this is where the gap is,” he said of people who come under attack for defending land, water or other resources. “Especially bilateral donors find it much easier to support global organizations, who in turn are able to

state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach.

The special elections to replace them aren’t expected to change Republicans’ slim majority in the House but could

trigger another shuffle among the state’s political hopefuls eyeing a run for governor in 2026 as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second term winds down. Patronis is among those who Republican insiders say are considering a bid for governor, and a term in Congress could help boost his profile. Trump recently voiced his support for Patronis in the race to replace Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, though that didn’t dissuade the 15 other candidates who qualified to run, even in a district where Trump is overwhelmingly popular.

“Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump posted on his social networking site Truth Social. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Other candidates in the race include Republican State Rep. Joel Rudman, a physician who launched his political career by criticizing mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sole Democrat in the race is Gay Valimont, an activist for the gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action who unsuccessfully challenged Gaetz in November.

In the race for Waltz’s seat in Congressional District 6, Republican State Rep. Randy Fine won Trump’s endorsement. Fine is a self-described “conservative firebrand” who was investigated for allegations related to posting the phone number online of a school board member, which

led to a wave of harassment and threats against her. No charges were filed against him.

Eight other candidates have jumped in the race for the seat, including three Democrats and a candidate unaffiliated with a party — Randall Terry, an anti-abortion activist who ran as the Constitution Party’s presidential nominee last month.

Gaetz had been tapped to be Trump’s attorney general before stepping aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations. Though no longer under consideration, Gaetz had already resigned from his northwest Florida seat, a move that effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Trump named Waltz to be his national security adviser, though the three-term congressman and retired Army National Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation.

Ballots for both special elections will begin going out to military and overseas voters on Dec. 14. The primary is scheduled for Jan. 28, and the general election will be held April 1.

support prominent rights defenders in capital cities who are well known.”

One benefit of the limited time horizon, Srinvias said, is his team will mostly make grants of three or five years — longer than OSF’s typical grants — and offer grantees more flexibility. It will also have some funds to respond to emergencies for human rights defenders all over the world.

In 2020, OSF was the largest global human rights funder, giving out the most money overall and making the largest number of grants. That’s according to the Human Rights Funders Network, a membership organization of grantmakers that tracks philanthropic funding

for human rights groups.

“When major funders adjust their priorities, it can have a ripple effect. Their decisions can dramatically impact the human rights movements they once supported, especially in regions where they’ve been a long-time champion,” HRFN wrote in its most recent Advancing Human Rights report from September.

To add to the atmosphere of uncertainty, another major human rights funder, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, announced earlier this year that it would end its work by 2028.

OSF’s board aims to employ 600 people around the world, Nowrojee said, which is down from a reported 800 in 2021.

Some of the changes OSF

made in the last three years include winding down its global public health program and significantly diminishing its programs in the European Union. It spun off its area of work focused on Roma communities into a new organization and issued final grants to many of its partners.

“You never want philanthropy to just be doing the same thing. You want philanthropy to be getting out of stuff,” Nowrojee said. “And so there’s large areas of work where huge achievements were made, which we have retreated from, not because we don’t think that there’s value in them, but the movements themselves have strengthened.”

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, pictured in 2022, is a candidate to succeed Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressonal District.

FRANCOIS MORI / AP PHOTO

George Soros handed the reins of Open Society Foundations to his son Alex in 2023.

RandolpH SPORTS

Randleman football coach resigns from post

A family member’s ongoing health condition is at the heart of the decision

By Bob Sutton Randleman Record

RANDLEMAN — Shane

Timmons has stepped away from his job as football coach at Randleman after five seasons, citing family obligations.

His young daughter, Ophie, was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, and her ongoing care was central to Timmons’ decision.

“Time is an extremely valuable commodity for all of us. I need to spend it at home,” Timmons wrote on social media.

“Ophie’s odds of recurrence

remain 50% for the duration of her life.”

Timmons has been in various roles at Randleman since 2008.

“My family experienced the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, surgeries, radiation, neurological deficits due to radiation, and the stress of a coaching schedule on a family already under one of the heaviest weights life can throw at you,” Timmons wrote. “We decided to enter the 2024 season and give it our all. My wife held our home together while I took care of the team. Every moment I wasn’t coaching, we cared for each other.”

In 2023, Timmons took a leave of absence from the team, which was 5-0 at the time, be -

“My time as head coach ended and it hurts. I’m glad for the hurt. That means the work meant something.”

Shane Timmons, former Randleman coach

cause Ophie was in Tennessee for treatments. She has been dealing with a brain tumor.

The coach returned to a full-t ime role this season, which began with eight consecutive victories. The Tigers lost three of their final four games to finish with a 9-3 record. They were ousted in the

UCA boys enter another new era

father-son

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

position with a varsity team. He said Uwharrie Charter Academy has been the right fit.

“I wanted to get the highest level possible in high school basketball,” Mabe said.

Now he’s directing the UCA boys’ team and his son, Jaxon Mabe, is one of the top players. The Eagles are off to a stellar start to the season.

Roger Mabe said 15 seasons in various coaching capacities gave him a good sampling. He

spent time with middle school teams in Asheboro and with Asheboro’s junior varsity team. The past two seasons, he was an assistant coach for High Point Christian.

When the UCA position was open after last season, he viewed it as the right time. Conveniently, the school is about a 10-minute drive from his home.

“The time I thought I’d

second round of the Class 2A state playoffs with a home loss for the second year in a row.

“We fought as hard as possible to make this season happen,” Timmons wrote. “I talk about priorities with the boys all the time. Don’t have them if you don’t live by them. Right now, I need to coach the team inside the walls of my home.”

The resignation as football coach was painful, according to Timmons’ statement.

“There is no greater way to impact the next generation than being a coach,” Timmons wrote. “My time as head coach ended and it hurts. I’m glad for the hurt. That means the work meant something.”

In many ways, Timmons pointed out that he sought to

set an example for his players.

“The success of our students off the field or court always sustained me during those years,” Timmons wrote. “I have grown to understand using competition and sport to bring kids together for something bigger than themselves.” Randleman’s five-year record under Timmons was 37-17. The team won a conference championship in the spring 2021 season, going 7-1 in that pandemic-shortened season.

The Tigers’ best record in the past five seasons was the 10-2 mark in 2023. Randleman has finished second to Eastern Randolph in the Piedmont Athletic Conference in each of the past three seasons.

The superintendent of RCSS is the statewide organization’s president

By Bob Sutton Randleman Record

PUTTING TOGETHER conferences for the new North Carolina High School Athletic Association classifications is a priority, and that became a factor regarding several topics during last week’s biannual meetings. Stephen Gainey, the superintendent of the Randolph County School System, is serving as NCHSAA president. He said the overwhelming issue that schools want resolved is the release of the next conference alignments in the newly configured eight-class set-up. “I want that information as soon as possible,” Gainey said. Gainey said the board dealt with “a lot of operational issues” during its gathering in Chap-

Hill. He said it was prudent to hold off on some decisions to assess the ramifications of the realignment.

“I was really proud of the board on some of the things that we discussed, the tabling of issues,” Gainey said. “… So we don’t do something that we have to

el

FILE PHOTO Stephen Gainey

THADD SANDERS FOR RANDOLPH RECORD

Coach Shane Timmons guided Randleman’s football team into the state playoffs on a regular basis.

UCA boys’ basketball coach Roger Mabe addresses his team during a recent game.

BOB SUTTON / RANDOLPH RECORD

HOME PLATE MOTORS

Jaden Allred

Trinity, wrestling

Allred won the 150-pound championship in the weekend’s Eye of the Tiger Invitational at Mount Pleasant.

He was the lone champion among the Bulldogs’ eight top-four finishers in the event. Allred defeated Avery County’s Mason Bentley 10-1 in the championship bout.

Earlier in the tournament, Allred had a technical fall against Rhett White of West Cabarrus, pinned East Rowan’s Jaiden Archie and North Gaston’s William Long in the first period, and registered a pin of Cox Mills’ Stephen Buie in 2:21.

Trinity placed second behind Hickory Ridge in the 22-team event.

Allred also won three matches in last week’s tri-meet by defeating opponents from East Davidson, Salisbury and Southwestern Randolph.

Last month, Allred was a runner-up in the West Rowan Invitational.

This week, Trinity is slated to visit Uwharrie Charter Academy in a Piedmont Athletic Conference matchup involving teams that won dual team state championships last season.

undo or touch again (in a few months).”

Gainey and NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said schools need the conference assignments as soon as possible so they can start creating their league-specific guidelines and work on scheduling.

Among the topics that were tabled was a proposal to create separate classifications for charter and nonboarding parochial schools. Those also might fall into a category of nondistricted schools.

“There are things that make you curious,” Gainey said. “… This is not an overnight issue.”

The proposal came from Nash Central.

“We owe it to them to do everything we can to try to ensure fairness, equity, etc.,” Tucker said.

Gainey said it’s an intriguing topic for the right time.

“They’re part of our membership,” Gainey said. “There are some strong comments.

We’ve been made aware of some things. … We are going to explore that. Our No. 1 priority is going to be finish the realignment process.” Tucker offered a reminder related to schools that might be considered nontraditional public schools.

“You can not recruit for athletic purposes,” she said. Also tabled was a discussion on whether the NCHSAA should sanction girls’ flag football. Tucker said changes to eligibility reports should aid athletics directors in terms of reducing duplication of work.

For instance, game officials will be responsible for logging information related to yellow cards and red cards in soccer, taking that task away from coaches and athletics directors. That could begin with girls’ soccer in the spring, though no longer than the 2025 boys’ soccer season.

“How can we help our student-athletes, and at the same time it helps our athletics directors,” Tucker said.

Dalton nabs victory in finale at chilly Caraway

A cold day of racing involved some small car counts in some classes

Randolph Record staff

SOPHIA — Boo Boo Dalton won the Limited Late Models race in the rescheduled Russell Hackett’s Thanksgiving Classic at Caraway Speedway.

Dalton fended off Heath Causey in a four-car competition. Gregger Estell placed third and Evan Ingram was fourth.

Cold temperatures greeted

drivers and spectators Saturday afternoon.

• Dalton Ledbetter prevailed in the 40-lap Challengers race. Cody Griffin was the runner-up, with Isaac Johnson in third. They were followed by Riley Hutchins, Brian Melville, Gary Ledbetter (the winner’s father), Zack Staley and Cory Luetsen.

• In UCARs, Jason Gallimore was declared the winner following the disqualification of Brandon Collins, whose car failed a postrace inspection. Collins had been the fast qualifier. Original third-place finish-

er Tito Clapp also was disqualified via a failed car inspection. The order following Gallimore ended up Jimmy Cooper, Kaleb Hall, Jamie Vance and Mason Vance.

• The Mini Stocks race was won by Collins, who finished ahead of A.J. Sanders across 30 laps. Austin Long, Blaze Sanders and Steven Sanders rounded out the field.

• In Street Stocks, Wayne McGee posted the victory in 30 laps, with Cody Demarbles the runner-up.

• Jon Morton was first across the line in Bootleggers, edging John Turner in the 20-lap race. Fast qualifier Bobby Bescher was third, followed by Jaclyn Morton, Tyler Perkins, Riley Hathcock, Wade Turner and TJ Gibson.

• Darrin Feree was the winner in Enduros.

boys’ basketball game last week.

Cougars girls start strong with string of victories

Randleman and Asheboro boys’ teams have collected some convincing victories

Randolph Record staff

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph completed a non-conference sweep of Asheboro in girls’ basketball by winning 65-22 last week on the road.

Macy Allred’s 15 points led the Cougars (3-0), who’ll begin Piedmont Athletic Conference play Thursday night at Trinity.

• Trinity’s Mya Hooker racked up 18 points and Madison Hill had 16 points in a 45 -36 road victory against North Carolina Leadership Academy.

Hill’s 21 points were tops in

never get a shot, I got my shot,” said Roger Mabe, who’s also a financial planner in Asheboro.

UCA (8-1) has eight victories by at least 20-point margins, including Friday night’s 87-31 ripping of host River Mill. The only blemish came with last week’s loss at Asheboro.

Jaxon Mabe was at UCA through middle school before two seasons at High Point Christian.

“I got a nice vision of what it’s like,” he said.

But returning to UCA turned out to be a good option, he said. That has been the case on and off the court.

“Being able to reconnect with all my classmates,” he said.

Preston Steele spent one season as UCA’s coach, with the Eagles going 10-15. Roger Mabe is the third coach in three seasons.

Three-year starter Braeden Lamb, a senior forward, has-

a 48-30 victory against visiting High Point Central.

• Randleman suffered its first loss with a 38-34 setback to visiting Lexington. That came a day after winning 48 -35 at Southern Guilford.

• Uwharrie Charter Academy’s 35-26 victory at Asheboro included 13 points from Naimah Al-Arif and 11 points from Nevaeh Staples.

Boys’ basketball

Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston led the Tigers in scoring in two victories last week. Goldston scored 23 points in a 70-43 romp past host Southern Guilford. He posted 19 points in a 75-43 home triumph against Lexington.

• Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons posted 16 points and Osiris

been at the school through it all.

“It has been a wild turn of events,” Lamb said. “You don’t know what system we’re going to run. I like the system we have now — fast paced.”

Lamb and Jaxon Mabe were middle school teammates, so Lamb said there was already a relationship there. Guard Grat Dalton, a catcher for UCA’s two-time reigning Class 1A state championship baseball team, comes off the bench. He didn’t play basketball last season, but he said the lure came with the Mabes on board.

Lamb said the Eagles had to adjust to how Coach Mabe wants them to play, but he sees good things ahead. Jaxon Mabe, at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, is prone to push the pace and attack into the lane.

“I think we’re going to shock a lot of people,” the junior said.

In the River Mill game, Jaxon Mabe scored 27 points, Lamb had 16 points and Zymorie Stur-

Rodrigues had 15 points in a 55-42 home victory against UCA. Then came Asheboro’s 51-35 home victory against Southwestern Randolph. The Blue Comets (4-0) won each of their first four games by at least double-figure margins.

• Parker Kines racked up 18 points when Wheatmore won 81-40 against visiting South Davidson.

• Walker Parrish’s 21 points and 11 rebounds weren’t enough for Trinity in a 66-54 loss to host North Carolina Leadership Academy. Trinity also dropped an 81-52 decision to visiting High Point Central despite Nazir Staton’s 15 points.

• Providence Grove lost 64 -52 to visiting South Stokes despite Andrew Thomas’ 15 points.

divant added 11 points — and they played sparingly in the second half, which was contested with a running clock. Post player Aaron Smith converted a three-point play in the second quarter and left the game with an ankle injury. He didn’t return because it wasn’t necessary.

Girls’ game

UCA rolled past host River Mill 63-10 with freshman Naimah Al-Arif scoring 15 points.

It didn’t take that lopsided victory to have Eagles coach Austin Davis pleased with the first month of the season.

“We have a group that has been together,” Davis said. “We have had a couple of good tests. (Our players) know the expectations of our program.”

The Eagles (8-2) have won three in a row, including avenging a two-point loss to Bethany Community.

RANDOLPH RECORD FILE PHOTO

Trinity’s Jaden Allred works on top of Seaforth’s Noah Lisk during last winter’s Class 2A dual team state finals.

NCHSAA from page B1

UCA from page B1

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Providence Grove’s Stephen Beeson goes up for a shot among South Stokes defenders in a

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

The Wright Brothers took flight first, “Gone With the Wind” premiered, the Boston Tea Party took place

DEC. 12

1870: Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina became the first black lawmaker sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives.

2000: George W. Bush became president-elect as a divided U.S. Supreme Court reversed a state court recount decision in Florida’s tightly contested presidential election.

DEC. 13

1577: Francis Drake set sail from England on an epic three-year circumnavigation of the world aboard the “Pelican” (later renamed the “Golden Hind”).

1623: The Plymouth Colony established the system of trial by 12-men jury in the American colonies.

1862: Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched futile attacks against entrenched Confederate soldiers during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg.

2003: Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq.

DEC. 14

1799: George Washington died at his Mount Vernon, Virginia, home at age 67.

1911: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team became the first men to reach the South Pole.

DEC.

15

1791: The Bill of Rights went into effect following ratification by Virginia.

1890: Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members were killed in Grand River, South Dakota.

1939: The Civil War motion picture epic “Gone with the Wind,” starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, had its world premiere in Atlanta.

DEC. 16

1653: Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.

1773: The Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded a British ship and dumped more than 300 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest tea taxes.

1907: Sixteen U.S. Navy battleships, which came to be known as the “Great White Fleet,” set sail on a 14-month round-the-world voyage to demonstrate American sea power.

1944: The World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise attack against Allied forces through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg.

1950: President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in order to fight “world conquest by Communist imperialism.”

2020: The first COVID-19 vaccinations were underway at U.S. nursing homes, where the virus had killed 110,000 people.

DEC. 17

1777: France recognized American independence.

1903: Wilbur and Orville Wright conducted the first successful manned powered airplane flights near Kitty Hawk using their experimental craft, the Wright Flyer.

DEC. 18

1865: The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was declared in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

1892: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1917: Congress passed the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” and sent it to the states for ratification.

1940: Adolf Hitler signed a secret directive ordering preparations for a Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. (Operation Barbarossa was launched in June 1941.)

1957: The Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went online.

US MILITARY VIA APTN / AP PHOTO

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein undergoes medical examinations in Baghdad after his capture on Dec. 13, 2003.

AP PHOTO

Orville and Wilbur Wright test their airplane on a beach near Kitty Hawk. The brothers conducted the first successful manned powered airplane on Dec. 17, 1903.

No pressure: Singer Lucinda Williams records album of Beatles songs at famed Abbey Road

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter delivers her take on 12 Beatles songs

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

LUCINDA WILLIAMS isn’t easily intimidated, but it would be hard for any musician not to shudder at the task before her.

The mission? Record an album of Beatles songs — only one of the best-known catalogs in popular music — in the same London studio where most of the originals were made. She and her band had just three days.

The result, “Lucinda Williams sings the Beatles from Abbey Road,” became public on Friday. It’s the seventh in her series of “Lu’s Jukebox” projects and the first one that will be made available on streaming services.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter delivers her take on 12 Beatles songs, most of them from the band’s later period. She takes on hits like the Paul McCartney ballads “Let it Be” and “The Long and Wind-

ing Road” while also choosing the more obscure “White Album” cuts “Yer Blues” and “I’m So Tired.”

“It felt like the Holy Grail,” she said. “This is where the Beatles recorded. And we’re going to go in there where they made all of these majestic, classic, amazing songs?”

Abbey Road was the idea of her manager-husband, Tom Overby, and they blocked out a small amount of time before a British tour earlier this year.

Her Beatles fan producer, Ray Kennedy, said he believed Williams was the first major artist to use the London studio to remake the band’s work.

And, yes, it was intimidating. Fortunately, it was a modern, working studio and did not feel like working in a museum. One quirk was the control room was on a different floor than where the musicians were, and Williams repeatedly climbed the stairs to hear playbacks. “The engineers all looked at me, like, ‘What are you doing here?’” she said.

Stripping down songs for the band to build up again revealed complexities they hadn’t anticipated. She particular-

ly enjoyed John Lennon’s “Yer Blues.” “The depth and the edginess and the grittiness of it kind of surprised me,” she said.

They stuck to the basics of her rock band’s sound. The orchestral flourishes of “The Long and Winding Road,” for example, are replaced by an organ and pedal-steel guitar.

“My greatest fear was I didn’t want to sound like a cover band doing Beatles songs,” she said. “And everyone I’ve talked to about it said you don’t have to worry about that, that you achieved your goal of staying true to the songs while still sounding like you.”

During the pandemic, Williams made six “Lu’s Jukebox” projects, themed in-studio concerts. They included Tom Petty and Bob Dylan songs, albums of Southern soul, ’60s country classics and holiday music. She made a disc of Rolling Stones material only days before having a stroke in November 2020.

Sold largely by mail order, they haven’t been available to stream, although a spokesperson said they’re likely to be made available in that format in the future.

Cook sets latest thriller in iconic Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital

It’s the perfect setting for his latest medical thriller

By Rob Merrill The Associated Press

THE BUILDING ON New York’s East Side that used to house Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital has inspired tales of horror from the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and served as the model for Arkham Asylum in fictional Gotham City. For novelist Robin Cook, who interned there in the 1960s, it’s the perfect setting for his latest medical thriller.

“Bellevue” is set in the present day but hearkens often to the hospital’s controversial and storied past. The plot centers around 23-year-old Mitt Fuller, embarking on his surgical residency at the iconic hospital. Mitt’s “long and impressive medical pedigree” goes back more than 400 years and includes three previous surgeons and a psychiatrist. It’s always been Mitt’s dream to follow in his forefathers’ footsteps.

But this is a Robin Cook novel, so readers shouldn’t be surprised that Mitt’s dream slowly becomes a nightmare. Cook

PUTNAM VIA AP

“Bellevue” by Robin Cook hearkens back to the storied New York psychiatric hospital.

does a nice job drawing readers into the tale, not horrifying them all at once. Mitt possesses a little precognitive power and can sometimes see things before they happen or sense when he’s in danger. So when forceps start moving of their own accord during a procedure or sutures untie themselves, readers

Cook does a nice job of drawing readers into the tale, not horrifying them all at once.

and Mitt get a serious case of the heebie-jeebies. Readers learn early in the story why the hospital is haunted, but dramatic irony is at play for more than a hundred pages as Mitt assembles the puzzle and unearths his family’s buried secrets. Mitt’s medical training and belief in science don’t exactly square with a haunted hospital, but when he meets another hospital employee whose family has a history at the institution, together they put together the rest of the pieces.

The denouement is jarring but feels earned. Cook has told a tale that delivers a measure of justice for some patients while preserving the dreadful mystique spelled out on top of the “decorative rusty wrought iron fence” at the southeastern corner of First Avenue and 30th Street: B-E-L-L-E-V-U-E.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Lucinda Williams, pictured performing in 2017, recorded 12 Beatles songs at Abbey Road Studios as part of her “Lu’s jukebox” series.

SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Director Steven Spielberg, pictured in October, turns 78 on Wednesday.

MARK VON HOLDEN / INVISION FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY / AP CONTENT SERVICES Dick Van Dyke poses with his Emmy for outstanding variety special in 2024. The actor-comedian turns 99 on Friday.

LINDSEY WASSON / AP PHOTO Taylor Swift turns 35 on Friday.

AMY HARRIS / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones celebrates 81 on Wednesday.

Dick Van Dyke is 99, Keith Richards turns 81, Taylor Swift hits 35

These celebrities have birthdays this week.

DEC.12

Hall of Fame race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi is 78. Actor Bill Nighy is 75. Gymnast-actor Cathy Rigby is 72. Singer-musician Sheila E. is 67.

DEC. 13

Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 99. Music/film producer Lou Adler is 91. Rock musician Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is 76. Rock musician Ted Nugent is 76. Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is 35.

DEC. 14

Tennis Hall of Famer Stan Smith is 78. Rock musician Cliff Williams (AC/DC) is 74. Former FBI Director James Comey is 64.

DEC. 15

Singer Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes is 85. Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 85. Actor Don Johnson is 75.

DEC. 16

Actor Joyce Bulifant (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) is 87. Actor Liv Ullman is 86. Journalist Lesley Stahl (“60 Minutes”) is 83. Guitarist Tony Hicks of The Hollies is 79. Singer Benny Andersson of ABBA is 78. Singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is 75.

DEC. 17

Actor Armin Mueller-Stahl (“Shine”) is 94. Singer-actor Tommy Steele is 88. Actor Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) is 79. Former “Hardball” host Chris Matthews is 79. Actor-comedian Eugene Levy is 78. Actor Bill Pullman is 70.

DEC. 18

Guitarist Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones is 81. Director Steven Spielberg is 78. Actor Brad Pitt is 61. Actor Katie Holmes (“Dawson’s Creek”) is 46. Singer Billie Eilish is 23.

RICHARD

the stream

/

week.

The Stream: Paris, Nicole reunite; Romano, Kudrow team up; Snoop Dogg drops 20th album

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Paramount+ on Thursday

By The Associated Press

ANGELINA JOLIE portraying opera singer Maria Callas in the movie “Maria” and a Jamie Foxx Netflix comedy special are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time: Snoop Dogg teams up with Dr. Dre on an album, Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in the documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late,” and Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie reunite for “Paris & Nicole: The Encore.”

MOVIES TO STREAM

If you didn’t make it to the theater to see “Joker: Folie à Deux” (and according to the lackluster box office, most didn’t), it’s streaming on Max on Friday. Todd Phillips’ musical sequel to the Oscar-winning “Joker” has Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the mentally ill Arthur Fleck, imprisoned and awaiting trial for his crimes, and adds Lady Gaga as an obsessive fan.

Elton John looks back at his 50 years in the spotlight in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” streaming on Disney+ on Friday. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never-before-seen footage and new interviews and reflections from John as he prepares for his final North American concert at Dodger Stadium. Angelina Jolie portrays opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” now streaming on Netflix. The movie plays out during the final week of her life, flashing back over her difficult childhood, her grand career and her tumultuous affairs. As I wrote in my review, “This is a biopic as opera — an emotional journey fitting of the great diva, full of flair, beauty, betrayal, revelations and sorrow.” Jolie even trained to sing for the role, and her voice, they’ve said, is woven into the audio. If you liked “Spencer” and “Jackie,” “Maria” is a no-brainer. The Blake Lively-led adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” landed Monday on Netflix. Lively stars as Lily Bloom in the romantic drama, which became a minor sensation at the box office, opposite Justin Baldoni, who also directs, and Brandon Sklenar.

A community grapples with the discovery of unmarked graves on the grounds of a Cath-

A new documentary looks behind the scenes in “Elton John: Never Too Late,” coming to Disney+ on Friday.

olic Church-run Indian residential school in Canada in “Sugarcane,” an emotional and revelatory documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The investigation exposes the harrowing abuses inflicted on Indigenous children at these segregated boarding schools. It is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

MUSIC TO STREAM

What else could Snoop Dogg do for his 20th album but team up for a project produced entirely by Dr. Dre. Out Friday, “Missionary” is described as the sequel to Snoop’s 1993 debut “Doggystyle” — the only other full-length collaboration between the two giants of hip-hop — a NSFW meeting of minds featuring guest verses from Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, BJ the Chicago Kid, Jhené Aiko and more. How did Elton John become Elton John? What did those early days look like? And how does he reflect on that time, now? A new documentary, “Elton John: Never Too Late,” available to

stream on Disney+ starting Friday, attempts to peek behind the curtain and explore exactly that. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Paramount+ on Thursday. Little is known about it just yet, but previously announced performers include Coldplay, Jelly Roll, Seventeen, Teddy Swims and Tyla.

SHOWS TO STREAM

It’s been 20 years since Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie first showed us what’s hot on “The Simple Life.” The two revive their schtick with “Paris & Nicole: The Encore,” a threepart series where they recreate memorable moments from the past and return to work at a Sonic fast-food location. It debuts Thursday on Peacock. Jamie Foxx is ready to address his 2023 undisclosed medical condition and joke about it, too. The Oscar winner has a new comedy special called “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...” is waiting for you on Netflix. The streamer is

promoting the event as “the story we’ve been waiting for.” In a trailer, the multihyphenate performer walks on stage and declares, ‘I’m back!” The special was filmed in October.

A new “Dexter” prequel details just how the serial killer discovered his “dark passenger.” The show stars Patrick Gibson as the young Dexter and Christian Slater as his father, Harry, who teaches his son to follow a code of ethics when it comes to murder. “It was simple. Kill the bad guys who escape justice,” we hear Michael C. Hall say in the trailer. Hall, who played Dexter in the original series, returns to narrate the character’s inner voice. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey also appear. “Original Sin” is just one example in an expanding “Dexter” universe. “Original Sin” premieres Sunday on Showtime and streams on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Two sitcom favorites, Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow, team up for a dark comedy in “No Good Deed,” also coming to Netflix. Premiering Thursday, the pair play Paul and Lydia, a married couple at odds

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

over whether to sell their LA home, which has some tragic family history. The listing draws a range of eclectic prospective buyers played by Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, O-T Fagbenle, Teyonah Parris and more.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” has inspired dozens of video games, from Tomb Raider to Uncharted to Spelunky, but it’s been a while since Indiana Jones himself has taken center stage. The hiatus ends with Bethesda Softworks’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in which the intrepid archaeologist once again puts on his fedora and sets off in search of a stolen cat mummy. The quest bounces from the Vatican to the pyramids of Egypt to the temples of Thailand, mixing exploration, puzzle-solving and flashy action set pieces. Developer MachineGames is best known for its Wolfenstein series — experience that will no doubt come in handy when it’s time to punch some Nazis. Crack that whip on Xbox X/S and PC.

“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...,” “Dexter: Original Sin” and “Paris & Nicole: The Encore” are landing on a screen near you this

To the North Pole!

Kids ride in a holiday train at Hoke’s Hometown Christmas festival in Raeford on Friday.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bishop tapped by Trump for OMB post

Washington, D.C.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated outgoing Congressman Dan Bishop to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. Bishop lost the N.C. Attorney General race to Rep. Jeff Jackson last month.

Durham man charged with burning American flag pulled from flagpole

Washington, D.C.

Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in Washington, D.C., during protests in July. Michael Snow Jr., of Durham, is charged with destruction of federal property. The flag was pulled down at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station, by demonstrators calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

No more recounts in Supreme Court race, protests ahead

Raleigh A partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent in the state Supreme Court race. Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734 -vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin asked for the partial hand recount, which wrapped up Tuesday and saw Riggs gaining votes. The state election board heard arguments Wednesday on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.

$2.00

Board of Education swears in new members, reelects same officers

The Hoke County Board of Education kept Catherine Blue as board chair and Rosa McAllister‑McRae as vice chair

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Education held its final meeting of the month, where it established its new officers and took care of a budgetary item.

The board first swore in reelected member Rosa McAl-

lister-McRae and new member Jessie Brown, who is taking over the seat left by the outgoing Keisha Gill.

The board also reelected Catherine Blue as board chair and McAllister-McRae as vice chair.

“Thank you for a great year,” Blue said. “Our goal for this year is to move forward and do better for Hoke County Schools.”

Following the swear-ins, the board was also presented with a few of the academic and growth awards awarded by the State Board of Education.

“We are pleased to offer our

congratulations to you and your entire district for your school performance during the 2023-24 school year,” said Superintendent Kenneth Spells, reading a letter sent by the State Board of Education. “These certificates showcase the dedication to academic achievement in your school system of both students and educators.”

SandHoke Early College was recognized both for a graduation rate of 98.2% as well as the fact that it exceeded expected academic progress, Sandy Grove Elementary and Hoke County High School were recognized for exceeding academ-

Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his

His America PAC could fund GOP primary challengers

By Thomas Beaumont, Juliet Linderman and Martha Mendoza

The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — A week after President-elect

Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a significant role in primaries.”

The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees.

“How else? There is no other way,” Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost conservative voices, including his own.

And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and en-

trepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Republicans who don’t go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators and how we vote and how we’re spending the American people’s money,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

Trump’s second term comes with the specter of the world’s richest man serving as his political enforcer. Within Trump’s team, there is a feeling that Musk not only supports Trump’s agenda and Cabinet appointments but is intent on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republicans who may be less devout.

One Trump adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal political dy-

namics, noted Musk had come to enjoy his role on the campaign and that he clearly had the resources to stay involved.

The adviser and others noted that Musk’s role is still taking shape. And Musk, once a supporter of President Barack Obama before moving to the right in recent years, is famously mercurial.

“I think he was really important for this election. Purchasing Twitter, truly making it a free speech platform, I think, was integral to this election, to the win that Donald Trump had,” said departing Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law. “But I don’t know that ultimately he wants to be in politics. I think he considers himself to be someone on the outside.”

During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed roughly $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed

ic progress, and Don Steeds Elementary, JW McLaughlin Elementary, West Hoke Middle, Scurlock Elementary, J.W. Turlington, Upchurch Elementary and Sandy Grove Middle School were all recognized for meeting expected academic progress.

The board was then given an update on an upcoming need for the replacement of benches and doors within the West Hoke Middle School locker rooms.

“Over the summer of 2024, the West Hoke Middle School

See EDUCATION, page A2

at reaching Trump voters online and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept. He also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran ads arguing Trump would not sign a national abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the justices who overturned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.

Musk’s donation to RBG PAC — a name that invokes the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of abortion rights — wasn’t revealed until post-election campaign filings were made public last Thursday.

Musk has said he hopes to keep America PAC funded and operating. Beyond that, he has used his X megaphone to suggest he is at least open to challenging less exuberant Trump supporters in Congress.

Another key Trump campaign ally has been more aggressive online. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose group Turning Point Action also worked to turn out voters for Trump, named Republican senators he wants to target.

See MUSK, page A2

GUY SAGI

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

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has selected a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as his secretary of the Army.

Daniel P. Driscoll, from North Carolina, had been serving as a senior advisor to Vice President-elect JD Vance, whom he met when both were attending Yale Law School. He ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.

“Dan will be a fearless and relentless fighter for America’s Soldiers and the America First agenda,” Trump said on his social media platform.

If confirmed, Driscoll, 38, would take the helm of a military branch that has been struggling to overcome recruiting shortfallsthrough a sweeping overhaul of its programs and staffing. The Army is also undertaking a widespread effort to revamp and modernize its weapons systems.

Since his graduation from Yale in 2014 and his tour in the Army, Driscoll has worked at several investment banking and consulting firms in North

Carolina. According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from October 2009 to July 2010. He completed Army Ranger school, earning a Ranger tab, but it was not immediately clear when that occurred.

Completing the course allows a soldier to wear the tab but does not mean that he served as a Ranger in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, which is part of the Army’s special operations command and requires significantly more training.

He left the military service at the rank of first lieutenant. He also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Driscoll’s military awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the the combat action badge, which are meritoriously earned.

His other awards are often given due to completion of service during a military campaign and include National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

EDUCATION from page A1

“This is not a joke, everybody. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched,” Kirk said on his podcast, singling out Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina as potential targets. All four Republican senators’ seats are up in 2026.

For now, Musk has been enjoying the glow of his latest conquest, joining Trump for high-level meetings and galas at the soon-to-be president’s Mar-a-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. The incoming administration is seeded with Musk allies, including venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks serving as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar” and Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Musk’s SpaceX, named to lead NASA.

Musk could help reinforce Trump’s agenda immediately, some GOP strategists said, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans. Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.

“Instead of using his influence to twist GOP arms when you have majorities in both houses, he could start going after Democrats who vote against Trump’s agenda in states where the election was a referendum for Trump,” said Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Otherwise, if you pressure Republicans with a primary, you can end up with a Republican who can’t win, and then a Democrat in that seat.”

locker rooms underwent significant remodeling, which included updates to the flooring, shower walls, toilets, paint as well as the lights,” said assistant superintendent Chad Hunt. “However, the existing doors and benches were identified as needing immediate replacement due to their deteriorated conditions.”

The plan is to replace eight benches and 12 doors in the locker room has a total price range of $47,000-$65,000, but the district is still waiting on the bids to come in.

The board was also given an update on a change to the SandHoke Early College’s schedule.

“SandHoke has an established culture of academic excellence as recognized by NCDPI,” said SandHoke principal Leslie Neal. “We know that there are lots of great things that are happening in the building, however, our new challenge and one of our new school improvement goals is to address our graduation rate from the community college program that we have access to.”

Currently the early college has a 30-minute, Friday morning and afternoon “advisory” time, but according to Leslie Neal, the proposal is to move the sessions to Monday and Friday mornings instead.

“We were the recipient of a $25,000 grant through JAKAPA, which is an online platform that addresses soft skills for students and staff members,” Neal said. “After polling our staff, we asked if we would like to start our week off with a goal or with a focus on some of these soft skills that are being identified through this program, and the feedback we got back from our staff was that they would like to start that off on Monday with a focus for the week.”

The board also approved a lease agreement with American Capital for the financing of a Chromebook refresh. The loan totals approximately $3.1 million and will be paid out over four years.

The Hoke County Schools Board of Education will next meet Jan. 14.

MUSK from page A1

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN

| REP. RICHARD HUDSON

It’s time to rein in big bureaucracy

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

FOLLOWING THE MUCH-NEEDED time with the ones we love during the Thanksgiving holiday, House Republicans returned to work for the American people last week and focused on how we can rein in unelected bureaucrats and bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington.

The federal government should be working for you, not against you.

Unfortunately, it has only gotten too bloated, too inefficient and taken too much of your money. From reckless government spending to burdensome regulations and unnecessary red tape, big bureaucracy has crippled Main Street, skyrocketed inflation and spiraled our country into a historic debt crisis.

America’s small businesses are too often saddled with unnecessary, one-size-fitsall regulations by the heavy hand of the government. These rules cost business owners trillions each year to stay compliant, and they don’t have the resources to keep pace with the ever-growing burdens.

Federal agencies seem to ignore the reality and the harmful economic impact that these new regulations cause, which only further discourages small business growth, job creation and American innovation. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I will always work to ensure they can thrive and grow without the government getting in the way.

I was proud to join my colleagues last week in passing the Prove It Act, a common-sense, bipartisan solution to ensure business owners have a voice in the regulatory process. This legislation will protect Main Street from unelected bureaucrats’ overregulation that hinders so many folks from achieving the American dream of starting and owning a business. Out-of-control, taxpayer-funded government spending and bureaucratic overreach have led to higher costs and unsustainable national debt. You, your family and our economy have paid the price for far too long.

The great space breakout

This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S appointment of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was a wonderful moment for those of us who believe in space.

I began reading about space in 1957. I was in eighth grade when “Missiles and Rockets” was a lively magazine and exciting things were happening.

Four years later, like most Americans, I was thrilled by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the Moon, and I still remember the night we first landed there on July 20, 1969.

Then everything seemed to slow down. We pulled back from long-distance projects and focused on the near-Earth International Space Station and space shuttle programs.

In my second term in Congress, I tried to jump-start a more dynamic, risk-taking and aggressive venture into space. On July 28, 1981, I introduced HR 4286 to establish a national space and aeronautics policy.

The 15-page bill had a comprehensive plan for a more dynamic American pursuit of space. In a manner that anticipated Elon Musk a generation later, sections 401 to 403 cited the founding fathers and especially the Northwest Ordnance of 1787. I proposed extending constitutional protections to everyone living in American facilities in space. Further, I proposed that when a space community reached 20,000 inhabitants, Congress would authorize it to establish self-government. When colonies reached the same population as the smallest U.S. state, their citizens could apply for statehood.

This seeming fantasy began to become possible when Musk invented the reusable rocket at SpaceX. This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%. Musk is now creating the Starship. Its 39 Raptor engines make it the most powerful spaceship ever built. With Starship’s ability to lift 100 passengers or 150 tons into orbit, the entire world of space activities will be revolutionized. Multiple Starships could launch every day. Then the revolution will accelerate dramatically.

Other entrepreneurial companies are also developing a series of capabilities in different aspects of space. Axion Space is developing the first commercial international space station. Blue Origins is developing a broad space tourism capability. In this dynamic environment led by successful entrepreneurs, the nomination of Jared Isaacman is a perfect step toward a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and useful government space program. As the leader of NASA, Isaacman will change the slow, cautious, bureaucratic culture that has grown up since Apollo into a dynamic, risk-taking, entrepreneurial system. NASA will accelerate rather than hinder the growth of a whole new generation of diverse American space activities. These include occupying the Moon and colonizing Mars — as well as developing space tourism and manufacturing in weightless environments.

With the creation of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Republicans in Congress have a great opportunity to identify ways we can expose inefficiencies, cut wasteful spending, slash unnecessary regulations and reduce bloated bureaucracy.

My House Republican colleagues and I met with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump appointed to lead DOGE. Working together with Trump and Senate Republicans, we will get our fiscal house in order, save your taxpayer dollars and make the government more efficient for you.

Folks like you are fed up with businessas-usual and voted for real reform in how Washington operates. Rest assured, as your congressman, I will fight tirelessly to deliver the change you deserve.

Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in Congress.

Author Walter Isaacson wrote about Isaacman in his biography of Musk. The author explained that Isaacman had dropped out of high school to ultimately start what became a $200 billion-per-year payment system company. He then became a pilot and set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet. He became so skilled, he started a company that trained military pilots.

“Instead, for SpaceX’s first civilian flight, he chose a low-key tech entrepreneur and jet pilot named Jared Isaacman, who displayed the quiet humility of a square-jawed adventurer who had proven himself in so many fields that he didn’t need to be brash. … Isaacman bought from SpaceX the right to command a three-day flight named inspiration4 that would become history’s first private orbital mission. His purpose was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and he invited a 29-year-old bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, to join the crew, along with two other civilians.”

Isaacman wanted to go to a higher orbit than the International Space Station. Even after he was told that higher orbits held dangerous space debris that could destroy his spacecraft, he said he accepted the risk.

As Isaacson wrote:

“Later, when I asked why he had not opted for the lower altitude, Isaacman said, ‘If we’re going to go to the moon again, and we’re going to go to Mars, we’ve got to get a little outside our comfort zone.’”

Isaacman was so thrilled that he offered $500 million for three future flights, which would aim at going to an even higher orbit and doing a spacewalk in a new suit designed by SpaceX. He also asked for the right to be the first private customer when it was ready. The Isaacman-Musk team fits perfectly into the visionary path Trump outlined in his first term.

On Dec. 11, 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called on the federal space program to cooperate with the private sector to return humans to the moon and explore Mars and other areas in our solar system.

As the president said at the time, “The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

Trump, Musk and Isaacman are three visionary pioneers who will collectively make America the leader of the golden age of space.

Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House.

Ethnic armed group claims capture of a strategic Myanmar town

The Arakan Army controls the border with Bangladesh

The Associated Press

BANGKOK — One of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myanmar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 168-mile-long border with Bangladesh.

The capture by the Arakan Army makes the group’s control of the northern part of Rakhine state complete and marks another advance in its bid for selfrule there.

Rakhine has become a focal point for Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undisclosed location late Monday that his group had seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.

Outpost commander Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun was captured while attempting to flee the battle, Khaing Thukha said.

The situation in Maungdaw could not be independent-

Myanmar border guards stand to provide security near the fence at a no-man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

ly confirmed, with access to the internet and mobile phone services in the area mostly cut off.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately comment.

Maungdaw, 250 miles southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has been the target of an Arakan Army offensive since June.

The group captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two other towns on the border with

Bangladesh, earlier this year.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has gained control of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 townships, along with one in neighboring Chin state.

Ann, a town in Rakhine that hosts the strategically important military headquarters overseeing the western part of the country, appears to be on the verge of falling entirely to the Arakan Army.

The group posted on the

Telegram messaging app late Friday that it had taken more than 30 military outposts, except the army’s western command, which controls Rakhine and the southern part of neighboring Chin state, as well as the country’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Recent fighting in Rakhine has raised fears of a revival of organized violence against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, similar to that

which drove at least 740,000 members of their community in 2017 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety.

The Arakan Army, which is the military wing of the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they are the majority and seek autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, denies the allegations, though witnesses have described the group’s actions to the AP and other media.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including members of the Rakhine minority, as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The border between Myanmar and Bangladesh extends from land to the Naf River and offshore in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arakan Army said Sunday it had ordered the suspension of transport across the Naf River because police and local Muslims affiliated with the army were attempting to escape by boat to Bangladesh.

The rebel group has been accused of major human rights violations, particularly involving its capture of the town of Buthidaung in mid-May, when it was accused of forcing an estimated 200,000 residents, largely Rohingyas, to leave and then setting fire to most of the buildings. It was accused of attacking Rohingya civilians fleeing fighting in Maungdaw in August.

The Arakan Army is also part of an armed ethnic alliance that launched an offensive in northeastern Myanmar last year and gained strategic territory along the border with China.

Philippine villages evacuate after volcanic eruption

Mount Kanlaon is in the volatile Ring of Fire

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines —

About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than 120 miles across seawaters west of the volcano,

obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said by telephone.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singapore were canceled and two local flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon, which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental where nearly 47,000 people have to be evacuated out of a (3.7-mile danger zone, the Office of Civil Defense said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have temporarily transferred to the homes

of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large numbers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early Tuesday to the affected region.

“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos told reporters.

Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may require more people to be evacuated from areas affected by Monday’s eruption.

Disaster-response contingents were rapidly establishing evacuation centers and seeking supplies of face masks, food

and hygiene packs ahead of the Christmas season, traditionally a peak time for holiday travel and family celebrations in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Authorities also shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in the most vulnerable areas.

The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the nearly four-minute eruption of Kanlaon volcano on Monday afternoon had caused a pyroclastic density current — a super hot stream of gas, ash, debris and rocks that can incinerate anything in its path.

“It’s a one-time but major eruption,” Bacolcol told the AP, adding that volcanologists were assessing if Monday’s eruption spewed old volcanic debris and rocks clogged in and near the summit crater or was caused by rising magma from underneath. Few volcanic earthquakes were detected ahead of Mon-

day’s explosion, Bacolcol said. The alert level around Kanlaon was placed on Monday to the third-highest of a five-step warning system, indicating that “magmatic eruption” may have begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions.

The nearly 8,000-foot volcano, one of the country’s 24 most-active volcanoes, last erupted in June, sending hundreds of villagers to emergency shelters.

In 1996, three hikers were killed near the peak and several others later rescued when Kanlaon erupted without warning, officials said.

Located in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms a year and is among the countries most prone to natural disasters.

HOKE SPORTS

WINTER SPORTS ROUNDUP

Hoke County basketball opens conference play

North State Journal staff

THE WRESTLING team continued its winning ways, while the girls’ JV basketball team continued to impress.

Boys’ basketball

The Bucks split a pair of games last week. First, Hoke fell at home to Lumberton, 5348. Hoke was led by sophomore Machai Brown’s 11 points and four assists. Senior Devion Coleman had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior Joshua Miles also scored eight, while junior Savion Kinston had seven points and five boards.

Hoke then opened Sandhills Conference play with a win in the league opener, beating Scotland 55-46. Miles led the way with 10 points. Brown and Kinston added eight each. Junior Josiah Jacobs had a team-high 10 rebounds, and Brown led the team with four assists.

The Bucks are now 4-3, 1-0 in the Sandhills. Hoke has three games this week before heading into the holidays. Hoke hosts Lee County in is Sandhills home opener, then travels to Richmond for another conference game. The week ends with a nonconference tilt against HPCA.

Girls’ basketball

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Machai Brown

Hoke got 13 points from Lailah Crowder in the Overhills game. Fellow senior Shelby Burris added 12, as well as 11 rebounds for a double-double. Sophomore Ayana Jones scored 10. Junior Karmen Campbell had nine points, nine boards and three blocks in the game, while Crowder added four steals.

This week, Hoke has a pair of games as the Bucks try to

The Lady Bucks lost all three games last week as their skid hit four straight. Hoke fell at Overhills, 75-51. The team then suffered a 59-32 home loss to Lumberton. A trip to Scotland opened the Sandhills Conference season, as the Bucks fell, 51-31. Hoke now stands at 1-6, 0-1 in the league.

get back on the winning track. Hoke hosts Lee County, then travels to Richmond in a pair of Sandhills games.

The girls’ JV team is off to a promising start this season, going 4-2. Most recently, the team led wire to wire in a win over Scotland. Eight different Bucks scored in the 42-25 win, led by JaNiya Leak.

Wrestling

The wrestling team added two more trophies to the case, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams won their respective championships at the Anson Cat Duals.

Hoke County, boys’ basketball

Machai Brown is a sophomore on the Hoke County boys’ basketball team. He leads the Bucks in assists and is second on the team in scoring.

The Bucks won their Sandhills Conference opener over Scotland, and Brown contributed eight points, second most on Hoke, and a team-high four assists. In a nonconference game against Lumberton, Brown led the Bucks with 11 points and again had a teamhigh four assists.

Tiafoe returns to Charlotte’s arena to watch Cavs vs. Hornets

Tiafoe hit souvenir tennis balls into the stands during the game and visited the Cavaliers’ locker room after they beat the Hornets 116-102.

By Richard Walker

Associated Press

“I’m a big NBA fan, and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,” Tiafoe said after picking up signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Garland said he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.

“We just hit it off, and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told

him to come to the game today,” Garland said. “It’s pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.”

Garland said he got a signed tennis ball from Friday’s exhibition.

“Yeah it’s pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,” Garland said. “I got a signed tennis ball and I think that’s a pretty good tradeoff.”

Tiafoe, who is from Hyattsville, Maryland, said he grew up a Wizards fans and that former Washington guard John Wall, a Raleigh native, is his favor-

ite player. Former Wizards star

Bradley Beal was in the stands in Flushing Meadows to support his friend when Tiafoe reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.

“I’m still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,” the 26-year-old Tiafoe said. “I love going to games when I can.”

Hornets coach Charles Lee was thrilled that Tiafoe, currently ranked No. 18 in men’s singles, came to see his team’s practice on Friday.

“I think it’s good for our players,” Lee said. “It’s great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.

“Having him at practice yesterday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he’s been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.”

Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Miller when he edged Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, 5-7, 6-1, 11-9 on Friday. Earlier, 2017 U.S. Open women’s singles champion Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madison Keys.

The tennis drew 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game that drew 18,832.

Among those in attendance Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cavaliers players Garland, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.

The Hornets introduced Tiafoe in the first quarter Saturday.

“It’s been an amazing experience here in Charlotte,” Tiafoe told the crowd.

SPORTSBLAST / FACEBOOK

The Hoke girls’ JV basketball team takes the court during a 42-25 win over Scotland.

The tennis star’s basketball appearance came a day after he played Alcaraz in exhibition

The

CHARLOTTE — Frances Tiafoe wore a Charlotte Hornets jersey when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition tennis match.

A day later, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Tennis star Frances Tiafoe hits tennis balls into the crowd during a timeout of an NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Parker, Allen elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame

Dallas

Dave Parker and Dick Allen have been elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame by the classic era committee. Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21.

F1 RACING

Hamilton leaves Mercedes after 6 titles, 246 F1 races

Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes with one last overtake and a heartfelt message to the team where he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” he told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio. Hamilton is moving to Ferrari for 2025 after 12 years at Mercedes, where he won all but one of his seven drivers’ titles. It was the most successful partnership between a team and driver in F1 history.

NHL Blackhawks fire coach Richardson in 3rd season after league-worst start

Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise’s rebuilding project. Chicago had dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL-worst 8-16-2 on the season. It was outscored 41-27 while going 3-9-1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team’s top minor league affiliate in Rockford.

SKIING

Vonn encouraged by competitive preparedness in ski racing return at age 40 Copper Mountain, Colo. Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she’s reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower-level super-G races is that she’s right there after nearly six years away from ski racing. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Frost returning to coach UCF two years after unsuccessful run at Nebraska Orlando, Fla.

Scott Frost is heading back to UCF to take over the program he coached to its greatest season. UCF gave Frost his first head coaching job in 2016 and the next season the Knights went 13-0 with a Peach Bowl win over Auburn and No. 6 final ranking. He accepted Nebraska’s offer to return to his alma mater and lead the team he quarterbacked to a 1997 co -national championship. He was fired three games into the 2022 season, leaving with a 16-31 record. He has been working on the Los Angeles Rams staff this season.

Face facts: Statues of stars like Wade, Ronaldo don’t always deliver

wel Pratley studied countless images of Queen Elizabeth II to create a memorial statue in the East Midlands town of Oakham.

By Ken Maguire The Associated Press

LONDON — In Miami, observers say the Dwyane Wade sculpture looks more like actor Laurence Fishburne than the former basketball star. The infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust in 2017 gave the chiseled soccer star a chubby face and goofy smile. It wasn’t always this way. In classical times, sculptors “had absolutely no interest in depicting people accurately,” explained Lucy Branch, a London-based sculptural conservator.

“There’s this idea now, in this era, that commemorative sculpture should be like portraiture — it should look exactly like the person they are commemorating. But actually that’s a really new idea in sculpture.”

To avoid pitfalls, here are some tips from sculptors:

Do your research

London-based sculptor Hy-

“A good portrait sculpture is evidence of 1,000 decisions after 10,000 observations,” Pratley said.

In addition, Yorkshire county sculptor Steve Winterburn recommends getting close with a subject’s family and friends to help find characteristics.

“You don’t want it looking like a Madame Tussauds,” said Winterburn, who created a statue of five Rugby League greats at Wembley Stadium. “It still needs a bit of art in it, a bit of soul. That’s what makes art really sing.”

Smile at your peril

The Ronaldo bust depicted the Portugal star smiling crookedly. In Miami, Wade’s mouth is open in the statue representing the moment the player famously jumped onto a courtside table and yelled, “This is my house.”

It’s probably best avoided.

“It’s really difficult to do

teeth looking good in sculpture,” Pratley said.

Get the profile right

Start “by understanding the profile” before moving on to determine widths from the front view, Pratley said.

“Get the profile right and you will have won half the battle because then you can have something at least that you can trust,” he said.

“There’s so many to understand. It’s not two dimensions, it’s three. There’s an exponential opportunity for everything to go wrong. If you’ve got the profile, then you can go forward with more confidence.”

The eyes have it?

Winterburn tries to make the eyes “come alive” in his work.

“The eye is the soul of the person that carries it,” he said. “If you look at a lot of public work, I’m not being funny, they’re dead. There’s nothing in them, they’re just featureless, soulless. With a painting, if in doubt, fade it out. With sculp-

ture, there is nowhere to hide.”

For Pratley, especially when he is working with a live model, “I’m often struck by how the absolute essence of somebody is somewhere between the nostrils and the mouth. The flicker of muscles and the subtle movement of muscles around the mouth is so much you — it’s so much that person.”

Vote on it

In the UK, local councils — like a city council in the U.S. — might propose a project, fund it and select the sculptor, sometimes with little input from the public and limited vetting of artists.

Branch says there’s a better way: Vote on it.

“It is a really good balance and check for whether people on the committees have chosen the right sculptor or the right composition for that person who is being commemorated,” Branch said. “(The public) may not necessarily be highly educated about sculpture, but they always tend to know whether the artist has hit the nail on the head.”

NC State opens conference play with overtime win

The Wolfpack snapped a three-game losing streak

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

THE NC STATE Wolfpack

men’s basketball team (6-3, 1-0 ACC) shook off a tough three-game skid with an 84 -74 overtime win over the Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 0-1 ACC), their first game of ACC play this season.

The Wolfpack turned in a big second half and OT performance by senior guard Dontrez Styles to lead them to the win.

Nineteen of Styles’ 21 points — a season high — came after the first half, and he was a big clutch factor for the Wolfpack.

“I thought Dontrez Styles was tremendous in the second half,” said NC State coach Kevin Keatts. “He made play after play.”

It was also a big game for senior guard Marcus Hill, who has started to find his scoring touch after a tough go in San Diego. Hill had just nine points across the two games at the Rady Children’s Invitational but has now had back-to-back games in double digits.

In 33 minutes against the Seminoles, Hill had a season-high and team-high 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field.

“Both of those guys (Styles and Hill) in San Diego, they were 3-for-12, and both of those guys the last two games have been really good for us,” Keatts said.

NC State led for a majority of the game, but the court started to tilt midway through the second half as Florida State’s Malique Ewin started to heat up.

Diego.

“I wanted us to stay solid. I thought we had done some boneheaded stuff.”

Keatts

Kevin

The Seminoles took a sixpoint lead, their biggest lead of the game, with 3:44 to go in the second half. After that basket, Keatts called a timeout and got his group refocused.

“I wanted us to stay solid,” Keatts said. “I thought we had done some boneheaded stuff, and we switched out and we didn’t read and we didn’t switch to the inside and we gave up some easy baskets. The great thing about when

you gotta a new bunch is they are a new bunch, so it’s like you can learn a lot of things.”

The Wolfpack responded with two strong runs to once again along with Ewin, who ended the game with 24 points and nine rebounds, picking up his fifth foul of the game, and that was just what NC State needed to get back into it.

Following that foul out, the Wolfpack couldn’t quite hang on to its slim lead, but they took off to start overtime and never looked back.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win for the Wolfpack was their committed effort to rebounding against the second tallest lineup in NCAA DI basketball.

“It means a lot,” Keatts said. “It means we’re growing.” On top of being the Wolf-

pack’s first ACC win, it also ended a three-game slide for NC State.

“For us, it meant a little bit more,” Keatts said. “We had dropped three games against three really good teams, we were at home and obviously it was the first ACC game early in December. I thought our guys came out, responded and answered the bell.

“This team needed an early win together. We hadn’t had one, this particular group, and we needed a nice win together and we got one. We needed a win where we made some mistakes, but we came back that way we could grow. I think this is the best thing that could have happened to us. We’ve had more adversity than we’ve had success, and winning this game will really help us.”

DENIS POROY / AP PHOTO

State guard Dontrez Styles shoots during a game against BYU in late November in San

Sculptors offer advice on how to honor athletes with realistic depictions

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN / AP PHOTO

Former Miami Heat player

Dwyane Wade looks at a bronze statue in his image during its unveiling ceremony outside the arena in October.

Edward Lee Key Jr.

Dec. 28, 1959 – Dec. 5, 2024

Edward Lee Key Jr., of Red Springs, NC passed away on Thursday, December 05, 2024, at the age of 64.

He was born in Lumberton, NC, on December 28, 1959, to the late Edward Key Sr. and Eleanor Baxley.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Glennie Key.

Eddie was a wonderful father and grandfather. He was well known for drag racing, his speed shop and automotive services.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Susan Key; children, Nicholas Key (Lana), and Jennifer Cole (Richard); grandchildren, Aria Cole, Peyton Cole, Edward Cole, Austin Locklear, Jasmine Bullard, and Christina Revels; one greatgranddaughter, London Sage; and his aunt Fay Wood.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376. Online condolences may be made on the Crumpler Funeral Home Website.

Leroy McRae

Jan. 23, 1951 – Dec. 7, 2024

Mr. Leroy McRae age, 73 went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on December 07, 2024. The Celebration of Life will be held on December 13; 11 a.m. at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel.

the life of your loved ones.

obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

Yvonne Johnson, the first black mayor of NC’s third-largest city, dies at 82

She was mayor pro tempore on Greensboro’s current city council

The Associated Press

GREENSBORO — A longtime Greensboro council member who also was the first black mayor of North Carolina’s third largest city has died.

Yvonne Johnson, who was the mayor pro tempore on the current city council, died last Wednesday at age 82, Mayor Nancy Vaughan announced in a statement.

COURTESY PHOTO

Councilwoman Yvonne Johnson died last week at age 82.

“Our city lost one of its champions,” Vaughan said. A cause of death wasn’t provided, but Vaughan had said last Tuesday that Johnson was absent from the council meeting that evening because of illness, the News & Record of Greensboro reported.

Johnson spent nearly 30 years on the council — first from 1993 to 2009, of which the last two years she served as mayor following a 2007 election victory. She lost her mayoral reelection bid in 2009 but returned to the council in 2011, serving until her death.

Johnson “was a dedicated public servant and friend who led Greensboro with courage, passion and a sense of justice,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday on X, adding he was “grateful for her good work and the positive changes she helped make.” Johnson was long involved in civil rights. She recalled in a 2023 interview with a publication of the North Carolina League of Municipalities about taking part in the 1963 March on Washington and in the sit-in

Darrell McGraw, former W.Va. attorney general, dies at 88

As AG, McGraw sued Purdue Pharma over the marketing of opoids

By John Raby The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Darrell V. McGraw Jr., a former longtime West Virginia attorney general and state Supreme Court justice who fought back against the state’s drug overdose crisis, died Saturday. He was 88.

Jared Hunt, a spokesman for the state Supreme Court, said in an email that McGraw died of a heart attack.

The West Virginia Democratic Party called McGraw “a tireless advocate for justice, fairness, and the people of our great state.”

“His legacy of service and commitment to our state will never be forgotten,” it said in a statement.

“Darrell’s work made a lasting impact on our state, and his spirit

of public service will continue to inspire generations to come.”

A Democrat, McGraw won a 12-year term on the Supreme Court in 1976. He was elected attorney general in 1992 and reelected four times before losing to Republican Patrick Morrisey in

2012. McGraw lost a bid to return to the Supreme Court in 2016.

“My prayers and sympathies go out to the family and friends of Darrell McGraw for their loss,” Morrisey said in a statement on the social platform X.

In 2001, McGraw accused Purdue Pharma in a lawsuit of dishonestly marketing the painkiller OxyContin in West Virginia. The company agreed to a $10 million settlement in 2004. McGraw later filed a lawsuit over excessive amounts of prescription painkillers that were flooding southern West Virginia pharmacies. After McGraw left office, the state announced settlements of $20 million with distributor Cardinal Health Inc. and $16 million with AmerisourceBergen Drug Co.

In addition, a Georgia company that McGraw accused of supplying ingredients used to make drugs known as bath salts and synthetic marijuana agreed not

movement while a student at Bennett College in Greensboro.

“I grew up here and I experienced segregation,” Johnson told Southern City Magazine. “I always felt it was wrong, but I never really had that spark, that motivation to get out there and do something that might make a difference. The spirit at Bennett spurred me. Once I was on the bandwagon, I was there.”

Johnson served as the leader of One Step Further, a nonprofit providing food assistance, mediation and other services, from its founding in 1982 until earlier this year, a previous news release from the nonprofit said.

“Our family is immensely proud of her service and she was and still is a role model for her four kids and seven grandkids,” Lisa Johnson-Tonkins, Johnson’s daughter and the current Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court, was quoted as saying in Vaughan’s statement. “Her mantra was that service is the rent you pay for your time on Earth. Mom’s rent has been paid up.”

to sell or advertise in the state.

The drug overdose epidemic has killed more than 1 million people in the United States since 1999. West Virginia for years has had by far the nation’s highest overdose death rate.

McGraw also focused on consumer protection and antitrust laws, suing direct mail marketers, credit card companies, alternative lenders and other businesses. In 1998, his office was part of a national settlement against major U.S. cigarette manufacturers. West Virginia currently has the highest rate of adult smokers.

Born Nov. 8, 1936, in Wyoming County, McGraw enlisted in the Army as a teenager. Attending West Virginia University, he was elected student body president and earned bachelor’s and law degrees. He later became counsel to the state legislature and to Gov. Hulett Smith before being elected to the Supreme Court.

McGraw’s wife, Jorea Marple, is a former state schools superintendent. His brother, former state Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw, died last year. McGraw is survived by his wife and four children, Hunt said.

LISA BERNHEIM/CHARLESTON GAZETTEMAIL VIA AP

Darrell McGraw poses for a portrait in Charleston, W.Va. in March 2016.

STATE & NATION

Trump’s Cabinet picks set off political chain reaction

Two special elections will be held in January for a pair of congressional seats in Florida

By Kate Payne

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The field of candidates has been set for two special elections in Florida to replace members of Congress nominated for positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Two dozen candidates have filed to run for the seats of outgoing Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, though Trump has already weighed in on his preferred successors.

Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers for his new Cabinet is setting off a political chain reaction that’s opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond. Multiple sitting elected officials have filed to run for the congressional seats, including Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, triggering other vacancies and electoral opportunities.

Both GOP congressmen easi-

ly won reelection to their respective seats in November, Gaetz in a northwest Florida district known for its sugar-sand beaches and military installations, and Waltz in a stretch of the

Soros’ foundation says it remains focused on human rights

Open Society Foundations has reorganized in recent years

By Thalia Beaty The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foundations wants those in the human rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday.

The foundations, founded by billionaire investor George Soros and now led by one of his sons, Alex Soros, have historically been one of the largest funders of human rights groups. But since 2021, they closed some of their programs and reduced their staff part of a major internal reorganization.

In the process, many grantees and others in the human rights movement have waited anxiously to see where the chips would fall.

“A reimagination has taken place under the leadership of the new board chair at Open Society Foundations,” Nowrojee said, referring to Alex Soros.

“One of the reasons that we wanted to really reiterate in a large way, with balloons, et cetera, that we are still committed to human rights is because of this fear that’s permeated with the changes that somehow Open Society Foundations is no longer going to be working on rights or equity or justice,” she said in advance of Human Rights Day, which the United Nations observes on Dec. 10.

Nowrojee offered few new details about OSF’s specific funding priorities, though earlier this year, the foundations committed $400 million toward green jobs and economic development.

Another new program focuses on protecting environmental defenders that will work in a few countries, like Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and end after five years, said Sharan Srinvias, a director of programs at OSF.

“We did a survey of what other donors are supporting and, in general, we saw that this is where the gap is,” he said of people who come under attack for defending land, water or other resources. “Especially bilateral donors find it much easier to support global organizations, who in turn are able to

state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach.

The special elections to replace them aren’t expected to change Republicans’ slim majority in the House but could

trigger another shuffle among the state’s political hopefuls eyeing a run for governor in 2026 as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second term winds down. Patronis is among those who Republican insiders say are considering a bid for governor, and a term in Congress could help boost his profile. Trump recently voiced his support for Patronis in the race to replace Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, though that didn’t dissuade the 15 other candidates who qualified to run, even in a district where Trump is overwhelmingly popular.

“Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump posted on his social networking site Truth Social. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” Other candidates in the race include Republican State Rep. Joel Rudman, a physician who launched his political career by criticizing mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sole Democrat in the race is Gay Valimont, an activist for the gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action who unsuccessfully challenged Gaetz in November.

In the race for Waltz’s seat in Congressional District 6, Republican State Rep. Randy Fine won Trump’s endorsement. Fine is a self-described “conservative firebrand” who was investigated for allegations related to posting the phone number online of a school board member, which

led to a wave of harassment and threats against her. No charges were filed against him.

Eight other candidates have jumped in the race for the seat, including three Democrats and a candidate unaffiliated with a party — Randall Terry, an anti-abortion activist who ran as the Constitution Party’s presidential nominee last month.

Gaetz had been tapped to be Trump’s attorney general before stepping aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations. Though no longer under consideration, Gaetz had already resigned from his northwest Florida seat, a move that effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Trump named Waltz to be his national security adviser, though the three-term congressman and retired Army National Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation.

Ballots for both special elections will begin going out to military and overseas voters on Dec. 14. The primary is scheduled for Jan. 28, and the general election will be held April 1.

support prominent rights defenders in capital cities who are well known.”

One benefit of the limited time horizon, Srinvias said, is his team will mostly make grants of three or five years — longer than OSF’s typical grants — and offer grantees more flexibility. It will also have some funds to respond to emergencies for human rights defenders all over the world.

In 2020, OSF was the largest global human rights funder, giving out the most money overall and making the largest number of grants. That’s according to the Human Rights Funders Network, a membership organization of grantmakers that tracks philanthropic funding

for human rights groups.

“When major funders adjust their priorities, it can have a ripple effect. Their decisions can dramatically impact the human rights movements they once supported, especially in regions where they’ve been a long-time champion,” HRFN wrote in its most recent Advancing Human Rights report from September.

To add to the atmosphere of uncertainty, another major human rights funder, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, announced earlier this year that it would end its work by 2028.

OSF’s board aims to employ 600 people around the world, Nowrojee said, which is down from a reported 800 in 2021.

Some of the changes OSF

made in the last three years include winding down its global public health program and significantly diminishing its programs in the European Union. It spun off its area of work focused on Roma communities into a new organization and issued final grants to many of its partners.

“You never want philanthropy to just be doing the same thing. You want philanthropy to be getting out of stuff,” Nowrojee said. “And so there’s large areas of work where huge achievements were made, which we have retreated from, not because we don’t think that there’s value in them, but the movements themselves have strengthened.”

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, pictured in 2022, is a candidate to succeed Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressonal District.

FRANCOIS MORI / AP PHOTO

George Soros handed the reins of Open Society Foundations to his son Alex in 2023.

A Christmas emergency!

Santa waves from the back of a fire truck during the Southern Pines Christmas Parade on Saturday morning.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bishop tapped by Trump for OMB post

Washington, D.C.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated outgoing Congressman Dan Bishop to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. Bishop lost the N.C. Attorney General race to Rep. Jeff Jackson last month.

Durham man charged with burning American flag pulled from flagpole

Washington, D.C.

Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in Washington, D.C., during protests in July. Michael Snow Jr., of Durham, is charged with destruction of federal property. The flag was pulled down at Columbus Circle, in front of Union Station, by demonstrators calling for an end to the war in Gaza.

No more recounts in Supreme Court race, protests ahead

Raleigh

A partial hand recount failed to suggest the trailing Republican candidate could overtake the Democratic incumbent in the state Supreme Court race.

Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintained a 734 -vote lead over Jefferson Griffin following a machine recount completed last week. Griffin asked for the partial hand recount, which wrapped up Tuesday and saw Riggs gaining votes. The state election board heard arguments Wednesday on protests filed by Griffin and GOP legislative candidates.

$2.00

Board of Education welcomes in new members, elects new chairman

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — The Moore

County Board of Education ushered in its new board at its Dec. 2 regular business meeting.

The board swore in three new members: Amy Dahl, who is representing District 1 in place of outgoing Stacey Caldwell; Steve Johnson, who is representing District 2 in place of outgoing Robert Levy; and Robin Calcutt, who is representing District 5 in place of outgoing Philip Holmes; and

the reelected David Hensley. Calcutt was also elected as board chair over Shannon Davis by a 4-3 count as Calcutt, with Dahl, Johnson and Hensley voting for Calcutt.

Davis was, however, reelected as vice chair over Johnson by a 5-2 count with only Davis and Hensley voting against the majority.

“I want to thank the current and newly elected board of education members for their dedicated years of service, Dr. Locklair and the entire Moore County Schools community of students, teachers, staff

and families, for their unwavering commitment to education and excellence,” Calcutt said. “I am profoundly grateful to the people of Moore County for placing your trust in me to serve as a member of the board of education. It’s a true privilege to contribute to the growth and success of our schools and to support the children, families, educators and staff make our community exceptional.”

The board met once again on Dec. 9, but the only action item taken by the board was a vote on a personnel report discussed in closed session that was initially on the consent agenda but pulled at the request of Hensley.

“The reason I did is because of the Innovative High School,”

Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his

By Thomas Beaumont, Juliet Linderman and Martha Mendoza The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — A week after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a significant role in primaries.”

The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees.

“How else? There is no other way,” Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost

Hensley said. “First, before I talk about why, I want to say I firmly believe in an Innovative High School. I understand the need for it, its mission and I understand it has wide-spread support from the educators and administrators. It has nothing to do with the concept of an innovative high school or the person who has been selected to be the principal of the Innovative High School. My problem is that I have serious concerns about what’s been left out of the planning process.”

Hensley cited the aggressive timeline for implementation set forth by the district, the lack of a concept of operations for the reduction of overcrowding in the rest of the dis-

conservative voices, including his own.

And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Republicans who don’t go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency.

“Elon and Vivek talked about having a naughty list and a nice list for members of Congress and senators and how we vote and how we’re spending the American people’s money,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Trump’s second term comes with the specter of the world’s richest man serving as his political enforcer. Within Trump’s team, there is a feeling that Musk not only supports Trump’s agenda and Cabinet appointments but is intent on seeing them through to the point of pressuring Republicans who may be less devout. One Trump adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal political dynamics, noted Musk had come to enSee MUSK, page A2

His America PAC could fund GOP primary challengers

The Moore County Board of Education swore in three new members and elected one of those members, Robin Calcutt, as the newest board chair

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP PHOTO Elon Musk, carrying his son X Æ A-Xii, leaves a meeting with members of congress to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency last week in Washington, D.C.

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Ryan Henkel, Reporter

P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer

BUSINESS

David Guy, Advertising Manager

Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal

1201

THURSDAY

12

Dec. 3

• William Roscoe Harless, 40, was arrested by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for driving while impaired level 4.

Dec. 4

• Stephen Paul Hannon, 37, was arrested by the Pinehurst Police Department for driving while impaired.

Dec. 5

• Janice Rebecca Mottola, 53, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

Dec. 6

• George Riley Garner, 41, was arrested by MCSO for possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Crystal Brianne Tripp, 38, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine.

Dec. 8

• Andrew Jaimes, 29, was arrested by MCSO for driving while license revoked not impaired.

Dec. 9

• Dalyne Chaquiel Balser, 32, was arrested by MCSO for possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana.

• Joseph Lee Barber, 57, was arrested by MCSO for attempted trafficking of opioids by transport.

• John Charles Cunningham, 44, was arrested by MCSO for indecent liberties with a child.

• Rodney Hicks, 49, was arrested by the Foxfire Village Police Department for identity theft.

• Aaron Ray Nance Leach, 36, was arrested by MCSO for driving while license revoked not impaired.

Trump picks Iraq War vet from NC as Army secretary

Daniel P. Driscoll is an Army Ranger who deployed to Iraq

By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has selected a former soldier and Iraq War veteran to serve as his secretary of the Army.

Daniel P. Driscoll, from North Carolina, had been serving as a senior advisor to Vice President-elect JD Vance, whom he met when both were attending Yale Law School. He ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2020, getting about 8% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.

MUSK from page A1

joy his role on the campaign and that he clearly had the resources to stay involved.

The adviser and others noted that Musk’s role is still taking shape. And Musk, once a supporter of President Barack Obama before moving to the right in recent years, is famously mercurial.

“I think he was really important for this election. Purchasing Twitter, truly making it a free speech platform, I think, was integral to this election, to the win that Donald Trump had,” said departing Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law. “But I don’t know that ultimately he wants to be in politics. I think he considers himself to be someone on the outside.”

During the presidential campaign, Musk contributed roughly $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed at reaching Trump voters online and in person in the seven most competitive states, which Trump swept. He also invested $20 million in a group called RBG PAC, which ran ads arguing Trump would not sign a national abortion ban even as the former president nominated three of the justices who over-

BOARD from page A1

trict’s high schools and the fact that there’s been no discussions with stakeholders over who’s going to pay the remaining costs of the Innovative High School.

“Dan will be a fearless and relentless fighter for America’s Soldiers and the America First agenda,” Trump said on his social media platform.

If confirmed, Driscoll, 38, would take the helm of a military branch that has been struggling to overcome recruiting shortfallsthrough a sweeping overhaul of its programs and staffing. The Army is also undertaking a widespread effort to revamp and modernize its weapons systems.

Since his graduation from Yale in 2014 and his tour in the Army, Driscoll has worked at several investment banking and consulting firms in North Carolina.

According to the Army, Driscoll served as an armor officer from August 2007 to March 2011, deploying to Iraq from

turned a federally guaranteed right to the procedure.

Musk’s donation to RBG PAC — a name that invokes the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of abortion rights — wasn’t revealed until post-election campaign filings were made public last Thursday.

Musk has said he hopes to keep America PAC funded and operating. Beyond that, he has used his X megaphone to suggest he is at least open to challenging less exuberant Trump supporters in Congress.

Another key Trump campaign ally has been more aggressive online. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose group Turning Point Action also worked to turn out voters for Trump, named Republican senators he wants to target.

“This is not a joke, everybody. The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched,” Kirk said on his podcast, singling out Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina as potential targets. All four Republican senators’ seats are up in 2026.

For now, Musk has been enjoying the glow of his latest conquest, joining Trump for

October 2009 to July 2010. He completed Army Ranger school, earning a Ranger tab, but it was not immediately clear when that occurred.

Completing the course allows a soldier to wear the tab but does not mean that he served as a Ranger in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, which is part of the Army’s special operations command and requires significantly more training. He left the military service at the rank of first lieutenant. He also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Driscoll’s military awards include the Army Commendation Medal and the the combat action badge, which are meritoriously earned. His other awards are often given due to completion of service during a military campaign and include National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

high-level meetings and galas at the soon-to-be president’s Mara-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida. The incoming administration is seeded with Musk allies, including venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks serving as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar” and Jared Isaacman, a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Musk’s SpaceX, named to lead NASA. Musk could help reinforce Trump’s agenda immediately, some GOP strategists said, by using America PAC to pressure key Republicans. Likewise, Musk could begin targeting moderate Democrats in pivotal states and districts this spring, urging them to break with their party on key issues, Republican strategist Chris Pack said.

“Instead of using his influence to twist GOP arms when you have majorities in both houses, he could start going after Democrats who vote against Trump’s agenda in states where the election was a referendum for Trump,” said Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Otherwise, if you pressure Republicans with a primary, you can end up with a Republican who can’t win, and then a Democrat in that seat.”

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Dec.13

Trolley Express: Festival of Lights Plus POP-UP Market

6-7:30 p.m.

Step into the holiday magic aboard our Sandhills Trolley for the Festival of Lights Cruise! Experience VIP travel to a holiday wonderland with a Christmas market, hayrides and more festive surprises. Let the Williams and Thomas families dazzle you with their spectacular light display as you stroll and soak in the season’s cheer. Sing along to merry tunes and play games to and from — let’s make this holiday season unforgettable! Harris Teeter – Pinehurst 305 Ivey Lane Pinehurst

Christmas Cookie Craze

6-8 p.m.

Parents: Reserve your kiddo’s spot now for a fun night of cookie decorating and a night out for you! Kiddos will have a blast hanging with friends, wearing their favorite Christmas sweater and partaking in other fun activities.

The Train House 29 Little Island Road Eure

Dec. 14

Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House and Property Tours

1-4 p.m.

The Innovative High School is part of a state-funded project that put forth $25 million for the new high school, which will be more CTE-oriented and act as an alternative education route.

The funding was put forth in late 2023, and the district plans to open the school for the 2025-26 school year.

“I am not going to vote to provide personnel for this until these issues are resolved,” Hensley said. However, following discussion, the board voted 6-1 to approve the report with Hensley the lone dissent, officially appointing Ashlee Ciccone as the new principal of the Innovative High School. The Moore County Board of Education will next meet Jan. 13.

The Moore County Historical Association’s Shaw House grounds and properties are open for tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. The tours are free and open to all ages. Enjoy learning of the impressive history here in Moore County. “The Moore County Historical Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing, the rich historical legacy of the towns, cities and surrounding area, of Moore County, North Carolina.”

Shaw House 110 Morganton Road

Pinehurst

A Nutcracker Tea Party

5:30-6:45 p.m.

Enjoy a tea party with locally grown tea and delicious, sweet treats while you enjoy the Encore’s rendition of “The Nutcracker.” This story will be narrated to help our

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN

| REP. RICHARD HUDSON

It’s time to rein in big bureaucracy

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

FOLLOWING THE MUCH-NEEDED time with the ones we love during the Thanksgiving holiday, House Republicans returned to work for the American people last week and focused on how we can rein in unelected bureaucrats and bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington.

The federal government should be working for you, not against you.

Unfortunately, it has only gotten too bloated, too inefficient and taken too much of your money. From reckless government spending to burdensome regulations and unnecessary red tape, big bureaucracy has crippled Main Street, skyrocketed inflation and spiraled our country into a historic debt crisis.

America’s small businesses are too often saddled with unnecessary, one-size-fitsall regulations by the heavy hand of the government. These rules cost business owners trillions each year to stay compliant, and they don’t have the resources to keep pace with the ever-growing burdens.

Federal agencies seem to ignore the reality and the harmful economic impact that these new regulations cause, which only further discourages small business growth, job creation and American innovation.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I will always work to ensure they can thrive and grow without the government getting in the way.

I was proud to join my colleagues last week in passing the Prove It Act, a common-sense, bipartisan solution to ensure business owners have a voice in the regulatory process. This legislation will protect Main Street from unelected bureaucrats’ overregulation that hinders so many folks from achieving the American dream of starting and owning a business. Out-of-control, taxpayer-funded government spending and bureaucratic overreach have led to higher costs and unsustainable national debt. You, your family and our economy have paid the price for far too long.

The great space breakout

This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S appointment of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was a wonderful moment for those of us who believe in space.

I began reading about space in 1957. I was in eighth grade when “Missiles and Rockets” was a lively magazine and exciting things were happening.

Four years later, like most Americans, I was thrilled by President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the Moon, and I still remember the night we first landed there on July 20, 1969.

Then everything seemed to slow down. We pulled back from long-distance projects and focused on the near-Earth International Space Station and space shuttle programs.

In my second term in Congress, I tried to jump-start a more dynamic, risk-taking and aggressive venture into space. On July 28, 1981, I introduced HR 4286 to establish a national space and aeronautics policy.

The 15-page bill had a comprehensive plan for a more dynamic American pursuit of space. In a manner that anticipated Elon Musk a generation later, sections 401 to 403 cited the founding fathers and especially the Northwest Ordnance of 1787. I proposed extending constitutional protections to everyone living in American facilities in space. Further, I proposed that when a space community reached 20,000 inhabitants, Congress would authorize it to establish self-government. When colonies reached the same population as the smallest U.S. state, their citizens could apply for statehood.

This seeming fantasy began to become possible when Musk invented the reusable rocket at SpaceX. This innovation lowered the cost of putting a satellite in space by 90%. Musk is now creating the Starship. Its 39 Raptor engines make it the most powerful spaceship ever built. With Starship’s ability to lift 100 passengers or 150 tons into orbit, the entire world of space activities will be revolutionized. Multiple Starships could launch every day. Then the revolution will accelerate dramatically.

Other entrepreneurial companies are also developing a series of capabilities in different aspects of space. Axion Space is developing the first commercial international space station. Blue Origins is developing a broad space tourism capability. In this dynamic environment led by successful entrepreneurs, the nomination of Jared Isaacman is a perfect step toward a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and useful government space program. As the leader of NASA, Isaacman will change the slow, cautious, bureaucratic culture that has grown up since Apollo into a dynamic, risk-taking, entrepreneurial system. NASA will accelerate rather than hinder the growth of a whole new generation of diverse American space activities. These include occupying the Moon and colonizing Mars — as well as developing space tourism and manufacturing in weightless environments.

With the creation of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Republicans in Congress have a great opportunity to identify ways we can expose inefficiencies, cut wasteful spending, slash unnecessary regulations and reduce bloated bureaucracy. My House Republican colleagues and I met with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump appointed to lead DOGE. Working together with Trump and Senate Republicans, we will get our fiscal house in order, save your taxpayer dollars and make the government more efficient for you.

Folks like you are fed up with businessas-usual and voted for real reform in how Washington operates. Rest assured, as your congressman, I will fight tirelessly to deliver the change you deserve.

Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in Congress.

Author Walter Isaacson wrote about Isaacman in his biography of Musk. The author explained that Isaacman had dropped out of high school to ultimately start what became a $200 billion-per-year payment system company. He then became a pilot and set the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet. He became so skilled, he started a company that trained military pilots.

“Instead, for SpaceX’s first civilian flight, he chose a low-key tech entrepreneur and jet pilot named Jared Isaacman, who displayed the quiet humility of a square-jawed adventurer who had proven himself in so many fields that he didn’t need to be brash. … Isaacman bought from SpaceX the right to command a three-day flight named inspiration4 that would become history’s first private orbital mission. His purpose was to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and he invited a 29-year-old bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux, to join the crew, along with two other civilians.”

Isaacman wanted to go to a higher orbit than the International Space Station. Even after he was told that higher orbits held dangerous space debris that could destroy his spacecraft, he said he accepted the risk.

As Isaacson wrote:

“Later, when I asked why he had not opted for the lower altitude, Isaacman said, ‘If we’re going to go to the moon again, and we’re going to go to Mars, we’ve got to get a little outside our comfort zone.’”

Isaacman was so thrilled that he offered $500 million for three future flights, which would aim at going to an even higher orbit and doing a spacewalk in a new suit designed by SpaceX. He also asked for the right to be the first private customer when it was ready. The Isaacman-Musk team fits perfectly into the visionary path Trump outlined in his first term.

On Dec. 11, 2017, Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called on the federal space program to cooperate with the private sector to return humans to the moon and explore Mars and other areas in our solar system.

As the president said at the time, “The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery. It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

Trump, Musk and Isaacman are three visionary pioneers who will collectively make America the leader of the golden age of space.

Newt Gingrich is former speaker of the U.S. House.

COLUMN

Ethnic armed group claims capture of a strategic Myanmar town

The Arakan Army controls the border with Bangladesh

The Associated Press

BANGKOK — One of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling Myanmar’s army has claimed the capture of the last army outpost in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 168-mile-long border with Bangladesh.

The capture by the Arakan Army makes the group’s control of the northern part of Rakhine state complete and marks another advance in its bid for selfrule there.

Rakhine has become a focal point for Myanmar’s nationwide civil war, in which pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed forces seeking autonomy battle the country’s military rulers, who took power in 2021 after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, told The Associated Press by text message from an undisclosed location late Monday that his group had seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.

Outpost commander Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun was captured while attempting to flee the battle, Khaing Thukha said.

The situation in Maungdaw could not be independent-

Myanmar border guards stand to provide security near the fence at a no-man’s land between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

ly confirmed, with access to the internet and mobile phone services in the area mostly cut off.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately comment.

Maungdaw, 250 miles southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, has been the target of an Arakan Army offensive since June.

The group captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two other towns on the border with

Bangladesh, earlier this year.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has gained control of 11 of Rakhine’s 17 townships, along with one in neighboring Chin state.

Ann, a town in Rakhine that hosts the strategically important military headquarters overseeing the western part of the country, appears to be on the verge of falling entirely to the Arakan Army.

The group posted on the

Telegram messaging app late Friday that it had taken more than 30 military outposts, except the army’s western command, which controls Rakhine and the southern part of neighboring Chin state, as well as the country’s territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Recent fighting in Rakhine has raised fears of a revival of organized violence against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, similar to that

which drove at least 740,000 members of their community in 2017 to flee to neighboring Bangladesh for safety.

The Arakan Army, which is the military wing of the Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group in Rakhine state, where they are the majority and seek autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, denies the allegations, though witnesses have described the group’s actions to the AP and other media.

Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are widely regarded by many in the country’s Buddhist majority, including members of the Rakhine minority, as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh. The Rohingya face a great amount of prejudice and are generally denied citizenship and other basic rights.

The border between Myanmar and Bangladesh extends from land to the Naf River and offshore in the Bay of Bengal.

The Arakan Army said Sunday it had ordered the suspension of transport across the Naf River because police and local Muslims affiliated with the army were attempting to escape by boat to Bangladesh.

The rebel group has been accused of major human rights violations, particularly involving its capture of the town of Buthidaung in mid-May, when it was accused of forcing an estimated 200,000 residents, largely Rohingyas, to leave and then setting fire to most of the buildings. It was accused of attacking Rohingya civilians fleeing fighting in Maungdaw in August.

The Arakan Army is also part of an armed ethnic alliance that launched an offensive in northeastern Myanmar last year and gained strategic territory along the border with China.

Philippine villages evacuate after volcanic eruption

Mount Kanlaon is in the volatile Ring of Fire

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines —

About 87,000 people were being evacuated in a central Philippine region Tuesday a day after a volcano briefly erupted with a towering ash plume and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its western slopes.

The latest eruption of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur.

Volcanic ash fell on a wide area, including Antique province, more than 120 miles across seawaters west of the volcano,

obscuring visibility and posing health risks, Philippine chief volcanologist Teresito Bacolcol and other officials said by telephone.

At least six domestic flights and a flight bound for Singapore were canceled and two local flights were diverted in the region Monday and Tuesday due to Kanlaon’s eruption, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the western and southern slopes of Kanlaon, which were blanketed by its ash, including in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental where nearly 47,000 people have to be evacuated out of a (3.7-mile danger zone, the Office of Civil Defense said.

More than 6,000 have moved to evacuation centers aside from those who have temporarily transferred to the homes

of relatives in La Castellana by Tuesday morning, the town’s mayor, Rhumyla Mangilimutan, told The Associated Press by telephone.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were ready to provide support to large numbers of displaced villagers and that his social welfare secretary flew early Tuesday to the affected region.

“We are ready to support the families who have been evacuated outside the 6-kilometer danger zone,” Marcos told reporters.

Government scientists were monitoring the air quality due to the risk of contamination from toxic volcanic gases that may require more people to be evacuated from areas affected by Monday’s eruption.

Disaster-response contingents were rapidly establishing evacuation centers and seeking supplies of face masks, food

and hygiene packs ahead of the Christmas season, traditionally a peak time for holiday travel and family celebrations in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Authorities also shut schools and imposed a nighttime curfew in the most vulnerable areas.

The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the nearly four-minute eruption of Kanlaon volcano on Monday afternoon had caused a pyroclastic density current — a super hot stream of gas, ash, debris and rocks that can incinerate anything in its path.

“It’s a one-time but major eruption,” Bacolcol told the AP, adding that volcanologists were assessing if Monday’s eruption spewed old volcanic debris and rocks clogged in and near the summit crater or was caused by rising magma from underneath. Few volcanic earthquakes were detected ahead of Mon-

day’s explosion, Bacolcol said. The alert level around Kanlaon was placed on Monday to the third-highest of a five-step warning system, indicating that “magmatic eruption” may have begun and may progress to further explosive eruptions.

The nearly 8,000-foot volcano, one of the country’s 24 most-active volcanoes, last erupted in June, sending hundreds of villagers to emergency shelters.

In 1996, three hikers were killed near the peak and several others later rescued when Kanlaon erupted without warning, officials said.

Located in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the Philippines is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms a year and is among the countries most prone to natural disasters.

MOORE SPORTS

Basketball season hits high gear

North Moore opens its schedule, while the Union Pines girls jumped out to an unbeaten start

North State Journal staff

BASKETBALL SEASON takes center stage as Moore County schools finish the tran sition from fall to winter sports seasons.

North Moore

The Mustangs boys’ basket ball team opened the season with a win, beating Southwestern Randolph on the road, 53‑42. The team then dropped its next two, losing 59 49 at Northwood in a Mid Carolina Conference game and at Chatham Charter, 59 49. Senior Colby Pennington led the way with 37 points, 22 re bounds, four assists, two steals and a block in the three games. Brandon Powell added 25 points in the three games, with eight rebounds, eight assists and 10 steals.

This week, North Moore travels to South Davidson, then it hosts Barlett Yancey in a league game before traveling to Jordan Matthews.

The North Moore girls’ dropped their first three games, losing on the road at Southwest ern Randolph, 59 15, North wood, 58 18, and Chatham Charter, 45 38. The Mustangs conclude their season opening five game road trip this week with games at South Davidson and Jordan Matthews.

Union Pines

The Vikings boys split two home games last week to move to 3 3 on the season, Union Pines beat Gray’s Creek 73‑56 to snap a two game losing streak. The Vikings then lost their Sandhills Conference opener, 62 60 to Lee County.

Kinglsey Donaldson and Jaylen Kyle traded off high scoring honors in the two games. This week, Union Pines hosts Purnell Swett and Scot land. The latter is a Sandhills league game. Then the Vikings head to Southern Alamance.

The Union Pines girls, mean while, continued their unde feated start to the year, with a pair of wins bringing them to 6 0 on the season. The Vikings beat Gray’s Creek at home, 70‑44, then beat Lee Coun ty in the league opener, 62 33 Ashanti Fox scored 36 and 32 points in the two games.

The girls will look to keep it going in three games this week, with home tilts against Purnell Swett and Scotland and a trip to Southern Alamance.

Pinecrest

The Pinecrest boys moved back above .500 with back‑to‑back wins this week. The Patriots beat Jack Britt on the road, 57

33, then won a home game with South View, 81 77. Eli Melton’s blocked shot in the final min utes helped to preserve the victo ry over South View. The Patriots are now 3 2 on the year.

This week, Pinecrest opens league play with a home game against Richmond, then hosts South Mecklenburg before go ing on the road for a league game against Southern Lee.

The Pinecrest girls fell to .500, at 3 3, with back t o ba ck losses this week. The Patriots fell at Jack Britt, 49 26, then lost at home to South View, 61‑55. Sophomore Kennedy Moore totaled 14 and 18 points in the two games to lead the way on the scoresheet.

This week, Pinecrest has three games before starting holiday tournament play. The Patriots host Richmond in the Sandhills opener and travel to Southern Lee to open the con ference road schedule. In be tween is a nonconference home date with South Mecklenburg.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Kingsley Donaldson

Union Pines, boys’ basketball

Kingsley Donaldson is a junior post player on the Union Pines boys’ basketball team.

Donaldson leads the Vikings in rebounding and is second in scoring and shooting percentage. He’s also second in blocks and third in steals.

Donaldson had a huge game against Gray’s Creek, hitting 17 of 24 from the field, including 1 of 2 from deep. He also hit 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. When the dust cleared, he had 38 points, more than half of Union Pines’ 73 on the night. He also had a double-double, with a team-high 14 rebounds. Donaldson added four steals and a block to round out the night. He had a second double-double in the following game, scoring 17 and pulling down 14 boards against Lee County. He also had a pair of steals and two blocks.

Tiafoe returns to Charlotte’s arena to watch Cavs

vs. Hornets

Tiafoe hit souvenir tennis balls into the stands during the game and visited the Cavaliers’ locker room after they beat the Hornets 116 102.

By Richard Walker

The Associated Press

play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

“I’m a big NBA fan, and I know and like a lot of the guys in the league,” Tiafoe said after picking up signed jerseys from Cleveland players Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Garland said he met Tiafoe during Fashion Week in New York in February.

“We just hit it off, and I came to the tennis match last night, talked to him a little bit and told

him to come to the game today,” Garland said. “It’s pretty cool to know someone in another sport like him.”

Garland said he got a signed tennis ball from Friday’s exhibi tion.

“Yeah it’s pretty cool that he wanted a jersey,” Garland said. “I got a signed tennis ball and I think that’s a pretty good trade off.”

Tiafoe, who is from Hyatts ville, Maryland, said he grew up a Wizards fans and that former Washington guard John Wall, a Raleigh native, is his favor

ite player. Former Wizards star Bradley Beal was in the stands in Flushing Meadows to support his friend when Tiafoe reached the U.S. Open semifinals in 2006.

“I’m still a Wizards fan and an NBA fan,” the 26 year old Tiafoe said. “I love going to games when I can.” Hornets coach Charles Lee was thrilled that Tiafoe, current ly ranked No. 18 in men’s singles, came to see his team’s practice on Friday.

“I think it’s good for our play ers,” Lee said. “It’s great for them to interact with another guy who is one of the best in the world in his craft and profession. They get to sit down and pick his brain a little bit.

“Having him at practice yes terday was very cool. I admire him from afar. What he’s been able to achieve at a young age on the tennis circuit.”

Tiafoe wore a replica jersey of Hornets guard Brandon Mill er when he edged Alcaraz, the four time Grand Slam cham pion from Spain, 5 7, 6 1, 11 9 on Friday. Earlier, 2017 U.S. Open women’s singles champi on Sloane Stephens played an exhibition match against Madi son Keys.

The tennis drew 16,194 fans, a few hours before the NBA game that drew 18,832. Among those in attendance Friday were Hornets players Miller, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridg es, Mark Williams, Josh Green, Vasa Micic, and Taj Gibson. Cav aliers players Garland, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang were also in the crowd.

The Hornets introduced Ti afoe in the first quarter Saturday.

“It’s been an amazing experi ence here in Charlotte,” Tiafoe told the crowd.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Eli Melton (3) helps preserve Pinecrest’s win over South View with this late blocked shot.

The tennis star’s basketball appearance came a day after he played Alcaraz in exhibition

CHARLOTTE — Frances Ti afoe wore a Charlotte Hornets jer sey when he beat Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition tennis match.

A day later, Tiafoe returned to the Spectrum Center to watch the Hornets

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Tennis star Frances Tiafoe hits tennis balls into the crowd during a timeout of an NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

SIDELINE REPORT

MLB Parker, Allen elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame

Dallas Dave Parker and Dick Allen have been elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame by the classic era committee. Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21.

F1 RACING

Hamilton leaves Mercedes after 6 titles, 246 F1 races

Abu Dhabi Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes with one last overtake and a heartfelt message to the team where he won the Formula 1 title six times. “We dreamed alone but together, we believed,” he told race engineer Peter Bonnington and team principal Toto Wolff over the radio. Hamilton is moving to Ferrari for 2025 after 12 years at Mercedes, where he won all but one of his seven drivers’ titles. It was the most successful partnership between a team and driver in F1 history.

NHL Blackhawks fire coach Richardson in 3rd season after league-worst start

Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise’s rebuilding project. Chicago had dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL worst 8 16 2 on the season. It was outscored 41 27 while going 3 9 1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team’s top minor league affiliate in Rockford.

SKIING

Vonn encouraged by competitive preparedness in ski racing return at age 40 Copper Mountain, Colo. Lindsey Vonn is encouraged by how close she is to being competitive again in her ski racing return at 40 years old. Vonn is still getting her ski equipment dialed in and getting used to going full speed again on her new titanium knee. That’s why all that she’s reading into being more than two seconds behind in a pair of lower level super G races is that she’s right there after nearly six years away from ski racing. She was 2.19 seconds behind in the first race and 2.06 in the second. Both were won by her American teammate Lauren Macuga.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Frost returning to coach UCF two years after unsuccessful run at Nebraska Orlando, Fla.

Scott Frost is heading back to UCF to take over the program he coached to its greatest season. UCF gave Frost his first head coaching job in 2016 and the next season the Knights went 13 0 w ith a Peach Bowl win over Auburn and No. 6 final ranking. He accepted Nebraska’s offer to return to his alma mater and lead the team he quarterbacked to a 1997 co‑national championship. He was fired three games into the 2022 season, leaving with a 16 31 record. He has been working on the Los Angeles Rams staff this season.

Face facts: Statues of stars like Wade, Ronaldo don’t always deliver

Sculptors offer advice on how to honor athletes with realistic depictions

By Ken Maguire The Associated Press

LONDON — In Miami, ob servers say the Dwyane Wade sculpture looks more like actor Laurence Fishburne than the former basketball star. The infa mous Cristiano Ronaldo bust in 2017 gave the chiseled soccer star a chubby face and goofy smile. It wasn’t always this way. In classical times, sculptors “had absolutely no interest in depict ing people accurately,” explained Lucy Branch, a London based sculptural conservator.

“There’s this idea now, in this era, that commemorative sculpture should be like por traiture — it should look exact ly like the person they are com memorating. But actually that’s a really new idea in sculpture.”

To avoid pitfalls, here are some tips from sculptors:

Do your research

London based sculptor Hy

wel Pratley studied countless images of Queen Elizabeth II to create a memorial statue in the East Midlands town of Oakham.

“A good portrait sculpture is evidence of 1,000 decisions af ter 10,000 observations,” Prat ley said.

In addition, Yorkshire coun ty sculptor Steve Winterburn recommends getting close with a subject’s family and friends to help find characteristics.

“You don’t want it look ing like a Madame Tussauds,” said Winterburn, who created a statue of five Rugby League greats at Wembley Stadium. “It still needs a bit of art in it, a bit of soul. That’s what makes art really sing.”

Smile at your peril

The Ronaldo bust depict ed the Portugal star smiling crookedly. In Miami, Wade’s mouth is open in the statue representing the moment the player famously jumped onto a courtside table and yelled, “This is my house.”

It’s probably best avoided.

“It’s really difficult to do

teeth looking good in sculp ture,” Pratley said.

Get the profile right

Start “by understanding the profile” before moving on to de termine widths from the front view, Pratley said.

“Get the profile right and you will have won half the bat tle because then you can have something at least that you can trust,” he said.

“There’s so many to under stand. It’s not two dimensions, it’s three. There’s an exponen tial opportunity for everything to go wrong. If you’ve got the profile, then you can go for ward with more confidence.”

The eyes have it?

Winterburn tries to make the eyes “come alive” in his work.

“The eye is the soul of the person that carries it,” he said. “If you look at a lot of pub lic work, I’m not being funny, they’re dead. There’s nothing in them, they’re just featureless, soulless. With a painting, if in doubt, fade it out. With sculp

ture, there is nowhere to hide.”

For Pratley, especially when he is working with a live mod el, “I’m often struck by how the absolute essence of somebody is somewhere between the nos trils and the mouth. The flick er of muscles and the subtle movement of muscles around the mouth is so much you — it’s so much that person.”

Vote on it

In the UK, local councils — like a city council in the U.S. — might propose a project, fund it and select the sculptor, some times with little input from the public and limited vetting of artists.

Branch says there’s a better way: Vote on it.

“It is a really good balance and check for whether people on the committees have chosen the right sculptor or the right composition for that person who is being commemorated,” Branch said. “(The public) may not necessarily be highly edu cated about sculpture, but they always tend to know whether the artist has hit the nail on the head.”

NC State opens conference play with overtime win

The Wolfpack snapped a three-game losing streak

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

THE NC STATE Wolfpack

men’s basketball team (6 3, 1 0 ACC) shook off a tough three game skid with an 84‑74 overtime win over the Flori

da State Seminoles (7 3, 0 1 ACC), their first game of ACC play this season.

The Wolfpack turned in a big second half and OT perfor mance by senior guard Dontrez Styles to lead them to the win.

Nineteen of Styles’ 21 points — a season high — came after the first half, and he was a big clutch factor for the Wolfpack.

“I thought Dontrez Styles was tremendous in the second half,” said NC State coach Kev in Keatts. “He made play after play.”

It was also a big game for se nior guard Marcus Hill, who has started to find his scoring touch after a tough go in San Diego. Hill had just nine points across the two games at the Rady Children’s Invitational but has now had back to back games in double digits.

In 33 minutes against the Seminoles, Hill had a sea son high and team high 23 points on 7 for 12 shooting from the field.

“Both of those guys (Styles and Hill) in San Diego, they were 3 for 12, and both of those guys the last two games have been really good for us,” Keatts said.

NC State led for a major ity of the game, but the court started to tilt midway through the second half as Florida State’s Malique Ewin started to heat up.

Diego.

“I wanted us to stay solid. I thought we had done some boneheaded stuff.”

Kevin Keatts

The Seminoles took a six point lead, their biggest lead of the game, with 3:44 to go in the second half. After that basket, Keatts called a timeout and got his group refocused.

“I wanted us to stay sol id,” Keatts said. “I thought we had done some bonehead ed stuff, and we switched out and we didn’t read and we didn’t switch to the inside and we gave up some easy baskets. The great thing about when

you gotta a new bunch is they are a new bunch, so it’s like you can learn a lot of things.”

The Wolfpack responded with two strong runs to once again along with Ewin, who ended the game with 24 points and nine rebounds, picking up his fifth foul of the game, and that was just what NC State needed to get back into it.

Following that foul out, the Wolfpack couldn’t quite hang on to its slim lead, but they took off to start overtime and never looked back.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win for the Wolf pack was their committed ef fort to rebounding against the second tallest lineup in NCAA DI basketball.

“It means a lot,” Keatts said. “It means we’re growing.” On top of being the Wolf

pack’s first ACC win, it also ended a three game slide for NC State.

“For us, it meant a little bit more,” Keatts said. “We had dropped three games against three really good teams, we were at home and obviously it was the first ACC game early in December. I thought our guys came out, responded and an swered the bell.

“This team needed an ear ly win together. We hadn’t had one, this particular group, and we needed a nice win togeth er and we got one. We needed a win where we made some mis takes, but we came back that way we could grow. I think this is the best thing that could have happened to us. We’ve had more adversity than we’ve had success, and winning this game will really help us.”

DENIS POROY / AP PHOTO

NC State guard Dontrez Styles shoots during a game against BYU in late November in San

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN / AP PHOTO

Former Miami Heat player

Dwyane Wade looks at a bronze statue in his image during its unveiling ceremony outside the arena in October.

Glenn Michael “Mike” Gehan

Feb. 19, 1939 – Dec. 6, 2024

Glenn Michael Gehan (Mike) died peacefully at his home on December 6, 2024, surrounded by the great love of his family and the unfailing, ever-present camaraderie of his beloved friends at CCNC. Their friendship meant everything to him and he spoke of them even in his last days. They golfed together often and dined together every Friday for the last 12 years, sharing their lives, their dreams, and even disappointments, bringing solace and encouragement to each other. It was these remarkable men who made his last many years, his best.

Mike was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on February 19, 1939. The true middle child in a lively Irish family, he had three older brothers and three younger sisters. The family moved a bit throughout the Midwest, settling finally in Michigan. Mike graduated from high school in Coopersville, Michigan, a tiny farming community. Remarkably, in the last four weeks of his life, he communicated with his schoolmates from Coopersville. He attended the Naval Academy at Annapolis and Michigan State University earning a BA in Accounting. His interest in the hospitality business led Mike from his own accounting firm to becoming an executive in the hotel/resort industry.

A man of few words, he married Margaret Shelton Gehan, a woman of many words. They were devoted to each other for 58 years. More than anything he adored his children, son Gerritt Andrew Gehan and daughter Mary Curtiss Steele, as well as her husband, Cameron Price Steele, and his most precious and cherished granddaughters, Emma Margaret Steele and Cara Evelyn Steele, all of whom survive him. He was preceded in death by his parents Glenn Andrew Gehan and Isabel Green Gehan as well as a sister Suzanne and brothers, Jerome and William. Mike held great endearment for his surviving sisters, Mary and Julie, and brother John.

A private family service will be held at a later date per his wishes.

Mike loved to read and in lieu of flowers, please support a library of your choice.

Darling husband“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy earthly work is done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages.

Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.”

From Cymbeline by W. Shakespeare Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst is serving the family.

Fay Fisher Terry

Nov. 6, 1950 – Dec. 5, 2024

Fay Fisher Terry, 74, passed away on December 5, 2024, in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all, those who knew Fay experienced her positive devotion to a life of faith, hope, and love.

Born on November 6, 1950, in Washington, D.C., Fay lived most of her life in North Carolina. She graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a master’s degree in education, specializing in early childhood education. Fay dedicated 25 years to teaching kindergarten in North Carolina, earning a reputation for her incredible precision and artistic talent.

Later in life, Fay pursued a prolific career in painting, inspired by her love of gardening and her world travels. She traveled internationally with community and art groups, with destinations including South Africa, Bhutan, Italy, and France. Fay enjoyed painting various landscapes, particularly those she encountered during her travels. She was a longstanding member of the Arts Council of Moore County and especially loved painting outdoors at locales such as the North Carolina coast and Monhegan Island, Maine. Fay’s art has been shown at galleries in Southern Pines, Matthews, Southport, and Calabash. When not painting outdoors, she enjoyed gardening with her husband Bill. Fay was preceded in death by her parents, James and Eleanor Fisher of Raleigh, NC, her brother, Tom Fisher of Carrboro, NC, and her sister, Janie Fisher of Goldsboro, NC. Fay is survived by her husband of 48 years, Dr. William V. Terry of Pinehurst, NC; her children, Geordan J. Terry and his wife, Meg Terry, of Greenville, SC; Hampton P. Terry of Charlotte, NC; and Caitlin R. Terry of Aberdeen, NC. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Maggie Terry of Greenville, SC; Brynlee Terry, and Hudson Terry of Charlotte, NC. In memory of Fay, the family will receive friends at The Campbell House (482 E Connecticut Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387) on Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Snow Approach Foundation or the Arts Council of Moore County. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Bevins Scott Cameron

Nov. 6, 1950 – Dec. 5, 2024

Bevins Scott Cameron was born September 12, 1959, son of Gordon Bevins and Dorothy Wescott Cameron of Pinehurst, NC. Scott’s childhood was spent in Pinehurst, where there was one stoplight. Children rode their bikes downtown to the soda shop and the community pool. Neighbors lived in the same houses until their kids were grown. People didn’t lock their doors and pets roamed free all over town. Strong bonds were built, adventures were had, and childhood friends became lifelong friends.

Scott graduated from Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines and later received his bachelor’s degree from NC State, where he majored in Political Science. A self-taught guitarist who was also talented in singing and songwriting, he played and sang through most of his life, still finding comfort in music near the end. He also became an avid golfer and even scored a hole-inone at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club in Southern Pines.

Retail work led Scott to jobs in Florida and Connecticut, culminating in a career in finance with the NC State Employees Credit Union, where he worked until retirement. Scott was wellloved by all who recognized his sweet, generous nature, his dry sense of humor, and his big heart. Several dog and cat “rescues” reaped the benefits of his big heart. Scott loved the beach and the mountains, with a special fondness for the high country. which he shared with Janet Gibson Cameron, his wife of 30 years. Surviving are his wife, Janet Cameron; two brothers and one sister: James Cameron, Tim Cameron, and Cathy Cameron Hamner (Latham Hamner). Also surviving are nieces Traci (Van Weidenkopf)) and Sydni Cameron, and nephew Zachary G. Hamner. Great-nephews are Kaleb, Colten and Carter Cameron, and Nolan Weidenkopf. Two stepchildren from a previous marriage have always meant a lot to Scott: Jamie Donovan Baker and Keith Donovan.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday, December 13, 2024, at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. Memorial donations may be made to transitionslifecare.org by going to the website or calling 919828-0890.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.

Franklin Randolph

Jan. 23, 1937 – Dec. 4, 2024

Franklin Randolph, beloved son of Frank and Marjorie Randolph, was born and raised in New Jersey. In 2002, he relocated to Seven Lakes, North Carolina, following his marriage to his devoted wife, Marjorie Fixter Randolph.

A proud graduate of The Pingry School, Franklin cherished the lifelong friendships he formed there. He enjoyed a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years with the New York Stock Exchange. Franklin was a dedicated member of the Morris County Golf Club and Seven Lakes Country Club. He was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, finding joy and camaraderie on the greens and watching games and matches. Franklin is survived by his wife of 22 years, Marjorie Fixter Randolph. Predeceased by Megan Randolph, mother of his children: Jill Hill Randolph of Alexandria, VA; Scott William Randolph (Tracy Randolph) of Mendham, NJ; and Melissa Randolph Martin (Gregory Martin) of Holly Springs, NC. He is also survived by his granddaughters: Kaylee Randolph, Ashley Randolph, Megan Martin, and Mary Martin. Additionally, Franklin leaves behind his stepdaughter Elizabeth Bosek and her husband Richard Bosek, along with stepgrandchildren Lindsay Marten (Jake Marten) and Connor Bosek (Elli Bosek). Franklin’s legacy of love, friendship, and passion for life will be remembered by all who knew him. To honor Randy, we will be holding a Celebration of Life at a later date in 2025. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to seeingeye. org and firsthealth.org/foundationof-firsthealth/make-a-donation. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

STATE & NATION

Trump’s Cabinet picks set off political chain reaction

Two special elections will be held in January for a pair of congressional seats in Florida

By Kate Payne

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The field of candidates has been set for two special elections in Flor ida to replace members of Con gress nominated for positions in President elect Donald Trump’s new administration. Two doz en candidates have filed to run for the seats of outgoing Re publican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, though Trump has already weighed in on his pre ferred successors.

Trump’s reliance on Florida lawmakers for his new Cabinet is setting off a political chain re action that’s opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond. Multiple sitting elected officials have filed to run for the congressional seats, in cluding Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, triggering other vacancies and electoral opportunities.

Both GOP congressmen easi

ly won reelection to their respec tive seats in November, Gaetz in a northwest Florida district known for its sugar sand beach es and military installations, and Waltz in a stretch of the

Soros’ foundation says it remains focused on human rights

Open Society Foundations has reorganized in recent years

By Thalia Beaty The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foun dations wants those in the hu man rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday.

The foundations, found ed by billionaire investor George Soros and now led by one of his sons, Alex So ros, have historically been one of the largest funders of hu man rights groups. But since 2021, they closed some of their programs and reduced their staff part of a major internal reorganization.

In the process, many grant ees and others in the human rights movement have waited anxiously to see where the chips would fall.

“A reimagination has tak en place under the leadership of the new board chair at Open Society Foundations,” Nowro jee said, referring to Alex Soros.

“One of the reasons that we wanted to really reiterate in a large way, with balloons, et cet era, that we are still commit ted to human rights is because of this fear that’s permeated with the changes that some how Open Society Foundations is no longer going to be working on rights or equity or justice,” she said in advance of Human Rights Day, which the United Nations observes on Dec. 10.

Nowrojee offered few new details about OSF’s specific funding priorities, though ear lier this year, the foundations committed $400 million to ward green jobs and economic development.

Another new program focus es on protecting environmen tal defenders that will work in a few countries, like Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and end after five years, said Sharan Srinvias, a director of programs at OSF.

“We did a survey of what oth er donors are supporting and, in general, we saw that this is where the gap is,” he said of people who come under attack for defending land, water or other resources. “Especially bi lateral donors find it much eas ier to support global organiza tions, who in turn are able to

state south of Jacksonville that includes Daytona Beach.

The special elections to re place them aren’t expected to change Republicans’ slim ma jority in the House but could

trigger another shuffle among the state’s political hopefuls eyeing a run for governor in 2026 as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ sec ond term winds down.

Patronis is among those who Republican insiders say are con sidering a bid for governor, and a term in Congress could help boost his profile. Trump recent ly voiced his support for Patro nis in the race to replace Gae tz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, though that didn’t dis suade the 15 other candidates who qualified to run, even in a district where Trump is over whelmingly popular.

“Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorse ment,” Trump posted on his so cial networking site Truth So cial. “RUN, JIMMY, RUN!”

Other candidates in the race include Republican State Rep. Joel Rudman, a physician who launched his political career by criticizing mask mandates during the COVID 19 pandem ic. The sole Democrat in the race is Gay Valimont, an activ ist for the gun control advoca cy group Moms Demand Action who unsuccessfully challenged Gaetz in November.

In the race for Waltz’s seat in Congressional District 6, Re publican State Rep. Randy Fine won Trump’s endorsement. Fine is a self described “conservative firebrand” who was investigated for allegations related to post ing the phone number online of a school board member, which

led to a wave of harassment and threats against her. No charges were filed against him.

Eight other candidates have jumped in the race for the seat, including three Democrats and a candidate unaffiliated with a party — Randall Terry, an an ti abortion activist who ran as the Constitution Party’s presi dential nominee last month.

Gaetz had been tapped to be Trump’s attorney general before stepping aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex traf ficking investigation. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allega tions. Though no longer under consideration, Gaetz had al ready resigned from his north west Florida seat, a move that effectively ended a House Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Trump named Waltz to be his national security advis er, though the three term con gressman and retired Army Na tional Guard officer has also been floated as a nominee for defense secretary as the pres ident elect considered possi ble replacements in the face of growing questions about former Fox News host Pete Hegseth’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation.

Ballots for both special elec tions will begin going out to military and overseas voters on Dec. 14. The primary is sched uled for Jan. 28, and the gener al election will be held April 1.

support prominent rights de fenders in capital cities who are well known.”

One benefit of the limit ed time horizon, Srinvias said, is his team will mostly make grants of three or five years — longer than OSF’s typical grants — and offer grantees more flexibility. It will also have some funds to respond to emer gencies for human rights de fenders all over the world.

In 2020, OSF was the larg est global human rights funder, giving out the most money over all and making the largest num ber of grants. That’s according to the Human Rights Funders Network, a membership orga nization of grantmakers that tracks philanthropic funding

for human rights groups.

“When major funders adjust their priorities, it can have a rip ple effect. Their decisions can dramatically impact the human rights movements they once supported, especially in regions where they’ve been a long time champion,” HRFN wrote in its most recent Advancing Human Rights report from September.

To add to the atmosphere of uncertainty, another ma jor human rights funder, Well spring Philanthropic Fund, an nounced earlier this year that it would end its work by 2028.

OSF’s board aims to employ 600 people around the world, Nowrojee said, which is down from a reported 800 in 2021.

Some of the changes OSF

made in the last three years in clude winding down its global public health program and sig nificantly diminishing its pro grams in the European Union. It spun off its area of work fo cused on Roma communities into a new organization and is sued final grants to many of its partners.

“You never want philanthro py to just be doing the same thing. You want philanthro py to be getting out of stuff,” Nowrojee said. “And so there’s large areas of work where huge achievements were made, which we have retreated from, not because we don’t think that there’s value in them, but the movements themselves have strengthened.”

LYNNE SLADKY / AP PHOTO

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, pictured in 2022, is a candidate to succeed Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressonal District.

FRANCOIS MORI / AP PHOTO

George Soros handed the reins of Open Society Foundations to his son Alex in 2023.